If you’d like to know which are the best memory cards for the Sony a7 IV and how many shots you can take before hitting the buffer, then you’ve come to the right place.
In this article you’ll find out if you really need the most expensive CFexpress Type-A memory cards or if UHS-II memory cards will be more than enough for your needs.
So far I’ve speed tested two CFexpress Type-A cards, 14 UHS-II and 3 UHS-I SD cards in-camera, since in-camera write speeds don’t always match what’s on the card label.
This guide should help you to find the best memory cards for your needs and also help you to avoid spending more money than you really need to.
Sony A7 IV Forum & Facebook Group
If you are looking for further help and advice on the a7 IV or would simply like to share your photos and videos, then please head over to our Sony a7 Forum. If you prefer Facebook then we also run the Sony a7 IV Shooters Group.
Table of Contents[Hide][Show]
- What Memory Cards are Supported?
Best UHS-II SD Memory Cards+−
- 1. Kingston Canvas React Plus UHS-II SDXC Memory Card (300/260)
- 2. Sony SF-G Tough UHS-II (300/299)
- 3. SanDisk Extreme Pro UHS-II (300/260)
- 4. Lexar Professional 2000X UHS-II (300/260)
- 5. Delkin Devices 64GB POWER UHS-II SDXC (300/250)
- 6. Transcend SD 700S UHS-II (285/180)
- 7. Manfrotto Professional UHS-II (280/250)
- 8. Angelbird AV Pro Mk 2 V90 (300/280)
- 9. ProGrade V90 UHS-II (300/250)
- 10. Sony SF-M Tough UHS-II (277/150)
- 11. Sony SF-M UHS-II (277/150)
- 12. ProGrade V60 UHS-II (250/130)
- 13. Lexar Professional 1667X UHS-II (250/120)
- 14. Sony SF-E UHS-II
- Memory Cards for Recording Video
- Memory Cards for S&Q Motion Shooting
- What Size Memory Card Do You Need?
- How Many Images Can Be Recorded on a Memory Card?
- Movie Record Times
- Simultaneous Recording Slot 1 + Slot 2
- Sort RAW / JPEG
- Summary
- FAQs
- Sony a7 IV Resources
What Memory Cards are Supported?
The Sony a7IV has two memory card slots, here are the cards that each slot supports:
- Slot 1: CFexpress Type A and UHS-I and UHS-II (SDHC/SDXC) SD cards
- Slot 2: Only UHS-I and UHS-II (SDHC/SDXC) SD cards
CFexpress Type-A Memory Cards
The Sony a7IV joins both the Sony a1 and the Sony a7SIII by adding support for the faster CFexpress Type-A memory cards. Unlike the a1 and a7SIII however, only one of the memory card slots supports the faster cards.
At this time only Sony, ProGrade and more recently Delkin are manufacturing these cards, so unfortunately they are not cheap!
If you shoot in uncompressed RAW then you’ll never hit the buffer with these cards, no matter how many continuous shots you shoot.
If you want to shoot in S&Q Mode with the file format XAVC S-I 4k, a record frame rate of 25p / 30p and a frame rate of 50fps /60fps (2x slow motion) then you will need a CFexpress Type A card. The a7 IV will not let you record in this specific format with a V90 card.
That said, it’s a little odd because if I select XAVC S-I 4k, a record frame rate of 30p and a frame rate of 60fps (NTSC) then record for 10 seconds I get a 805mb file, so it’s recording at 80.5MB/s which is comfortably within the capabilities of a V90 card. What I’ve also noticed is that the bitrate drops to 250M (PAL) and 300M (NTSC) with these settings, it’s not possible to select 500M/600M.
Important Note: Please don’t confuse these cards with CFexpress Type-B Cards, these are much larger and are not compatible with the a7IV. Only Type-A Cards are supported in the a7IV.
1. CEA-G CFexpress Type-A (800/700)
The Sony CEA-G Series CFexpress Type A memory cards can write up to 700MB/s and read up to 800MB/s. This Tough version has been rigidity tested to 150 newtons to protect your card data during drops from up to 7.5 meters, this is 5 times what the CFexpress Type A standard requires. They are also IP57 rated for dust and moisture protection and should even make it through an accidental cycle in the washing machine! There are 80GB and 160GB cards available.
I’ve tested both the 80GB and 160GB versions in my a7 IV and they work perfectly.
In-Camera Speed / Buffer Test Results
They are so fast that you’ll never even get close to maxing out the buffer of the a7 IV. You can shoot 1000 shots in uncompressed RAW and never hit the buffer which clears almost instantly.
| Image Type | Shots Before Hitting Buffer |
|---|---|
| Uncompressed RAW (70.3MB) | Never hits buffer |
| Compressed RAW (36.6MB) | Never hits buffer |
| Lossless Compressed RAW (40.5MB) | Never hits buffer |
| JPEG Extra Fine (24MB) | Never hits buffer |
| Uncompressed RAW (70.3MB) + JPEG Extra Fine (24MB) | Never hits buffer |
| Compressed RAW (36.6MB) + JPEG Extra Fine (24MB) | Never hits buffer |
| Lossless Compressed RAW (40.5MB) + JPEG Extra Fine (24MB) | Never hits buffer |
2. ProGrade Digital CFexpress Type A Cobalt (800/700)
The ProGrade Digital CFexpress Type A Cobalt Memory Card can write up 700MB/s and read up to 800MB/s just like the Sony cards. Although not as tough as the Sony cards the metal enclosure/encasement has been designed to endure high temperatures while providing better thermal conductivity. The only capacity available is currently 160GB.
In-Camera Speed / Buffer Test Results
Just like the Sony cards, they are so fast that you’ll never get close to maxing out the buffer on the a7 IV. You can shoot 1000 shots in uncompressed RAW and never hit the buffer which clears almost instantly.
| Image Type | Shots Before Hitting Buffer |
|---|---|
| Uncompressed RAW (70.3MB) | Never hits buffer |
| Compressed RAW (36.6MB) | Never hits buffer |
| Lossless Compressed RAW (40.5MB) | Never hits buffer |
| JPEG Extra Fine (24MB) | Never hits buffer |
| Uncompressed RAW (70.3MB) + JPEG Extra Fine (24MB) | Never hits buffer |
| Compressed RAW (36.6MB) + JPEG Extra Fine (24MB) | Never hits buffer |
| Lossless Compressed RAW (40.5MB) + JPEG Extra Fine (24MB) | Never hits buffer |
3. Delkin Devices POWER CFexpress Type A (880/790)
The Delkin Devices POWER CFexpress Type-A memory cards can write up 790MB/s and read up to 880MB/s. If these speeds are correct this makes them a little faster than both the Sony and ProGrade cards.
