Welcome to our Canon R5 Mark I Memory Card Guide with in-camera speed and buffer tests.
We have tested 24 CFexpress Type-B and 23 UHS-II memory cards in the R5 to help you find the best memory cards based on how they actually perform in-camera.
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Supported Memory Cards
The Canon EOS R5 has two memory cards slots. Slot 1 supports CFexpress Type B Memory Cards and Slot 2 supports SD/SDHC/SDXC UHS-I and UHS-II memory cards.
Here are the theoretical maximum speeds of each card type:
- CFexpress Type-B: theoretical maximum transfer speeds of up to 2000MB/s
- UHS-II: theoretical maximum transfer speeds of up to 312MB/s
The CFexpress-Type B cards will definitely clear the buffer the fastest and are therefore ideal for shooting fast bursts of images like you would shooting sports or birds in flight.
If you primarily shoot single shots then the slower UHS-II or even UHS-I cards might be sufficient for your needs, although you can still benefit from the faster read times of the CFexpress Type-B cards when copying the files over to your computer.
Best CFexpress Type B Memory Cards
For our CFexpress Type B card tests we used the electronic shutter so that we could achieve 20 fps to push the R5 and the cards to their limits. We also shot in RAW + JPEG L which generates the most data.
For our complete buffer tests results of each cards performance shooting in all of the file formats that the R5 supports, please visit our in-depth blog article over on our e-commerce store Memory Wolf.
Please note these results are only valid for the capacity of cards that we tested.
| CFexpress Type-B Card | In-Camera Write Speed * | Max Burst * | Time to Clear Full Buffer Seconds * | Price Check |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Delkin Devices BLACK 4.0 325GB | 520 MB/s | 64 | 4.15s | B&H Photo | Memory Wolf UK |
| 2. Delkin Devices POWER 4.0 512GB | 520 MB/s | 64 | 4.15s | B&H Photo | Amazon | Memory Wolf UK |
| 3. Lexar Professional DIAMOND Series 128GB | 520 MB/s | 64 | 4.15s | B&H Photo | Amazon | Memory Wolf UK |
| 4. SanDisk PRO-CINEMA 256GB | 520 MB/s | 64 | 4.15s | B&H Photo | Amazon |
| 5. Nextorage NX-B1 PRO Series 330GB | 520 MB/s | 64 | 4.15s | B&H Photo | Amazon |
| 6. Delkin Devices POWER G4 160GB | 519 MB/s | 64 | 4.17s | B&H Photo | Amazon | Memory Wolf UK |
| 7. Angelbird AV Pro SE 512GB | 519 MB/s | 64 | 4.17s | B&H Photo | Amazon | Memory Wolf UK |
| 8. Lexar Professional GOLD Series 128GB | 519 MB/s | 64 | 4.17s | B&H Photo | Amazon | Memory Wolf UK |
| 9. Lexar Professional SILVER Series 128GB | 519 MB/s | 64 | 4.17s | B&H Photo | Amazon | Memory Wolf UK |
| 10. ProGrade Digital 4.0 Gold 512GB | 519 MB/s | 64 | 4.17s | B&H Photo | Amazon |
| 11. Nextorage NX-B2 SE Series 512GB | 518 MB/s | 64 | 4.19s | B&H Photo | Amazon |
| 12. ProGrade Digital Cobalt 325GB | 518 MB/s | 64 | 4.19s | B&H Photo | Amazon |
| 13. Angelbird AV PRO SX 160GB | 518 MB/s | 64 | 4.19s | B&H Photo | Amazon | Memory Wolf UK |
| 14. SanDisk Extreme PRO 512GB | 518 MB/s | 64 | 4.19s | B&H Photo | Amazon | Memory Wolf UK |
| 15. OWC Atlas Pro 4.0 256GB | 517 MB/s | 64 | 4.21s | B&H Photo | Amazon |
| 16. OWC Atlas Ultra 325GB | 517 MB/s | 64 | 4.21s | B&H Photo | Amazon |
| 17. PERGEAR CFE-B Prime 512GB | 515 MB/s | 64 | 4.25s | Pergear |
| 18. Exascend Essential Series 512GB | 515 MB/s | 64 | 4.25s | B&H Photo | Amazon |
| 19. OWC Atlas Pro 512GB | 441 MB/s | 64 | 5.45s | B&H Photo | Amazon |
| 20. SanDisk Extreme PRO 128GB | 419 MB/s | 64 | 5.86s | B&H Photo | Amazon | Memory Wolf UK |
| 21. Sony TOUGH 240GB | 348 MB/s | 64 | 7.14s | B&H Photo | Amazon | Memory Wolf UK |
| 22. Integral UltimaPro X2 128GB | 282 MB/s | 64 | 11.05s | |
| 23. ProGrade Digital Gold 128GB | 225 MB/s | 64 | 13.53s | B&H Photo | Amazon |
| 24. Wise Advanced CFX-B Series 128GB | 193 MB/s | 64 | 16.71s | B&H Photo |
Best UHS-II SDXC Memory Cards
For our UHS-II tests we used the electronic shutter so that we could achieve 20 fps to push the R5 and the cards to their limits. We also shot in RAW + JPEG L which generates the most data.
