Camera Memory Speed
Memory Card Comparison & Performance Tests for Digital Cameras
Canon 80D with SD card door open

Canon 80D SD Card Comparison

Published: September 22, 2016

The Canon 80D camera is an enthusiast-level DSLR with 24.2MP megapixel APS-C sensor. It offers numerous upgrades over the 20.2MP 70D. The AF system has been improved to 45 cross-type point sensors, up from the 19 in the previous camera, and also shares the on-sensor dual pixel AF during live view. Video has been improved with 1080/60p. The 80D can capture up to 7 frames per second in continuous shooting. A single memory card slot accepts standard SD, SDHC and SDXC memory cards and supports UHS-I.

To compare memory card performance in the 80D, a total of 87 SD cards were tested in the camera. The write speed was tested using continuous shooting of RAW images. The continuous shooting results show the number of RAW+JPEG, RAW and JPEG images captured during 30 seconds of continuous shooting. A detailed analysis has more information from the tests. Recommended SD cards for the 80D are drawn from the results and offer a guide to buying the fastest memory card for the camera.

Camera Details and Settings

The Canon 80D is mounted on a tripod and aimed at a detailed test scene under controlled lightning. The shutter is operated with a remote release timer. A manual lens is used with focus and aperture locked throughout the test. Write speed is the amount of data written to the card divided by the write time. The calculation is based on shot interval during extended continuous shooting with the buffer full because it provides the most consistent results. The card access light is not used because it illuminates as soon as the shutter is first activated rather than when the data is actually written. Results are in MB/s where 1 MB = 1,048,576 bytes.

Canon 80D SD Card Write Speed

+ Show more prices
Memory CardSize
(GB)
Average Write Speed (MB/s)Price
Lexar Professional 2000x UHS-II 32GB3281.5$86.50
SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s 64GB6481.5$59.99
SanDisk Extreme Plus 95/90 MB/s microSD 64GB6481.2$47.99
SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s microSDXC 64GB6481.1$14.29
SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s 128GB12880.8$99.99
SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s U3 32GB3280.4$18.08
SanDisk Extreme Plus 95/90 MB/s microSD 32GB3280.3$13.99
SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s microSDHC 32GB3280.3$15.23
Sony M Series UHS-II 64GB6480.1$39.99
Lexar Professional 2000x UHS-II 64GB6480.1$125.50
Kingston U3 90/80 MB/s 64GB6479.8$59.40
Panasonic Gold 95/90 64GB6479.6
PNY Pro Elite 64GB6479.4
Kingston U3 (90/80) microSD 64GB6479.4$64.66
Transcend Ultimate UHS-II U3 32GB3278.8
Kingston U3 90/80 MB/s 32GB3278.5$69.95
Toshiba Exceria Pro UHS-II 32GB3278.5
Kingston U3 (90/80) microSD 32GB3277.8$187.76
Transcend Ultimate UHS-II U3 64GB6477.5
Transcend 633x microSDHC 32GB3276.7$33.91
Gobe Magic 104MB/s 32GB3276.4
Transcend 95/85 MB/s U3 32GB3276.4
Samsung PRO Plus 64GB6476.3$118.00
Transcend Ultimate 633x microSD 64GB6475.9$125.99
Samsung PRO Plus 32GB3275.8
Samsung PRO 64GB6475.6$69.50
Gobe Magic 104MB/s 64GB6475.5
Transcend R95 W85 U3 64GB6475.4$49.99
Kingston Class 10 UHS-I 64GB6475.2$36.38
Sony 95MB/s U3 32GB3274.5$15.99
Samsung PRO 32GB3274.3$69.00
Delkin Elite 633x 32GB3274.3$19.99
SanDisk Extreme 80MB/s 128GB12874.1$16.99
Delkin Black 32GB3274.0
Sony 95MB/s U3 64GB6473.7$34.99
SanDisk Extreme 80MB/s 256GB25672.4$159.84
Lexar Professional 1800x microSD UHS-II 32GB3272.2$29.95
SanDisk Extreme 90MB/s U3 128GB12872.1$42.99
Samsung PRO U3 64GB6471.9$89.98
Samsung PRO U3 32GB3271.6
Lexar Professional 1000x UHS-II 32GB3268.9$44.99
Lexar Professional 1000x UHS-II 64GB6466.9$47.40
SanDisk Extreme Plus 90MB/s 32GB3265.9
Lexar Professional 1000x UHS-II 128GB12865.7$54.95
Lexar Professional 633x U3 64GB6461.1$59.99
Transcend 95/60 MB/s U3 64GB6460.2$29.95
Transcend 600x 64GB6459.4$31.98
PNY Elite Performance U1 64GB6459.3$19.99
Lexar Professional 633x U3 128GB12859.2$59.99
PNY Elite Performance U3 128GB12859.2$39.99
Sony 94MB/s 32GB3258.9$26.29
Transcend 95/60 MB/s U3 128GB12858.7$104.31
SanDisk Extreme Plus 80MB/s 64GB6455.9$29.99
SanDisk Extreme Plus 80MB/s 32GB3255.7$41.00
Toshiba Exceria UHS-I Class 3 32GB3255.2
Toshiba Exceria UHS-I Class 3 64GB6454.8
PNY Turbo Performance U3 microSD 32GB3251.7$17.99
SanDisk Extreme 60MB/s 32GB3250.7$17.84
SanDisk Extreme U3 microSD 64GB6450.6$38.99
SanDisk Extreme 60MB/s 64GB6449.3$36.90
Delkin 1900x UHS-II 32GB3248.2
Lexar Professional 1000x microSD UHS-II 32GB3247.7$19.99
PNY Elite Performance U3 256GB25647.3$99.89
SanDisk Extreme 90MB/s U3 64GB6446.9$17.98
Lexar Professional 633x U3 32GB3245.6$39.99
SanDisk Extreme 90MB/s U3 32GB3245.5$21.19
Kingston Ultimate 32GB3244.5
SanDisk Extreme Pro 280MB/s UHS-II 32GB3241.7$69.00
Panasonic Gold Series 32GB3241.6
SanDisk Ultra 80MB/s 32GB3239.2$8.76
Patriot EP Pro 90MB/s 64GB6439.0$24.99
Patriot EP Pro 128GB12838.8$58.57
Transcend 600x 32GB3236.7$17.99
PNY Elite Performance U1 32GB3235.7
Panasonic MicroP2 UHS-II 32GB3233.6
Lexar Professional 633x microSDXC 200GB20032.2$89.99
Samsung EVO microSD 32GB3224.9$31.70
Samsung EVO 64GB6422.9$49.00
Samsung EVO 32GB3221.5$44.00
SanDisk Ultra 80MB/s 128GB12820.3$19.69
SanDisk Ultra 80MB/s 32GB Card 23219.6$8.76
SanDisk Ultra 40MB/s 32GB Card 23218.8$8.49
SanDisk Ultra 80MB/s 64GB6414.8$9.98
SanDisk Ultra 40MB/s 64GB6414.6$13.00
SanDisk Ultra 80MB/s microSD 32GB3214.1$8.50
Toshiba NFC 16GB1612.5
Patriot EP Pro 90MB/s 32GB3211.1$31.58

Canon 80D Continuous Shooting

Continuous shooting is a measurement of the number of images that can be taken in 30 seconds (not including the buffer clearing time). Three image modes are used for this test: RAW+JPEG, RAW, and JPEG. The JPEG setting is large, fine quality. The camera is set to continuous high release mode. The subject is a detailed test scene. The average RAW file size is 35.1 MB, average JPEG file size is 14.4 MB.

