What is a memory card speed class?
Memory card speed class ratings tell you the minimum guaranteed write speed of a card. This determines whether the card can keep up with your camera’s data output during video recording and burst photography. A card that is too slow will cause recording to stop mid-shot or the buffer to fill during burst shooting.
SD card speed classes explained
Class 10 / U1 (10 MB/s minimum): Adequate for 1080p video and casual photography. Too slow for 4K video or fast burst shooting.
U3 (30 MB/s minimum): Sufficient for 4K video up to moderate bitrates. Good for most consumer cameras.
V30 (30 MB/s minimum): Video Speed Class. Guaranteed sustained write for 4K recording. Same speed as U3 but tested for sustained video writes.
V60 (60 MB/s minimum): Required for high-bitrate 4K, some 8K modes, and professional cameras. UHS-II cards.
V90 (90 MB/s minimum): Maximum SD card speed class. Required for 8K video, high-bitrate ALL-I recording, and the most demanding cameras. UHS-II cards only.
CFexpress cards
CFexpress Type A: Used by Sony cameras. Smaller than Type B. Read speeds up to 800 MB/s, write up to 700 MB/s.
CFexpress Type B: Used by Canon and Nikon professional cameras. Read speeds up to 1,700 MB/s, write up to 1,400 MB/s. Required for the highest bitrate recording modes.
CFexpress cards are significantly faster than SD cards and are required for 8K RAW recording and the most demanding video modes.
They are also more expensive — factor card costs into your camera budget.
Memory cards at Camera Shop Egypt
Matching card speed to your camera
Check your camera manual for the minimum card speed requirement for each recording mode. Using a slower card than required will cause recording errors.
For 4K video at moderate bitrate: V30 or U3 is usually sufficient.
For 4K high bitrate or ALL-I: V60 minimum, V90 recommended.
For 8K or RAW video: CFexpress Type B is typically required.
For burst photography: Faster cards clear the buffer sooner, letting you shoot longer bursts without the camera slowing down.
Always buy name-brand memory cards (SanDisk, Sony, Lexar, ProGrade) from authorized dealers. Counterfeit cards are extremely common online — they report fake speeds and corrupt your data. At Camera Shop Egypt, every card we sell is genuine.
