Using the DJ Drive Tool, we and others have tested and compiled real-world media performance data. Having this data makes buying decisions for your media needs easier.
| Media Type | Manufacturer / Model | Capacity | Read Speed | Write Speed | Latest Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SD Card |
PNY Elite-X 128GB SDXC
Test performed on a StarTech 4SD4FCRU31C reader |
126.4GB | 96.1MB/sec | 78.4MB/sec | $ 12.99 | ||
| SD Card |
SanDisk Extreme 128GB SDXC 150MB/s (Lexar Reader)
Test performed on a Lexar LRW450UBNA reader |
127.9GB | 173.2MB/sec | 91.3MB/sec | $ 20.66 | ||
| SD Card |
SanDisk Extreme PRO 128GB SDXC 170MB/s (SanDisk Reader)
Test performed on a SanDisk SDDR-C531-GNANN reader |
127.9GB | 167.3MB/sec | 110.8MB/sec | $ 24.54 | ||
| SD Card |
SanDisk Extreme PRO 128GB 200MB/S (SanDisk Reader)
Test performed on a SanDisk SDDR-C531-GNANN reader |
127.9GB | 174.4MB/sec | 92.6MB/sec | $ 21.99 | ||
| SD Card |
Lexar Professional 128GB 1066X SDXC UHS-II/U3
Test performed on a Lexar RW470 USB Device reader |
126.9GB | 154.7MB/sec | 116.0MB/sec | $ 24.99 | ||
| SD Card |
Lexar Professional 128GB 1066X 160MB/s (Lexar Reader)
Test performed on a Lexar LRW450UBNA reader |
126.9GB | 157.0MB/sec | 111.6MB/sec | $ 24.99 | ||
| SD Card |
Samsung EVO Plus 128GB SDXC Card (Lexar Reader)
Test performed on a Lexar LRW450UBNA reader |
128.2GB | 132.6MB/sec | 65.1MB/sec | $ 16.86 | ||
| SD Card |
TeamGroup ELITE 128GB SDXC
Test performed on a StarTech 4SD4FCRU31C reader |
125.1GB | 96.7MB/sec | 52.0MB/sec | $ 12.99 | ||
| SD Card |
SanDisk Extreme 128GB SDXC 150MB/s (SanDisk Reader)
Test performed on a SanDisk SDDR-C531-GNANN reader |
127.9GB | 90.6MB/sec | 92.0MB/sec | $ 20.66 | ||
| SD Card |
Samsung EVO Plus 128GB SDXC Card
Test performed on a StarTech 4SD4FCRU31C reader |
128.2GB | 97.2MB/sec | 64.5MB/sec | $ 16.86 | ||
| SD Card |
SanDisk Extreme 128GB SDXC 150MB/s
Test performed on a StarTech 4SD4FCRU31C reader |
127.9GB | 96.5MB/sec | 84.7MB/sec | $ 20.66 | ||
| SD Card |
SanDisk Extreme PRO 128GB SDXC 200MB/s
Test performed on a StarTech 4SD4FCRU31C reader |
127.9GB | 90.6MB/sec | 85.0MB/sec | $ 21.99 | ||
| SD Card | SanDisk Ultra 128GB SDXC 80MB/s | 127.9GB | 93.9MB/sec | 57.6MB/sec | $ 17.75 | ||
| SD Card |
SanDisk Extreme PRO 128GB SDXC 170MB/s
Test performed on a StarTech 4SD4FCRU31C reader |
127.9GB | 95.8MB/sec | 85.9MB/sec | $ 24.54 | ||
| SD Card |
SanDisk Ultra 128GB SDXC 120MB/s (Lexar Reader)
Test performed on a Lexar LRW450UBNA reader |
127.9GB | 120.8MB/sec | 36.0MB/sec | $ 14.99 | ||
| SD Card |
Lexar Professional 128GB 1066X SDXC UHS-II/U3
Test performed on a StarTech 4SD4FCRU31C reader |
126.9GB | 96.2MB/sec | 85.9MB/sec | $ 24.99 | ||
| SD Card |
ProGrade UHS-II 128GB V60
Test performed on a StarTech 4SD4FCRU31C reader |
128.1GB | 235.4MB/sec | 134.7MB/sec | $ 44.99 | ||
| SD Card |
SanDisk Extreme PRO 128GB SDXC 170MB/s
Test performed on a Kingston FCR-HS4 reader |
127.9GB | 87.2MB/sec | 85.1MB/sec | $ 24.90 | ||
| SD Card |
ProGrade UHS-II 128GB V60 (Lexar Reader)
Test performed on a Lexar LRW450UBNA reader |
128.1GB | 240.2MB/sec | 131.6MB/sec | $ 44.99 | ||
| SD Card |
SanDisk Ultra 128GB SDXC 140MB/s (Lexar Reader)
Test performed on a Lexar LRW450UBNA reader |
127.9GB | 156.5MB/sec | 26.0MB/sec | $ 15.99 |
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
Manufacturers of SD, Compact Flash, CFast, and other media don't often advertise the write speeds of their cards. But in the video production world, sustained write speed is the most important metric. We need to know that cards are going to be able to write data as fast as our cameras and other recorders generate it.
Short answer? Get a card as fast as your budget allows, as long as it is fast enough for your production workflow.
Longer answer? Get cards with write speeds in the above table higher than your recorder's or camera's required minimums. You can enter a minimum write speed in the search criteria to limit which cards are shown.
Data rates vary quite a bit, based on the codec, resolution, frame rate, and even image quality of the camera. For example, at DJP we use the Hyperdeck Studio Mini from Blackmagic Design for most of our recording needs, and shoot in formats from 1080p24 up through 2160p30, usually in ProRes. Cards which are capable of writing at rates of 100MB/sec usually work well for this. Our cameras needs are more modest, where 40 MB/sec is plenty for 2160p30 in XAVC-S.
For general use, when you have to copy data from multiple cards at a time, the StarTech 4-Slot SD Card Reader is our preferred device. We use it on every event when we need to copy footage from our master HyperDeck recorders and the isolated camera feeds with the minimum amount of hassle. With USB 3.2 Gen 2 connectivity for both Type A and C, this unit gives the highest standard UHS-I and UHS-II speeds we've seen, at up to 10 Gigabits per second, giving the speed to read four cards at 250 MB/second simultaneously.
For the highest perfomance for SD and microSD, we like this 2-in-1 reader from Lexar. For cards which offer performance boosts above normal UHS-I speeds (speeds greater than 104 MB/sec), this reader has proven to be the best we've tried. It not only accelerates reads from Lexar cards, it also speeds up reads and writes from cards from other manufacturers as well, often more than readers from the same manufacturer. We've had great luck with these readers, and they're quite inexpensive.
Use the DJ Drive Tool to perform disk testing and submit card performance data to this site.
We recommend using the 'Refresh' mode to perform both read and write testing.