Nikon Memory Card Compatibility - SD Card Differences
Nikon cameras use a variety of different memory cards. The most common are SD cards and CompactFlash.
Cameras Compatible with SDXC Cards (64GB to 2TB)
The cameras are compatible with SDXC memory cards. They are backwards compatible with SDHC and SD cards. Any card with UHS-I will have a fast enough continuous write speed to meet camera requirements.
- Nikon AW110
- Nikon W150
- Nikon-1 AW1
- Nikon-1 J1
- Nikon-1 J2
- Nikon-1 J3
- Nikon-1 S1
- Nikon-1 V1
- Nikon-1 V2
- Nikon Z50
- Nikon Z fc
- Nikon D3500
- Nikon D5500
- Nikon D610
- Nikon Df
Dual Slots (SD/CF)
- Nikon D810
Recommended SDXC Cards
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- UHS-I, U1, and Class 10 Speed Rating. Can sustain 10MB/s write speeds.
- Excellent choice for photos.
- Capable of recording Full HD (1920x1080) Video.
- Inexpensive with more than good enough performance.
- Larger capacities are available for a reasonable price.
- UHS-I, U3, V30, and Class 10 Speed Rating. Can sustain 30MB/s write speeds.
- Good for burst shooting photos and recording 4K video.
- Larger capacity cards are available.
- Reliable & Durable: Magnet Proof, Shock Proof, Temperature Proof, Waterproof.
- Comparatively expensive for faster read speeds.
- UHS-I, U3, V30, and Class 10 Speed Rating. Can sustain 30MB/s write speeds.
- Only makes sense for professional use or if you need the largest storage capacity available.
- Temperature-proof, waterproof, shock-proof, and X-ray-proof.
Cameras Compatible with SDHC Cards (4GB to 32GB)
- Nikon D40X
Recommended SDHC Cards
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- Sequential read speed of up to 100MB/s
- Class 10, U1 rating delivers speed and performance for full HD photography and HD videography.
- V10 video speed rating to capture uninterrupted HD video at 1920x1080 format
- Compatible with point & shoot cameras, DSLR cameras, standard & advanced HD-enabled video cameras, and more
- Reliable & Durable: Magnet Proof, Shock Proof, Temperature Proof, Waterproof
- Quick transfer read speeds up to 90MB/s.
- Write speeds are not capable of recording 4k video.
- Class 10 rating for Full HD video (1080p).
- Waterproof, temperature proof, X-ray Proof, magnet-Proof, and shockproof.
- UHS Speed Class 1 (U1) supports Full HD video and burst shots. 130MB/s transfer speeds1 let you upload footage to your PC in an instant.
- Built to survive tough conditions and heavy usage, whether you’re at home, outside, or on the go. Backed by 10-year limited warranty.
- Highly durable with comprehensive 7-proof protection.
- Backed by a 10 year warranty.
Cameras Compatible with SD Cards (up to 2GB)
- Nikon D50
Transcend 2GB SD Memory Card
- You don’t really have a choice.
- Best value for the money.
- 2GB SanDisk card is twice as expensive.
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Cameras Compatible with CompactFlash Cards
- Nikon D1
- Nikon D1X
- Nikon D1H
- Nikon D2H
- Nikon D2Hs
- Nikon D2Xs
- Nikon D3X (Dual CF card slots)
- Nikon D3S (Dual CF card slots)
- Nikon D70s
Dual Slots (CF/SD)
- Nikon D810
SD Card Versions
Ensure you have the latest firmware installed on your camera for the best performance.
You should be aware of the four kinds of Secure Digital (SD) cards that can be bought. They are broken up by their size.
- SD (Secure Digital) - 128MB to 2GB.
- SDHC (Secure Digital High Capacity) - 4GB to 32GB.
- SDXC (Secure Digital eXtended Capacity) - 64GB to 2TB.
- SDUC (Secure Digital Ultra Capacity) - 4TB to 128TB.
Image Capacity
The following is an estimation of how many high-quality JPEGs pictures you should be expecting to be stored on a SD memory card:
- 16GB - 4,640 images
- 32GB - 9,280 images
- 64GB - 18,560 images
- 128GB - 37,120 images
Speed, Class, & UHS Ratings
Card Speed
The speed rating of an SD memory card is classified by the sequential read and write speeds. SD memory card speed is essential for continuous shooting as well as video.
A slow SD card can cause a decrease in the number of continuous frames the camera can capture. This is because the camera’s buffer is not able to write to the SD card quickly enough.
With video, a slow memory card can cause an abrupt end to shooting. The video file could also end up being corrupted. If you intend to record video, it is critical the memory card you use meets the required write speed for video.
Read speed is nice to have for transferring files to a computer. If you are filling up cards with images or video, a card with a fast read speed will reduce the transfer time.
Speed Class Rating
A card receives a Class rating dependant upon its continuous write speed. SD cards that have a write speed of at least 10MB/s are labeled as Class 10.
- Class 2 - 2MB/s
- Class 4 - 4MB/s
- Class 6 - 6MB/s
- Class 8 - 8MB/s
- Class 10 - 10MB/s or faster
Every name-brand SD card that you can get will be rated Class 10. You can check the class rating of a card by searching for a number inside of a C on the front label.
Ultra High Speed (UHS)
The Ultra High Speed bus (UHS) is a feature often found in SDUC, SDXC, and SDHC memory cards. The UHS bus allows for faster file transfer rates.
Three separate versions exist. They are UHS-I, UHS-II, and UHS-III.
Look at the label to find out the rating of a memory card. If the memory card has UHS, a Roman numeral I, II, or III can be seen on the front of the SD memory card.
- UHS-I - Maximum transfer rate of 104 MB/s
- UHS-II - Maximum transfer rate of 312 MB/s
- UHS-III - Maximum transfer rate of 624 MB/s