Camera Memory Speed
Memory Card Comparison & Performance Tests for Digital Cameras

Canon EOS M5 SD Card Comparison

Published: June 23, 2017

The Canon EOS M5 is a 24.2MP mirrorless APS-C digital camera. It uses dual-pixel autofocus for fast and accurate focus. The 2.36M-dot OLED electronic viewfinder, tilting touch LCD screen and an array of external control buttons and dials provide a high level of direct control and a significant upgrade over the previous EOS M-series cameras. The M5 uses the DIGIC 7 processor and is capable of up to 9 fps continuous shooting, or 7 fps with autofocus.

The Canon M5 has a single SD card slot and supports UHS-I. The M5 was tested using 120 SD cards. The write speed for continuous shooting was tested for each card. Additional results are provided for continuous shooting using RAW+JPEG, RAW and JPEG image modes for 30 seconds of continous shooting. Following the tables, a detailed analysis has more details about the camera and difference between memory card performance in the camera. Finally, the fastest SD cards are recommended for the Canon M5 based on the test results.

Camera Details and Settings

The Canon M5 is tested on a tripod with a remote release timer. The subect is a detailed test scene with controlled lighting. A manual lens and all manual settings are used to provide consistency.

Write speed is determined using the buffer full condition. This begins when the buffer has reached capacity and is unable to sustain the full frame rate. In this condition shooting is limited to the rate at which the buffer is emptied. During extended shooting in buffer full condition, the shot interval can be used to determine the write speed of the card. This eliminates the need to use the card access light for write speed calcuation. The total bytes written divided by the total time gives the average write speed. Results are presented in megabytes per second, where 1MB = 1,048,576 bytes.

