Best Memory Cards for Nikon D500

Posted on February 6, 2022March 8, 2022 by admin

Looking for the best memory cards for Nikon D500? Here is the guide for you to get the top recommended SD cards and XQD cards for Nikon D500 DSLR Camera.

Just like the Nikon D850, 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. Revolving an all-new 20.9-megapixel DX-format CMOS sensor and EXPEED 5 image processor, the Nikon D500 (Amazon, B&H, Adorama) is capable of super-fast 10 frames-per-second (fps) burst speed with full AF and AE. In addition, just like the D5, the Nikon D500 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 ideal camera for advanced enthusiasts and pro photographers.

Want to get the best memory cards for the Nikon D500? In this post, we are going to go through absolutely everything you need to know before buying the best memory card for the Nikon D500.

Table of Contents

First off… What kind of memory card do you need?

Before buying a memory card, make sure it complies with your Nikon D500 camera. This is what Nikon D500 requires:

Memory Card Slot: 1 x XQD and 1 x SD
Memory Card Type: XQD Card and SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-II)
Recommended Capacity: 32GB-512GB

So, 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. That means you can take advantage of the ultra high read speeds (transfer speed) and write speeds (fast buffer clearing time) of XQD cards and UHS-II SD cards to get the best performance out of your Nikon D500 DSLR camera.

Why Do You Need a High-Speed SD Card?

Not every memory card will work well with your Nikon D500 camera. If the card is too slow, you may have to wait longer for the buffer to clear or end up with recording errors and loose all your footage. So, buying a fast card is always worth it:

Fast write speed provides fast buffer clearing time between burst shots optimizing your shooting experience.
Fast read speed can let large files such as 4K video or a bunch of high-resolution images by continuous shooting transfer to PC in seconds.

Reminder: if you plan to shoot videos, stick to 64GB (or larger) cards for the best video codex.

Recommended Memory Cards for Nikon D500

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

XQD Cards:

SD Cards:

Best XQD Memory Cards for Nikon D500

1. Sony G Series XQD Card (440 MB/s)

PCIe 2.0 Interface
Max. Read Speed: 440 MB/s
Max. Write Speed: 400 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 Amazon, B&H, Adorama.

You can also get a Sony XQD/SD Card Reader at Amazon, B&H, Adorama.

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

PCIe 2.0 Interface
Max Read Speed: 440 MB/s
Max Write Speed: 400 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 Amazon, B&H, Adorama.

Best SD Memory Cards for Nikon D500

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

UHS-II / V90 / U3 / Class 10
Max Read Speed: 300 MB/s
Max Write Speed: 299 MB/s

Highly recommended and the Fastest UHS-II SD Card! The 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 Amazon, B&H, Adorama.

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

UHS-II / V90 / U3 / Class 10
Max Read Speed: 300 MB/s
Max Write Speed: 260 MB/s

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 is 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. It takes advantage of the UHS-II bus to support continuous shutter bursts and rapid shooting, as well as 4K, 3D, and Full HD video recording. Thanks to its V90 speed class rating, minimum write speeds are guaranteed not to drop below 90 MB/s. In addition, you can get a free Lexar SD UHS-II Reader for high-speed file transfer from card to computer, dramatically accelerating workflow.

Buy Lexar Professional 2000x UHS-II Cards: at Amazon, B&H, Adorama.

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

UHS-II / U3 / Class 10
Max. Read Speed: 300 MB/s
Max. Write Speed: 260 MB/s

Incredibly Fast SD Card. Designed to meet the demands of professional photographers and videographers, the SanDisk Extreme PRO SD UHS-II Card features read speeds of up to 300MB/s help you maximize post-production workflow efficiency so you stay competitive, while write speeds of up to 260MB/s support advanced camera functions such as continuous burst, rapid shooting and RAW plus JPEG capture. This memory card is an ideal accessory for the new generation of UHS-II-enabled DLSRs and video cameras.

Buy SanDisk Extreme PRO UHS-II SDXC Memory Cards: at Amazon, B&H, Adorama.

4. Hoodman Steel 2000x UHS-II SD Card (300 MB/s)

UHS-II / U3 / Class 10
Max Read Speed: 300 MB/s
Max Write Speed: 260 MB/s

Hoodman Steel is a ruggedized, steel plated SDXC card designed to withstand the rigors of high performance photography/videography. With a ruggedized steel construction, the Hoodman Steel 2000x SDXC UHS-II Memory Card supports 4K Ultra HD video and features a read speed of up to 300 MB/s and a write speed of up to 260 MB/s making it easy to transfer large files quickly and efficiently. Another great choice!

Buy Hoodman Steel 2000x SDXC UHS-II Memory Card at Amazon, B&H, Adorama.

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

UHS-II / V60 / U3 / Class 10
Max Read Speed: 250 MB/s
Max Write Speed: 90 MB/s

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 Amazon, B&H, Adorama.