For our complete buffer tests results of each cards performance shooting in all of the file formats that the R5 supports, please visit our in-depth blog article over on our e-commerce store Memory Wolf.
Please note these results are only valid for the capacity of cards that we tested.
| UHS-II SDXC Card | In-Camera Write Speed * | Max Burst * | Time to Clear Buffer Seconds * | Price Check |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Nextorage NX-F2PRO Series 256GB | 255 MB/s | 64 | 12.38s | B&H Photo | Amazon |
| 2. Sony SF-G Tough 64GB | 243 MB/s | 64 | 12.88s | B&H Photo | Amazon | Memory Wolf UK |
| 3. Delkin Devices BLACK 64GB | 238 MB/s | 64 | 13.18s | B&H Photo | Memory Wolf UK |
| 4. Kingston Canvas React Plus 64GB | 238 MB/s | 64 | 13.26s | B&H Photo | Amazon | Memory Wolf UK |
| 5. PNY X-PRO 90 64GB | 226 MB/s | 64 | 13.61s | Amazon |
| 6. Ritzgear Video Pro 64GB | 226 MB/s | 64 | 14.01s | Amazon |
| 7. Hoodman Steel 2000x 64GB | 226 MB/s | 64 | 14.05s | B&H Photo | Amazon |
| 10. Transcend SD 700S 64GB | 222 MB/s | 64 | 14.08s | B&H Photo |
| 9. Lexar Professional 2000X 64GB | 222 MB/s | 64 | 14.09s | B&H Photo | Amazon | Memory Wolf UK |
| 8. OWC Atlas Ultra 128GB | 224 MB/s | 64 | 14.23s | B&H Photo | Amazon |
| 11. Delkin Devices POWER 64GB | 215 MB/s | 64 | 14.86s | B&H Photo | Amazon |
| 12. SanDisk Extreme Pro 64GB | 215 MB/s | 64 | 14.86s | B&H Photo | Amazon | Memory Wolf UK |
| 13. Integral UltimaPro X2 64GB | 215 MB/s | 64 | 14.91s | Amazon |
| 14. ProGrade V90 64GB | 213 MB/s | 64 | 15.30s | B&H Photo | Amazon |
| 15. Exascend Catalyst 64GB | 213 MB/s | 64 | 15.30s | B&H Photo | Amazon |
| 16. Nextorage NX-F2SE Series 512GB | 172 MB/s | 64 | 19.63s | B&H Photo | Amazon |
| 17. Sony SF-M Tough 64GB | 140 MB/s | 64 | 24.50s | B&H Photo | Amazon | Memory Wolf UK |
| 18. Sony SF-M 64GB | 140 MB/s | 64 | 24.50s | B&H Photo | Amazon |
| 19. ProGrade V60 64GB | 124 MB/s | 64 | 27.01s | Amazon |
| 20. Angelbird AV Pro MK2 V60 64GB | 101 MB/s | 64 | 35.23s | B&H Photo | Amazon | Memory Wolf UK |
| 21. Lexar Professional 1667X 64GB | 99 MB/s | 64 | 36.03s | B&H Photo | Amazon | Memory Wolf UK |
| 22. Angelbird AV Pro Mk 2 V90 64GB | 87 MB/s | 64 | 41.06s | B&H Photo | Amazon | Memory Wolf UK |
| 23. Sony SF-E 64GB | 74 MB/s | 64 | 49.72s | B&H Photo | Amazon | Memory Wolf UK |
UHS-I Memory Cards
We have not tested any UHS-I Memory Cards in the R5. With it’s 45 megapixel sensor we would strongly recommend using CFexpress Type-B or UHS-II memory cards.
UHS-I cards although supported in slot 2 will be extremely slow in the R5.
If you are curious about the performance of UHS-I memory cards then we have tested these in-camera for our Canon R6 Memory Card Guide.
Recording to Multiple Cards
If you select the record option in the menu “Rec. to Multiple” then the same image type will be written to the memory card in both slot 1 and slot 2.
Unfortunately the write speed will always be limited by the slowest card, so you will be limited by the speed of the UHS-II card that you choose for slot 2.
Recording Separately
If you select the record option in the menu “Rec. Separately” then you can write a different image type to slot 1 and slot 2.
We recommend recording the larger RAW or CRAW images to the faster CFexpress Type-B card in slot 1 and JPEGs to a UHS-II card in slot 2 and not the other way around.
With the setup you can write 63 RAW images to slot 1 and 63 JPEG L to slot 2 before hitting the buffer. The buffer then clears in around 4 seconds.
If you were to write the RAW images to slot 2 and JPEG L to slot 1, then this would take around 10 seconds to clear the buffer, this is why we don’t recommend doing it this way.
Memory Cards for Recording Video
When it comes to recording video with the R5 the card that you choose will be largely dependent on your movie record settings.
if you want to shoot in 8k or 4k with the higher bitrate settings then you will require a CFexpress Type-B card.
