Pentax K-x Memory Card Compatibility
The Pentax K-x may use SDXC, SDHC, and SD memory cards. For burst shooting and video, it is necessary the memory card you use can write data fast enough.
The SD card you buy is a large influence on the functionality of your camera.
Don’t want to read the tech specs? Below is my suggestion on the memory card for use in your Pentax K-x:
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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.
Best SD Cards
Like all things tech, the price of memory cards has greatly fallen since the release of the Pentax K-x.
With prices becoming quite low, it doesn’t make sense to spend money on anything besides a high-quality memory card.
SanDisk Extreme Pro, Lexar Professional, and PNY Elite Performance cards have great speed and build quality. I have never endured a card failure or data errors with those SD memory cards.
All the complications I have dealt with has been due to generic unbranded SD memory cards. Trying to save a small amount of money isn’t worth it if your K-x will not operate properly.
To cut costs, opt for a lower capacity card from a high-quality supplier. By doing this, you will know your shots are safe and sound on the SD memory 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-x SD Card Compatibility
You are limited to using SD, SDHC, and SDXC cards with the Pentax K-x. Ensure that you have the latest firmware installed on your camera for the best compatibility.
The newest memory cards, SDUC (Secure Digital Ultra Capacity), can not be used in the K-x.
You need to understand the 4 types of Secure Digital (SD) cards that can be bought. They can be identified from the size of the card.
- 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 fast approximation of the total number of maximum-quality JPEGs pictures you should expect to store 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 memory card is classified by the sequential write and read transfer speeds of the card. The speed of a memory card is critical for video as well as continuous shooting.
Slows SD cards can reduce the number of continuous images the Pentax K-x can take. This is due to the camera’s buffer not being able to write data to the SD card fast enough.
When shooting video, a slow memory card can cause a sudden end to the recording. The video file might also be corrupted. If you are going to capture video, it is essential the SD card you use meets the required write speed for video.
Card read speed is important for transferring files to a computer. If you have cards that are full, a memory card with a fast read speed will save you time.
Speed Class Rating
A memory card receives a Class rating depending on its continuous write speed. SD cards that have a minimum write speed of 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 today will receive a Class 10 rating. You can determine the class rating of a memory card by searching for a number inside of a C on the sticker.
Ultra High Speed (UHS)
The Ultra High Speed bus (UHS) can be found in SDUC, SDXC, and SDHC memory cards. The UHS bus allows provides a way to improve file transfer rates.
There are 3 separate versions. They are called UHS-I, UHS-II, and UHS-III.
Look at the front of the memory card to find the rating of a card. A Roman numeral I, II, or III on the front of the card, that is the rating of your 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
Related Cameras
If you needed to choose one, the 64GB SanDisk Extreme Pro is the best memory card for the Pentax K-x. You’re now also prepared for any future camera you own.
Below are more posts on digital cameras with the same requirements as the K-x: