Best Memory Cards for Sony a1

Here are our top recommended memory cards for Sony a1 mirrorless camera, including CFexpress cards (Type A) and UHS-II SD cards.

The Sony a1 mirrorless camera has dual memory card slots that both accept either CFexpress cards (Type A) or UHS-II SD cards. Sporting a newly designed 50.1MP full-frame Exmor RS BSI CMOS sensor and the BIONZ XR processing engine, the Sony a1 (Amazon, B&H, Adorama) is capable of 30 fps continuous shooting with up to 120 AF/AE calculations per second, and recording UHD 8K 30p XAVC HS 10-bit 4:2:0 video as well as 4K 120p15 10-bit 4:2:2 video in S-Cinetone color. Apart from the exceptional image quality, this sensor and processor combo delivers a 15-stop dynamic range and low noise throughout the standard ISO 100-32,000 and expanded ISO 50-102,400 sensitivity ranges for low-light shooting. The sensor’s design also includes a 759-point Fast Hybrid AF system, which offers advanced subject tracking and Real-time Eye AF on humans and animals, even including a dedicated Bird Mode. What’s more, the Sony a1 gets 93% overall score and Gold Award from the experts at DPReview and it is suggested for photographers capturing fast action, landscapes, weddings and events, portraiture and studio work or high-quality video.

Below is our full list of best memory cards for Sony a1, including CFexpress cards (Type A) and UHS-II SD cards. Hope it can help you get the best out of your Sony a1 mirrorless camera.

CFexpress Cards (Type A) | SD Cards

Best CFexpress Cards (Type A) for Sony a1

The Sony a1 has two memory slots that both support CFexpress Type A cards for higher overall capacity and faster read and write speeds. But when it comes to CFexpress Type A cards, the choices are very limited. Currently, only Sony released their own TOUGH CFexpress Type A card which is available in 80GB and 160GB. Offering both strength and speed, the Sony TOUGH CFexpress Type A card provides fast read speeds up to 800 MB/s along with write speeds up to 700 MB/s. This quick performance benefits recording a variety of video resolutions, bit-rates, and compressions, as well as high-resolution continuous raw photo shooting. Beyond its speed, this TOUGH memory card also has a reinforced physical design to withstand falls from up to 15′ and has been rigidity tested to 70 N of force. It’s also resistant to extreme temperatures, X-rays, electrostatic, and UV lighting. Offering further protection, File Rescue recovery software can be downloaded for recovering lost or even accidentally deleted files and Media Scan Utility can be used to automatically scan CFexpress cards and inform you of the flash memory condition. In addition, you can also get the Sony MRW-G2 CFexpress Type A/SD Card Reader, which allows you to transfer data approximately 2.8 times faster than with conventional media. Overall, we highly recommend the Sony TOUGH CFexpress Type A card as the top choice for the Sony a1 users.

CFexpress Card Max. Read Speed Max. Write Speed
Sony 160GB TOUGH CFexpress Type A Card 800 MB/s 700 MB/s
Sony 80GB TOUGH CFexpress Type A Card 800 MB/s 700 MB/s
ProGrade Digital Cobalt CFexpress Type A Card 800 MB/s 700 MB/s
Delkin Devices POWER CFexpress Type A Card 880 MB/s 790 MB/s
Delkin Devices BLACK CFexpress Type A Card 880 MB/s 790 MB/s
Sony MRW-G2 CFexpress Type A/SD Card Reader

Best SD Cards for Sony a1

In addition to the CFexpress Type A cards, both Sony a1 card slots are also compatible with UHS-II SD memory 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.

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.

Besides, Kingston Canvas React Plus UHS-II SD CardProGrade Digital UHS-II SDXC Card (V90)Delkin Devices Power/Black UHS-II SDXC Card (V90) and Lexar Professional 2000x UHS-II Card are another excellent four choices with a little cheaper price and these four cards offer almost the same speed. 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). Below are the top recommended UHS-II SD cards for Sony a1 mirrorless camera based on the speed and price, 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

Don’t own the Sony a1 yet? Just get it at Amazon, B&H, Adorama.

Read more: Best Lenses for Sony a1.