Best Memory Cards for Nikon D500

Best SD cards and XQD cards for Nikon D500. Here is our full list of top recommended SD cards and XQD cards for Nikon D500 DSLR camera.

The Nikon D500 has two memory card slots: one XQD card slot and one SD card slot that supports the fast UHS-II SD cards. Featuring a 20.9MP DX-Format CMOS sensor and EXPEED 5 image processor, the Nikon D500 (Amazon, B&H, Adorama) is capable of 10 fps continuous shooting at 20.9 MP for up to 200 Exposures (Raw), 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, along with the ability to save movie files to the in-camera memory cards or as an uncompressed file to an optional external recorder via HDMI out. With amazing imaging capability, robust build quality and lightning fast performance, the Nikon D500 is an excellent DSLR camera for both still and video shooters.

In order to get the ultra high read speeds and write speeds to get the best out of the Nikon D500 camera, here we list the top recommended & fastest SD cards for Nikon D500 DSLR camera based on the speed and price. Just choose the one you like!

Recommended Memory Cards for Nikon D500

If you just want to cut to the chase, here are our top recommended SD cards and XQD cards for Nikon D500 DSLR camera.

SD Cards:

  1. Sony SF-G Tough UHS-II Card (300 MB/s, V90)
  2. Lexar Professional 2000x UHS-II Card (300 MB/s, V90)
  3. SanDisk Extreme PRO UHS-II Card (300 MB/s)
  4. Lexar Professional 1667x UHS-II Card (250 MB/s, V60)

XQD Cards:

  1. Sony G Series XQD Card (440 MB/s)
  2. Delkin Devices Premium XQD Card (440 MB/s)

Best SD Memory Cards for Nikon D500

1. Sony SF-G Tough UHS-II Card (300 MB/s, V90)

Highly recommended and the Fastest UHS-II SD CardThe Sony SF-G Tough Series UHS-II Memory Cards are currently the world’s fastest SD memory cards boasting an ultra-fast maximum read speeds of up to 300 MB/s and maximum write speeds of up to 299 MB/s and it is well-suited for 4K and Full HD video reacording and super fast continuous shooting. 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 cards for you.

Buy Sony SF-G Tough UHS-II SDXC Cards: at AmazonB&HAdorama.

2. Lexar Professional 2000x UHS-II Card (300 MB/s, V90)

Highly recommended and Best Value! With maximum read speeds of up to 300 MB/s and maximum write speeds of up to 260 MB/s, the Lexar Professional 2000x UHS-II card offers the super fast speeds for both writing and reading files, and you can get a free Lexar SD UHS-II Reader for high-speed file transfer from card to computer, dramatically accelerating workflow. Thanks to its V90 speed class rating, minimum write speeds are guaranteed not to drop below 90 MB/s. It’s the perfect match for any UHS-II compatible camera that records 4K and Full HD video or has a fast 8fps+ continuous shooting speed. The buffer clearing time will be much much quicker which means you can take more shots.

Buy Lexar Professional 2000x UHS-II Cards: at AmazonB&HAdorama.

3. SanDisk Extreme PRO UHS-II Card (300 MB/s)

Designed for professional photographers and videographers, the SanDisk Extreme PRO UHS-II SDXC Memory Cards can achieve maximum read speeds of up to 300 MB/s and maximum write speeds of up to 260 MB/s. This card is well-suited for video capture, including 4K, 3D, and Full HD video, as well as continuous shutter bursts and rapid shooting. Thanks to its U3 speed class rating, minimum write speeds are guaranteed not to drop below 30 MB/s.

Buy SanDisk Extreme PRO UHS-II SDXC Memory Cards: at AmazonB&HAdorama.

4. Lexar Professional 1667x UHS-II SD Card (250 MB/s, V60)

Affordable UHS-II card with excellent performance. If you are really on a very tight budget and just want to save some money, this is the card for you! With maximum read speeds of up to 250 MB/s and maximum write speeds of up to 90 MB/s, the Lexar Professional 1667x UHS-II card is great for fast burst shooting and 4K & full HD video recording! This card offers excellent performance with the similar price of UHS-I cards. Great value!

Buy Lexar Professional 1667x UHS-II SD Card at AmazonB&HAdorama.


Recommended SD Cards for Nikon D500

SD Card Max. Read Speed Max. Write Speed
Sony SF-G Tough UHS-II Card 300 MB/s 299 MB/s
Lexar Professional 2000x UHS-II Card 300 MB/s 260 MB/s
SanDisk Extreme PRO UHS-II Card 300 MB/s 260 MB/s
Hoodman Steel 2000x UHS-II SD Card 300 MB/s 260 MB/s
Lexar Professional 1667x UHS-II SD Card 250 MB/s 90 MB/s
SanDisk Extreme PRO UHS-I Card (170 MB/s) 170 MB/s 90 MB/s

Best XQD Memory Cards for Nikon D500

1. Sony G Series XQD Card (440 MB/s)

Highly recommended! The Sony G Series XQD Cards are the fastest XQD cards and the most favorite among professional photographers and videographers. Available in 32GB, 64GB,120GB, 240GB and 256GB capacities, Sony G Series XQD Cards are XQD 2.0 compliant and offer read speeds up to 440 MB/s and write speeds up to 400 MB/s, making it easy to capture photos in both burst mode and in RAW format, 4K videos, as well as streamline workflows.

Buy Sony G Series XQD Cards at AmazonB&HAdorama.

You can also get a Sony XQD/SD Card Reader at AmazonB&HAdorama.

2. Delkin Devices Premium XQD Card (440 MB/s)

Equipped with a PCIe 2.0 interface, XQD Format Version 2 compliance, and EB Stream functionality, this Delkin Devices Premium XQD Card features read speeds of up to 440 MB/s and write speeds of up to 400 MB/s, allowing it to record 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. As an added bonus, every XQD card is backed by Delkin Devices’ 48HR Replacement Guarantee policy for the ultimate coverage.

Buy Delkin Devices Premium XQD Cards at AmazonB&HAdorama.

Recommended XQD Cards for Nikon D500

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

Read more: Best Lenses for Nikon D500.