Best Memory Cards for Sony a6500

Searching for the best SD memory cards for Sony a6500 mirrorless camera? Here are the top recommended & fastest SD cards for Sony a6500.

The Sony a6500 (B&H, Adorama) has only one SD card slot that supports only UHS-I SD cards, which means it will have pretty low write speeds at about 32MB/s, and it will not gain any write speed benefits from using a UHS-II memory card, but you can take advantage of the read speed of UHS-II memory cards (up to 300 MB/s with a USB 3.0 memory card reader), especially when transferring pictures to a computer or previewing them on the camera.

In addition, the Sony a6500 features 4K video recording and 11fps burst shooting mode. So, if you are planning to shooting 4K video with the Sony a6500 camera, you’d better to choose U3 capable SD cards – the U3 cards have a guaranteed minimum writing speed of 30 MB/s, which is enough for the 100 Mbit/s (12.5 MB/s) XAVC S codec, to consistently record 4K 100M video. And, having some quality 128GB and 256GB card options might help you best on bigger projects, especially when shooting Raw still images and 4K video.

Below are our top recommended SD memory cards for Sony a6500 mirrorless camera, and you can choose the one you need.

Recommended SD Cards for Sony a6500

Comparing our top-rated, fastest SD cards for Sony a6500 mirrorless camera? Look no further! Any of these will make for a superb choice. If you’d like even more specific recommendations, take a look below.

UHS-I SD CardsMax. Read SpeedMax. Write Speed
SanDisk Extreme PRO UHS-I SD Card (V30, U3)200 MB/s140 MB/s
Samsung PRO Ultimate UHS-I SD Card (V30, U3)200 MB/s130 MB/s
Samsung PRO Plus UHS-I SD Card (V30, U3)180 MB/s130 MB/s
Lexar Professional 1066x UHS-I SD Card (V30, U3)160 MB/s120 MB/s
Kingston Canvas Go! Plus UHS-I SD Card (V30, U3)170 MB/s90 MB/s
SanDisk Extreme UHS-I SD Card (V30, U3)180 MB/s90 MB/s
Kingston Canvas Select Plus UHS-I SD Card (V30, U3)100 MB/s85 MB/s

Best Memory Cards for Sony a6500

1. SanDisk Extreme PRO UHS-I SD Card

SanDisk Extreme PRO UHS-I SD Card Key Specifications:

  • Bus Speed: UHS-I
  • Speed Class: V30 / U3 / Class 10
  • Max Read Speed: 200 MB/s
  • Max Write Speed: 140 MB/s
  • Min Write Speed: 30 MB/s
  • Capacities: 64GB, 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1T

If you’re in the market for a fast, reliable SD card for capturing full HD, 3D, 4K video and/or raw and burst photography, the SanDisk Extreme Pro UHS-I SD card is the way to go. It’s one of the most popular UHS-I SD cards out there and it comes highly recommended – after all, it’s almost always my top pick! Boasting read speeds of up to 200 MB/s and write speeds of up to 140 MB/s, it’s the perfect choice for capturing your favorite moments with perfect clarity.

The SanDisk Extreme Pro UHS-I SD card is ready for anything with its resistance to water, shock, X-rays and temperatures ranging from -13 to 185°F. Not to mention, it comes bundled with recovery software to help recover any files that are mistakenly deleted. And with its range of storage capacities – 32GB, 64GB, 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB – and a limited lifetime warranty, this powerful card is truly the ultimate companion.

Buy SanDisk Extreme PRO UHS-I SD Card at B&H, Adorama.

2. Samsung PRO Plus UHS-I SD Card

Samsung PRO Plus UHS-I SD Card Key Specifications:

  • Bus Speed: UHS-I
  • Speed Class: V30 / U3 / Class 10
  • Max Read Speed: 160 MB/s
  • Max Write Speed: 120 MB/s
  • Min Write Speed: 30 MB/s
  • Capacities: 32GB (SDHC), 64GB, 128GB, 256GB (SDXC)

The Samsung PRO Plus UHS-I SD Card is the perfect pick for the aspiring photographer or videographer! Offering maximum sequential read and write speeds of 160 MB/sec and 120 MB/sec, it will easily handle your 4K video recording needs. With models ranging from 32GB to 256GB, it comes with a 10 year limited warranty and is one of the most affordable and reliable UHS-I SD cards on the market. Don’t hesitate – highly recommended, the Samsung Pro Plus is the ideal solution for all your photo and videography needs!

Buy Samsung PRO Plus UHS-I SD Card at B&H.

3. Lexar Professional 1066x UHS-I SD Card (Silver Series)

Lexar Professional 1066x UHS-I SD Card (SILVER Series) Key Specifications:

  • Bus Speed: UHS-I
  • Speed Class: V30 / U3 / Class 10
  • Max Read Speed: 160 MB/s
  • Max Write Speed: 120 MB/s
  • Min Write Speed: 30 MB/s
  • Capacities: 64GB, 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1T

The Lexar Professional 1066x UHS-I SD Card (SILVER Series) is a real powerhouse – offering exceptional speeds of up to 160 MB/s read and 120 MB/s write – perfect for capturing and transferring those high-quality photos and Full-HD and 4K UHD videos with ease. This card also stands up to whatever nature throws its way, being resistant to water, shock, vibration, x-rays, and temperature extremes. If you’re looking for one of the fastest UHS-I SD Cards on the market, this is one to seriously consider.

Buy Lexar Professional 1066x UHS-I SD Card (Silver Series) at B&H, Adorama.

4. Kingston Canvas Go! Plus UHS-I SD Card

Kingston Canvas Go! Plus UHS-I SD Card Key Specifications:

  • Bus Speed: UHS-I
  • Speed Class: V30 / U3 / Class 10
  • Max Read Speed: 170 MB/s
  • Max Write Speed: 90 MB/s
  • Min Write Speed: 30 MB/s
  • Capacities: 64GB, 128GB, 256GB and 512GB
  • Limited Lifetime Warranty

The Kingston Canvas Go! Plus UHS-I SD Card is an ideal pick for people who require speed and reliability while on the move. It provides ultra-fast read speeds of up to 170 MB/s and write speeds of up to 90 MB/s, plus the V30 speed class ensures that you’ll always have a minimum write speed of 30 MB/s. And with its robust build that withstands water, shock, vibration, x-rays and temperature extremes, this card is the perfect companion for all your on-the-go UHD 4K video and photo burst needs – highly recommended!

Buy Kingston Canvas Go! Plus UHS-I SD Card (V30, U3) at B&H, Adorama.

Read more: Best Lenses for Sony a6500.