Best Canon R3 Memory Cards With Speed & Buffer Tests

Welcome to our Canon R3 Memory Card Guide where we’ve so far tested over 20 memory cards in-camera to help you find the best cards for your money.

Find out which memory cards will allow you to shoot the most shots before hitting the buffer and which cards clear the buffer the fastest.

Supported Memory Cards

The Canon EOS R3 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’s a speed comparison between CFexpress Type B and UHS-II cards.

• CFexpress Type-B: theoretical maximum transfer speeds of up to 2000MB/s
• UHS-II: theoretical maximum transfer speeds of up to 312MB/s

For those of you shooting a lot or bursts and requiring the buffer to clear as fast as possible, we’d strongly recommend going with CFexpress Type B cards.

If you only shoot single shots then the slower UHS-II or even UHS-I cards will probably be fast enough for you, but we don’t think many photographers are buying the R3 to shoot in single shot mode!

In-Camera Card Speed Comparison

Here’s a quick in-camera card speed comparison for all of the memory cards that we have tested so far.

If you scroll down a little further you’ll find our complete buffer test results or just click on the memory card name to jump straight there.

Best CFexpress Type B Memory Cards

These in-camera tests were carried out using the Canon R3 with firmware version 1.1.1

Memory Card	In-Camera Write Speed *	Price Check
1. Delkin Devices BLACK 325GB	408 MB/s	B&H Photo | Amazon
2. Sony CEB-G Series TOUGH 128GB	407 MB/s	B&H Photo | Amazon
3. Angelbird AV PRO SX 160GB	405 MB/s	B&H Photo | Amazon
4. ProGrade Digital Cobalt 325GB	405 MB/s	B&H Photo | Amazon
5. Delkin Devices POWER 128GB	404 MB/s	B&H Photo | Amazon
6. Delkin Devices BLACK 128GB	404 MB/s	B&H Photo | Amazon
7. Lexar Professional DIAMOND Series 128GB	403 MB/s	B&H Photo | Amazon
8. Lexar Professional GOLD Series 128GB	402 MB/s	B&H Photo | Amazon
9. Lexar Professional SILVER Series 128GB	399 MB/s	B&H Photo | Amazon
10. SanDisk Extreme PRO 128GB	393 MB/s	B&H Photo | Amazon
11. Wise Advanced CFX-B Series 128GB	190 MB/s	B&H Photo | Amazon
12. ProGrade Digital Gold 128GB	145 MB/s	B&H Photo | Amazon

Best UHS-II SD Memory Cards

These in-camera tests were carried out using the Canon R3 and 64GB SDXC UHS-II memory cards.

Memory Card	In-Camera Write Speed *	Price Check
1. Sony SF-G Tough UHS-II **	245 MB/s	B&H Photo | Amazon
2. Kingston Canvas React Plus UHS-II	236 MB/s	B&H Photo | Amazon
3. Lexar Professional 2000X UHS-II	230 MB/s	B&H Photo | Amazon
4. Delkin Devices POWER UHS-II	225 MB/s	B&H Photo | Amazon
5. Transcend SD 700S UHS-II	225 MB/s	B&H Photo | Amazon
6. ProGrade V90 UHS-II	217 MB/s	B&H Photo | Amazon
7. SanDisk Extreme Pro UHS-II	214 MB/s	B&H Photo | Amazon
8. Sony SF-M Tough UHS-II **	135 MB/s	B&H Photo | Amazon
9. Sony SF-M UHS-II	135 MB/s	B&H Photo | Amazon
10. ProGrade V60 UHS-II	123 MB/s	B&H Photo | Amazon
11. Lexar Professional 1667X UHS-II	97 MB/s	B&H Photo | Amazon
12. Sony SF-E UHS-II	73 MB/s	B&H Photo | Amazon
13. Angelbird AV Pro Mk 2 V90 UHS-II	57 MB/s	B&H Photo | Amazon

CFexpress Type B Memory Card Speed & Buffer Tests

If you are shooting a lot of continuous bursts and require the R3’s buffer to clear as fast as possible, then we would strongly recommend purchasing the faster CFexpress Type B cards over UHS-II SD cards.

However not all CFexpress Type B cards are created equal. They all have different read/write speeds and these can also vary greatly when writing in-camera to what they claim on the label.

This is why we carry out these tests, so that you will know exactly how each card will perform when you insert it into your R3.

Firmware version 1.1.1 was installed on the R3 for these tests. If you aren’t sure which firmware version you have installed then our Canon R3 Firmware Update Guide will help you to identify your current firmware version and install the latest version.

All of these tests were also carried out using the Electronic Shutter in Hi+ (30 FPS). We have also tested the Mechanical Shutter (12 FPS) of one CFexpress card a little further down this article.

1. Delkin Devices BLACK CFexpress Type B (New Version)

• Bus: PCIe 3.0 Interface
• Capacities: 75GB, 150GB, 325GB, 512GB, 650GB
• Read speed: 1725 MB/s
• Write speed: 1530 MB/s

In-Camera Speed / Buffer Test Results

Here are our complete in-camera speed / buffer test results when using a 325GB card in Hi+ Drive Mode using the Electronic Shutter (30 FPS).

When shooting in RAW the actual R3 in-camera write speed is around 408 MB/s.