In-Camera Speed & Buffer Test Results
I’ve yet to test these cards in-camera as they have only just become available. But I will be testing them soon.
4. Delkin Devices BLACK CFexpress Type A (880/790)
The Delkin Devices BLACK CFexpress Type-A memory cards can write up 790MB/s and read up to 880MB/s. If these speeds are correct this makes them a little faster than both the Sony and ProGrade cards. Compared with the POWER version of this card the BLACK version is a lot tougher and can apparently withstand 80 lbs. of force.
In-Camera Speed & Buffer Test Results
I’ve yet to test these cards in-camera as they have only just become available. But I will be testing them soon.
Price Check & Buyer Reviews for Delkin Devices BLACK CFexpress Type A
At: Amazon | B&H Photo
Best UHS-II SD Memory Cards
Thankfully the Sony a7 IV also supports UHS-I and UHS-II SD memory cards in both memory card slots, so you don’t need to spend a fortune on the CFexpress Type-A cards if you don’t really need them.
Here are my recommendations for UHS-II SD cards for the a7 IV based on my in-camera speed tests using 64GB cards. Please note that when shooting in uncompressed RAW, lossless compressed RAW, uncompressed RAW + JPEG or lossless compressed RAW + JPEG the maximum frames per second is reduced from 10 fps to 6 fps.
1. Kingston Canvas React Plus UHS-II SDXC Memory Card (300/260)
Kingston have been in the memory business since 1987, so it’s safe to say they know a thing or two about memory!
Their Canvas React Plus UHS-II SDXC cards have a claimed read speed of 300MB/s and a write speed of 290MB/s. They are only a fraction slower in-camera than the Sony SF-G cards (246 MB/s vs 247 MB/s) but they are typically priced around 40% less for a 64GB card and also currently include a UHS-II card reader.
They receive very positive reviews and appear to be just as reliable as the Sony and SanDisk cards. They are V90 rated and available in 32GB (SDHC), 64GB (SDXC), 128GB (SDXC) and 256GB (SDXC) sizes.
In-Camera Speed / Buffer Test Results
When shooting uncompressed raw to slot 1 the in-camera write speed is around 246 MB/s. Here are my in-camera speed test results using a 64GB card and shooting to slot one in Hi+ drive mode.
| Image Type | Shots Before Hitting Buffer | Time to Clear Buffer (Seconds) |
|---|---|---|
| Uncompressed RAW (70.3MB) | 26 | 3.85 |
| Compressed RAW (36.6MB) | 67 | 3.40 |
| Lossless Compressed RAW (40.5MB) | Never hits buffer | < 2.00 |
| JPEG Extra Fine (24MB) | Never hits buffer | < 2.00 |
| Uncompressed RAW (70.3MB) + JPEG Extra Fine (24MB) | 17 | 4.53 |
| Compressed RAW (36.6MB) + JPEG Extra Fine (24MB) | 24 | 4.26 |
| Lossless Compressed RAW (40.5MB) + JPEG Extra Fine (24MB) | 22 | 3.05 |
For the price and performance these are the UHS-II cards that I would recommend for the a7 IV unless you need the toughness of the Sony SF-G cards.
2. Sony SF-G Tough UHS-II (300/299)
The Sony SF-G Tough cards have a claimed read speed of 300MB/s and a write speed of 299MB/s. They are V90 rated and available in 32GB (SDHC), 64GB (SDXC), 128GB (SDXC) and 256GB (SDXC) sizes.
The Sony Tough series of memory cards are 18 times stronger than traditional SD cards, bend proof to 180N, drop-proof to 5 meters, waterproof to a depth of 5 meters for up to 72 hours (IPX8 rating) and dust proof with an IP6X rating.
Tough cards feature a one-piece ribless structure and don’t have the common lock switch, they are also X-ray proof, magnet proof, anti-static and temperature proof.
I’ve tested these cards in my a7 IV and although newer versions work fine, there are issues with some older versions. Please read the following important note:
Very Important Note: Old versions of these cards do not work with the a7 IV. I get a message that says: “Unable to use Memory Card. Slot 1″. Sony has a replacement program for older versions of these cards due to VSC mode (Video Speed Class) issues where recorded footage on the card may be damaged or may not be recorded optimally. I have three cards that I never got around to sending back that don’t work at all in the a7 IV, but work fine in all of my other Sony cameras. New cards purchased from the second half of 2020 should not be affected, and my cards purchased this year work fine. You can find out if your cards are affected by checking this article.
In-Camera Speed / Buffer Test Results
When shooting uncompressed raw to slot 1 the in-camera write speed is around 247 MB/s. Here are my in-camera speed test results using a 64GB card and shooting to slot one in Hi+ drive mode.
| Image Type | Shots Before Hitting Buffer | Time to Clear Buffer (Seconds) |
|---|---|---|
| Uncompressed RAW (70.3MB) | 26 | 3.65 |
| Compressed RAW (36.6MB) | 65 | 3.40 |
| Lossless Compressed RAW (40.5MB) | Never hits buffer | < 2.00 |
| JPEG Extra Fine (24MB) | Never hits buffer | < 2.00 |
| Uncompressed RAW (70.3MB) + JPEG Extra Fine (24MB) | 17 | 4.43 |
| Compressed RAW (36.6MB) + JPEG Extra Fine (24MB) | 24 | 4.16 |
| Lossless Compressed RAW (40.5MB) + JPEG Extra Fine (24MB) | 22 | 2.80 |
3. SanDisk Extreme Pro UHS-II (300/260)
The SanDisk Extreme Pro cards have a claimed read speed of 300MB/s and a write speed of 260MB/s. They are V90 rated and available in 32GB (SDHC), 64GB (SDXC), 128GB (SDXC) and 256GB (SDXC) sizes.
