SanDisk SD Cards v. Samsung Cards - a Test: My only complaint about the D750s I own is the relatively small buffer. I decided to see how much I could improve the recovery speed by...

Dan De Lion Loc: Montana

My only complaint about the D750s I own is the relatively small buffer. I decided to see how much I could improve the recovery speed by using a relatively fast card. The short answer is: a great deal.

The cards: Samsung 128GB 80 MB/s v. SanDisk extreme pro 128GB 95 MB/s

The files: stored 14 bit NEFs in slot 1 and normal JPGs in slot 2

Shooting: For both brands I shot at “high continual” till the buffer was full and the timed how long the buffer took to empty. The greater number of shots reflects how quickly the buffer emptied while shooting.

The results:
Samsung: 11 shots and 15 seconds.
SanDisk: 21 shots and 5 seconds

Conclusion: For me, the Sandisk cards eliminates my complaints about the D750’s smaller buffer.

James Slick Loc: Pittsburgh,PA

Like RAM on a PC, Speed on an SD card is one thing one can never have enough of!

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

I use Lexar 1000x and 1066x cards in my cameras. Now they have a 2000x SD card. It is smoking fast: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1090747-REG/lexar_lsd32gcrbna2000r_pro_2000x_uhs_2.html

Dan De Lion wrote:

My only complaint about the D750s I own is the rel... (show quote)

James Slick Loc: Pittsburgh,PA

jeep_daddy wrote:

I use Lexar 1000x and 1066x cards in my cameras. Now they have a 2000x SD card. It is smoking fast: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1090747-REG/lexar_lsd32gcrbna2000r_pro_2000x_uhs_2.html

260 MB/s Max. write speed certainly seems smokin' - Gonna try it! thanks!

tramsey Loc: Texas

I have a Nikon d7100 and having too small of a buffer is one of my biggest complaints. Guess what I'm going to do. I have a good card I'm using now but not nearly as good as that SanDisk. Thanks for posting, good info.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Note that UHS II SD cards have a different pin-out and will deliver that performance only on cameras with UHS II compatibility (and socket). If you plug one into a camera with UHS I compatibility, it will work, but default to UHS I speeds. The net-net is to check your camera's supported card format before spending the $ on a UHS II card and expecting that level of performance.

James Slick Loc: Pittsburgh,PA

TriX wrote:

Note that UHS II SD cards have a different pin-out and will deliver that performance only on cameras with UHS II compatibility (and socket). If you plug one into a camera with UHS I compatibility, it will work, but default to UHS I speeds. The net-net is to check your camera's supported card format before spending the $ on a UHS II card and expecting that level of performance.

Good call! Glad for all of the "eyes" out there. Definitely check camera specs! Thanks!

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Dan De Lion wrote:

My only complaint about the D750s I own is the rel... (show quote)

I use the SanDisk Extreme Pro SD as well (and Lexar 1066x Pro for CF) and I find them fastest also. Here's another speed test for the D750 that confirms your conclusion that the Extreme Pro is the fastest SD they tested on the D750: http://www.cameramemoryspeed.com/nikon-d750/fastest-sd-card-speed-tests/

mas24 Loc: Southern CA

TriX wrote:

Note that UHS II SD cards have a different pin-out and will deliver that performance only on cameras with UHS II compatibility (and socket). If you plug one into a camera with UHS I compatibility, it will work, but default to UHS I speeds. The net-net is to check your camera's supported card format before spending the $ on a UHS II card and expecting that level of performance.

Makes sense. Why waste money if the camera is not compatible to the memory card.

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

I'd stick with sandisk extreme pro. Everything else is substandard IMHO.

Reinaldokool Loc: San Rafael, CA

I did exactly this test on my D7100. Had the same results.

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

For many photographers JPEG files are not an option. I have repeatedly said here that modern JPEGs are excellent files and that I use them often.
Shooting JPEGs in sequence allows to shoot MORE than using RAW files and still, as per my experience, the files are of excellent quality.
Make a test with JPEG. I bet you are going to be pleasantly surprised if lots of shots handled by the buffer is your concern.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

camerapapi wrote:

For many photographers JPEG files are not an option. I have repeatedly said here that modern JPEGs are excellent files and that I use them often.
Shooting JPEGs in sequence allows to shoot MORE than using RAW files and still, as per my experience, the files are of excellent quality.
Make a test with JPEG. I bet you are going to be pleasantly surprised if lots of shots handled by the buffer is your concern.

Can't speak Authoritatively for your D750, but for my Canon, the max burst number of shots before the buffer fills is, of course, larger when you shoot JPEGs as the files are smaller than raw. What's not often noticed is that writing to both cards simultaneously slows down performance substantially, and if you write different formats (JPEG to one and raw to the other), it's worse still.

davidrb Loc: Half way there on the 45th Parallel

Dan De Lion wrote:

My only complaint about the D750s I own is the rel... (show quote)

Now that the deal is final Sandisk will begin to feel the acquisition by WD. WD's plans for Sandisk call for investments into R&D. Their cards are among the best offered, maybe WD will come up with something new in an effort to improve. Acquisitions are tricky ways of expansion and growth. Possibly WD can take Sandisk into a new leadership role in the future.

WayneT Loc: Paris, TN

So far I've never had a problem running out of buffer on my d7200 but I have always used the SanDisk Extreme Pro SD cards. From my experience I would never buy anything slower.