Choosing the Right Memory Card

How to Choose the Right Memory Card for Your Camera

Film cameras were designed to work with a specific type of film format. Similarly, digital cameras are built to take specific types of memory cards.
When it comes to choosing a new memory card there are a ton of options. Also, with 4K video becoming the new standard, stills being shot at
higher resolutions, and camera specs increasing rapidly, it's important to know which cards are best for the work your camera does. There are a
few different memory card formats used by current camera models, but since most cameras have SD card slots, we'll use these as our example
in this tutorial. The write and read speeds for memory cards are also not the same; here we are mainly focusing on the ability to record and save
video or images in camera.

SPEED: Class, UHS and V Ratings
These ratings indicate the minimum sustained write speed necessary for high resolution images and video recording, so that the minimum
constant speed is guaranteed. If the card is not fast enough to write the data recorded at the quality your video is shot in, there may be issues
like dropped frames and recording errors.

Speed Class. This rating shows as a C with a number in it . These equate to the minimum number of megabytes are written to the card per second (MB/s). A Class 10 card will write no slower than 10 MB/s.
UHS (Ultra High Speed) Class ratings are identified on the card by a U with a number UHS I means the card will write no slower than 10 MB/s and UHS III cards write no slower than 30 MB/s.These are not your maximum speeds, but it means your card will sustain a speed of at least these ratings. The UHS rating provides you with a quick way of understanding what kind of performance you can expect.
Video Speed Class was created for higher video resolution and recording features that new cameras like the Fuji X-T3 are capable of. Video Speed Class ratings are either V10, V30, V60, and V90. They appear on a card as a V next to a number . Higher Video Speed Class supports higher resolution videos. Newer cameras like the X-T3 require a V90 speed rating to use all it's video features.

It's important to know that some cards may not be compatible with your camera. You can talk to us about this if you're not sure. But to use
your camera to it's recording potential, make sure you get the fastest compatible card for your camera.

STORAGE CAPACITY

If you shoot video or high resolution stills, a good amount of storage is essential. Some uncompressed RAW files can be up to 80MB each,
and some video files may save onto the card at 4GB per file. That's a lot of data to save. Don't limit yourself unnecessarily to a low data card.
Your memory storage capacity depends on how much you want to shoot at once.
Another thing to consider is whether you want to save all your data onto one card or split it over multiple cards. This also depends on the
length of video you want to shoot. Using multiple cards to record an event or holiday might be important to you if you are concerned about
something happening to one of your cards, like if it became corrupt during the shoot. However it is not as convenient as shooting on one card.

STORING CARDS

If you've ever lost a card, you know why it's important to develop a good storage habit for your memory cards. Take all the steps you can to
protect your photographs when traveling and working.

BACK UP YOUR DATA
Whether you are a professional photographer or a photo enthusiast, it is critical to back up your images. Try to develop the habit of backing
them up after each shoot. You should never keep data in a single location. If you're backing up while you're away, keep the originals on memory
cards, until you are safely back home. After copying all your images to your computer or main storage and backing them up, then you can format
your cards. It’s also good practice to format a card inside your camera after every time you remove all of the photos.

Backing up your data on location can be done in several different ways. If your camera has dual memory card slots you can set up your camera to
write to both cards simultaneously. Then, if data is corrupted on one card or one of the cards is lost, you still have a backup on the second one. If
your camera has just one memory card slot or if you want to still back up your data to a different location, you could use an external memory card
reader with a hard drive. This would save you losing all your images if something were to happen to your camera. If you travel with a laptop,
backup your photos to your laptop’s hard drive.

LABEL YOUR CARDS
Label your memory cards and even put your contact details on the back. This is helpful when you're looking for an empty card in a hurry and if
anybody finds your memory card, they can contact you. If your used cards are labelled as 'used', then you will not accidentally format them
while on the job. Keep them organized for a smooth work flow.

MEMORY CARD HOLDERS
Rather than storing your memory cards in your camer bag pockets, we recommend using a proper memory card case. This will save your cards
from being damaged by dirt, dust, moisture, sand or from getting lost. Keep the case in a dry, cool space when you're not out and about with
your camera.