Camera Memory Speed
Memory Card Comparison & Performance Tests for Digital Cameras
Fuji X-Pro2 SD card slot door open

Fastest SD cards for Fuji X-Pro2

Published: September 2, 2016

The Fuji X-Pro2 utilizes an APS-C sensor in a rangefinder-styled camera. It offers various improvements over its predecessor, the X-Pro, as well as the the X-T1 which was released on the interim. The sensor represents a significant upgrade in resolution, now reaching 24 megapixels, up from the 16-megapixel X-Trans sensor found in the previous cameras. The X-Pro2 also boasts a new 273-point auto focus system, including 169 phase detect points, all directly selectable. Similar to the original X-Pro, there is a hybrid optical viewfinder but the resolution has been increased to 2.36 million dots and upgraded using organic LED technology. The frame rate has been increased to 8fps, the same as the X-T1, while the shutter is upgraded to offer up to 1/8,000 shutter speed. The previous cameras topped out at 1/4,000 second shutter speed. The X-Pro2 shares the X-T1's ability to record 1080 HD video at up to 60 fps.

The X-Pro2 has dual card slots, a first for Fuji, and supports UHS-I and UHS-II Secure Digital cards (UHS-II is supported only in Slot 1). To evaluate memory card write performance 82 SD cards were tested in the X-Pro2. Results are shown in two charts below. The first shows write speed for RAW images during continuous shooting. The second table compares the number of images that can be shot in 30 seconds during continuous shooting for various image modes: RAW+JPEG, RAW and JPEG. A detailed analysis includes information observed during the tests. Based on the results Recommended SD cards for the X-Pro2 outlines the fastest cards for the camera.

Fuji X-Pro2 Camera Details & Settings

The X-Pro2 test uses a detailed picture subject with controlled lighting. The scene remains the same throughout the test. The camera is mounted on a tripod and controlled with an external remote release timer. The write speed test uses RAW (uncompressed) to maximize file size. RAW+JPEG and JPEG modes result in lower write speed. Write speed is calculated using the buffer full shot condition during extended continuous shooting. This provides a more accurate and consistent measurement of write speed compared with the card access light because the light illuminates when the shutter is activated and not when the first file begins writing. Write speed is in megabytes per second, where 1 MB = 1,048,576 bytes.