Canon EOS M5 SD Card Write Speed

+ Show more prices
Memory CardSize
(GB)
Average Write Speed (MB/s)Price
Lexar Professional 2000x UHS-II 32GB3281.1$86.50
Lexar Professional 2000x UHS-II 64GB6480.4$125.50
Sony SF-G 300MB/s UHS-II 32GB3280.1$92.54
Sony SF-G 300MB/s UHS-II 64GB6480.0$49.99
SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s microSDHC 32GB3279.4$15.23
SanDisk Extreme Plus 95/90 MB/s U3 V30 microSDXC 64GB6479.1$28.95
SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s microSDXC 64GB6479.1$14.29
Sony SF-G 300MB/s UHS-II 128GB12878.9$167.19
Lexar Professional 2000x UHS-II Rev E 32GB3278.8$86.50
SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s U3 V30 256GB25678.5$157.99
Lexar Professional 1800x microSD UHS-II 64GB6478.5$386.00
Sony M Series UHS-II 32GB3278.2$55.77
SanDisk Extreme Plus 95/90 MB/s U3 V30 microSDHC 32GB3278.0$15.95
Transcend Ultimate UHS-II U3 32GB3278.0
Lexar Professional 2000x UHS-II Rev E 64GB6478.0$125.50
SanDisk Extreme Pro 300MB/s UHS-II 64GB6477.9$87.99
Hoodman Steel UHS-II 64GB6477.9$89.99
Transcend Ultimate UHS-II U3 64GB6477.8
SanDisk Extreme Pro 300MB/s UHS-II 32GB3277.8$51.02
SanDisk Extreme Pro UHS-II 275MB/s microSDXC 64GB6477.5$68.13
SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s U3 V30 32GB3277.5$12.99
SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s U3 V30 64GB6477.0$39.00
Patriot EP Series microSDXC 64GB6476.9
Patriot EP PRO microSDXC 64GB6476.8$33.17
PNY Pro Elite microSDXC 64GB6476.6$10.99
Panasonic Gold 95/90 64GB6476.5
Sony M Series UHS-II 64GB6476.4$39.99
Lexar Professional 1000x UHS-II Rev C 64GB6476.4$47.40
SanDisk Extreme Plus 95/90 MB/s U3 V30 microSDXC 128GB12876.3$69.99
Transcend 633x microSDHC 32GB3276.3$33.91
Toshiba Exceria Pro UHS-II 32GB3276.2
Kingston U3 90/80 MB/s 64GB6476.1$59.40
Sony M Series UHS-II 128GB12876.1$59.86
Kingston U3 (90/80) microSD 64GB6476.0$64.66
Kingston U3 90/80 MB/s 32GB3276.0$69.95
Transcend 95/85 MB/s U3 32GB3275.9
Samsung PRO Plus 32GB3275.7
PNY Pro Elite 64GB6475.7
SanDisk Extreme Pro 300MB/s UHS-II 128GB12875.6$254.99
Lexar Professional 2000x UHS-II Rev B 128GB12875.5$189.99
Kingston U3 (90/80) microSD 32GB3275.4$187.76
SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s U3 V30 128GB12875.2$76.00
Samsung PRO Select microSDXC 64GB6475.2
Samsung PRO Plus microSDXC 64GB6475.1$52.99
Transcend Ultimate 633x microSD 64GB6475.1$125.99
Samsung PRO Plus 64GB6475.0$118.00
Transcend R95 W85 U3 64GB6473.9$49.99
Sony 95MB/s U3 32GB3272.6$15.99
Sony 95MB/s U3 64GB6472.6$34.99
Delkin Elite 633x 32GB3272.3$19.99
Kingston Class 10 UHS-I 64GB6472.3$36.38
Delkin Black 32GB3271.9
Samsung PRO Select microSDXC 128GB12871.3$99.99
Samsung PRO Plus microSDXC 128GB12871.0
Samsung EVO Select microSDXC 256GB25670.7$60.50
Lexar Professional 1800x microSD UHS-II 32GB3269.5$29.95
Samsung PRO U3 32GB3269.1
Samsung PRO U3 64GB6467.6$89.98
Samsung PRO microSDXC 64GB6466.2
Lexar Professional 1000x UHS-II Rev B 32GB3265.2$44.99
Lexar Professional 1800x microSD UHS-II 128GB12864.8$199.99
Lexar Professional 1000x UHS-II 32GB3264.5$44.99
PNY Elite-X microSDHC 32GB3263.5$19.99
Lexar Professional 1000x UHS-II 64GB6463.3$47.40
Lexar Professional 1000x UHS-II 128GB12863.0$54.95
Lexar Professional 1000x UHS-II Rev C 128GB12862.8$54.95
SanDisk Extreme 90MB/s U3 V30 microSDXC 64GB6461.4$11.25
PNY Elite-X microSDXC 64GB6461.1$23.99
SanDisk Extreme 90MB/s U3 V30 microSDHC 32GB3261.0$10.28
Lexar Professional 633x U3 256GB25660.8$51.97
Transcend 95/60 MB/s U3 256GB25660.1$172.91
Transcend 600x 128GB12859.3$18.95
SanDisk Extreme Plus 90MB/s U3 V30 32GB3259.1$18.92
PNY Elite Performance U3 128GB12859.0$39.99
Transcend 95/60 MB/s U3 128GB12858.9$104.31
Transcend 95/60 MB/s U3 64GB6458.8$29.95
SanDisk Extreme 90MB/s U3 V30 256GB25658.6$61.77
Transcend 600x 64GB6458.5$31.98
PNY Elite Performance U1 64GB6458.4$19.99
SanDisk Extreme 90MB/s U3 V30 128GB12858.3$21.99
SanDisk Extreme Plus 90MB/s U3 V30 64GB6458.3$35.99
SanDisk Extreme 90MB/s U3 V30 microSDXC 128GB12857.0$55.88
Lexar Professional 1000x UHS-II microSD 128GB12851.7$168.00
PNY Elite Performance U3 256GB25647.9$99.89
SanDisk Extreme 90MB/s U3 V30 64GB6447.6$15.99
SanDisk Extreme 90MB/s U3 V30 32GB3247.2$10.42
Lexar Professional 1000x UHS-II microSD 64GB6446.7$29.95
Delkin 1900x UHS-II 32GB3246.5
Kingston Class 10 256GB25645.7$161.52
Lexar Professional 1000x microSD UHS-II 32GB3244.5$19.99
Patriot EP Pro 90MB/s 32GB3244.2$31.58
Kingston Ultimate 32GB3244.1
SanDisk Extreme Pro 280MB/s UHS-II 32GB3241.2$69.00
Patriot EP Pro 128GB12839.1$58.57
SanDisk Ultra 80MB/s 32GB3238.4$8.76
Patriot EP Pro 90MB/s 64GB6438.4$24.99
Transcend 600x 32GB3236.4$17.99
Lexar Professional 1000x UHS-II 256GB25635.8$89.99
PNY Elite Performance U1 32GB3235.4
Panasonic MicroP2 UHS-II 32GB3233.4
SanDisk Ultra 80MB/s microSD 128GB12831.0$14.97
Lexar Professional 633x microSDXC 200GB20029.9$89.99
PNY Elite microSDXC 64GB6428.4$27.98
Lexar Professional 633x U1 128GB12826.5$17.95
PNY Elite microSDXC 128GB12825.6$36.99
Lexar Professional 633x U1 64GB6423.8$12.99
Samsung EVO Select microSDXC 64GB6423.7$22.99
Samsung EVO microSDXC 64GB6421.9$38.00
Samsung EVO microSD 32GB3221.6$31.70
Lexar Professional 633x microSDXC 64GB6421.3$9.99
Lexar Professional 633x U1 32GB3220.5$9.99
Samsung EVO Plus 128GB microSDXC12820.0$49.00
Samsung EVO Select microSDXC 128GB12819.6$59.95
SanDisk Ultra 80MB/s 32GB Card 23219.3$8.76
SanDisk Ultra 80MB/s 128GB12819.0$19.69
Lexar Professional 633x microSDXC 128GB12818.9$15.99
SanDisk Ultra 80MB/s microSD 64GB6418.9$11.68
SanDisk Ultra 80MB/s 64GB6415.3$9.98
SanDisk Ultra 90MB/s microSD 200GB20015.1$58.50
SanDisk Ultra 80MB/s microSD 32GB3214.0$8.50

