A quick note on SD cards (size vs speed)
When people talk about memory cards, the focus is usually on size.
How many gigabytes. How many photos. How long before you “run out”.
But in practice, speed matters far more than capacity.
RAW files are larger and take longer to write to the card. If your card is slow, you’ll feel it — longer buffer times, missed moments, and that familiar frustration when the camera refuses to fire because it’s still writing.
That’s why I’d always choose a faster, smaller card over one huge, slow one.
- Faster cards clear the buffer more quickly
- Burst shooting is more reliable
- The camera feels more responsive
There’s also a practical risk consideration.
Using one massive card means everything from the day lives in one place. If that card corrupts, mid-shoot or later, you don’t just lose a few images, you lose the lot.
I’d rather carry two (or more) smaller cards and swap them during the day. It spreads the risk and gives you options.
It’s not about being dramatic or paranoid. It’s just sensible.
So if you’re choosing between:
- a huge, slower card
- a slightly smaller but faster one
Go with speed. Your camera - and your nerves - will thank you.