Image Type	Shots Before Hitting Buffer	Time to Clear Buffer (Seconds)
RAW (26MB*)	156	4.47
CRAW (10.8MB**)	347	9.36
JPEG L (9.2MB ***)	375	10.21
HEIF L (7.6MB ***)	469	22.70
RAW (26MB) + JPEG L (9.2MB)	156	5.65
CRAW (10.8MB) + JPEG L (9.2MB)	346	12.34
RAW (26MB) + HEIF L (7.6MB)	174	21.16
CRAW (10.8MB) + HEIF L (7.6MB)	360	43.48

2. Sony CEB-G Series TOUGH CFexpress Type B

• Bus: PCIe 3.0 Bus
• Capacities: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB
• Read speed: 1700 MB/s
• Write speed: 1480 MB/s

In-Camera Speed / Buffer Test Results

Here are our complete in-camera speed / buffer test results when using a 128GB card in Hi+ Drive Mode using the Electronic Shutter (30 FPS).

When shooting in RAW the actual R3 in-camera write speed is around 407 MB/s.

Image Type	Shots Before Hitting Buffer	Time to Clear Buffer (Seconds)
RAW (26MB*)	155	4.44
CRAW (10.8MB**)	342	9.15
JPEG L (9.2MB ***)	371	10.01
HEIF L (7.6MB ***)	407	19.66
RAW (26MB) + JPEG L (9.2MB)	155	5.79
CRAW (10.8MB) + JPEG L (9.2MB)	342	12.15
RAW (26MB) + HEIF L (7.6MB)	176	21.49
CRAW (10.8MB) + HEIF L (7.6MB)	362	43.60

3. Angelbird AV PRO SX CFexpress Type B

• Bus: PCIe 3.0 x2 Bus
• Capacities: 160GB
• Read speed: 1785 MB/s
• Write speed: 1600 MB/s

In-Camera Speed / Buffer Test Results

Here are our complete in-camera speed / buffer test results when using a 160GB card in Hi+ Drive Mode using the Electronic Shutter (30 FPS).

When shooting in RAW the actual R3 in-camera write speed is around 405 MB/s.

Image Type	Shots Before Hitting Buffer	Time to Clear Buffer (Seconds)
RAW (26MB*)	156	4.49
CRAW (10.8MB**)	351	9.60
JPEG L (9.2MB ***)	374	10.09
HEIF L (7.6MB ***)	473	22.63
RAW (26MB) + JPEG L (9.2MB)	156	5.78
CRAW (10.8MB) + JPEG L (9.2MB)	347	12.30
RAW (26MB) + HEIF L (7.6MB)	174	21.07
CRAW (10.8MB) + HEIF L (7.6MB)	361	43.46

4. ProGrade Digital Cobalt CFexpress Type B

• Bus: NVMe PCIe 3.0 x4 Bus
• Capacities: 325GB, 650GB
• Read speed: 1700 MB/s
• Write speed: 1500 MB/s

In-Camera Speed / Buffer Test Results

Here are our complete in-camera speed / buffer test results when using a 325GB card in Hi+ Drive Mode using the Electronic Shutter (30 FPS).

When shooting in RAW the actual R3 in-camera write speed is around 405 MB/s.

Image Type	Shots Before Hitting Buffer	Time to Clear Buffer (Seconds)
RAW (26MB*)	155	4.49
CRAW (10.8MB**)	342	9.20
JPEG L (9.2MB ***)	374	10.09
HEIF L (7.6MB ***)	469	21.45
RAW (26MB) + JPEG L (9.2MB)	155	5.76
CRAW (10.8MB) + JPEG L (9.2MB)	342	11.15
RAW (26MB) + HEIF L (7.6MB)	175	21.35
CRAW (10.8MB) + HEIF L (7.6MB)	362	43.53

5. Delkin Devices POWER CFexpress Type B

• Bus: PCIe 3.0 x4 Bus
• Capacities: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB
• Read speed: 1730 MB/s
• Write speed: 1540 MB/s

In-Camera Speed / Buffer Test Results

Here are our complete in-camera speed / buffer test results when using a 128GB card in Hi+ Drive Mode using the Electronic Shutter (30 FPS).

When shooting in RAW the actual R3 in-camera write speed is around 404 MB/s.

Image Type	Shots Before Hitting Buffer	Time to Clear Buffer (Seconds)
RAW (26MB*)	155	4.57
CRAW (10.8MB**)	345	9.33
JPEG L (9.2MB ***)	374	10.07
HEIF L (7.6MB ***)	471	22.57
RAW (26MB) + JPEG L (9.2MB)	155	5.78
CRAW (10.8MB) + JPEG L (9.2MB)	345	12.28
RAW (26MB) + HEIF L (7.6MB)	176	21.33
CRAW (10.8MB) + HEIF L (7.6MB)	363	43.52

6. Delkin Devices BLACK CFexpress Type B (Old Version)

Couldn’t read card or format a couple of times.

• Bus: PCIe 3.0 Interface
• Capacities: 64GB, 128GB, 256GB, 512GB
• Read speed: 1760 MB/s
• Write speed: 1710 MB/s

In-Camera Speed / Buffer Test Results

Here are our complete in-camera speed / buffer test results when using a 128GB card in Hi+ Drive Mode using the Electronic Shutter (30 FPS).

When shooting in RAW the actual R3 in-camera write speed is around 404 MB/s.