In-Camera Speed / Buffer Test Results
When shooting uncompressed raw to slot 1 the in-camera write speed is around 244 MB/s. Here are my in-camera speed test results using a 64GB card and shooting to slot one in Hi+ drive mode.
| Image Type | Shots Before Hitting Buffer | Time to Clear Buffer (Seconds) |
|---|---|---|
| Uncompressed RAW (70.3MB) | 26 | 4.00 |
| Compressed RAW (36.6MB) | 62 | 3.64 |
| Lossless Compressed RAW (40.5MB) | Never hits buffer | < 2.00 |
| JPEG Extra Fine (24MB) | Never hits buffer | < 2.00 |
| Uncompressed RAW (70.3MB) + JPEG Extra Fine (24MB) | 17 | 4.43 |
| Compressed RAW (36.6MB) + JPEG Extra Fine (24MB) | 24 | 4.30 |
| Lossless Compressed RAW (40.5MB) + JPEG Extra Fine (24MB) | 21 | 3.58 |
Very Important Note: Older versions of this card are not V90 rated and therefore will not work in certain video modes. See the video section of this guide for details on which video file formats require V90 rated cards.
4. Lexar Professional 2000X UHS-II (300/260)
The Lexar Professional 2000X cards have a claimed read speed of 300MB/s and a write speed of 260MB/s. They are V90 rated and available in 32GB (SDHC), 64GB (SDXC), 128GB (SDXC) sizes.
In-Camera Speed / Buffer Test Results
When shooting uncompressed raw to slot 1 the in-camera write speed is around 243 MB/s. Here are my in-camera speed test results using a 64GB card and shooting to slot one in Hi+ drive mode.
| Image Type | Shots Before Hitting Buffer | Time to Clear Buffer (Seconds) |
|---|---|---|
| Uncompressed RAW (70.3MB) | 26 | 4.05 |
| Compressed RAW (36.6MB) | 64 | 3.71 |
| Lossless Compressed RAW (40.5MB) | Never hits buffer | < 2.00 |
| JPEG Extra Fine (24MB) | Never hits buffer | < 2.00 |
| Uncompressed RAW (70.3MB) + JPEG Extra Fine (24MB) | 16 | 4.41 |
| Compressed RAW (36.6MB) + JPEG Extra Fine (24MB) | 23 | 4.08 |
| Lossless Compressed RAW (40.5MB) + JPEG Extra Fine (24MB) | 22 | 3.32 |
5. Delkin Devices 64GB POWER UHS-II SDXC (300/250)
The Delkin Devices 64GB POWER UHS-II SDXC memory cards support read speeds of up to 300 MB/s and write speeds of 250 MB/s. They are also V90 rated for video. They are available in 32GB (SDHC), 64GB (SDXC), 128GB (SDXC) and 256GB (SDXC) sizes.
In-Camera Speed / Buffer Test Results
When shooting uncompressed raw to slot 1 the in-camera write speed is around 243 MB/s. Here are my in-camera speed test results using a 64GB card and shooting to slot one in Hi+ drive mode.
| Image Type | Shots Before Hitting Buffer | Time to Clear Buffer (Seconds) |
|---|---|---|
| Uncompressed RAW (70.3MB) | 26 | 4.05 |
| Compressed RAW (36.6MB) | 61 | 3.68 |
| Lossless Compressed RAW (40.5MB) | Never hits buffer | < 2.00 |
| JPEG Extra Fine (24MB) | Never hits buffer | < 2.00 |
| Uncompressed RAW (70.3MB) + JPEG Extra Fine (24MB) | 16 | 4.50 |
| Compressed RAW (36.6MB) + JPEG Extra Fine (24MB) | 23 | 4.25 |
| Lossless Compressed RAW (40.5MB) + JPEG Extra Fine (24MB) | 21 | 3.58 |
6. Transcend SD 700S UHS-II (285/180)
The Transcend SD 700S cards have a claimed read speed of 285MB/s and a write speed of 180MB/s. They are V90 rated and available in 32GB (SDHC), 64GB (SDXC) sizes.
In-Camera Speed / Buffer Test Results
When shooting uncompressed raw to slot 1 the in-camera write speed is around 242 MB/s. Here are my in-camera speed test results using a 64GB card and shooting to slot one in Hi+ drive mode.
| Image Type | Shots Before Hitting Buffer | Time to Clear Buffer (Seconds) |
|---|---|---|
| Uncompressed RAW (70.3MB) | 26 | 4.10 |
| Compressed RAW (36.6MB) | 67 | 3.73 |
| Lossless Compressed RAW (40.5MB) | Never hits buffer | < 2.00 |
| JPEG Extra Fine (24MB) | Never hits buffer | < 2.00 |
| Uncompressed RAW (70.3MB) + JPEG Extra Fine (24MB) | 16 | 4.40 |
| Compressed RAW (36.6MB) + JPEG Extra Fine (24MB) | 23 | 4.45 |
| Lossless Compressed RAW (40.5MB) + JPEG Extra Fine (24MB) | 21 | 3.10 |
7. Manfrotto Professional UHS-II (280/250)
The Manfrotto Professional cards have a claimed read speed of 280MB/s and a write speed of 250MB/s. They are rated V90 for video and are available in 64GB (SDXC) and 128GB (SDXC) sizes.
In-Camera Speed / Buffer Test Results
When shooting uncompressed raw to slot 1 the in-camera write speed is around 242 MB/s. Here are my in-camera speed test results using a 64GB card and shooting to slot one in Hi+ drive mode.
| Image Type | Shots Before Hitting Buffer | Time to Clear Buffer (Seconds) |
|---|---|---|
| Uncompressed RAW (70.3MB) | 26 | 4.10 |
| Compressed RAW (36.6MB) | 61 | 3.65 |
| Lossless Compressed RAW (40.5MB) | Never hits buffer | < 2.00 |
| JPEG Extra Fine (24MB) | Never hits buffer | < 2.00 |
| Uncompressed RAW (70.3MB) + JPEG Extra Fine (24MB) | 16 | 4.53 |
| Compressed RAW (36.6MB) + JPEG Extra Fine (24MB) | 23 | 4.36 |
| Lossless Compressed RAW (40.5MB) + JPEG Extra Fine (24MB) | 21 | 3.12 |
Price Check & Buyer Reviews for Manfrotto Professional UHS-II
At: Manfrotto
8. Angelbird AV Pro Mk 2 V90 (300/280)
The Angelbird AV Pro Mk 2 V90 UHS-II memory cards support read speeds of up to 300 MB/s and write speeds of 280 MB/s. They are also V90 rated so they guarantee a minimum write speed of 90 MB/s. They are available in 32GB (SDHC), 64GB (SDXC), 128GB (SDXC) and 256GB (SDXC) sizes.
I have tested these cards in my a7 IV for stills and they work fine. For video they didn’t work when the file format was set to XAVC S-I 4K or XAVC S-I HD the first time I used them, but all times after they have worked fine which is a little odd, because as V90 cards they should support these file formats without issue.
In-Camera Speed / Buffer Test Results
When shooting uncompressed raw to slot 1 the in-camera write speed is around 241 MB/s. Here are my in-camera speed test results using a 64GB card and shooting to slot one in Hi+ drive mode.
| Image Type | Shots Before Hitting Buffer | Time to Clear Buffer (Seconds) |
|---|---|---|
| Uncompressed RAW (70.3MB) | 26 | 4.12 |
| Compressed RAW (36.6MB) | 61 | 3.91 |
| Lossless Compressed RAW (40.5MB) | Never hits buffer | < 2.00 |
| JPEG Extra Fine (24MB) | Never hits buffer | < 2.00 |
| Uncompressed RAW (70.3MB) + JPEG Extra Fine (24MB) | 16 | 4.76 |
| Compressed RAW (36.6MB) + JPEG Extra Fine (24MB) | 23 | 4.41 |
| Lossless Compressed RAW (40.5MB) + JPEG Extra Fine (24MB) | 21 | 3.15 |
9. ProGrade V90 UHS-II (300/250)
The ProGrade V90 cards have a claimed read speed of 300MB/s and a write speed of 250MB/s. They are V90 rated and available in 64GB (SDXC), 128GB (SDXC) and 256GB (SDXC) sizes.
In-Camera Speed / Buffer Test Results
When shooting uncompressed raw to slot 1 the in-camera write speed is around 239 MB/s. Here are my in-camera speed test results using a 64GB card and shooting to slot one in Hi+ drive mode.
| Image Type | Shots Before Hitting Buffer | Time to Clear Buffer (Seconds) |
|---|---|---|
| Uncompressed RAW (70.3MB) | 26 | 4.15 |
| Compressed RAW (36.6MB) | 61 | 3.56 |
| Lossless Compressed RAW (40.5MB) | Never hits buffer | < 2.00 |
| JPEG Extra Fine (24MB) | Never hits buffer | < 2.00 |
| Uncompressed RAW (70.3MB) + JPEG Extra Fine (24MB) | 16 | 4.35 |
| Compressed RAW (36.6MB) + JPEG Extra Fine (24MB) | 23 | 4.56 |
| Lossless Compressed RAW (40.5MB) + JPEG Extra Fine (24MB) | 21 | 3.58 |
10. Sony SF-M Tough UHS-II (277/150)
Sony’s SF-M Tough Series are similar to the more expensive SF-G version but these are only rated V60 for video and their read time has been cut to 277MB/s and the write time to 150MB/s. They are available in 64GB (SDXC), 128GB (SDXC) and 256GB (SDXC) sizes.
I’ve tested these cards in my a7 IV and although newer versions work fine, there are issues with some older versions. Please read the following important note:
Very Important Note: Old versions of these cards do not work with the a7 IV. I get a message that says: “Unable to use Memory Card. Slot 1″. Sony has a replacement program for older versions of these cards due to VSC mode (Video Speed Class) issues where recorded footage on the card may be damaged or may not be recorded optimally. I have three cards that I never got around to sending back that don’t work at all in the a7 IV, but work fine in all of my other Sony cameras. New cards purchased from the second half of 2020 should not be affected, and my cards purchased this year work fine. You can find out if your cards are affected by checking this article.
In-Camera Speed / Buffer Test Results
When shooting uncompressed raw to slot 1 the in-camera write speed is around 152 MB/s. Here are my in-camera speed test results using a 64GB card and shooting to slot one in Hi+ drive mode.
| Image Type | Shots Before Hitting Buffer | Time to Clear Buffer (Seconds) |
|---|---|---|
| Uncompressed RAW (70.3MB) | 19 | 6.36 |
| Compressed RAW (36.6MB) | 37 | 5.76 |
| Lossless Compressed RAW (40.5MB) | 29 | 3.76 |
| JPEG Extra Fine (24MB) | 56 | 3.25 |
| Uncompressed RAW (70.3MB) + JPEG Extra Fine (24MB) | 14 | 7.23 |
| Compressed RAW (36.6MB) + JPEG Extra Fine (24MB) | 20 | 6.90 |
| Lossless Compressed RAW (40.5MB) + JPEG Extra Fine (24MB) | 16 | 5.01 |
11. Sony SF-M UHS-II (277/150)
Sony’s SF-M Series are identical to the SF-M Tough Series just without the added toughness so they cost a little less. The Sony SF-M cards have a claimed read speed of 277MB/s and a write speed of 150MB/s. They are V60 rated and available in 64GB (SDXC), 128GB (SDXC) and 256GB (SDXC) sizes.
I’ve tested these cards in my a7 IV and although newer versions work fine, there are issues with some older versions. Please read the following important note:
Very Important Note: Old versions of these cards do not work with the a7 IV. I get a message that says: “Unable to use Memory Card. Slot 1″. Sony has a replacement program for older versions of these cards due to VSC mode (Video Speed Class) issues where recorded footage on the card may be damaged or may not be recorded optimally. I have three cards that I never got around to sending back that don’t work at all in the a7 IV, but work fine in all of my other Sony cameras. New cards purchased from the second half of 2020 should not be affected, and my cards purchased this year work fine. You can find out if your cards are affected by checking this article.
