• What are SD/SDHC/SDXC, Compact Flash and CFExpress?
• Which one is best for me?
• So what's our top picks?

We all know how difficult it can be to cut through the technical jargon surrounding memory cards, especially when so many of the options look exactly the same!

Well we're here to break down some of the basics and give you some recommendations on which products we think would be best for you.

What are SD/SDHC/SDXC, Compact Flash and CFExpress?

Essentially Secure Digital Cards (SD Cards) are a type of compact memory storage. You may have seen many variations of SD, such as SDHC(secure digital high capacity, supports capacities up to 32GB) or SDXC(Secure Digital eXtended Capacity, supports capacities up to 2TB) - these are just more advanced iterations created in the last couple of decades years to meet the growing demand in the creators market for higher capacity and faster write speeds. You will see microSD variants, which are designed for smaller devices such as smartphones and GoPro's, these will generally have the same read/write speeds as their non-micro counterpart.

CompactFlash is another memory card format, which tends to be more expensive and more durable than it's SD counterparts, however it's usage is in decline and primarily it's utilised in the higher end digital photo/video cameras. While it's still widely used and the high end Camera Brands continue to support it, there newer form factors available on the market which are beginning to replace this format.

CFExpress is currently the fastest option on the market, with read write speeds reaching 1700mb/1400mb per second it easily blitz's past the previous offerings. It's designed to meet the demands of the latest cameras in terms of both high resolution photos and are currently able to be used in the higher end camera offerings from Sony, Nikon, Canon and Panasonic. It comes in Type A, B and C, with Type B being the most common one used by content creators.

Which one is best for me?

Well, this is a tough question as everyone's use case is different, so we think it's best we demonstrate this with some examples.

If you're a heavy smartphone camera user or action camera user , no doubt you probably utilise the latest camera technology (4k/8k video recording, raw format hi-rez images), storage capacity and read/write speeds are very important attributes to consider. We wouldn't aim for less than a 256GB SDXC Card, specificially an extreme or extreme pro (slightly faster read/write).

If you're a DSLR user, or are looking to get into photography, then CompactFlash might be the right choice for you or CFexpress if your camera can support it (remember CFexpress Type B is the most common type you'll be able to use with a camera.), however the affordability of these options can be limiting to some.

So what's our top picks?

Best Budget Memory Card:

Sandisk Extreme Micro SDXC 256GB

A perfect balance between capacity and blazing fast speed at only $99.99, currently it's at our lowest price ever. We think 256GB is a minimum these days, although we recommend if you are using an older device to make sure to check if it is supported. It even has an A2 rating, which means it is enhanced application performance on smartphones. Would make an excellent Xmas pressie!
 

Best Memory Card for DSLR users:

Sandisk Extreme Pro CFexpress 128GB

It's hard to ignore the massive theoretical speed gains from using this format, however we've chosen the 128GB capacity as we feel the pricing is at a great entry point for new and experienced users alike. Currently it's at $399.99, for those who aren't requiring the extremely fast read/write speeds, the Sandisk Extreme Pro SDXC 256GB also presents a great option with a higher capacity and much more affordable price tag (remember to always check for compatibility with your device.)

Best overall memory card for Smartphones/Gopro's/Drones:

Sandisk Extreme Pro Micro SDXC 256GB

This is the favourite amongst the Flashcards team, the "Pro" version enhances the already blazing fast Sandisk Extreme edition with faster read speeds, it makes an excellent and versatile choice for all types of devices including action cameras and Drones. It's available at a limited time for only $119.99, an amazing price for an amazing memory card.
 

We realise everyone has unique needs and we recommend checking out our full range of Memory Cards to find something that suits you.