Image Type	Shots Before Hitting Buffer	Time to Clear Buffer (Seconds)
RAW (26MB*)	155	4.56
CRAW (10.8MB**)	343	9.35
JPEG L (9.2MB ***)	374	10.08
HEIF L (7.6MB ***)	471	22.45
RAW (26MB) + JPEG L (9.2MB)	155	5.71
CRAW (10.8MB) + JPEG L (9.2MB)	344	12.16
RAW (26MB) + HEIF L (7.6MB)	176	21.50
CRAW (10.8MB) + HEIF L (7.6MB)	363	43.45

7. Lexar Professional DIAMOND Series CFexpress Type B

• Bus: PCIe 3.0 x2 / NVMe Protocols
• Capacities: 128GB, 256GB
• Read speed: 1900 MB/s
• Write speed: 1700 MB/s

In-Camera Speed / Buffer Test Results

Here are our complete in-camera speed / buffer test results when using a 128GB card in Hi+ Drive Mode using the Electronic Shutter (30 FPS).

When shooting in RAW the actual R3 in-camera write speed is around 403 MB/s.

Image Type	Shots Before Hitting Buffer	Time to Clear Buffer (Seconds)
RAW (26MB*)	155	4.73
CRAW (10.8MB**)	344	9.46
JPEG L (9.2MB ***)	374	10.36
HEIF L (7.6MB ***)	473	23.51
RAW (26MB) + JPEG L (9.2MB)	155	5.90
CRAW (10.8MB) + JPEG L (9.2MB)	341	12.28
RAW (26MB) + HEIF L (7.6MB)	175	21.03
CRAW (10.8MB) + HEIF L (7.6MB)	362	43.63

8. Lexar Professional GOLD Series CFexpress Type B

• Bus: PCIe 3.0 Bus
• Capacities: 64GB, 128GB, 256GB, 512GB
• Read speed: 1750 MB/s
• Write speed: 1000 MB/s

In-Camera Speed / Buffer Test Results

Here are our complete in-camera speed / buffer test results when using a 128GB card in Hi+ Drive Mode using the Electronic Shutter (30 FPS).

When shooting in RAW the actual R3 in-camera write speed is around 402 MB/s.

Image Type	Shots Before Hitting Buffer	Time to Clear Buffer (Seconds)
RAW (26MB*)	156	4.83
CRAW (10.8MB**)	347	9.38
JPEG L (9.2MB ***)	375	10.24
HEIF L (7.6MB ***)	468	22.60
RAW (26MB) + JPEG L (9.2MB)	156	5.75
CRAW (10.8MB) + JPEG L (9.2MB)	345	12.35
RAW (26MB) + HEIF L (7.6MB)	174	21.17
CRAW (10.8MB) + HEIF L (7.6MB)	361	44.05

9. Lexar Professional SILVER Series CFexpress Type B

• Bus: PCIe 3.0 Bus
• Capacities: 128GB, 256GB
• Read speed: 1000 MB/s
• Write speed: 600 MB/s

In-Camera Speed / Buffer Test Results

Here are our complete in-camera speed / buffer test results when using a 128GB card in Hi+ Drive Mode using the Electronic Shutter (30 FPS).

When shooting in RAW the actual R3 in-camera write speed is around 399 MB/s.

Image Type	Shots Before Hitting Buffer	Time to Clear Buffer (Seconds)
RAW (26MB*)	155	4.70
CRAW (10.8MB**)	341	9.31
JPEG L (9.2MB ***)	373	10.11
HEIF L (7.6MB ***)	469	22.67
RAW (26MB) + JPEG L (9.2MB)	155	6.53
CRAW (10.8MB) + JPEG L (9.2MB)	342	12.36
RAW (26MB) + HEIF L (7.6MB)	173	21.29
CRAW (10.8MB) + HEIF L (7.6MB)	360	43.63

10. SanDisk Extreme PRO CFexpress Type B

• Bus: PCIe 3.0 Bus
• Capacities: 64GB, 128GB, 256GB, 512GB
• Read speed: 1700 MB/s
• Write speed: 1200 MB/s

In-Camera Speed / Buffer Test Results

Here are our complete in-camera speed / buffer test results when using a 128GB card in Hi+ Drive Mode using the Electronic Shutter (30 FPS).

When shooting in RAW the actual R3 in-camera write speed is around 393 MB/s.

Image Type	Shots Before Hitting Buffer	Time to Clear Buffer (Seconds)
RAW (26MB*)	155	4.78
CRAW (10.8MB**)	344	9.39
JPEG L (9.2MB ***)	375	10.24
HEIF L (7.6MB ***)	468	22.70
RAW (26MB) + JPEG L (9.2MB)	155	7.96
CRAW (10.8MB) + JPEG L (9.2MB)	345	12.36
RAW (26MB) + HEIF L (7.6MB)	173	21.16
CRAW (10.8MB) + HEIF L (7.6MB)	360	44.12

11. Wise Advanced CFX-B Series CFexpress Type B

• Bus: PCIe 3.0 x2 Bus
• Capacities: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB
• Read speed: 1700 MB/s (128GB)
• Write speed: 1050 MB/s (128GB), 1550 MB/s (256GB, 512GB, 1TB)

In-Camera Speed / Buffer Test Results

Here are our complete in-camera speed / buffer test results when using a 128GB card in Hi+ Drive Mode using the Electronic Shutter (30 FPS).

When shooting in RAW the actual R3 in-camera write speed is around 190 MB/s.