In-Camera Speed / Buffer Test Results
When shooting uncompressed raw to slot 1 the in-camera write speed is around 152 MB/s. Here are my in-camera speed test results using a 64GB card and shooting to slot one in Hi+ drive mode.
| Image Type | Shots Before Hitting Buffer | Time to Clear Buffer (Seconds) |
|---|---|---|
| Uncompressed RAW (70.3MB) | 19 | 6.36 |
| Compressed RAW (36.6MB) | 37 | 5.76 |
| Lossless Compressed RAW (40.5MB) | 29 | 3.76 |
| JPEG Extra Fine (24MB) | 56 | 3.25 |
| Uncompressed RAW (70.3MB) + JPEG Extra Fine (24MB) | 14 | 7.23 |
| Compressed RAW (36.6MB) + JPEG Extra Fine (24MB) | 20 | 6.90 |
| Lossless Compressed RAW (40.5MB) + JPEG Extra Fine (24MB) | 16 | 5.01 |
12. ProGrade V60 UHS-II (250/130)
The ProGrade V60 cards have a claimed read speed of 250MB/s and a write speed of 130MB/s. They are V60 rated and available in 64GB (SDXC), 128GB (SDXC) and 256GB (SDXC) sizes.
In-Camera Speed / Buffer Test Results
When shooting uncompressed raw to slot 1 the in-camera write speed is around 140 MB/s. Here are my in-camera speed test results using a 64GB card and shooting to slot one in Hi+ drive mode.
| Image Type | Shots Before Hitting Buffer | Time to Clear Buffer (Seconds) |
|---|---|---|
| Uncompressed RAW (70.3MB) | 19 | 6.86 |
| Compressed RAW (36.6MB) | 35 | 6.66 |
| Lossless Compressed RAW (40.5MB) | 25 | 4.23 |
| JPEG Extra Fine (24MB) | 48 | 6.60 |
| Uncompressed RAW (70.3MB) + JPEG Extra Fine (24MB) | 14 | 7.96 |
| Compressed RAW (36.6MB) + JPEG Extra Fine (24MB) | 20 | 7.64 |
| Lossless Compressed RAW (40.5MB) + JPEG Extra Fine (24MB) | 15 | 5.38 |
13. Lexar Professional 1667X UHS-II (250/120)
The Lexar 1667X UHS-II SD cards have a claimed read speed of 250MB/s and a write speed of 120MB/S. They are V60 rated and available in 64GB (SDXC), 128GB (SDXC) and 256GB (SDXC) sizes.
In-Camera Speed / Buffer Test Results
When shooting uncompressed raw to slot 1 the in-camera write speed is around 103 MB/s. Here are my in-camera speed test results using a 64GB card and shooting to slot one in Hi+ drive mode.
| Image Type | Shots Before Hitting Buffer | Time to Clear Buffer (Seconds) |
|---|---|---|
| Uncompressed RAW (70.3MB) | 17 | 8.93 |
| Compressed RAW (36.6MB) | 31 | 8.48 |
| Lossless Compressed RAW (40.5MB) | 21 | 5.46 |
| JPEG Extra Fine (24MB) | 35 | 4.63 |
| Uncompressed RAW (70.3MB) + JPEG Extra Fine (24MB) | 14 | 7.42 |
| Compressed RAW (36.6MB) + JPEG Extra Fine (24MB) | 19 | 9.85 |
| Lossless Compressed RAW (40.5MB) + JPEG Extra Fine (24MB) | 14 | 7.42 |
14. Sony SF-E UHS-II
The Sony SF-E UHS-II SD cards are the lowest cost UHS-II compatible cards that Sony currently sells. They have a claimed read speed of 270MB/s and a write speed of 70MB/s for the 64GB card and 120MB/s for the larger 128GB and 256GB cards. The 64GB (SDXC) card is rated V30 for video whereas the 128GB (SDXC) and 256GB (SDXC) cards are rated V60.
In-Camera Speed / Buffer Test Results
When shooting uncompressed raw to slot 1 the in-camera write speed is around 76 MB/s. Here are my in-camera speed test results using a 64GB card and shooting to slot one in Hi+ drive mode.
| Image Type | Shots Before Hitting Buffer | Time to Clear Buffer (Seconds) |
|---|---|---|
| Uncompressed RAW (70.3MB) | 15 | 12.73 |
| Compressed RAW (36.6MB) | 29 | 11.45 |
| Lossless Compressed RAW (40.5MB) | 19 | 7.26 |
| JPEG Extra Fine (24MB) | 30 | 6.15 |
| Uncompressed RAW (70.3MB) + JPEG Extra Fine (24MB) | 13 | 14.33 |
| Compressed RAW (36.6MB) + JPEG Extra Fine (24MB) | 18 | 12.91 |
| Lossless Compressed RAW (40.5MB) + JPEG Extra Fine (24MB) | 13 | 9.73 |
Best UHS-I Memory Cards
The a7IV does also support the slower UHS-I memory cards. So if you are not shooting a lot of continuous bursts and filling the buffer quickly, you can save a few extra dollars by purchasing these cheaper cards instead.
1. SanDisk Extreme Pro UHS-I (170/90)
The SanDisk Extreme Pro cards have a claimed read speed of 170MB/s and a write speed of 90MB/s. They are rated V30 for video.
I have tested these in my a7 IV for stills and they work fine. For video they work fine for file formats that don’t require V60 or higher rated cards. See the video section of this guide for further details on card ratings.
In-Camera Speed / Buffer Test Results
When shooting uncompressed raw to slot 1 the in-camera write speed is around 83 MB/s. Here are my in-camera speed test results using a 64GB card and shooting to slot one in Hi+ drive mode.
| Image Type | Shots Before Hitting Buffer | Time to Clear Buffer (Seconds) |
|---|---|---|
| Uncompressed RAW (70.3MB) | 18 | 11.91 |
| Compressed RAW (36.6MB) | 29 | 10.76 |
| Lossless Compressed RAW (40.5MB) | 18 | 6.55 |
| JPEG Extra Fine (24MB) | 31 | 7.21 |
| Uncompressed RAW (70.3MB) + JPEG Extra Fine (24MB) | 13 | 13.50 |
| Compressed RAW (36.6MB) + JPEG Extra Fine (24MB) | 19 | 12.36 |
| Lossless Compressed RAW (40.5MB) + JPEG Extra Fine (24MB) | 14 | 9.31 |
2. SanDisk Extreme UHS-I (150/70)
The SanDisk Extreme cards have a claimed read speed of 150MB/s and a write speed of 70MB/s. They are rated V30 for video.
