I need a spare memory card for my Sony a7iii and wanted one large enough for video. Currently, I have a 32 GB Lexar SD II U3 150MB/s. I was considering another Lexar card, but twice the size. EVERY review on EVERY card has a reviewer that says something like, "Don't buy this card" or "It's a fake" or " the card failed in the middle of a shoot". etc. Also, hardly any of them show the back of the card, except for the Transcend card (TS64GSD2U3). Both cards are on the Sony recommended list. What say you?

I'm new to this forum but have been actively shooting both film & digital for the past 50+ years. During this time I like many of you have bought my share of gear from brick and mortar stores as well as online from reputable outlets like B&H Photo.

In what seems a never ending quest to buy the best for less many turn to internet sources like Amazon...present company included.

But as the old adage goes "let the buyer beware". You don't have to look hard to find many posts detailing pirated, look alike, rip offs especially when it comes to flash memory cards...the Chinese have this down to a sciencencluding packaging that looks convincing to the untrained eye.

I'm extremely wary of photo products/equipment available on Amazon due to simple fact that many 3rd party, e-commerce businesses use Amazon as their store front to peddle counterfeit products. If in doubt ask pointed questions of the seller and if confirm their answers thru reputable sources such as B&H and/or manufacturer.

The price of many of these items is very tempting at times but always remember "if it sounds too good to be true...it's not".

I need a spare memory card for my Sony a7iii and wanted one large enough for video. Currently, I have a 32 GB Lexar SD II U3 150MB/s. I was considering another Lexar card, but twice the size. EVERY review on EVERY card has a reviewer that says something like, "Don't buy this card" or "It's a fake" or " the card failed in the middle of a shoot". etc. Also, hardly any of them show the back of the card, except for the Transcend card (TS64GSD2U3). Both cards are on the Sony recommended list. What say you?

I haven't read all 5 pages so I don't know if anybody has already suggested the following possibility:-

When buying through Amazon there is a heightened risk that what you end up with is fake. Perhaps it's not the reviews but the products that are suspect. I'm not suggesting that everything bought through Amazon is a cheap imitation, but buying through such vendors is not as reliable as buying through established retail outlets who only buy directly from source (the original manufacturer) and who have a reputation to worry about.

Here is a not-so-secret tip. Most pros swear by Sandisk, Sony, then Lexar for memory cards. We stay away from ALL others for good reasons (failures,corruptions,poor quality) , and at times in the past , Lexar (which I have along with Sandisk and Sony cards) had some quality control issues. Lexar has been resurrected and bought out by Chinese firm now and is back up to "full" production, according to the new owners. Some of their new cards are already back in stores. XQD cards are designed and made by Sony (even if branded with another name), and now Nikon is set to make their own also. And Sony has announced its new "TOUGH" SD cards with claimed 18X times the bend strength of current SD cards. Most better quality full size and micro SD cards are waterproof now also. So if your phone enters the water and doesn't survive (even after rice treatment), your micro sd card inside should be fine with all your data. Cheers