Fuji X-Pro2 SD Card Write Speed

+ Show more prices
Memory CardSize
(GB)
Average Write Speed (MB/s)Price
Lexar Professional 2000x UHS-II 32GB32112.1$86.50
Lexar Professional 1800x microSD UHS-II 32GB32110.8$29.95
Lexar Professional 2000x UHS-II 64GB64109.1$125.50
Transcend Ultimate UHS-II U3 32GB32102.2
Toshiba Exceria Pro UHS-II 32GB32100.3
Transcend Ultimate UHS-II U3 64GB6498.5
SanDisk Extreme Pro 280MB/s UHS-II 32GB3296.8$69.00
SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s 32GB3278.9$18.08
SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s 64GB6478.5$59.99
SanDisk Extreme Plus 95/90 MB/s microSD 64GB6478.2$47.99
SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s microSDXC 64GB6477.8$14.29
SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s 128GB12877.8$99.99
SanDisk Extreme Plus 95/90 MB/s microSD 32GB3277.6$13.99
SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s microSDHC 32GB3277.4$15.23
Samsung PRO Plus 32GB3276.6
Samsung PRO Plus 64GB6476.4$118.00
Kingston U3 90/80 MB/s 32GB3276.1$69.95
Kingston U3 90/80 MB/s 64GB6475.7$59.40
Panasonic Gold 95/90 64GB6474.6
Transcend Ultimate 633x microSD 64GB6474.6$125.99
PNY Pro Elite 64GB6474.1
Gobe Magic 104MB/s 64GB6474.0
Kingston U3 (90/80) microSD 64GB6473.3$64.66
Gobe Magic 104MB/s 32GB3272.5
Transcend R95 W85 U3 64GB6472.4$49.99
Samsung PRO 64GB6471.4$69.50
Kingston U3 (90/80) microSD 32GB3271.3$187.76
Samsung PRO 32GB3270.8$69.00
Lexar Professional 1000x UHS-II 128GB12870.6$54.95
Sony 95MB/s U3 64GB6470.5$34.99
Transcend 95/85 MB/s U3 32GB3270.4
Lexar Professional 1000x UHS-II 32GB3270.3$44.99
Kingston Class 10 UHS-I 64GB6469.4$36.38
SanDisk Extreme 80MB/s 128GB12869.0$16.99
Transcend 633x microSDHC 32GB3268.7$33.91
Sony 95MB/s U3 32GB3268.1$15.99
Lexar Professional 1000x UHS-II 64GB6468.1$47.40
SanDisk Extreme 90MB/s U3 128GB12868.0$42.99
Delkin Elite 633x 32GB3266.5$19.99
SanDisk Extreme 80MB/s 256GB25666.3$159.84
Delkin Black 32GB3265.7
Lexar Professional 633x U3 64GB6459.2$59.99
PNY Elite Performance U3 128GB12858.8$39.99
Transcend 95/60 MB/s U3 64GB6458.0$29.95
Transcend 95/60 MB/s U3 128GB12857.8$104.31
PNY Elite Performance U1 64GB6457.4$19.99
Lexar Professional 633x U3 128GB12857.3$59.99
SanDisk Extreme Plus 80MB/s microSD 32GB3257.0
Transcend 600x 64GB6456.8$31.98
Sony 94MB/s 32GB3255.4$26.29
SanDisk Extreme Plus 80MB/s 32GB3252.5$41.00
SanDisk Extreme Plus 80MB/s 64GB6452.3$29.99
Toshiba Exceria UHS-I Class 3 32GB3250.7
Toshiba Exceria UHS-I Class 3 64GB6450.2
SanDisk Extreme 60MB/s 32GB3248.7$17.84
SanDisk Extreme U3 microSD 64GB6448.3$38.99
SanDisk Extreme U3 microSD 32GB3248.2$19.99
SanDisk Extreme 60MB/s 64GB6447.2$36.90
Delkin 1900x UHS-II 32GB3247.2
PNY Turbo Performance U3 microSD 32GB3246.6$17.99
SanDisk Extreme 90MB/s U3 64GB6444.8$17.98
SanDisk Extreme 90MB/s U3 32GB3243.9$21.19
Lexar Professional 633x U3 32GB3243.9$39.99
Patriot EP Pro 90MB/s 32GB3242.3$31.58
Kingston Ultimate 32GB3241.9
Panasonic MicroP2 UHS-II 32GB3241.2
Panasonic Gold Series 32GB3238.7
Patriot EP Pro 128GB12838.4$58.57
Patriot EP Pro 90MB/s 64GB6437.7$24.99
SanDisk Ultra 80MB/s 32GB3235.5$8.76
Transcend 600x 32GB3235.3$17.99
PNY Elite Performance U1 32GB3234.4
Samsung EVO microSD 32GB3222.7$31.70
Samsung EVO 64GB6420.9$49.00
Samsung EVO 32GB3219.8$44.00
SanDisk Ultra 80MB/s 32GB Card 23218.9$8.76
SanDisk Ultra 40MB/s 32GB Card 23218.5$8.49
SanDisk Ultra 80MB/s 128GB12817.6$19.69
SanDisk Ultra 80MB/s 64GB6415.3$9.98
SanDisk Ultra 80MB/s microSD 32GB3215.1$8.50
SanDisk Ultra 40MB/s 64GB6414.5$13.00
Toshiba NFC 16GB1612.2

Fuji X-Pro2 Continuous Shooting

The X-Pro2 continuous shooting test uses Continuous high 8fps drive mode. The camera is controlled with a remote release timer for a 30 second interval and does not include buffer clearing time. The number of images taken in 30 seconds is shown below. Three image modes are used: RAW+JPEG, RAW, and JPEG. The JPEG setting is large, fine quality. The detailed test scene produces 48.3MB RAW and 14.5MB JPEG file sizes.