Image Type	Shots Before Hitting Buffer	Time to Clear Buffer (Seconds)
RAW (26MB*)	155	15.83
CRAW (10.8MB**)	342	12.06
JPEG L (9.2MB ***)	375	11.33
HEIF L (7.6MB ***)	469	22.66
RAW (26MB) + JPEG L (9.2MB)	155	26.78
CRAW (10.8MB) + JPEG L (9.2MB)	342	30.11
RAW (26MB) + HEIF L (7.6MB)	175	28.89
CRAW (10.8MB) + HEIF L (7.6MB)	362	44.92

12. ProGrade Digital Gold CFexpress Type B

• Bus: NVMe PCIe 3.0 x4 Bus
• Capacities: 128GB, 256GB
• Read speed: 1700 MB/s
• Write speed: 1400 MB/s

In-Camera Speed / Buffer Test Results

Here are our complete in-camera speed / buffer test results when using a 128GB card in Hi+ Drive Mode using the Electronic Shutter (30 FPS).

When shooting in RAW the actual R3 in-camera write speed is around 145 MB/s. This is very slow for a card with a 1400 MB/s write speed, so there is a definitely a performance issue with this card in the R3 when shooting RAW.

Image Type	Shots Before Hitting Buffer	Time to Clear Buffer (Seconds)
RAW (26MB*)	152	21.75
CRAW (10.8MB**)	322	11.38
JPEG L (9.2MB ***)	350	10.30
HEIF L (7.6MB ***)	443	21.83
RAW (26MB) + JPEG L (9.2MB)	149	21.16
CRAW (10.8MB) + JPEG L (9.2MB)	321	24.68
RAW (26MB) + HEIF L (7.6MB)	168	26.36
CRAW (10.8MB) + HEIF L (7.6MB)	362	44.31

UHS-II Memory Card Speed & Buffer Tests

If you need to use a UHS-II card in slot 2 then our speed and buffer tests will help you to choose the fastest cards.

Firmware version 1.1.1 was installed on the R3 for these tests. Our Canon R3 Firmware Update Guide will help you to identify your current firmware version and install the latest version.

All of these tests were also carried out using the Electronic Shutter in Hi+ (30 FPS). We have also tested the Mechanical Shutter (12 FPS) of one UHS-II card a little further down this article.

1. Sony SF-G Tough UHS-II

Please note that these cards are a little thicker than other memory cards and can be a tight fit in the R3’s memory card slot. However after using them for a while they appear to go in and out just as easily as other cards. But we would only recommend them if you need the extra toughness that they provide.

• Bus speed: UHS-II
• Video speed class: V90
• Capacities: 32GB (SDHC), 64GB, 128GB, 256GB (SDXC)
• Read speed: 300 MB/s
• Write speed: 299 MB/s

In-Camera Speed / Buffer Test Results

Here are our complete in-camera speed / buffer test results when using a 64GB card in Hi+ Drive Mode using the Electronic Shutter (30 FPS).

When shooting in RAW the actual R3 in-camera write speed is around 245 MB/s.

Image Type	Shots Before Hitting Buffer	Time to Clear Buffer (Seconds)
RAW (26MB*)	150	10.71
CRAW (10.8MB**)	355	9.46
JPEG L (9.2MB ***)	382	10.35
HEIF L (7.6MB ***)	475	22.15
RAW (26MB) + JPEG L (9.2MB)	150	16.05
CRAW (10.8MB) + JPEG L (9.2MB)	350	18.01
RAW (26MB) + HEIF L (7.6MB)	177	21.65
CRAW (10.8MB) + HEIF L (7.6MB)	365	44.53

2. Kingston Canvas React Plus UHS-II

• Bus speed: UHS-II
• Video speed class: V90
• Capacities: 32GB (SDHC), 64GB, 128GB, 256GB (SDXC)
• Read speed: 300 MB/s
• Write speed: 260 MB/s

In-Camera Speed / Buffer Test Results

Here are our complete in-camera speed / buffer test results when using a 64GB card in Hi+ Drive Mode using the Electronic Shutter (30 FPS).

When shooting in RAW the actual R3 in-camera write speed is around 236 MB/s.

Image Type	Shots Before Hitting Buffer	Time to Clear Buffer (Seconds)
RAW (26MB*)	150	11.36
CRAW (10.8MB**)	355	9.78
JPEG L (9.2MB ***)	375	10.20
HEIF L (7.6MB ***)	470	23.10
RAW (26MB) + JPEG L (9.2MB)	150	17.51
CRAW (10.8MB) + JPEG L (9.2MB)	346	19.85
RAW (26MB) + HEIF L (7.6MB)	174	22.16
CRAW (10.8MB) + HEIF L (7.6MB)	360	44.06

3. Delkin Devices POWER UHS-II

Delkin Devices design and support their memory cards in the USA and each card is backed by a Lifetime Warranty.

• Bus speed: UHS-II
• Video speed class: V90
• Capacities: 32GB (SDHC), 64GB, 128GB, 256GB (SDXC)
• Read speed: 300 MB/s
• Write speed: 250 MB/s

In-Camera Speed / Buffer Test Results

Here are our complete in-camera speed / buffer test results when using a 64GB card in Hi+ Drive Mode using the Electronic Shutter (30 FPS).

When shooting in RAW the actual R3 in-camera write speed is around 225 MB/s.

Image Type	Shots Before Hitting Buffer	Time to Clear Buffer (Seconds)
RAW (26MB*)	150	11.46
CRAW (10.8MB**)	346	9.45
JPEG L (9.2MB ***)	376	10.34
HEIF L (7.6MB ***)	470	22.75
RAW (26MB) + JPEG L (9.2MB)	150	18.85
CRAW (10.8MB) + JPEG L (9.2MB)	359	23.78
RAW (26MB) + HEIF L (7.6MB)	179	23.00
CRAW (10.8MB) + HEIF L (7.6MB)	362	44.20

4. Lexar Professional 2000X UHS-II

Lexar have been in the memory card business for many years, although in recent years they were bought out by another company and their reliability and performance is unfortunately not what it used to be.