I have tested these in my a7 IV for stills and they work fine. For video they work fine for file formats that don’t require V60 or higher rated cards. See the video section of this guide for further details on card ratings.
In-Camera Speed / Buffer Test Results
When shooting uncompressed raw to slot 1 the in-camera write speed is around 61 MB/s. Here are my in-camera speed test results using a 64GB card and shooting to slot one in Hi+ drive mode.
| Image Type | Shots Before Hitting Buffer | Time to Clear Buffer (Seconds) |
|---|---|---|
| Uncompressed RAW (70.3MB) | 16 | 15.30 |
| Compressed RAW (36.6MB) | 24 | 10.80 |
| Lossless Compressed RAW (40.5MB) | 17 | 8.73 |
| JPEG Extra Fine (24MB) | 28 | 7.88 |
| Uncompressed RAW (70.3MB) + JPEG Extra Fine (24MB) | 13 | 17.75 |
| Compressed RAW (36.6MB) + JPEG Extra Fine (24MB) | 18 | 15.93 |
| Lossless Compressed RAW (40.5MB) + JPEG Extra Fine (24MB) | 13 | 11.88 |
3. Lexar Professional 633X UHS-I (95/45)
The Lexar Professional 633X cards have a claimed read speed of 95MB/s and a write speed of 45MB/s. They are rated V30 for video.
I have tested these in my a7 IV for stills and they work fine. For video they work fine for file formats that don’t require V60 or higher rated cards. See the video section of this guide for further details on card ratings.
In-Camera Speed / Buffer Test Results
When shooting uncompressed raw to slot 1 the in-camera write speed is around 37 MB/s. Here are my in-camera speed test results using a 64GB card and shooting to slot one in Hi+ drive mode.
| Image Type | Shots Before Hitting Buffer | Time to Clear Buffer (Seconds) |
|---|---|---|
| Uncompressed RAW (70.3MB) | 15 | 26.25 |
| Compressed RAW (36.6MB) | 25 | 22.28 |
| Lossless Compressed RAW (40.5MB) | 16 | 14.91 |
| JPEG Extra Fine (24MB) | 26 | 12.66 |
| Uncompressed RAW (70.3MB) + JPEG Extra Fine (24MB) | 13 | 29.23 |
| Compressed RAW (36.6MB) + JPEG Extra Fine (24MB) | 18 | 26.56 |
| Lossless Compressed RAW (40.5MB) + JPEG Extra Fine (24MB) | 13 | 19.05 |
Memory Card Readers
If you decide to purchase a CFexpress Type-A card or a UHS-II card, then you will also need a compatible memory card reader unless you connect your a7 IV directly to your computer. Here are some of the options available.
Sony MRW-G2 CFExpress Type-A Card Reader
The Sony MRW-G2 supports both CFexpress Type A cards as well as a SD/SDHC/SDXC cards, along with transfer speeds of up to 10 Gb/s via USB 3.1 Gen 2. Both USB Type-C to Type-C and USB Type-C to Type-A cables are included.
ProGrade Digital CFexpress Type A & UHS-II SDXC Dual-Slot USB 3.2 Gen 2 Card Reader
The ProGrade Digital reader has basically the same specs as the Sony MRW-G2 reader but comes at a cheaper price. It has one CFexpress Type A slot and one UHS-II SDXC slot, and also support up to 10 Gb/s via USB 3.2 Gen 2 to deliver transfer speeds of up to 1.25 GB/s, or 1250 MB/s via its USB Type-C interface. It includes USB Type-C to Type-C and Type-C to Type-A cables.
Sony MRW-S1 UHS-II USB Memory Card Reader/Writer
The Sony MRW-S1 UHS-II USB SD Card Reader/Writer can read/write to UHS-II SD Cards via a USB 3.1 interface and is backward compatible with UHS-I SD cards. The Sony MRW-S1 used together with Sony SF-G cards will transfer files to and from your computer around 2.6x faster than UHS-I SD cards.
Kingston MobileLite Plus USB 3.2 SDHC/SDXC UHS-II Card Reader (MLP)
This UHS-II SD card reader is typically bundled with the Kingston Canvas React Plus memory cards, so you don’t need to buy it separately if you purchase these cards. It features a fast USB 3.2 Gen 1 interface and supports both UHS-II and UHS-I cards.
Memory Cards for Recording Video
The Sony a7IV supports a number of different movie recording formats. The format that you choose to record in will determine the memory cards that you use. Here’s a list or supported recording formats and compatible memory cards for the a7IV.
| File Format | Maximum Recordable Bit Rate | Supported Memory Card |
|---|---|---|
| XAVC HS 4K | 200Mbps | CFexpress Type A memory card SDHC/SDXC card (U3/V30 or higher) * |
| XAVC S 4K | 200Mbps | CFexpress Type A memory card SDHC/SDXC card (U3/V30 or higher) * |
| XAVC S HD | 100Mbps | CFexpress Type A memory card SDHC/SDXC card (U3/V30 or higher) * |
| XAVC S-I 4K | 600Mbps | CFexpress Type A memory card (VPG200 or higher) SDXC V90 or higher |
| XAVC S-I HD | 222Mbps | CFexpress Type A memory card (VPG200 or higher) SDXC V90 or higher |
Memory Cards for S&Q Motion Shooting
Here you can find a list of supported recording formats and compatible memory cards for S&Q motion shooting with the a7IV.
You will only require a CFexpress Type-A card when shooting in S&Q Mode with the file format set to XAVC S-I 4k, a record frame rate of 25p and a frame rate of 50fps (2x slow motion).
| File Format | Maximum Recordable Bit Rate | Supported Memory Card |
|---|---|---|
| XAVC HS 4K | 200Mbps | CFexpress Type A memory card (VPG200 or higher) SDXC V60 or higher |
| XAVC S 4K | 200Mbps | CFexpress Type A memory card (VPG200 or higher) SDXC V60 or higher |
| XAVC S HD | 100Mbps | CFexpress Type A memory card SDHC/SDXC card (U3/V30 or higher) *1 |
| XAVC S-I 4K | 600Mbps | CFexpress Type A memory card (VPG200 or higher) SDXC V90 or higher *2 |
| XAVC S-I HD | 222Mbps | CFexpress Type A memory card (VPG200 or higher) SDXC V90 or higher |
*1 When [Rec Frame Rate] is set to [30p]/[25p]/[24p], [Frame Rate] is set to [120fps]/[100fps], and the recordable bit rate is set to 50 Mbps, an SDXC card (V60 or higher) or a CFexpress Type A memory card (VPG200 or higher) is required.
