Best Memory Cards for Nikon D500

Here are our top recommended memory cards for Nikon D500 DSLR camera, including SD cards, XQD cards and CFexpress cards (Type B).

Just like the Nikon D850, the Nikon D500 has dual memory card slots: 1 x UHS-II SD card slot and 1 x XQD card / CFexpress (Type B) card slot. As the flagship model within Nikon’s DX-format DSLR line, the Nikon D500 (Amazon, B&H, Adorama) is characterized by its robust physical construction, apt imaging capabilities, and of course, a more compact, sleek form factor than its FX brethren. Featuring a 20.9MP DX-Format CMOS Sensor and an EXPEED 5 Image Processor, the Nikon D500 is capable of continuous shooting up to 10 fps with full-time autofocus and exposure metering for up to 200 frames, and it supports 4K UHD video recording at 30, 25, and 24 fps frame rates and Full HD/HD recording at up to 60 fps. With amazing imaging capability, robust build quality, lightning fast performance, 10fps shooting capability and first-rate metering and white balance systems, the Nikon D500 might be the best DX-format digital SLR Nikon has ever made. What’s more, the Nikon D500 gets 91% overall score and Gold Award from the experts at DPReview, and it is suggested for anyone looking to shoot sports or crucial-moment photography as well as photographers looking for a durable camera with excellent ergonomics.

So, have you picked up a Nikon D500 recently? If so, then you might be thinking about which are the best memory cards for your camera. Here we’ve listed the best memory cards for the Nikon D500, including SD cards, XQD cards and CFexpress cards (Type B). Hope it can help you get the best out of your Nikon D500 DSLR camera.

SD Cards | XQD Cards | CFexpress Cards (Type B)

Best SD Cards for Nikon D500

The Nikon D500 card slot 1 is compatible with the widely-used UHS-II SD cards. Below is a quick comparison table of top recommended SD cards for Nikon D500 dslr camera, just get the one you like.

Currently, the Sony SF-G Tough UHS-II SD Card (V90)Kingston Canvas React Plus UHS-II SD Card (V90)ProGrade Digital UHS-II SDXC Card (V90)Delkin Devices Power UHS-II SDXC Card (V90) and Lexar Professional 2000x UHS-II SD Card (V90) are top five fastest and the most popular UHS-II SD cards on the market.

UHS-II SD Cards Max. Read Speed Max. Write Speed
Sony SF-G Tough UHS-II SD Card (V90) 300 MB/s 299 MB/s
Kingston Canvas React Plus UHS-II SD Card (V90) 300 MB/s 260 MB/s
ProGrade Digital UHS-II SDXC Card (V90) 300 MB/s 250 MB/s
Delkin Devices Power UHS-II SDXC Card (V90) 300 MB/s 250 MB/s
Delkin Devices BLACK UHS-II SDXC Card (V90) 300 MB/s 250 MB/s
Lexar Professional 2000x UHS-II Card (V90) 300 MB/s 260 MB/s
SanDisk Extreme PRO UHS-II Card 300 MB/s 260 MB/s
Hoodman Steel 2000x SDXC UHS-II Card 300 MB/s 260 MB/s
Sony SF-M Tough UHS-II SDXC Card (V60) 277 MB/s 150 MB/s
ProGrade Digital UHS-II SDXC Card (V60) 250 MB/s 130 MB/s
Sony SF-E Series UHS-II SDXC Card (V60) 270 MB/s 120 MB/s
Lexar Professional 1667x UHS-II SD Card (V60) 250 MB/s 90 MB/s

Our top pick is the Sony SF-G Tough UHS-II SD Card. Offering maximum read speeds of up to 300 MB/s and maximum write speeds of up to 299 MB/s, the Sony SF-G Tough Series UHS-II SD card is currently the world’s fastest SD card on the market, and it is well-suited for video capture, including 8K, 4K XAVC S, 60p AVCHD, 3D, HFR, and Full HD video, as well as super fast continuous shooting. In addition, thanks to its V90 speed class rating, minimum write speeds are guaranteed not to drop below 90 MB/s. So, if you are seeking the highest write speed with a V90 rating as well as extremely high 250-300MB/s read speeds for transferring photos from the card to a computer, this is the recommended card for you. The only downside is: this card is a little expensive for many photographers.