• Bus speed: UHS-II
• Video speed class: V90
• Capacities: 32GB (SDHC), 64GB, 128GB, 256GB (SDXC)
• Read speed: 300 MB/s
• Write speed: 260 MB/s

In-Camera Speed / Buffer Test Results

Here are our complete in-camera speed / buffer test results when using a 64GB card in Hi+ Drive Mode using the Electronic Shutter (30 FPS).

When shooting in RAW the actual R3 in-camera write speed is around 230 MB/s.

Image Type	Shots Before Hitting Buffer	Time to Clear Buffer (Seconds)
RAW (26MB*)	150	11.73
CRAW (10.8MB**)	342	9.41
JPEG L (9.2MB ***)	369	10.10
HEIF L (7.6MB ***)	469	22.75
RAW (26MB) + JPEG L (9.2MB)	150	18.88
CRAW (10.8MB) + JPEG L (9.2MB)	358	22.15
RAW (26MB) + HEIF L (7.6MB)	179	23.15
CRAW (10.8MB) + HEIF L (7.6MB)	361	44.20

5. Transcend SD 700S UHS-II

• Bus speed: UHS-II
• Video speed class: V90
• Capacities: 32GB (SDHC), 64GB (SDXC)
• Read speed: 285 MB/s
• Write speed: 180 MB/s

In-Camera Speed / Buffer Test Results

Here are our complete in-camera speed / buffer test results when using a 64GB card in Hi+ Drive Mode using the Electronic Shutter (30 FPS).

When shooting in RAW the actual R3 in-camera write speed is around 225 MB/s.

Image Type	Shots Before Hitting Buffer	Time to Clear Buffer (Seconds)
RAW (26MB*)	150	12.08
CRAW (10.8MB**)	322	9.61
JPEG L (9.2MB ***)	348	9.51
HEIF L (7.6MB ***)	422	20.05
RAW (26MB) + JPEG L (9.2MB)	152	19.58
CRAW (10.8MB) + JPEG L (9.2MB)	296	21.75
RAW (26MB) + HEIF L (7.6MB)	168	22.53
CRAW (10.8MB) + HEIF L (7.6MB)	366	45.46

6. ProGrade V90 UHS-II

• Bus speed: UHS-II
• Video speed class: V90
• Capacities: 64GB, 128GB, 256GB, 512GB (SDXC)
• Read speed: 300 MB/s
• Write speed: 250 MB/s

In-Camera Speed / Buffer Test Results

Here are our complete in-camera speed / buffer test results when using a 64GB card in Hi+ Drive Mode using the Electronic Shutter (30 FPS).

When shooting in RAW the actual R3 in-camera write speed is around 217 MB/s.

Image Type	Shots Before Hitting Buffer	Time to Clear Buffer (Seconds)
RAW (26MB*)	150	12.70
CRAW (10.8MB**)	325	8.93
JPEG L (9.2MB ***)	345	9.83
HEIF L (7.6MB ***)	417	19.76
RAW (26MB) + JPEG L (9.2MB)	150	19.51
CRAW (10.8MB) + JPEG L (9.2MB)	320	21.45
RAW (26MB) + HEIF L (7.6MB)	170	22.13
CRAW (10.8MB) + HEIF L (7.6MB)	366	44.30

7. SanDisk Extreme Pro UHS-II

• Bus speed: UHS-II
• Video speed class: V90
• Capacities: 32GB (SDHC), 64GB, 128GB (SDXC)
• Read speed: 300 MB/s
• Write speed: 260 MB/s

In-Camera Speed / Buffer Test Results

Here are our complete in-camera speed / buffer test results when using a 64GB card in Hi+ Drive Mode using the Electronic Shutter (30 FPS).

When shooting in RAW the actual R3 in-camera write speed is around 214 MB/s.

Image Type	Shots Before Hitting Buffer	Time to Clear Buffer (Seconds)
RAW (26MB*)	150	12.93
CRAW (10.8MB**)	318	9.30
JPEG L (9.2MB ***)	343	9.63
HEIF L (7.6MB ***)	418	20.17
RAW (26MB) + JPEG L (9.2MB)	150	20.27
CRAW (10.8MB) + JPEG L (9.2MB)	310	22.10
RAW (26MB) + HEIF L (7.6MB)	169	21.51
CRAW (10.8MB) + HEIF L (7.6MB)	365	43.92

8. Sony SF-M Tough UHS-II

Please note that these cards are a little thicker than other memory cards and can be a tight fit in the R3’s memory card slot. However after using them for a while they appear to go in and out just as easily as other cards. But we would only recommend them if you need the extra toughness that they provide.

• Bus speed: UHS-II
• Video speed class: V60
• Capacities: 32GB (SDHC), 64GB, 128GB, 256GB (SDXC)
• Read speed: 277 MB/s
• Write speed: 150 MB/s

In-Camera Speed / Buffer Test Results

Here are our complete in-camera speed / buffer test results when using a 64GB card in Hi+ Drive Mode using the Electronic Shutter (30 FPS).

When shooting in RAW the actual R3 in-camera write speed is around 135 MB/s.