+ Show more prices
Memory CardSize
(GB)
Continuous Shooting – Images in 30 SecondsLowest
Price
RAW+JPEGRAWJPEG
Lexar Professional 2000x UHS-II 32GB327692219$86.50
Lexar Professional 2000x UHS-II 64GB647691219$125.50
Lexar Professional 1800x microSD UHS-II 32GB327591219$29.95
Transcend Ultimate UHS-II U3 32GB327286220
Transcend Ultimate UHS-II U3 64GB647284220
Toshiba Exceria Pro UHS-II 32GB327085219
SanDisk Extreme Pro 280MB/s UHS-II 32GB326883214$69.00
SanDisk Extreme Plus 95/90 MB/s microSD 64GB646172198$47.99
SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s 64GB646172198$59.99
SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s 128GB1286171195$99.99
SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s microSDXC 64GB646171188$14.29
SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s 32GB326072199$18.08
SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s microSDHC 32GB326071198$15.23
SanDisk Extreme Plus 95/90 MB/s microSD 32GB326071197$13.99
Samsung PRO Plus 32GB326070200
Kingston U3 90/80 MB/s 64GB646070189$59.40
Samsung PRO Plus 64GB645970202$118.00
Kingston U3 90/80 MB/s 32GB325970189$69.95
Panasonic Gold 95/90 64GB645969183
Transcend R95 W85 U3 64GB645968182$49.99
Gobe Magic 104MB/s 64GB645869190
Gobe Magic 104MB/s 32GB325868190
Transcend Ultimate 633x microSD 64GB645769189$125.99
PNY Pro Elite 64GB645769185
Kingston U3 (90/80) microSD 64GB645768186$64.66
Samsung PRO 32GB325767187$69.00
Kingston U3 (90/80) microSD 32GB325767185$187.76
Lexar Professional 1000x UHS-II 32GB325767185$44.99
Samsung PRO 64GB645767182$69.50
Lexar Professional 1000x UHS-II 128GB1285767174$54.95
SanDisk Extreme 80MB/s 128GB1285766185$16.99
Lexar Professional 1000x UHS-II 64GB645666181$47.40
Kingston Class 10 UHS-I 64GB645666176$36.38
SanDisk Extreme 90MB/s U3 128GB1285665177$42.99
SanDisk Extreme 80MB/s 256GB2565664178$159.84
Transcend 95/85 MB/s U3 32GB325567190
Sony 95MB/s U3 64GB645567174$34.99
Transcend 633x microSDHC 32GB325566191$33.91
Sony 95MB/s U3 32GB325565178$15.99
Delkin Elite 633x 32GB325564171$19.99
Delkin Black 32GB325464175
Lexar Professional 633x U3 128GB1285159163$59.99
Transcend 95/60 MB/s U3 128GB1285159163$104.31
PNY Elite Performance U1 64GB645159162$19.99
Transcend 95/60 MB/s U3 64GB645159161$29.95
SanDisk Extreme Plus 80MB/s microSD 32GB325158166
Transcend 600x 64GB645158161$31.98
Lexar Professional 633x U3 64GB645060163$59.99
PNY Elite Performance U3 128GB1285060161$39.99
Sony 94MB/s 32GB325058161$26.29
SanDisk Extreme Plus 80MB/s 32GB324856157$41.00
SanDisk Extreme Plus 80MB/s 64GB644856155$29.99
Toshiba Exceria UHS-I Class 3 64GB644754150
SanDisk Extreme U3 microSD 32GB324753151$19.99
SanDisk Extreme 60MB/s 32GB324753150$17.84
SanDisk Extreme U3 microSD 64GB644753148$38.99
Toshiba Exceria UHS-I Class 3 32GB324655151
SanDisk Extreme 60MB/s 64GB644653148$36.90
Delkin 1900x UHS-II 32GB324652144
PNY Turbo Performance U3 microSD 32GB324552137$17.99
SanDisk Extreme 90MB/s U3 64GB644551143$17.98
SanDisk Extreme 90MB/s U3 32GB324450141$21.19
Lexar Professional 633x U3 32GB324450141$39.99
Panasonic MicroP2 UHS-II 32GB324349132
Patriot EP Pro 128GB1284147131$58.57
Panasonic Gold Series 32GB324147131
Patriot EP Pro 90MB/s 64GB644047129$24.99
SanDisk Ultra 80MB/s 32GB324045124$8.76
Patriot EP Pro 90MB/s 32GB323949138$31.58
Kingston Ultimate 32GB323949137
Transcend 600x 32GB323945122$17.99
PNY Elite Performance U1 32GB323945120
Samsung EVO microSD 32GB32343795$31.70
SanDisk Ultra 80MB/s 128GB128343597$19.69
Samsung EVO 64GB64333697$49.00
SanDisk Ultra 80MB/s 32GB Card 232333595$8.76
Samsung EVO 32GB32323697$44.00
SanDisk Ultra 40MB/s 32GB Card 232323595$8.49
SanDisk Ultra 80MB/s 64GB64313388$9.98
SanDisk Ultra 40MB/s 64GB64313287$13.00
SanDisk Ultra 80MB/s microSD 32GB32303386$8.50
Toshiba NFC 16GB16303183