In addition, the Kingston Canvas React Plus UHS-II SD Card is another great choice and great value SD card for shooting 8K, 4K, and Full HD video, as well as high-resolution photos. Besides, the ProGrade Digital UHS-II SDXC Card (V90) and the Delkin Devices Power UHS-II SDXC Card (V90) are two of the most popular SD cards with an affordable price on the market! If you need some fast and reliable UHS-II SD cards without spending too much (like Sony SF-G Tough UHS-II SD Card), these two cards are the perfect choice for you. If you need some budget choice, you can also consider the Sony SF-M Tough UHS-II SD Card (V60) and the ProGrade Digital UHS-II SD Card (V60).

Best XQD Cards for Nikon D500

The Nikon D500 card slot 2 is compatible with the XQD cards. When it comes to XQD cards, the choices are very limited. Currently, there are only three choices for you: Sony G Series XQD CardDelkin Devices Premium XQD Card and Nikon XQD Card.

Available in 32GB, 64GB, 120GB and 240GB capacities, the Sony G Series XQD Card is one of the fastest XQD cards on the market with up to 440 MB/s read speeds and up to 400 MB/s write speeds, allowing it to record 4K video and up to 200 continuous raw still image bursts. In addition, Delkin Devices Premium XQD Card offers the same speeds as the Sony G Series XQD – read speeds of up to 440 MB/s and write speeds of up to 400 MB/s, making it another great choice for recording DCI 4K (4096 x 2160) and Full HD (1920 x 1080) video at up to 180 fps, and up to 200 continuous raw still image bursts. Nikon also released their XQD card, but only available in 64GB. So, if you would like to get a XQD card, we highly recommend picking up the Sony G Series XQD card or the Delkin Devices Premium XQD card – both are the most favorite among professional photographers and videographers.

XQD Card Max. Read Speed Max. Write Speed
Sony XQD G Series XQD 440 MB/s 400 MB/s
Nikon XQD Card 440 MB/s 400 MB/s
Delkin Devices Premium XQD Cards 440 MB/s 400 MB/s

Best CFexpress Cards (Type B) for Nikon D500

In addition to the XQD cards, the Nikon D500 card slot 2 also supports the ultra-fast CFexpress Type B cards. Below is the full list of the top recommended CFexpress cards for Nikon D500.

Currently, Delkin Devices Power & Black CFexpress Cards, ProGrade Digital Cobalt & Gold CFexpress Cards, Sony TOUGH CFexpress Cards and SanDisk Extreme PRO CFexpress are the top fastest and the most popular choices for you!

Built with strength, reliability, and performance, the Delkin Devices Power & Black CFexpress Cards provides read speeds of up to 1730 MB/s and write speeds of up to 1540 MB/s that are well-suited for raw and continuous-burst photography, as well as 8K, 6K, and 4K video at high bitrates and frame rates. Besides, the ProGrade Digital Cobalt & Gold CFexpress Cards and Sony TOUGH CFexpress Cards are also the top fastest CFexpress cards on the market – providing read speeds of up to 1700 MB/s, which helps to quickly offload content to your computer, and write speeds of up to 1500 MB/s. Additionally, the Cobalt’s minimum write speed is guaranteed not to drop below 1400 MB/s. Or, if you are a SanDisk fans, the SanDisk Extreme PRO CFexpress card is also a great choice. Just get the one you like most!

CFexpress Cards (Type B) Max. Read Speed Max. Write Speed
Delkin Devices POWER CFexpress Type B Card 1730 MB/s 1540 MB/s
ProGrade Digital Cobalt Series CFexpress Card 1700 MB/s 1500 MB/s
Sony TOUGH CFexpress Memory Card Type B 1700 MB/s 1480 MB/s
Wise Advanced CFX-B Series CFexpress Card 1700 MB/s 1550 MB/s
Delkin Devices BLACK CFexpress Type B Card 1645 – 1760 MB/s 1400 – 1710 MB/s
ProGrade Digital Gold Series CFexpress Card 1700 MB/s 1400 – 1500 MB/s
SanDisk Extreme PRO CFexpress Card Type B 1700 MB/s 1200 – 1400 MB/s
Hoodman Steel CFexpress Card 1700 MB/s 1,400 MB/s
Lexar Professional CFexpress Type-B Card 1750 MB/s 1,000 MB/s

Don’t own the Nikon D500 yet? Just get it at Amazon, B&H, Adorama.

Read more: Best Lenses for Nikon D500.