Image Type	Shots Before Hitting Buffer	Time to Clear Buffer (Seconds)
RAW (26MB*)	149	23.21
CRAW (10.8MB**)	305	16.45
JPEG L (9.2MB ***)	325	14.10
HEIF L (7.6MB ***)	420	21.13
RAW (26MB) + JPEG L (9.2MB)	147	33.27
CRAW (10.8MB) + JPEG L (9.2MB)	296	38.60
RAW (26MB) + HEIF L (7.6MB)	168	34.90
CRAW (10.8MB) + HEIF L (7.6MB)	365	46.17

9. Sony SF-M UHS-II

These cards are identical to the SF-M Tough cards just without the added toughness.

• Bus speed: UHS-II
• Video speed class: V60
• Capacities: 32GB (SDHC), 64GB, 128GB, 256GB (SDXC)
• Read speed: 277 MB/s
• Write speed: 150 MB/s

In-Camera Speed / Buffer Test Results

Here are our complete in-camera speed / buffer test results when using a 64GB card in Hi+ Drive Mode using the Electronic Shutter (30 FPS).

When shooting in RAW the actual R3 in-camera write speed is around 135 MB/s.

Image Type	Shots Before Hitting Buffer	Time to Clear Buffer (Seconds)
RAW (26MB*)	149	23.21
CRAW (10.8MB**)	305	16.45
JPEG L (9.2MB ***)	325	14.10
HEIF L (7.6MB ***)	420	21.13
RAW (26MB) + JPEG L (9.2MB)	147	33.27
CRAW (10.8MB) + JPEG L (9.2MB)	296	38.60
RAW (26MB) + HEIF L (7.6MB)	168	34.90
CRAW (10.8MB) + HEIF L (7.6MB)	365	46.17

10. ProGrade V60 UHS-II

• Bus speed: UHS-II
• Video speed class: V60
• Capacities: 64GB, 128GB, 256GB (SDXC)
• Read speed: 250 MB/s
• Write speed: 130 MB/s

In-Camera Speed / Buffer Test Results

Here are our complete in-camera speed / buffer test results when using a 64GB card in Hi+ Drive Mode using the Electronic Shutter (30 FPS).

When shooting in RAW the actual R3 in-camera write speed is around 123 MB/s.

Image Type	Shots Before Hitting Buffer	Time to Clear Buffer (Seconds)
RAW (26MB*)	150	26.56
CRAW (10.8MB**)	310	19.60
JPEG L (9.2MB ***)	331	14.05
HEIF L (7.6MB ***)	422	25.78
RAW (26MB) + JPEG L (9.2MB)	150	36.91
CRAW (10.8MB) + JPEG L (9.2MB)	302	40.65
RAW (26MB) + HEIF L (7.6MB)	167	38.21
CRAW (10.8MB) + HEIF L (7.6MB)	365	46.61

11. Lexar Professional 1667X UHS-II

• Bus speed: UHS-II
• Video speed class: V60
• Capacities: 64GB, 128GB, 256GB (SDXC)
• Read speed: 250 MB/s
• Write speed: 120 MB/s

In-Camera Speed / Buffer Test Results

Here are our complete in-camera speed / buffer test results when using a 64GB card in Hi+ Drive Mode using the Electronic Shutter (30 FPS).

When shooting in RAW the actual R3 in-camera write speed is around 97 MB/s.

Image Type	Shots Before Hitting Buffer	Time to Clear Buffer (Seconds)
RAW (26MB*)	150	34.96
CRAW (10.8MB**)	301	28.05
JPEG L (9.2MB ***)	332	23.05
HEIF L (7.6MB ***)	419	21.55
RAW (26MB) + JPEG L (9.2MB)	146	50.66
CRAW (10.8MB) + JPEG L (9.2MB)	301	56.37
RAW (26MB) + HEIF L (7.6MB)	163	50.01
CRAW (10.8MB) + HEIF L (7.6MB)	352	63.93

12. Sony SF-E UHS-II

The Sony SF-E UHS-II SD cards are the lowest cost UHS-II memory cards that Sony sells.

• Bus speed: UHS-II
• Video speed class: 64GB V30, 128GB and higher V60
• Capacities: 64GB, 128GB, 256GB (SDXC)
• Read speed: 270 MB/s
• Write speed: 64GB 70 MB/s, 128GB + 256GB 120 MB/s

In-Camera Speed / Buffer Test Results

Here are our complete in-camera speed / buffer test results when using a 64GB card in Hi+ Drive Mode using the Electronic Shutter (30 FPS).

When shooting in RAW the actual R3 in-camera write speed is around 73 MB/s.

Image Type	Shots Before Hitting Buffer	Time to Clear Buffer (Seconds)
RAW (26MB*)	150	48.53
CRAW (10.8MB**)	325	42.6
JPEG L (9.2MB ***)	350	32.25
HEIF L (7.6MB ***)	445	33.65
RAW (26MB) + JPEG L (9.2MB)	150	67
CRAW (10.8MB) + JPEG L (9.2MB)	307	80.50
RAW (26MB) + HEIF L (7.6MB)	169	68.34
CRAW (10.8MB) + HEIF L (7.6MB)	360	81.53

Because the 128GB card has a faster write speed (120 MB/s) than the 64GB card, the R3 in-camera write speed is faster at around 157 MB/s when shooting in RAW, this is faster than the label speed!

Here are our in-camera speed / buffer test results when using a 128GB card in Hi+ Drive Mode using the Electronic Shutter (30 FPS).