Canon EOS M5 Continuous Shooting

To test continuous shooting, the camera shutter is activated for 30 seconds. The number of shots using each image mode: RAW+JPEG, RAW, and JPEG are recorded. The time does not include buffer clearing time. The JPEG image setting is large, high quality. The M5 is set to continuous high drive mode. The detailed test scene produces 39.3 MB RAW files and 13.8 MB JPEG files.

+ Show more prices
Memory CardSize
(GB)
Continuous Shooting – Images in 30 SecondsLowest
Price
RAW+JPEGRAWJPEG
Lexar Professional 2000x UHS-II 32GB324975171$86.50
Sony SF-G 300MB/s UHS-II 64GB644975169$49.99
Sony SF-G 300MB/s UHS-II 32GB324974173$92.54
Lexar Professional 2000x UHS-II 64GB644974172$125.50
Lexar Professional 2000x UHS-II Rev E 32GB324974170$86.50
Transcend Ultimate UHS-II U3 32GB324974168
Sony SF-G 300MB/s UHS-II 128GB1284974166$167.19
SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s microSDXC 64GB644973170$14.29
SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s microSDHC 32GB324973169$15.23
Lexar Professional 1800x microSD UHS-II 64GB644973169$386.00
SanDisk Extreme Plus 95/90 MB/s U3 V30 microSDHC 32GB324973169$15.95
SanDisk Extreme Pro UHS-II 275MB/s microSDXC 64GB644973167$68.13
SanDisk Extreme Plus 95/90 MB/s U3 V30 microSDXC 64GB644973167$28.95
SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s U3 V30 256GB2564973166$157.99
Transcend Ultimate UHS-II U3 64GB644973165
Patriot EP Series microSDXC 64GB644972169
SanDisk Extreme Pro 300MB/s UHS-II 32GB324972169$51.02
Sony M Series UHS-II 32GB324972167$55.77
Hoodman Steel UHS-II 64GB644972165$89.99
SanDisk Extreme Pro 300MB/s UHS-II 64GB644972165$87.99
SanDisk Extreme Plus 95/90 MB/s U3 V30 microSDXC 128GB1284972162$69.99
Kingston U3 (90/80) microSD 32GB324971170$187.76
Kingston U3 90/80 MB/s 64GB644971166$59.40
Sony M Series UHS-II 128GB1284971162$59.86
Panasonic Gold 95/90 64GB644971162
Samsung PRO Plus 64GB644970163$118.00
Transcend Ultimate 633x microSD 64GB644970161$125.99
Patriot EP PRO microSDXC 64GB644872169$33.17
SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s U3 V30 32GB324872168$12.99
SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s U3 V30 64GB644872162$39.00
Samsung PRO Select microSDXC 64GB644871170
PNY Pro Elite microSDXC 64GB644871170$10.99
Kingston U3 (90/80) microSD 64GB644871167$64.66
Kingston U3 90/80 MB/s 32GB324871167$69.95
Transcend 95/85 MB/s U3 32GB324871167
Sony M Series UHS-II 64GB644871166$39.99
Transcend 633x microSDHC 32GB324871164$33.91
Toshiba Exceria Pro UHS-II 32GB324871162
Samsung PRO Plus 32GB324871160
SanDisk Extreme Pro 300MB/s UHS-II 128GB1284871160$254.99
PNY Pro Elite 64GB644871160
SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s U3 V30 128GB1284870165$76.00
Samsung PRO Plus microSDXC 64GB644870164$52.99
Lexar Professional 2000x UHS-II Rev B 128GB1284870161$189.99
Transcend R95 W85 U3 64GB644870154$49.99
Sony 95MB/s U3 32GB324869159$15.99
Kingston Class 10 UHS-I 64GB644869158$36.38
Sony 95MB/s U3 64GB644869148$34.99
Delkin Elite 633x 32GB324868159$19.99
Delkin Black 32GB324868156
Samsung EVO Select microSDXC 256GB2564868150$60.50
Lexar Professional 2000x UHS-II Rev E 64GB644772167$125.50
