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The first time I bought a camera, I thought the hard part was over. After hours of researching which types of cameras best suited my needs, I was relieved to have finally purchased something. What I didn't think about was how big of a decision choosing the right SD card can be. What I thought would be a simple purchase ended up being yet another research test. I had so many questions! The biggest one is "how big of an SD card do you need?". After years of working as a photographer, I finally realized that the decision is an easy one.
When deciding which size SD card to buy, consider whether you want to record photos or videos. The size of photo and video files varies greatly, so it is important that you do not purchase a card that is too small. For photography, an SD card of 32 GB to 64 GB is more than sufficient. As for video, a 128GB or 256GB card would be a wiser purchase.
That said, there are many more variables that determine which card is best for you. Continue below for more ways you can settle on a specific SD card size.
The difference between image and video file sizes
If you've ever recorded a video and taken a photo on the same SD card, you've probably noticed the huge file difference when importing. Images are typically around the same range of 15MB - 35MB depending on whether you recordRAW or JPEG format.
Videos, on the other hand, will vary depending on how long each recording lasts and the resolution of the video. A 1080p video clip can be 50MB – 100MB+, with a 4K clip easily crossing the 200MB threshold within a short 30 second window. Now you can see how quickly a card fills up when you record video.
Let's break it down so you can imagine how many video frames a card can hold.
One gigabyte (GB) is equal to 1000 megabytes (MB). So for a small 16 GB card you can store 16,000 MB of information. For the sake of images, let's take an average and assume each image you create is 30MB in sizeRAW-fil.This means that a 16 GB card will last533 photos'sbefore it is full.
If you take the same 16GB card and apply it to video, things start to look different. Let's break down the difference between 4K and 1080p and say that each video clip you record is on average 150MB in size. Using the same 16GB card as before, you can now only hold on106 videobefore it is full.
Even if you use the exact same card, you will get much fewer video clips compared to photos. If you want to take an SD card with you on vacation and don't plan to erase it regularly, you'll quickly run into problems. You want to choose an SD card that is large enough to hold your data without filling up too quickly.
So why not buy the largest SD card possible? Well, there's a reason for that.
What is the best SD card format for photos?
Your instinct may be to buy the SD card with the most space. If you can find a 2TB (2000GB) SD card, you're all set. The more the merrier, as they say!
When it comes to SD cards,that is not the case. From personal experience and learning from problems, a 32 GB – 64 GB SD card is the most useful for photography. These card sizes are far from the 256GB+ giants of the market, but they work perfectly for photography.
Like any technology, maps can fail. They can get damaged, have a corrupt file, or even get lost in a combination of things. If you use one 256GB card for all your photos, chances are you'll lose everything. You're basically putting all your eggs in one basket.
If you're going on vacation, it's better to use multiple SD cards during the trip rather than just one. That way, if something happens to one card, you still have the other untouched. I like to carry 3 different 64GB cards in a waterproof onememory card caseand rotate through it during my travels. This way I can keep all my important photos spread across different cards and keep them organized and safe in one place.
Not only is it more secure, but it costs the same as buying a larger SD card. You can even get 3 different SD cards from 32GB to 64GB for the same price as a higher capacity card. Ultimately, you pay no more than with a larger SD card.
What is the best SD card format for video?
When you record video, you don't want to constantly reload the SD card. It's annoying and it's also easier to lose something. Because video files are so much larger than images, using a higher capacity SD card is the better option. But just like with photos, getting the largest SD card possible is probably not the best idea. By putting all your videos on one card, it doesn't take much to get rid of everything at once.
Instead, it's best to opt for a 128GB or 256GB SD card for video. If you prefer to shoot in 4K video, you may want to carry 2 or 3 different cards. This way you never have to work with full cards when you're about to photograph something great.
Whether you're a heavy video shooter or not, it's always a good idea to have extra SD cards with you. If a card fails or you shoot more than you expected, you'll always have a backup to keep everything running!
Other important SD card specifications to consider
When most people look at an SD card, they look at the size of an SD card they should buy. Although it is a very important factor, there are othersaspects of memory cardswhich you should also take a closer look at.
– Map speed
Each memory card has different read and write speeds. These speeds determine how quickly a card can store the information and display it on your camera. With a slower memory card, there may be a delay of several seconds between when you take a photo and when a preview appears. However, if you use a faster memory card of 95 MB/s or faster, your image will appear almost immediately after the image is captured.
While card speed may not always be top of mind, it is something that will make a huge difference in the SD cards you purchase. You can learn more about card speeds and what they meanthis post.
– MicroSD of SD
Not all SD memory cards fit in your camera. In recent years, microSD has become increasingly popular with the advent of smartphones and tabletsaction cameras.Before you pull the trigger on purchasing an SD card, check which type of card your camera requires. Fortunately, the difference between the two is quite easy to recognize. A regular SD card has a large slot, while a micro SD card will be much smaller.
Find your perfect match with the SD card format checklist:
To help you decide which size memory card to purchase, use this checklist to determine your exact needs.
1. Do I mainly want to record photos or video?
Ask yourself what type of media you want to use your SD card for. If you opt for images, you don't need to buy anything larger than 64 GB. On the other hand, a 256GB card is a better investment if you only shoot video.
2. (For images) Do I want to shoot in RAW or JPEG format?
Depending on the type of image file you want to include, the file size of each photo will change. Ask yourself what type of format you want to use. If you know you only want to shoot in JPEG; you can get away with using a smaller SD card, such as 16GB - 32GB. If you're not sure which one to use, err on the side of caution and choose a larger card, such as 32 GB or 64 GB.
3. (For video) Do I need to record 4K video?
If you're a videographer, the difference between 1080p and 4K is huge. If you plan to photograph mainly in 4K, choose a larger SD card of 256 GB.
4. How often should I unload my SD cards?
Regardless of the SD card format you use, it's a good idea to regularly back up your files to a computer. That said, it's nice not to have to deal with multiple maxed out SD cards at the end of the day. If you prefer to just do a big dump at the end of the day, you can use a larger SD card capacity for that. If you want maximum file security and plan to back up regularly, you can choose a smaller SD card instead.
Figuring out how big an SD card can be for a camera is a lot more thought-provoking than it might seem at first glance. With the tips outlined here, you can confidently choose the perfect card size to suit your needs!
– Brandon 🙂
