Best Memory Cards for Nikon D850

In this post, we’ll show you the top recommended memory cards for Nikon D850 DSLR camera, including SD cards, XQD cards and CFexpress cards (Type B).

The Nikon D850 has dual memory card slots: 1 x UHS-II SD card slot and 1 x XQD card / CFexpress (Type B) card slot. Revolving around a newly designed 45.7MP BSI CMOS sensor and proven EXPEED 5 image processor, the Nikon D850 (Amazon, B&H, Adorama) supports 7 fps continuous shooting for up to 51 consecutive frames with AE/AF, 4K UHD video recording at 30 fps and full HD 1080p video recording at up to 120p. An 8K time-lapse recording mode is also available, as well as additional specialized recording modes for digitizing film negatives and for focus stacking applications. So, with expansive resolution, a capable autofocus system, fast burst shooting and great image quality under almost any situation, the Nikon D850 is the best DSLR for nature, landscapes, portraits, commercial sports, fashion and weddings, and multimedia content creators. In addition, the Nikon D850 gets 89% overall score and Gold Award from the experts at DPReview and it is suggested for photographers who photograph anything from landscapes to sports and want the best possible image quality in a DSLR.

Below are the best memory cards for the Nikon D850, including SD cards, XQD cards and CFexpress cards (Type B). Hope it can help you get the best out of your Nikon D850 DSLR camera.

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

Best SD Cards for Nikon D850

The Nikon D850 card slot 1 is compatible with the widely-used UHS-II SD cards. Speaking of the UHS-II SD cards, 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.

Below is a quick comparison table of top recommended SD cards for Nikon D850 dslr camera, just get the one you like.

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

The Sony SF-G Tough Series UHS-II SD card is currently the world’s fastest SD memory card on the market and the top choice for you. 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 UHS-II SD card 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. The only downside is: this card is a little expensive for many photographers. The Kingston Canvas React Plus UHS-II SD Card (V90)ProGrade Digital UHS-II SDXC Card (V90)Delkin Devices Power UHS-II SDXC Card (V90) are the top three alternatives to the Sony SF-G Tough UHS-II SD Card.

In addition, the Kingston Canvas React Plus UHS-II SD Card is another top 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. Or, if you need some budget and reliable SD cards, 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 D850

The Nikon D850 card slot 2 supports the XQD cards. But 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 D850

In addition to the XQD cards, the Nikon D850 card slot 2 also supports the ultra-fast CFexpress Type B cards that is ideal for 8K, 6K, 4K video and high-speed, high-resolution burst shooting needs.

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!

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

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!


Don’t own the Nikon D850 yet? Just get it at Amazon, B&H, Adorama.

Read more: Best Lenses for Nikon D850.