Samsung PRO Plus microSDXC 128GB1284768155
Samsung PRO Select microSDXC 128GB1284768155$99.99
Samsung PRO U3 32GB324766155
Lexar Professional 1800x microSD UHS-II 32GB324766154$29.95
Samsung PRO U3 64GB644765152$89.98
Samsung PRO microSDXC 64GB644764151
Lexar Professional 1800x microSD UHS-II 128GB1284663150$199.99
Lexar Professional 1000x UHS-II 64GB644663147$47.40
PNY Elite-X microSDHC 32GB324662148$19.99
Lexar Professional 1000x UHS-II 128GB1284661145$54.95
Lexar Professional 1000x UHS-II Rev C 64GB644572161$47.40
Lexar Professional 1000x UHS-II Rev B 32GB324564151$44.99
Lexar Professional 1000x UHS-II 32GB324563149$44.99
Lexar Professional 1000x UHS-II Rev C 128GB1284561144$54.95
SanDisk Extreme 90MB/s U3 V30 microSDXC 64GB644561143$11.25
SanDisk Extreme 90MB/s U3 V30 microSDHC 32GB324560143$10.28
Lexar Professional 633x U3 256GB2564560138$51.97
PNY Elite-X microSDXC 64GB644460142$23.99
Transcend 95/60 MB/s U3 256GB2564460137$172.91
SanDisk Extreme Plus 90MB/s U3 V30 32GB324459137$18.92
Transcend 95/60 MB/s U3 64GB644459136$29.95
Transcend 600x 128GB1284459135$18.95
PNY Elite Performance U3 128GB1284459134$39.99
Transcend 95/60 MB/s U3 128GB1284459129$104.31
SanDisk Extreme 90MB/s U3 V30 256GB2564458136$61.77
SanDisk Extreme Plus 90MB/s U3 V30 64GB644458136$35.99
Transcend 600x 64GB644458135$31.98
PNY Elite Performance U1 64GB644358136$19.99
SanDisk Extreme 90MB/s U3 V30 128GB1284358135$21.99
SanDisk Extreme 90MB/s U3 V30 microSDXC 128GB1284357133$55.88
Lexar Professional 1000x UHS-II microSD 128GB1284253123$168.00
PNY Elite Performance U3 256GB2564151112$99.89
SanDisk Extreme 90MB/s U3 V30 32GB324050115$10.42
Delkin 1900x UHS-II 32GB324050114
SanDisk Extreme 90MB/s U3 V30 64GB644050112$15.99
Kingston Class 10 256GB2563949113$161.52
Lexar Professional 1000x microSD UHS-II 32GB323948112$19.99
Lexar Professional 1000x UHS-II microSD 64GB643850113$29.95
Patriot EP Pro 90MB/s 32GB323848111$31.58
Kingston Ultimate 32GB323848110
Lexar Professional 1000x UHS-II 256GB256384394$89.99
SanDisk Extreme Pro 280MB/s UHS-II 32GB323746105$69.00
SanDisk Ultra 80MB/s 32GB323544102$8.76
Patriot EP Pro 128GB128354499$58.57
Transcend 600x 32GB32354294$17.99
Patriot EP Pro 90MB/s 64GB64344497$24.99
PNY Elite Performance U1 32GB32344292
Panasonic MicroP2 UHS-II 32GB32334088
Lexar Professional 633x microSDXC 200GB200323886$89.99
SanDisk Ultra 80MB/s microSD 128GB128323885$14.97
PNY Elite microSDXC 64GB64303783$27.98
Lexar Professional 633x U1 128GB128293580$17.95
PNY Elite microSDXC 128GB128293482$36.99
Lexar Professional 633x U1 64GB64273371$12.99
Lexar Professional 633x microSDXC 64GB64263172$9.99
Samsung EVO microSD 32GB32263163$31.70
Samsung EVO microSDXC 64GB64263161$38.00
Samsung EVO Plus 128GB microSDXC128263060$49.00
SanDisk Ultra 80MB/s 128GB128263059$19.69
Samsung EVO Select microSDXC 64GB64253371$22.99
Lexar Professional 633x U1 32GB32253159$9.99
Lexar Professional 633x microSDXC 128GB128253060$15.99
SanDisk Ultra 80MB/s 32GB Card 232253060$8.76
Samsung EVO Select microSDXC 128GB128253059$59.95
SanDisk Ultra 80MB/s microSD 64GB64252960$11.68
SanDisk Ultra 90MB/s microSD 200GB200232753$58.50
SanDisk Ultra 80MB/s 64GB64232752$9.98
SanDisk Ultra 80MB/s microSD 32GB32222650$8.50

