Pentax K-500 Memory Card Compatibility

The Pentax K-500 is able to use SD, SDHC, and SDXC memory cards. For burst shooting and video, it is necessary the SD memory card you use has a fast write speed.

You can mess up the overall performance of your camera by using the wrong SD card.

If you are in a rush, here’s the best SD card you can buy for the Pentax K-500:

• 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.

Best SD Cards

Memory cards are now substantially more affordable than at the time the camera was initially introduced to the market.

With the price range staying so affordable, it doesn’t make sense to choose anything but a professional-level memory card.

SanDisk Extreme Pro, Lexar Professional, and PNY Elite Performance cards have superb overall performance and dependability. I have not had a card become inoperable or data errors with those cards.

Each and every problem I have encountered has been because of low-cost unbranded SD memory cards. Trying to save around a buck is not worth the cost if your K-500 will not operate as it should.

To cut costs, purchase a smaller storage capacity card from a quality manufacturer. That way, you’ll know your images are safe and sound on the SD card.

Recommended SD Cards

• 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.

Pentax K-500 SD Card Compatibility

Only use SDXC, SDHC, and SD cards with the Pentax K-500. For best performance, ensure your camera is using the most recent firmware.

The newest SDUC (Secure Digital Ultra Capacity) cards, aren’t going to be compatible with the K-500.

Four separate types of Secure Digital (SD) cards that you should pay attention to. They are separated by their storage capactiy.

• 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

Here’s a quick approximation of the total number of large JPEGs photos you should be expecting to be stored on a SD 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 card is dependant on the continuous write and read speeds of the card. Card speed is important for video as well as continuous shooting.

Slows cards can cause a decrease in the number of continuous photos the Pentax K-500 can take. This is because the camera’s buffer will not be able to write to the SD card fast enough.

When recording video, a slow card can cause a sudden end to shooting. The video file may also end up being corrupted. If you are going to capture video, it is essential the card you use meets the required minimum write speed for video.

Read speed is important for file transfers to a computer. If you are filling up cards with images or video, a memory card with a fast read speed will decrease the time it takes the transfer to complete.

Speed Class Rating

The continuous write speed of a memory card is the factor that determines the Class rating. Cards that have a minimum write speed of at least 10MB/s are rated 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 brand-name SD card that you can purchase today will have a Class 10 rating. To check the class rating of a card, look for a number inside of a C on the front label.

Ultra High Speed (UHS)

The Ultra High Speed bus (UHS) comes in SDUC, SDXC, and SDHC cards. UHS memory cards to achieve faster read and write speeds.

Three separate specifications have been specified. They are called UHS-I, UHS-II, and UHS-III.

To figure out the UHS rating of a card, look on the front of the card. A Roman numeral I, II, or III on the front of the SD memory card, that is the rating of the SD 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

Related Cameras

Based on the topics that were discussed is what makes the the 64GB SanDisk Extreme Pro is the best memory card for the Pentax K-500. You’re now prepared for any future camera you buy.

Below are more posts on cameras with similar needs as the K-500: