Camera Memory Speed
Memory Card Comparison & Performance Tests for Digital Cameras
Sony Alpha A6300 SD card slot with battery door open

Fastest SD Cards for the Sony Alpha A6300

Published: January 17, 2017

The Sony Alpha 6300 is a 24.2-megapixel APS-C mirrorless digital camera. It is capable of continuous shooting up to 11 frames per second. The autofocus system uses 169 contrast and 425 phase detect points, an improvement over the previous A6000 model. Like the previous model it features a 3-inch tilting LCD and the electronic viewfinder has been upgraded to 2.36 million dot OLED.

The A6300 features a single SD card slot and supports UHS-I cards. Although UHS-II cards can be used in the camera, it will only operate in UHS-I mode. The memory card performance of 85 SD cards were tested in the camera. The write speed results were compared shooting RAW images. Additional tests results show the number of images taken in 30 seconds of continuous shooting using RAW+JPEG, RAW and JPEG image modes. Additional information about the tests is included in the analysis. Recommended SD cards for the A6300 are provided for the fastest and good value memory cards.

Sony A6300 Camera Details & Settings

The test is conducted with a detailed test scene under controlled lighting. The A6300 camera is mounted on a tripod and controlled by a remote release timer for 30 second intervals. A manual lens is used and the focus and aperture are set and locked. Average write speed is determined using continuous shooting after the camera has reached buffer capacity. To calculate write speed, the total amount of bytes written to the card are divided by the time. Write speed is in MB/s (1 MB = 1,048,576 bytes). The write speed results are provided using RAW image format (RAW+JPEG and JPEG modes result in reduced write speed).

Sony A6300 SD Card Write Speed

+ Show more prices
Memory CardSize
(GB)
Average Write Speed (MB/s)Price
Lexar Professional 1800x microSD UHS-II 32GB3235.5$29.95
Lexar Professional 2000x UHS-II 32GB3235.2$86.50
SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s 32GB3235.2$18.08
SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s microSDHC 32GB3235.2$15.23
SanDisk Extreme Plus 95/90 MB/s microSD 32GB3235.1$13.99
Samsung PRO U3 32GB3234.8
Toshiba Exceria Pro UHS-II 32GB3234.8
Samsung PRO Plus 32GB3234.8
SanDisk Extreme 60MB/s 32GB3234.7$17.84
SanDisk Extreme Plus 80MB/s 32GB3234.7$41.00
Kingston U3 90/80 MB/s 32GB3234.7$69.95
Delkin 1900x UHS-II 32GB3234.5
Transcend Ultimate UHS-II U3 32GB3234.5
SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s 128GB12834.3$99.99
Delkin Black 32GB3234.3
Samsung PRO U3 64GB6434.3$89.98
Lexar Professional 2000x UHS-II 64GB6434.3$125.50
SanDisk Extreme 90MB/s U3 128GB12834.3$42.99
SanDisk Extreme Plus 95/90 MB/s microSD 64GB6434.2$47.99
Sony M Series UHS-II 64GB6434.2$39.99
Kingston U3 90/80 MB/s 64GB6434.2$59.40
Kingston U3 (90/80) microSD 32GB3234.2$187.76
SanDisk Extreme 80MB/s 256GB25634.2$159.84
Transcend 633x microSDHC 32GB3234.1$33.91
SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s microSDXC 64GB6434.0$14.29
Samsung PRO Plus 64GB6434.0$118.00
SanDisk Extreme Pro 280MB/s UHS-II 32GB3234.0$69.00
SanDisk Extreme 80MB/s 128GB12834.0$16.99
SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s 64GB6434.0$59.99
Transcend 95/85 MB/s U3 32GB3233.9
Transcend Ultimate UHS-II U3 64GB6433.9
SanDisk Extreme 90MB/s U3 32GB3233.9$21.19
Lexar Professional 1000x UHS-II 32GB3233.8$44.99
PNY Pro Elite 64GB6433.8
SanDisk Extreme Plus 80MB/s 64GB6433.8$29.99
Panasonic Gold Series 32GB3233.7
SanDisk Extreme 60MB/s 64GB6433.7$36.90
Kingston U3 (90/80) microSD 64GB6433.6$64.66
Panasonic Gold 95/90 64GB6433.6
Samsung PRO 32GB3233.6$69.00
Gobe Magic 104MB/s 32GB3233.6
Kingston Ultimate 32GB3233.6
Patriot EP Pro 90MB/s 32GB3233.5$31.58
SanDisk Extreme 90MB/s U3 64GB6433.5$17.98
Toshiba Exceria UHS-I Class 3 32GB3233.3
Samsung PRO 64GB6433.3$69.50
Delkin Elite 633x 32GB3233.3$19.99
Transcend R95 W85 U3 64GB6433.3$49.99
Transcend Ultimate 633x microSD 64GB6433.3$125.99
SanDisk Extreme U3 microSD 64GB6433.2$38.99
Gobe Magic 104MB/s 64GB6433.2
Lexar Professional 1000x UHS-II 128GB12832.9$54.95
Toshiba Exceria UHS-I Class 3 64GB6432.9
Transcend 95/60 MB/s U3 64GB6432.9$29.95
PNY Turbo Performance U3 microSD 32GB3232.9$17.99
PNY Elite Performance U1 64GB6432.9$19.99
Lexar Professional 1000x UHS-II 64GB6432.9$47.40
PNY Elite Performance U3 128GB12832.8$39.99
Lexar Professional 633x U3 64GB6432.8$59.99
Transcend 95/60 MB/s U3 128GB12832.7$104.31
Transcend 600x 64GB6432.7$31.98
Lexar Professional 633x U3 128GB12832.6$59.99
Sony 95MB/s U3 64GB6432.4$34.99
Kingston Class 10 UHS-I 64GB6432.2$36.38
Sony 94MB/s 32GB3232.0$26.29
PNY Elite Performance U3 256GB25631.3$99.89
Sony 95MB/s U3 32GB3231.1$15.99
Lexar Professional 633x U3 32GB3230.7$39.99
Panasonic MicroP2 UHS-II 32GB3227.9
Patriot EP Pro 90MB/s 64GB6427.5$24.99
Patriot EP Pro 128GB12827.4$58.57
Lexar Professional 633x microSDXC 200GB20026.6$89.99
Transcend 600x 32GB3226.3$17.99
PNY Elite Performance U1 32GB3226.0
SanDisk Ultra 80MB/s 32GB3225.3$8.76
Samsung EVO microSD 32GB3221.2$31.70
Samsung EVO 64GB6417.8$49.00
Samsung EVO 32GB3217.1$44.00
SanDisk Ultra 80MB/s 128GB12816.9$19.69
SanDisk Ultra 40MB/s 32GB Card 23216.8$8.49
SanDisk Ultra 80MB/s 32GB Card 23216.4$8.76
Toshiba NFC 16GB1616.0
SanDisk Ultra 80MB/s 64GB6413.9$9.98
SanDisk Ultra 80MB/s microSD 32GB3213.3$8.50
SanDisk Ultra 40MB/s 64GB6412.9$13.00

Sony A6300 Continuous Shooting

The continuous shooting results show the number of images taken in 30 seconds with the A6300 set to continuous high drive mode. The time does not include buffer clearing time. Three image modes are used: RAW+JPEG, RAW, and JPEG. The JPEG setting is fine quality, large image size. The average file sizes are 24.1MB RAW and 9.7MB JPEG.

+ Show more prices
Memory CardSize
(GB)
Continuous Shooting – Images in 30 SecondsLowest
Price
RAW+JPEGRAWJPEG
SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s 32GB325063118$18.08
SanDisk Extreme Plus 95/90 MB/s microSD 32GB325063118$13.99
Toshiba Exceria Pro UHS-II 32GB325063118
Lexar Professional 2000x UHS-II 32GB325063118$86.50
SanDisk Extreme Plus 80MB/s 32GB325063118$41.00
Samsung PRO U3 32GB325063118
Samsung PRO Plus 32GB325063118
Lexar Professional 1800x microSD UHS-II 32GB325063118$29.95
SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s microSDHC 32GB325063118$15.23
Lexar Professional 2000x UHS-II 64GB645062118$125.50
Kingston U3 90/80 MB/s 32GB325062118$69.95
SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s 64GB645062118$59.99
SanDisk Extreme Plus 95/90 MB/s microSD 64GB645062118$47.99
SanDisk Extreme Plus 80MB/s 64GB645062118$29.99
Transcend Ultimate UHS-II U3 32GB325062118
SanDisk Extreme 80MB/s 256GB2565062118$159.84
SanDisk Extreme 60MB/s 64GB645062118$36.90
SanDisk Extreme 80MB/s 128GB1285062118$16.99
SanDisk Extreme 60MB/s 32GB325062118$17.84
Samsung PRO Plus 64GB645062118$118.00
Sony M Series UHS-II 64GB645062118$39.99
SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s 128GB1285062118$99.99
SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s microSDXC 64GB645062118$14.29
Kingston U3 90/80 MB/s 64GB645062118$59.40
SanDisk Extreme 90MB/s U3 128GB1285062118$42.99
Transcend 95/85 MB/s U3 32GB324962118
Transcend Ultimate UHS-II U3 64GB644962118
Lexar Professional 1000x UHS-II 32GB324962118$44.99
Samsung PRO U3 64GB644962118$89.98
PNY Pro Elite 64GB644962118
SanDisk Extreme 90MB/s U3 32GB324962118$21.19
Transcend 633x microSDHC 32GB324962118$33.91
Kingston U3 (90/80) microSD 64GB644962118$64.66
Delkin 1900x UHS-II 32GB324962118
SanDisk Extreme Pro 280MB/s UHS-II 32GB324962118$69.00
SanDisk Extreme 90MB/s U3 64GB644961118$17.98
Gobe Magic 104MB/s 64GB644961118
Patriot EP Pro 90MB/s 32GB324961118$31.58
Gobe Magic 104MB/s 32GB324961118
SanDisk Extreme U3 microSD 64GB644961118$38.99
Toshiba Exceria UHS-I Class 3 64GB644961118
Toshiba Exceria UHS-I Class 3 32GB324961118
Lexar Professional 633x U3 64GB644961118$59.99
Samsung PRO 64GB644961118$69.50
Samsung PRO 32GB324961118$69.00
Kingston Ultimate 32GB324960118
Transcend 600x 64GB644960118$31.98
Delkin Black 32GB324862118
Panasonic Gold 95/90 64GB644862118
Kingston U3 (90/80) microSD 32GB324862118$187.76
Lexar Professional 1000x UHS-II 128GB1284861118$54.95
PNY Turbo Performance U3 microSD 32GB324861118$17.99
PNY Elite Performance U1 64GB644861118$19.99
Transcend Ultimate 633x microSD 64GB644861118$125.99
Transcend 95/60 MB/s U3 64GB644861118$29.95
Delkin Elite 633x 32GB324861118$19.99
Lexar Professional 1000x UHS-II 64GB644860118$47.40
Panasonic Gold Series 32GB324860118
Transcend 95/60 MB/s U3 128GB1284860118$104.31
Lexar Professional 633x U3 128GB1284860118$59.99
PNY Elite Performance U3 128GB1284860118$39.99
Sony 95MB/s U3 64GB644860118$34.99
Sony 94MB/s 32GB324859118$26.29
Transcend R95 W85 U3 64GB644761118$49.99
Kingston Class 10 UHS-I 64GB644760118$36.38
PNY Elite Performance U3 256GB2564758118$99.89
Sony 95MB/s U3 32GB324660118$15.99
Lexar Professional 633x U3 32GB324658118$39.99
SanDisk Ultra 80MB/s 128GB128464190$19.69
Patriot EP Pro 128GB1284454114$58.57
Patriot EP Pro 90MB/s 64GB644454114$24.99
SanDisk Ultra 80MB/s 32GB324451112$8.76
Panasonic MicroP2 UHS-II 32GB324353116
Transcend 600x 32GB324352112$17.99
Samsung EVO 64GB64434492$49.00
PNY Elite Performance U1 32GB324252112
Lexar Professional 633x microSDXC 200GB2003953112$89.99
Samsung EVO microSD 32GB32384699$31.70
SanDisk Ultra 80MB/s 32GB Card 232374187$8.76
SanDisk Ultra 80MB/s 64GB64363680$9.98
Samsung EVO 32GB32354191$44.00
SanDisk Ultra 40MB/s 32GB Card 232354190$8.49
SanDisk Ultra 80MB/s microSD 32GB32353680$8.50
SanDisk Ultra 40MB/s 64GB64333678$13.00
Toshiba NFC 16GB16303476

Sony A6300 Test Analysis

Like its predecessor, A6300 is limited in write speed. It measured up to 35.5 MB/s average write speed during continuous shooting of RAW images. The previous A6000 reached 35.9MB/s maximum write speed. Although write speed is limited, the A6300 has a decent buffer which makes the camera feel responsive during high frame rate bursts shorter than seven seconds regardless of the memory card used. Because the camera is write speed limited the difference between memory cards in this camera is not as pronounced as other cameras.

The buffer allowed continuous shooting at full frame rate for 21-25 images in RAW+JPEG mode, which is similar to the previous model. However in RAW mode the A6300 improved by allowing up to 28 shots, while the previous model only captured 24 at full frame rate. The range for JPEG mode was 33-50 shots at full frame rate before it slowed, which is a slightly larger range than the 46-49 shots of the A6000. The range is largely a result of the write speed, with fast cards able to clear the buffer faster during shooting which allows extra shots.

The performance of memory cards is most apparent after the buffer has reached capacity. In RAW+JPEG mode the frame with the buffer full was 1 fps using the fastest card and 0.3 fps with the slowest card. In RAW mode the range was 1.5 fps to 0.6 fps. The frame rate with the buffer full in JPEG mode was as high as 1.7 fps and as low as 0.9 fps. This an improvement over the A6000 which was about 1.2 fps for nearly all cards. The the number of JPEG images captured in 30 seconds improved to 118 over the 79 of the previous model with the fastest cards.

While the A6300 supports UHS-I it does not support the fastest SDR104 mode (104 MB/s) which requires a high bus speed. The A6300 does not have the UHS-II interface, but UHS-II cards can be used because the cards revert to UHS-I mode using the standard card interface. Using a UHS-II card offers no speed benefit over UHS-I cards in the A6300, but UHS-II cards will allow faster image downloads when used in a UHS-II card reader.

Fastest SD Cards for the Sony A6300

UHS-II:
Lexar Professional 1800x UHS-II 32GB microSDHC Card
Lexar Professional 1800x UHS-II microSD
UHS-II:
Lexar Professional 2000x UHS-II 64GB SDXC Card
Lexar Professional 2000x UHS-II
UHS-I:
SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s UHS-I SD Card
SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s UHS-I SD Card

The fastest cards in the A6300 were SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s UHS-I 32GB and Lexar UHS-II cards, both the 1800x UHS-II microSD and 2000x UHS-II SD. These cards were only slightly faster in write speed than several others. The performance in terms of shots in 30 seconds for may cards was the same as shown in the table above. Overall, 32GB cards tended to provide slightly faster write performance; however the difference was generally so slight it did not affect the number of shots in 30 seconds. Again, UHS-II cards are not required and offer no speed benefit in the camera over fast UHS-I cards, but can offer a higher download speed when used in a UHS-II card reader.

Because the A6300 is limited in speed the absolute fastest card is not required. Several cards offer moderate write speed which is fast enough for the A6300 and thus provide good value for their performance. Use the tables above to compare current prices, which are updated daily. The tables can be sorted by clicking on the headings, and also limited to a particular size card by clicking the capacity at the top.

Sony A6300 USB cable to download from camera

Transferring images from Sony A6300

The A6300 has an integrated USB port to transfer images to a computer directly from the camera. The port is USB 2.0 which is limited to about 35MB/s as a theoretical maximum. Using the fast SanDisk Extreme Pro UHS-I 95MB/s 32GB card and transferring 3GB of 113 RAW images from the camera averaged 23.8 MB/s and took just under two minutes (USB Mode Mass Storage). Using a separate USB 3.0 card reader provides much faster downloads. Such transfers average about 90MB/s read speed when copying RAW images with UHS-I, while UHS-II cards can reach above to 250MB/s read speed in UHS-II card readers. The actual speed may vary depending on the memory card, card reader, connection type (USB 3.0) and computer hardware (hard drive or SSD). A bottleneck in any individual element can decrease the transfer speed. See the Card Reader Reviews for benchmark tests using various cards and card readers.