Image Type	Shots Before Hitting Buffer	Time to Clear Buffer (Seconds)
RAW (26MB*)	150	19.70
CRAW (10.8MB**)	320	11.51
JPEG L (9.2MB ***)	350	9.80
HEIF L (7.6MB ***)	441	21.18
RAW (26MB) + JPEG L (9.2MB)	149	26.91
CRAW (10.8MB) + JPEG L (9.2MB)	312	29.81
RAW (26MB) + HEIF L (7.6MB)	167	28.05
CRAW (10.8MB) + HEIF L (7.6MB)	365	45.15

13. Angelbird AV Pro Mk 2 V90 UHS-II

• Bus speed: UHS-II
• Video speed class: V90
• Capacities: 32GB (SDHC), 64GB, 128GB, 256GB (SDXC)
• Read speed: 300 MB/s
• Write speed: 280 MB/s

In-Camera Speed / Buffer Test Results

When shooting in RAW the actual R3 in-camera write speed is around 57 MB/s.

This is extremely slow for a card that claims a write speed of 260 MB/s.

There is definitely a performance issue with this card when used in the R3, we saw the same performance issues when testing this card for our Canon R6 Memory Card Guide.

We have also tested this card in the Sony A1 and it works as it should, so this is a card issue specific to the R3 and R6 and not simply a bad card.

Here are our complete in-camera speed / buffer test results when using a 64GB card in Hi+ Drive Mode using the Electronic Shutter (30 FPS).

Image Type	Shots Before Hitting Buffer	Time to Clear Buffer (Seconds)
RAW (26MB*)	145	61.30
CRAW (10.8MB**)	297	55.15
JPEG L (9.2MB ***)	317	44.58
HEIF L (7.6MB ***)	398	40.91
RAW (26MB) + JPEG L (9.2MB)	139	79.60
CRAW (10.8MB) + JPEG L (9.2MB)	284	101.60
RAW (26MB) + HEIF L (7.6MB)	157	87.97
CRAW (10.8MB) + HEIF L (7.6MB)	329	106.42

UHS-I Memory Cards

We’ve not tested any UHS-I Memory Cards in the R3, why you may ask?

Because pardon the poor analogy but this would be a little like filling up your Ferrari with wee-wee.

Why cripple a $6000 camera by using the slowest memory cards?

If you are curious about how UHS-I cards perform then we have tested these in our Canon R6 Memory Card Guide.

Mechanical Shutter 12 FPS Speed & Buffer Tests

All of our buffer tests are done using the Electronic Shutter at 30 FPS to ensure that we test the maximum write speed of each card.

However, since we know some of you will prefer to shoot with the Mechanical Shutter which can shoot at a maximum of 12 FPS (Electronic 1st-Curtain), we have also tested two of the fastest memory cards at 12 FPS.

We don’t test every single card with the mechanical shutter as this would not be very kind to the R3’s mechanical shutter or our own sanity.

Delkin Devices BLACK CFexpress Type B (New Version)

• Bus: PCIe 3.0 Interface
• Capacities: 75GB, 150GB, 325GB, 512GB, 650GB
• Read speed: 1725 MB/s
• Write speed: 1530 MB/s

In-Camera Speed / Buffer Test Results

Here are our complete in-camera speed / buffer test results when using a 325GB card in Hi+ Drive Mode using the Mechanical Shutter with Electronic 1st-Curtain (12 FPS).

Image Type	Shots Before Hitting Buffer	Time to Clear Buffer (Seconds)
RAW (26MB*)	Over 1000	< 1
CRAW (10.8MB**)	Over 1000	< 1
JPEG L (9.2MB ***)	Over 1000	< 1
HEIF L (7.6MB ***)	Over 1000	< 1
RAW (26MB) + JPEG L (9.2MB)	Over 1000	< 1
CRAW (10.8MB) + JPEG L (9.2MB)	Over 1000	< 1
RAW (26MB) + HEIF L (7.6MB)	366	18.53
CRAW (10.8MB) + HEIF L (7.6MB)	890	43.60

Sony SF-G Tough UHS-II

• Bus speed: UHS-II
• Video speed class: V90
• Capacities: 32GB (SDHC), 64GB, 128GB, 256GB (SDXC)
• Read speed: 300 MB/s
• Write speed: 299 MB/s

In-Camera Speed / Buffer Test Results

Here are our complete in-camera speed / buffer test results when using a 64GB card in Hi+ Drive Mode using the Mechanical Shutter with Electronic 1st-Curtain (12 FPS).

Image Type	Shots Before Hitting Buffer	Time to Clear Buffer (Seconds)
RAW (26MB*)	610	11.08
CRAW (10.8MB**)	Over 1000	< 1
JPEG L (9.2MB ***)	Over 1000	< 1
HEIF L (7.6MB ***)	Over 1000	< 1
RAW (26MB) + JPEG L (9.2MB)	303	16.43
CRAW (10.8MB) + JPEG L (9.2MB)	Over 1000	< 1
RAW (26MB) + HEIF L (7.6MB)	345	17.93
CRAW (10.8MB) + HEIF L (7.6MB)	656	32.73

Electronic Shutter 15 FPS Speed & Buffer Tests

We also know that some of you will prefer to shoot with the Electronic Shutter set to Hi (15 FPS).

That is unless you really enjoy extremely long culling sessions when you get home as a result of shooting at 30 FPS all day!

Again we don’t test every single card with at 15 FPS because this would drive us crazy, but we have tested the fastest CFexpress Type B card and also the fastest UHS-II card from our 30 FPS tests.