Analysis

The Fuji X-Pro2 write speed reached up to 112.1MB/s average during continuous shooting with UHS-II cards. Using UHS-I cards the highest average write speed reached 78.9MB/s. The camera is able to benefit from UHS-II cards, but it also supports UHS-I SDR104 mode which helps performance with the fastest UHS-I cards. In continuous shooting, the X-Pro2 captured up to 30 shots RAW at full frame rate using UHS-II cards, compared with 27 using the fastest UHS-I cards. The slowest card recorded 23 RAW shots at full frame rate, indicating that the X-Pro2 has a sizable buffer. Using a fast card will extend its continuous shooting capabilities by allowing more shots to be taken at full frame rate. After the buffer is full a greater disparity is seen between cards. When the buffer is full the X-Pro 2 shot at 2.3 fps continuously with the fastest UHS-II card, 1.6 fps with the fastest UHS-I card and as low as 0.3fps using the slowest UHS-I card tested.

Fastest SD Cards for the Fuji X-Pro2

Fastest UHS-II:
Lexar Professional 2000x UHS-II 64GB SDXC Card
Lexar Professional 2000x UHS-II
Fastest UHS-I:
SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s UHS-I
SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s UHS-I 64GB SDXC Card

The fastest cards in the X-Pro2 were Lexar 2000x UHS-II cards. The highest write speed averaged 112.1 MB/s with the 32GB card while the 64GB card averaged 109.1MB/s. The Lexar 1800x microSD UHS-II card nearly matched this performance. Not all UHS-II cards support the highest write speeds. Lexar 1000x UHS-II cards trail by a significant margin and were outperformed by several UHS-I cards.

While the X-Pro2 can take advantage of UHS-II cards, older UHS-I cards are not far behind. The SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s UHS-I cards reached up to 78.9 MB/s write speed and cost significantly less than the fastest UHS-II cards.

Fuji X-Pro2 USB cable to download from camera

Downloading images from the X-Pro2

The Fuji X-Pro2 has a USB 2.0 port that can be used to transfer images from the camera. To test the download speed a USB 2.0 cable was connected and 8GB of image files were transferred from a Lexar 2000x 64GB UHS-II card in the camera to a computer equipped with an SSD drive. The USB connection averaged 23.3 MB/s transfer rate and the download took 5 minutes 45 seconds. When an external UHS-II card reader, the Lexar UHS-II reader included with the card, was used to transfer the same images it averaged 231.1 MB/s and the download time was just under than 35 seconds. Additional Card Reader Reviews compare card reader performance using different memory cards.