Does SD Card Affect Video Quality?

In short, yes. Modern cameras these days have very advanced filming capabilities, and if you’re filming in high-definition and don’t have the right size SD card it won’t be able to keep up with your camera’s speed, and the video will stutter. The speed of the card is also crucial.

For 4K, you require an SD card with a video speed class of V30. High-speed SD cards are recommended for keeping up with 4K cameras, especially when shooting in RAW; this is a class 10 SD card or higher with a UHS (Ultra High Speed) classification.

Video on memory cards

What speed SD card for 1080p video?

When shooting in 1080p it is recommended that you use a V6 SD card or higher. A V6 SD card has a guaranteed minimum write speed of 6MB/s or higher. However, some photographers prefer to use a V10 SD card for faster performance with a minimum write speed of 10MB/s or higher.

What size SD card for 4K video?

For a 4K video, you really need an SD with a capacity of at least 128GB so you don’t have to frequently swap out cards. With 128GB you can store up to five hours of 4K video. 

If you’re used to shooting in 1080p, be aware that a frame in 4K is four times the size of a 1080p video frame, so if you want to make the transition from 1080p to 4000p you will need a bigger SD card than the one you are already using for 1080p.

Best SD card for 4K video recording

Our pick for the best SD card for 4K video is the Lexar Professional Class 10 UHS-II 2000X. This is a mid-range SD card in terms of price, but we believe that paying a little extra for this card is worth it. The Lexar SD card has a high-speed data transfer, saving you precious time and energy as a videographer. Importantly, it comes with a lifetime limited warranty.

This card has a capacity of up to 128GB, a read speed of up to 300MB/s, a write speed of up to 260MB/s, and it is great for photography as well as 4K video. Overall, it is a reliable, high-speed, and consistently well-performing SD card that can keep up with your video camera, making it the best SD card for 4K video, and also the best SD card for 1080 video recording. For its price, it cannot be beaten by other SD cards. 

Best microSD Card for video recording

If you need to record video on a smaller camera, or a mobile device, then you may need a microSD card in a smaller format, but all the same shooting capabilities. The Samsung PRO Endurance microSD card is widely considered to be the best microSD card on the market. Of course, it is the perfect size for smaller cameras, and as the name suggests, lasts for a long time. 

This microSD card has a capacity of up to 128GB, a read speed of up to 100MB/s, and a write speed of up to 30MB/s, and a warranty of up to 5 years.

And that’s all of the basics on SD cards for videography covered. We hope you found our tips and advice for shooting video on an SD card helpful!

If you require a videographer, book with Splento. At Splento, we provide you with experienced, reliable videographers, on-demand, at an affordable rate. Contact us today to speak about your videography needs.