Pentax SD Memory Card Compatibility For All DSLR Cameras
Pentax DSLRs use SD memory cards. There are 4 different versions, which are backwards compatible.
Some cameras are limited to using a SDHC card with a maximum capacity of 32GB.
Other models can use those and additionally SDXC cards, which have a maximum capacity of 2TB.
In terms of continuous transfer rates, getting a card with UHS-I will meet the needs of the camera.
Cameras Compatible with SDHC Cards (4GB - 32GB)
- Pentax *ist DS
- Pentax *ist DS2
- Pentax *ist DL
- Pentax *ist DL2
- Pentax K100DS
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 SDXC Cards (64GB - 2TB)
- Pentax K-S1
- Pentax K-S2
- Pentax K-500
- Pentax K-r
- Pentax K-5 II
- Pentax KP
- Pentax K50
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.
Pentax SD Card Compatibility
The latest firmware will have the best card compatibility.
Cards are backwards compatible. A camera that can use an SDXC card can also use SDHC and SD.
A camera that is compatible with SDHC cards can not use an SDXC card. The camera have an error message, will not be able to format the card, or image will be corrupted.
There are four versions of Secure Digital (SD) memory cards. They can be identified by storage capacity.
- 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
Listed below is a fast approximation of the total number of max-quality JPEGs photographs you can be expecting to store 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
Speed ratings of an SD card is classified by the sequential read and write speeds. SD card speed is critical for video as well as continuous shooting.
A slow memory card can cut down the number of continuous photos a camera can take. This is due to the camera’s buffer not being able to write to the card quickly enough.
With video, a slow SD card can cause recording to stop. The video file could also end up being corrupted. If you are going to capture video, it is critical the memory card you use meets the requirements of the camera.
Read speed is important for file transfers to a computer. If you have cards that are full, a memory card with a fast read speed will cut down on the time it takes the transfer to finish.
Speed Class Rating
The sustained write speed of an SD card is represented by the Class rating. 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 purchase will receive a Class 10 rating. To determine the class rating of a memory card, look for a number inside of the C on the front label.
Ultra High Speed (UHS)
The Ultra High Speed (UHS) bus is often found in SDHC, SDXC, and SDUC cards. The UHS bus memory cards to achieve faster write speeds.
There are 3 separate specs. They are called UHS-I, UHS-II, and UHS-III.
Look at the front of the SD card to figure out the rating of a card. If the card has UHS, a Roman numeral I, II, or III can be seen on the front of the 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