Analysis

The Canon M5 supports UHS-I SD cards including the fastest SDR104 mode that can theoretically reach up to 104MB/s. The highest average write speed during continuous shooting was 80.1 MB/s. This is very good for UHS-I performance in a camera.

The test uses both UHS-I and UHS-II cards. While the Canon M5 does not support UHS-II, the cards are backwards compatible and operate in UHS-I mode in the camera. They offer minimal benefit in the camera compared with fast UHS-I cards. However, in devices that support the UHS-II interface, the UHS-II cards can be up to three times as fast. This allows very fast download speed for transferring images to a computer.

Its buffer captured up to 18 shots in RAW at full frame rate before it was limited by its buffer. Slow cards reduced this to 16 shots. The slowest card sustained less than 0.4 fps with the buffer full, compared with 2.0 fps with the fastest card. These results were using a detailed test scene, using a less detailed subject may increase them slightly, according to the file size created.

Shooting RAW+JPEG resulted in 15-16 shots at full frame rate. After this the frame rate dropped according to card speed, with the slowest card maintaining less than 0.3 fps, while the fastest card continued at 1.2 fps. Switching to shooting JPEG only, the camera captured between 22-29 shots at full frame rate, with faster cards allowing more shots. The frame rate then dropped to 1 fps with the slowest card and up to 5.3 fps with the fastest card.

Fastest SD Cards for the Canon M5

Fastest (UHS-II):
Lexar Professional 2000x UHS-II 32GB SDHC card
Lexar Professional 2000x UHS-II cards



Sony SF-G 300MB/s UHS-II cards
Fast (UHS-I):
SanDisk Extreme Pro
SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s UHS-I cards


Kingston 90/80 U3 SDXC
Kingston 90/80 Speed Class 3 UHS-I cards

The fastest cards in the Canon M5 are Lexar Professional 2000x UHS-II and Sony SF-G 300MB/s UHS-II cards. These are UHS-II cards, but they operate in UHS-I mode in the M5 so their speed is limited by the camera. The reason one might choose a UHS-II card is their superior speed to transfer from the card to a computer where they can reach up to 300MB/s read speed in a UHS-II card reader. However, these cards a lot more expensive compared with fast UHS-I cards.

For the M5, fast UHS-I cards perform nearly as fast as UHS-II cards, but come at a much lower cost. Two fast UHS-I cards to consider for the M5 are SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s UHS-I cards and Kingston U3 90/80 MB/s UHS-I cards. Various capacities of the SanDisk Extreme Pro UHS-I card offered practially the same speed as the fast UHS-II cards in the camera.

Downloading images from the Canon M5

The Canon M5 has a built-in USB 2.0 port that allow it to be directly connected to a computer. Three different cards were tested in the M5 to evaluate download speed. The camera was connected to a computer with a fast SSD drive. Each card contained 150 RAW images, totaling 5.8 GB. The Sony SF-G Series 300MB/s UHS-II 32GB averaged 32.7 MB/s, while the SanDisk Extreme Pro 300MB/s UHS-II 32GB averaged 31.0 MB/s. The SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s UHS-I U3 V30 32GB averaged 33.2 MB/s. While this performance is good considering it is near the limit of USB 2.0, an external USB 3.0 card reader can reach much higher speed. The UHS-I cards typically reach above 90MB/s transfer speed, while UHS-II can attain over 250MB/s download speed. More card reader tests are available in the Card Reader Reviews.