Delkin Devices BLACK CFexpress Type B (New Version)

In-Camera Speed / Buffer Test Results

Here are our complete in-camera speed / buffer test results when using a 325GB card in Hi Drive Mode using the Electronic Shutter at 15 FPS (Hi).

Image Type	Shots Before Hitting Buffer	Time to Clear Buffer (Seconds)
RAW (26MB*)	Over 1000	< 1
CRAW (10.8MB**)	Over 1000	< 1
JPEG L (9.2MB ***)	Over 1000	< 1
HEIF L (7.6MB ***)	Over 1000	< 1
RAW (26MB) + JPEG L (9.2MB)	Over 1000	< 1
CRAW (10.8MB) + JPEG L (9.2MB)	Over 1000	< 1
RAW (26MB) + HEIF L (7.6MB)	173	14.66
CRAW (10.8MB) + HEIF L (7.6MB)	418	34.62

Sony SF-G Tough UHS-II

In-Camera Speed / Buffer Test Results

Here are our complete in-camera speed / buffer test results when using a 64GB card in Hi Drive Mode using the Electronic Shutter at 15 FPS (Hi).

Image Type	Shots Before Hitting Buffer	Time to Clear Buffer (Seconds)
RAW (26MB*)	284	10.48
CRAW (10.8MB**)	Over 1000	< 1
JPEG L (9.2MB ***)	Over 1000	< 1
HEIF L (7.6MB ***)	Over 1000	< 1
RAW (26MB) + JPEG L (9.2MB)	152	11.58
CRAW (10.8MB) + JPEG L (9.2MB)	896	17.38
RAW (26MB) + HEIF L (7.6MB)	173	15.78
CRAW (10.8MB) + HEIF L (7.6MB)	421	35.23

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.

There also appears to be an additional negative performance impact compared to writing to a single UHS-II card.

The Sony SF-G Tough UHS-II 64GB card can write 150 RAW images before hitting the buffer and clear it in 10.71 seconds (30 FPS).

But with a Delkin Devices CFexpress Type-B 325GB card in slot 1 and the Sony SF-G Tough in Slot 2, the number of shots before hitting the buffer remains at 150 but the time to clear the buffer increases to 16 seconds.

Recording Separately

If you select the record option in the menu “Rec. Separately” then you can write a different file format 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 150 RAW files to slot 1 and 150 JPEGS L to slot 2 before hitting the buffer. The buffer then clears in 5.83 seconds.

If you were to write the RAW files to slot 2 and JPEGS L to slot 1, then this would take 11.75 seconds to clear the buffer, this is why we don’t recommend doing it this way.

Memory Cards for Recording Video

6K RAW capture and 4K/120 both require a CFexpress Type-B card rated at over 400MB/s.

6K RAW Light or All-I 4K/60 capture requires a CFexpress Type-B card rates at 200MB/s or higher.

For most other video modes a V60 rated or V90 rated SDXC UHS-II card is required.

Unfortunately since the R3 was on hire we didn’t have time to test all of the cards that we have tested with stills for shooting 6K raw. If there is enough interest we might do this for a future test.

But thanks to members or our Canon R3 Shooters Group on Facebook we know that the Prograde Cobalt cards work well when shooting 6K RAW.

Here is Canon’s list of memory card requirements for movie recording with the R3.

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?

This really depends on how and what you are shooting.

Stills Shooters

We would recommend a minimum of 128GB if you shoot a lot of continuous bursts.

A 128GB card is good for approximately 4900 RAW files, 11600 CRAW files, 12800 JPEGS L or 16000 HEIF L files.

Video Shooters

For video shooters please refer to the movie recording times table above.

If using an SD card you’ll definitely want to avoid 32GB and smaller cards because these SDHC cards use the FAT 32 file system and you’ll find that your video files get broken up into 4GB chunks which makes for a lot more work in post.

So stick with the SDXC cards which are 64GB and larger when using an SD card.

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

Once you’ve shot those award winning shots you’ll probably want to keep your cards safe until you have chance to back them up. Here are a couple of storage cases worth taking a closer look at.

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 1700 MB/s, however the Canon R3 is only able to write in-camera at around 400 MB/s when shooting stills, most likely due to the overhead of processing the image files.

Therefore it’s not really worth buying the cards with the fastest write speeds on the label because in-camera there is really no benefit.

The Lexar Professional Diamond Series CFexpress Type B card has a write speed of 1700 MB/s and costs $219.99 for a 128GB card, whereas the Delkin Devices Power CFexpress Type B card has a write speed of 1540 MB/s and costs $159.10 for a 128GB card at the time of publishing this article.

However, in-camera the Delkin card is actually a few fractions of a second faster to clear the buffer when shooting RAW. So if you were to purchase the Lexar Diamond Series card based on the label write speed alone you would be throwing your money away.

All of the CFexpress Type B cards that we tested performed similarly in-camera, apart from the Wise Advanced CFX-B Series 128GB which is a slower card anyway (1050 MB/s), and the ProGrade Digital Gold CFexpress Type B card which appears to have performance issues in the R3 when shooting RAW.

Our advice would be to simply purchase whichever CFexpress Type B card has the best price when you are looking. Of course reliability is very important as well, so do check those reviews.

When it comes to UHS-II cards the speeds do vary a lot more than the CFexpress cards in-camera.

The fastest card is the Sony SF-G Tough UHS-II card, but this is a tight fit in the R3’s slot 2 the first few times its inserted, it’s also expensive.

We’d recommend going with the Kingston Canvas React Plus UHS-II card instead, it’s only fractionally slower than the Sony but a lot cheaper.

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.

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