Pentax *ist DS2 Memory Card Compatibility

The Pentax *ist DS2 uses SD memory cards. 32GB is the biggest capacity SD card that is compatible with the *ist DS2.
SD memory cards described as SDUC or SDXC are not going to function correctly in the *ist DS2. These cards will be At least 64GB or larger, so they can easily be avoided.
The SDHC format was announced in 2006. All 32GB cards that are currently being produced will have almost identical performance. You cannot go wrong buying the cheapest class 10 name brand card. At the time of writing this, the PNY Elite 32GB SD memory card has the best price.Recommended *ist DS2 SD Cards
Here are some possibilities to choose from that will function correctly in the *ist DS2. With all of the cards below, you will not have to stress out over sluggish capabilities or card errors.

- 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.
Best SD Cards
Premium quality memory cards are manufacture by both SanDisk and Lexar. Avoid getting cards from cheap house brand names.
Inexpensive cards are more inclined to encounter file corruption, meaning that you’ll lose all of your photographs contained on the card. A minimal amount of decrease in cost is not worth the reduction in quality.
Buying a smaller sized capacity memory card is a smart and practical way to save money. They should be a tad lower in cost and you won’t have to fret about the SD card losing your photographs.
Be aware that, SD card issues are very infrequent. Through the years, I have only experienced 2 cards become corrupted. Both memory cards were previously owned no-name cards that were included along with the purchase of pre-owned DSLRs.
Pentax *ist DS2 SD Card Compatibility
The Pentax *ist DS2 is limited to only using SD memory cards. There are four different technical specs of Secure Digital (SD) memory cards. Each updated memory card technical spec improves the max capacity and read/write speeds when compared with the previous spec.
Secure Digital memory card readers are backward compatible. A card reader built into a digital camera that can use SDXC cards will also be able to use SDHC and SD memory cards.
The Pentax *ist DS2’s card reader is only compatible with the original two SD card standards. SDXC or SDUC cards won’t operate correctly.
- Secure Digital (SD) - These memory cards have a maximum capacity of 2GB and are compatible with the *ist DS2.
- Secure Digital High Capacity (SDHC) - The capacity of these memory cards range from 4GB to 32GB and are also compatible with the *ist DS2.
- Secure Digital eXtended Capacity (SDXC) - The capacity of these memory cards range from 64GB to 2TiB.
- Secure Digital Ultra Capacity (SDUC) - The capacity of these memory cards range from 4TiB to 128TiB.
Pentax *ist DS2 Memory Card Full Error

Trying to use an SD card that has a storage capacity of 64GB or larger in size in the *ist DS2 results in the camera to display an error.
Use an SD card with a storage capacity of 32GB or less to prevent the error.
If you have an SD memory card that has a storage capacity less than 32GB, and the card is not working, try to format the memory card in the camera.
Speed, Class, & Capacity
SD Card Image Capacity
Here is an estimate of the number of large JPEGs you can expect to keep on an SD card.
- 4GB - 1920 images
- 8GB - 3840 images
- 16GB - 7680 images
- 32GB - 15360 images
Memory Card Speed
The speed rating for SD memory cards is determined by the sequential read and write speeds. The speed of the card is important in cases where many pictures need to be written to the SD memory card.
SD Card Speed Class Rating

The Class speed rating of an SD card is determined by the sustained write speed of the SD memory card. A Class speed rating of 2 means that the memory card can sustain a write speed of a minimum of 2MB per second.
- Class 2 - 2MB/s
- Class 4 - 4MB/s
- Class 6 - 6MB/s
- Class 8 - 8MB/s
- Class 10 - 10MB/s
The top rating a card can obtain is Class 10. There are SD cards that are a good deal faster than 10MB/s. Those memory cards use other technologies, such as UHS (Ultra Highspeed Bus), which use a different rating specifications.
Sustained write speeds of 2MB, 4MB, 6MB, or 8MB per second means the card has a speed class of 2, 4, 6, or 8. Cards that have write speeds of 10MB/s or faster are rated as Class 10.
Conclusion
Buy an SD memory card for the Pentax *ist DS2 based on price. An expensive card isn’t going to improve performance. As long as it is a speed class 10 card, you will be fine. My recommendation is the PNY Elite 32GB SD memory card.