Best Memory Cards for Sony a6100

Looking for the best SD memory cards for Sony a6100? Here is our full list of top recommended SD cards for Sony a6100 mirrorless camera.

Compact, lightweight and easy to use, the Sony a6100 is one of the best choices for beginner photographers and videographers. Just like the Sony a6600, the Sony a6100 has a single SD card slot that supports UHS-I SD cards (limited to UHS-I speeds). Featuring a 24.2MP CMOS sensor and a BIONZ X processor, the Sony a6100 (Amazon, B&H, Adorama) is capable of fast burst shooting up to 11 fps with AF/AE tracking, and UHD 4K video recording up to 30 fps, as well as full HD 1080p recording up to 120 fps. Enjoy shooting crisp and clear photos or recording various high-quality footage with the new Sony a6100.

First off… What kind of memory card do you need?

Before buying a memory card, make sure it complies with your Sony a6100 camera. This is what Sony a6100 requires:

  • Memory Card Slot: 1 x SD/SDHC/SDXC
  • Memory Card Type: SD Card
  • Memory Card Speed: UHS-I
  • Recommended Capacity: 32GB-256GB (SD/SDHC/SDXC)

So, the Sony a6100 has a single SD card slot that supports the UHS-I SD cards. That means you can’t get any extra write speed from the UHS-II SD cards (limited to UHS-I speed), but you can take advantage of the read speed of UHS-II SD cards (up to 300 MB/s) to transfer files to your computer quicker.

Why Do You Need a High-Speed SD Card?

Not every memory card will work well with your Sony a6100 camera. If the card is too slow, you may have to wait longer for the buffer to clear or end up with recording errors and loose all your footage. So, buying a fast card is always worth it:

  • Fast write speed provides fast buffer clearing time between burst shots optimizing your shooting experience.
  • Fast read speed can let large files such as 4K video or a bunch of high-resolution images by continuous shooting transfer to PC in seconds.

Reminder: if you plan to shoot videos, stick to 64GB (or larger) SDXC cards for the best video codex.

So, what’s the best SD card for Sony a6100?

The Sony a6100 supports up to 11 fps continuous shooting and UHD 4K30p and Full HD 120p video recording. This requires a fast SD card at least U3 or V30 (writing speed of 30MB/s). UHS stands for “Ultra High Speed”. The chart below can help you figure out what speed class you need for each video format.

Best SD Memory Cards for Sony a6100

If you just want to cut to the chase, here are our top 4 recommended SD cards for Sony a6100:

  1. SanDisk Extreme PRO UHS-I SDXC Card 170 MB/s (V30, U3)
  2. Lexar Professional 1667x UHS-II SD Card (250MB/s, V60)
  3. Lexar Professional 1000x UHS-II Card (150 MB/s, V60)
  4. SanDisk Extreme UHS-I SDXC Card (V30, U3)

Any of these make for a good choice. If you’d like more detailed recommendations, you can find them below.

1. SanDisk Extreme PRO UHS-I Card 170 MB/s (V30, U3)

 

  • UHS-I / V30 / U3 / Class 10
  • Max Read Speed: 170 MB/s
  • Max Write Speed: 90 MB/s

Highly recommended! With write speeds of up to 90 MB/s and read speeds of up to 170 MB/s, the SanDisk Extreme Pro 170MB/s UHS-I card is the fastest UHS-I SD card and the most popular card out there, and is almost always one of my top recommended SD card, especially for consumer UHS-I cameras. Designed for SD devices that can capture Full HD, 3D, and 4K video, as well as raw and burst photography, the SanDisk Extreme Pro UHS-I card is compatible with the UHS-I bus, and features a speed class rating of V30, which guarantees minimum write speeds of 30 MB/s. Available in 64GB, 128GB, 256GB and 512GB sizes, the SanDisk Extreme Pro 170 MB/s UHS-I card is ideal for professionals recording extreme sports and other fast-action activities, you can rely on uncompromising performance without dropping frames.

Buy SanDisk Extreme PRO UHS-I 170 MB/s (V30, U3) at AmazonB&HAdorama.

2. Lexar Professional 1667x UHS-II SD Card (250 MB/s, V60)

  • UHS-II / V60 / U3 / Class 10
  • Max Read Speed: 250 MB/s
  • Max Write Speed: 90 MB/s

Affordable UHS-II card with excellent performanceThis card offers excellent performance with a similar price of UHS-I cards. With maximum read speeds of up to 250 MB/s and maximum write speeds of up to 90 MB/s, the Lexar Professional 1667x UHS-II card is great for fast burst shooting and 4K & full HD video recording! Although the Sony a6100 can’t take advantage of those extra write speeds with the UHS-II cards, the UHS-II card can work in the Sony a6100 at the fastest write speeds of UHS-I card, and you can take advantage of the read speed of UHS-II cards to transfer files to your computer much quicker. Great value!

Buy Lexar Professional 1667x UHS-II SD Card at AmazonB&HAdorama.

3. Lexar Professional 1000x UHS-II Card (150 MB/s, V60)

 

  • UHS-II / V60 / U3 / Class 10
  • Max Read Speed: 150 MB/s
  • Max Write Speed: 90 MB/s

If you can’t afford the Lexar Professional 1667x UHS-II card and want to get a budget one with excellent performance, the Lexar Professional 1000x UHS-II Card will be a great choice! With maximum read speeds of up to 150 MB/s and maximum write speeds of up to 90 MB/s, the Lexar Professional 1000x UHS-II Card is well-suited for continuous shutter bursts and rapid shooting, as well as 4K and Full HD video. For versatility, the cards also work with UHS-I devices at UHS-I speeds. High-speed file transfer from card to computer to dramatically accelerate workflow. Whether you’re a professional photographer, videographer, or enthusiast, Lexar Professional 1000x SDHC/SDXC UHS-II cards provide performance you can trust. Great value!

Buy Lexar Professional 1000x UHS-II SD Card at AmazonB&HAdorama.

4. SanDisk Extreme UHS-I SDXC Card (V30, U3)

 

  • UHS-I / V30 / U3 / Class 10
  • Max Read Speed: 150 MB/s
  • Max Write Speed: 70 MB/s

Great value! If you are really on a very tight budget and just want to save some money, this is the card for you! The SanDisk Extreme UHS-I SDXC Card (V30, U3) supports extremely fast read speeds of up to 150MB/s and write speeds of up to 70MB/s, making it an ideal choice for fast-action or continuous burst mode photography, as well as full HD and 4K video recording – available in 64GB, 128GB, 256GB sizes. A built-in write-protect switch helps to safeguard against the accidental erasure of card data.

Buy SanDisk Extreme UHS-I SDXC Card (V30, U3): at AmazonB&HAdorama.

Read more: Best Lenses for Sony a6100.