Memory Card Speedequipment
How fast a card writes data — it limits how long you can shoot bursts and high-res or high-frame-rate video.
When you fire a fast burst, frames fill the camera's buffer and then drain to the card; a slow card means the buffer fills and the camera stalls. Look at the sustained write speed and the rating (UHS-I/II for SD, or CFexpress for high-end bodies) — and match it to what your camera supports. Video has minimum-speed requirements too.
Use this when
- Action bursts, 4K+ video: fast card matching your camera's slot
Common mistake: Buying on capacity alone and stalling mid-burst on a slow card.