*2 When [Rec Frame Rate] is set to [30p]/[25p]/[24p] and [Frame Rate] is set to [60fps]/[50fps] for slow-motion recording, a CFexpress Type A memory card (VPG200 or higher) is required.
What Size Memory Card Do You Need?
If you will be shooting a lot of continuous bursts then you will probably want to use at least a 128GB card. For CFexpress you can only choose between 80GB and 160GB right now.
If you are not shooting long continuous bursts then you’ll probably be fine with 32GB or 64GB cards, and you certainly won’t need the faster CFexpress Type A cards.
For shooting video the size of memory card will depend largely on the format that you are recording in. Or you may be using an external recorder anyway so this won’t be so important.
I’d recommend only using SDXC cards and not SDHC. 32GB cards and smaller are SDHC and use the FAT32 file system. If you shoot video with a SDHC card your files will be split into 4GB chunks which creates extra work in post production.
The following tables will help you to better understand what size cards you need.
How Many Images Can Be Recorded on a Memory Card?
The table below shows the approximate number of images that can be recorded on a memory card formatted in the a7IV when using a Sony memory card with the aspect ratio set to 3:2 and JPEG/HEIF size set to L:33M.
The values may vary depending on the shooting conditions and the type of memory card used.
| File Format | 64GB SD | 128GB SD | 80GB CF | 160GB CF |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPEG Light | 9000 | 20000 | 11000 | 23000 |
| JPEG Standard | 6800 | 13000 | 7900 | 16000 |
| JPEG Fine | 4800 | 9600 | 5600 | 11000 |
| JPEG Extra fine | 2300 | 4700 | 2700 | 5500 |
| HEIF Light | 14000 | 29000 | 16000 | 33000 |
| HEIF Standard | 10000 | 21000 | 12000 | 25000 |
| HEIF Fine | 7800 | 15000 | 9000 | 18000 |
| HEIF Extra fine | 5400 | 10000 | 6300 | 12000 |
| RAW & JPEG (Compressed RAW) *2 | 1000 | 2200 | 1200 | 2500 |
| RAW & HEIF (Compressed RAW) *2 | 1200 | 2400 | 1300 | 2800 |
| RAW (Compressed RAW) | 1400 | 2800 | 1600 | 3300 |
| RAW & JPEG (Lossless Compressed) *2 | 1000 | 2000 | 1100 | 2300 |
| RAW & HEIF (Lossless Compressed) *2 | 1100 | 2200 | 1200 | 2500 |
| RAW (Lossless Compressed) | 1200 | 2600 | 1500 | 3000 |
| RAW & JPEG (Uncompressed RAW) *2 | 660 | 1300 | 770 | 1500 |
| RAW & HEIF (Uncompressed RAW) *2 | 690 | 1300 | 810 | 1600 |
| RAW (Uncompressed RAW) | 760 | 1500 | 890 | 1700 |
Movie Record Times
The table below shows the approximate total recording times using a Sony memory card formatted in the Sony a7IV. The values may vary depending on the shooting conditions and the type of memory card used.
| File Format | Rec Frame Rate | Record Setting | 64GB SD | 128GB SD | 80GB CF | 160GB CF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| XAVC HS 4K | 60p/50p | 200M | 35 min | 1 h 10 min | 40 min | 1 h 20 min |
| XAVC HS 4K | 60p/50p | 150M | 45 min | 1 h 30 min | 55 min | 1 h 50 min |
| XAVC HS 4K | 60p/50p | 100M | 1 h 10 min | 2 h 20 min | 1 h 20 min | 2 h 40 min |
| XAVC HS 4K | 60p/50p | 75M | 1 h 30 min | 3 h | 1 h 40 min | 3 h 40 min |
| XAVC HS 4K | 60p/50p | 45M | 2 h 20 min | 4 h 50 min | 2 h 40 min | 5 h 40 min |
| XAVC S 4K | 60p/50p | 200M | 35 min | 1 h 10 min | 40 min | 1 h 20 min |
| XAVC S 4K | 60p/50p | 150M | 45 min | 1 h 30 min | 55 min | 1 h 50 min |
| XAVC S HD | 60p/50p | 50M | 2 h 10 min | 4 h 20 min | 2 h 30 min | 5 h 10 min |
| XAVC S HD | 60p/50p | 25M | 3 h 50 min | 7 h 50 min | 4 h 30 min | 9 h 10 min |
| XAVC S-I 4K | 60p | 600M | 10 min | 25 min | 10 min | 25 min |
| XAVC S-I 4K | 50p | 500M | 10 min | 30 min | 15 min | 30 min |
| XAVC S-I HD | 60p | 222M | 30 min | 1 h | 35 min | 1h 10 min |
| XAVC S-I HD | 50p | 185M | 35 min | 1 h 20 min | 45 min | 1h 30 min |
Simultaneous Recording Slot 1 + Slot 2
If you want to record simultaneously to both slots 1 and 2 at the same time then there is no benefit to using a CFexpress Type-A memory card in slot 1.
With this setup the write speed is restricted to the maximum write speed of the UHS-II card in slot 2. So if you shoot like this often you can save money by using UHS-II cards in slot 1 instead of CFexpress Type-A.
The only benefit to using a CFexpress Type-A card when shooting simultaneously is to enjoy the faster read times when copying the files to your computer.
Providing you are using identical UHS-II cards in both slots then the number of shots that you can take and the buffer clearing time will be the same as writing to a single slot. If one of the UHS-II cards is slower then you will be limited to the speed of that card.
Sort RAW / JPEG
You can also setup your a7 IV to record RAW files to slot 1 and JPEG files to slot 2, there is still a benefit to using a CFexpress card with this setup.