But if you are happy to shoot in 8k or 4k with a lower bitrate or Full-HD, then a UHS-II card with the appropriate speed class as shown in the table below will be sufficient.
Here is Canon’s list of memory card requirements for movie recording with the R5.
Note that they mention “Refer to the Canon website” for further details on the supported CFexpress Type-B cards, here is that link. Unfortunately it has not been updated since July 2020 and a large number of new cards have been released since then.
Fortunately we have tested all of the CFexpress Type-B cards listed in this guide by shooting both 8K RAW and 4K120 to see how they perform. You’ll find our results in the CFexpress table at the start of this guide.
Movie Recording Times
The amount of time that you can record for will vary greatly based on the size of memory card that you are using and the video format that you are recording in.
Estimated Recording Times with Canon Log 3 : OFF, HDR PQ : OFF
Estimated Recording Times with Canon Log 3: ON, HDR PQ : ON
What Size Memory Card Do You Need?
The size of memory card that you choose will depend on how and what you are shooting.
For Stills Shooters
We would recommend a minimum of 128GB if you shoot a lot of continuous bursts.
A 128GB card is good for approximately 2700 RAW files, 5700 CRAW files, 9000 JPEG L or 9000 HEIF L images.
For Video Shooters
For video shooters please refer to the movie recording times in the tables above to help you decide on the correct size of memory card for your needs.
We don’t recommend using 32GB or smaller SDHC cards (either UHS-I or UHS-II) because they use the FAT 32 file system and your video files will be broken up into 4GB chunks.
So either stick with either CFexpress Type-B cards or if using an SD card make sure it’s an SDXC cards, which is basically all cards that are 64GB and larger.
Memory Card Readers
If you prefer to remove the card from your camera and use a reader to copy over the files to your computer, then here are a couple of options to consider.
ProGrade Digital CFexpress Type B & UHS-II Card Reader
This ProGrade Card Reader includes both a CFexpress Type B slot and a UHS-II SDXC slot.
It supports transfer speeds of up to 10 GB/s via a USB Type-C interface (USB 3.2 Gen 2).
Both Windows and Mac are supported and 18″ USB Type-C to Type-C and Type-C to Type-A cables are included.
Delkin Devices CFexpress Type-B Memory Card Reader
This Delkin Devices card reader includes a single CFexpress Type B slot.
Just like the ProGrade Reader it also supports transfer speeds of up to 10 GB/s via a USB Type-C interface (USB 3.2 Gen 2).
Both Windows and Mac are supported and USB Type-C to Type-C and Type-C to Type-A cables are included.
Memory Card Storage
Here are a couple of memory card storage cases worth taking a closer look at if you want to keep your cards safe and protect your potentially valuable images.
PolarPro Slate CF Memory Card Storage Case
This cast-aluminum case from PolarPro supports 4 CFexpress, 2 standard SD, and 8 microSD cards. It features a custom-cut, injection-molded insert and a rubber interior that provides shock absorption and protection.
Pelican Memory Card Case for CFexpress Type B
This CFexpress Type-B Memory Card Case from Pelican supports up to 6 CFexpress Type-B cards. It has a water resistant seal and a tough shock resistant exterior. There’s no space for UHS-II SD cards though.
Summary
The maximum write speed of some CFexpress Type B cards is up to 3250 MB/s, however during our tests the maximum write speed in the Canon R5 is only around 520 MB/s when shooting RAW + JPEG L and the file sizes specified in our tests.
The top 18 CFexpress Type-B cards all performed extremely well and although some cards are marginally faster than others, in the field you are unlikely to notice any difference at all.
Our advice would be to purchase whichever card is offers the best durability and warranty and not simply the cheapest cards.
We would avoid the SanDisk Extreme Pro, The Prograde Digital Gold and the Wise Advanced CFexpress Type-B cards since the performance did drop off with these cards, at least with the capacities tested, the larger capacities may perform better.
When it comes to UHS-II cards the speeds did vary a lot more than the CFexpress cards in-camera.
Please let us know in the comments below if you found this guide helpful, or if you would like to provide your own feedback on a particular card or suggest one for review.
Canon R5 Guides & Resources
FAQs
SDHC cards use the FAT32 file system and can store up to 32 GB of data, while SDXC cards use the exFAT file system and can store up to 2 terabytes (2000 GB). If you shoot video with a SDHC card your video file will be broken up into 4GB chunks, it will save you work in post to use an SDXC card instead.
Two memory card slots. Slot one supports CFexpress Type-B Cards and Slot 2 supports SD/SDHC/SDXC UHS-I and UHS-II memory cards.
CFexpress Type-B cards in Slot 1 and SD/SDHC/SDXC UHS-I and UHS-II memory cards in Slot 2.
Fantastic guide! Thank you.
This was exactly what I was looking for, it helped me in deciding which CF Express Type-B to buy, it’s my first time buying these expensive but fast cards. I only need a 128 GB sized card I think for my R5, I’ve read the Sandisk card gets super hot so I went for the Delkin Power card instead even though the Sandisk card was cheaper.