If you use a CFexpress Type-A card in slot 1 then providing you record either uncompressed or compressed raw to slot 1 and JPEGs to slot 2, you will never hit the buffer when shooting continuously. However, you must be using one of the faster UHS-II cards in slot 2 like the Kingston Canvas React Plus UHS-II or Sony SF-G Tough cards. Slower cards like the Sony SF-M cards will cause the buffer to be hit.
If you use UHS-II cards in both slots and want to shoot uncompressed or compressed raw to slot 1 and JPEGs to slot 2 you will hit the buffer after around 26 shots (uncompressed raw) or 67 shots (compressed raw).
Summary
For a UHS-II card I’d recommend the Kingston Canvas React Plus UHS-II SDXC. They are only a fraction slower in-camera than the Sony SF-G Tough cards (246 MB/s vs 247 MB/s) but they are typically priced around 40% less for a 64GB card and also include a UHS-II card reader. They are also V90 rated for video.
If you want to shoot in S&Q Mode with the file format XAVC S-I 4k, a record frame rate of 25p/30p and a frame rate of 50fps /60fps then you will need a CFexpress Type A card. The a7 IV will not let you record in this specific format with a V90 card.
Alternatively you could record in one of the none S&Q video formats such as 4k60 XAVCS and then interpret the footage in post. Of course you won’t be able to view the S&Q footage in camera and this is an extra post processing step, but now you won’t require a CFexpress card and you’ll also get audio since recording in S&Q disables the audio.
If you shoot a lot of continuous bursts in uncompressed raw format then you will hit the buffer when using the Kingston or Sony SF-G UHS-II cards after only 26 shots, but it clears in 3.85 seconds so it’s rarely an issue. With compressed raw you’ll hit the buffer in around 67 shots. If you shoot JPEGS you’ll never hit the buffer. You’ll need a CFexpress card if you don’t want to hit the buffer shooting compressed or uncompressed raw.
If you have some of the older Sony SF-M series, SF-M series TOUGH specification, and SF-G series TOUGH specification SD cards, you might find that they don’t work at all in the a7 IV I’m afraid. There is a replacement program running for these cards due to a different issue, so I’d suggest replacing them before it expires on Mar. 31, 2022.
It would be good to hear about what cards you are using in your own a7 IV and whether or not you have run into any problems with them. Let me know in the comments below.
FAQs
The Sony a7IV supports CFexpress Type A memory cards in slot 1 only. UHS-I and UHS-II SD cards are also supported in both slot 1 and slot 2.
Sony A7 IV Forum & Facebook Group
If you are looking for further help and advice on the a7 IV or would simply like to share your photos and videos, then please head over to our Sony a7 Forum. If you prefer Facebook then we also run the Sony a7 IV Shooters Group.
Check Price & Buyer Reviews for the Sony A7 IV
At: Amazon | B&H Photo | Adorama | Wex Photo UK
Thanks for this. I’m interested in the methodology behind your benchmarks and how you arrive at the average speeds. Can you share the details behind it? My math is (shots till buffer * file size)/time to clear looks off and exceeds the rated speeds. I get a lot of Chinese brands come my way and wanted to get some numbers.
Anyway, I’ve been holding off on getting CFX-A cards because of the price and I personally prefer shooting with a Ninja but some shoots really benefit from the S&Q modes which happens to require the CFX cards. Anyway, just checked-out some 256GB Kingston Canvas Reacts thanks to your recommendation. The free card reader and a 10$ cashback were a nice bonus 🙂
THANK YOU SO MUCH fot this test !
i was disappointed abut the performance from my cam with my 170mb/s card..in a ahop they showed me aanother cam with the much more expensive 300mb/s card. and the camera slowed down nearly similar to mine. i thought
got fooled by advertising.i read somewhere abut 800 pictures in burst mode. they didn´t tell me that a cfexpress solves the problem. your test showed it clearly to me so i decided to buy cfexpress and i am happy now 🙂 searched for this information with google and came here 🙂
That to hear that the article helped Thomas! 🙂
Hi Timothy Mayo,
Thanks for the detailed review of all possible options. Its sad that the CFExpress doesnt have many options and its quite expensive to start with.
Does the CFExpress need o have a seprate card reader to copy into harddrive/PC?
Hi Ravi. Yes you will need a CFexpress Type-A reader to read the cards, or you can connect your camera directly to your computer via the USB cable. Hopefully we’ll see more CFexpress Type-A cards released this year and the prices start to come down.
> If you want to shoot in S&Q Mode with the file format XAVC S-I 4k, a record frame rate of 25p/30p and a frame rate of 50fps /60fps then you will need a CFexpress Type A card. The a7 IV will not let you record in this specific format with a V90 card.
Is this still the case with latest firmware? Everywhere I read that v90 UHS-II cards are good enough for shooting all video formats?
The a7 IV is still on its release firmware 1.00, no firmware updates have yet been released. If you shoot in S&Q mode with the settings mentioned above then yes you will need a CFexpress card. You’ll find this mentioned in the a7IV Online Manual and I’ve tested it. Alternatively you could record in one of the none S&Q video formats such as 4k60 XAVCS and then interpret the footage in post. Of course you won’t be able to view the S&Q footage in camera and this is an extra post processing step, but now you won’t require a CFexpress card and you’ll also get audio since recording in S&Q disables the audio.
Hi, thank you for your hard work.
I like to shoot 10 pictures /s. Can I use in slot A CFexpress Type A with uncompressed raw and in slot B SDXC UHS-II with jpeg? Greetings Raoul
Thank you Raoul. When shooting uncompressed raw you will always be limited to 6 frames per second with the a7 IV (see my a7 IV fps guide). You would need to shoot in compressed raw to achieve the maximum 10 fps. If you use a CFexpress Type-A card in slot 1 for the raw images and a fast UHS-II memory card such as the Kingston Canvas React Plus in slot 2 for the jpegs (shooting in sort mode) then you won’t hit the buffer. A slower UHS-II card like the Sony SF-M cards will hit the buffer after around 56 shots when shooting jpegs to slot 2. If you view the buffer data above you just need to pick a UHS-II card that doesn’t hit the buffer when shooting jpegs. Hope that helps!