+ Show more prices
Memory CardSize
(GB)
Continuous Shooting – Images in 30 SecondsLowest
Price
RAW+JPEGRAWJPEG
Lexar Professional 2000x UHS-II 32GB325885185$86.50
SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s microSDXC 64GB645885182$14.29
SanDisk Extreme Plus 95/90 MB/s microSD 64GB645885182$47.99
SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s 64GB645885182$59.99
SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s 128GB1285885181$99.99
SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s microSDHC 32GB325784182$15.23
SanDisk Extreme Plus 95/90 MB/s microSD 32GB325784182$13.99
SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s U3 32GB325784182$18.08
Sony M Series UHS-II 64GB645784180$39.99
Lexar Professional 2000x UHS-II 64GB645784180$125.50
Kingston U3 90/80 MB/s 64GB645784178$59.40
Transcend Ultimate UHS-II U3 32GB325783179
Toshiba Exceria Pro UHS-II 32GB325783179
Kingston U3 90/80 MB/s 32GB325783175$69.95
Panasonic Gold 95/90 64GB645684181
PNY Pro Elite 64GB645683178
Kingston U3 (90/80) microSD 64GB645683178$64.66
Kingston U3 (90/80) microSD 32GB325682176$187.76
Transcend Ultimate UHS-II U3 64GB645682174
Transcend 95/85 MB/s U3 32GB325681175
Samsung PRO Plus 64GB645681174$118.00
Gobe Magic 104MB/s 32GB325681174
Transcend 633x microSDHC 32GB325681174$33.91
Transcend Ultimate 633x microSD 64GB645681171$125.99
Samsung PRO Plus 32GB325680172
Gobe Magic 104MB/s 64GB645680171
Samsung PRO 64GB645680170$69.50
Transcend R95 W85 U3 64GB645680170$49.99
Sony 95MB/s U3 32GB325679169$15.99
Kingston Class 10 UHS-I 64GB645580171$36.38
SanDisk Extreme 80MB/s 128GB1285579168$16.99
Sony 95MB/s U3 64GB645579167$34.99
Samsung PRO 32GB325579165$69.00
SanDisk Extreme 80MB/s 256GB2565578165$159.84
Samsung PRO U3 64GB645577166$89.98
Samsung PRO U3 32GB325577165
SanDisk Extreme 90MB/s U3 128GB1285577165$42.99
Lexar Professional 1800x microSD UHS-II 32GB325577164$29.95
Delkin Elite 633x 32GB325479169$19.99
Delkin Black 32GB325479169
Lexar Professional 1000x UHS-II 32GB325475160$44.99
Lexar Professional 1000x UHS-II 64GB645373152$47.40
SanDisk Extreme Plus 90MB/s 32GB325372153
Lexar Professional 1000x UHS-II 128GB1285272150$54.95
Lexar Professional 633x U3 64GB645168141$59.99
Transcend 95/60 MB/s U3 64GB645068140$29.95
PNY Elite Performance U1 64GB645067138$19.99
Transcend 600x 64GB645067138$31.98
Lexar Professional 633x U3 128GB1285067138$59.99
PNY Elite Performance U3 128GB1285067137$39.99
Sony 94MB/s 32GB325066138$26.29
Transcend 95/60 MB/s U3 128GB1285066137$104.31
SanDisk Extreme Plus 80MB/s 64GB644964132$29.99
SanDisk Extreme Plus 80MB/s 32GB324964132$41.00
Toshiba Exceria UHS-I Class 3 64GB644863132
Toshiba Exceria UHS-I Class 3 32GB324863132
PNY Turbo Performance U3 microSD 32GB324760123$17.99
SanDisk Extreme U3 microSD 64GB644760122$38.99
SanDisk Extreme 60MB/s 32GB324660122$17.84
SanDisk Extreme 60MB/s 64GB644658119$36.90
Lexar Professional 1000x microSD UHS-II 32GB324557117$19.99
Delkin 1900x UHS-II 32GB324557116
PNY Elite Performance U3 256GB2564457114$99.89
SanDisk Extreme 90MB/s U3 64GB644456115$17.98
SanDisk Extreme 90MB/s U3 32GB324355113$21.19
Lexar Professional 633x U3 32GB324355113$39.99
Kingston Ultimate 32GB324354109
SanDisk Ultra 80MB/s 32GB324350100$8.76
SanDisk Extreme Pro 280MB/s UHS-II 32GB324152105$69.00
Panasonic Gold Series 32GB324152104
SanDisk Ultra 80MB/s 128GB128413463$19.69
Patriot EP Pro 90MB/s 64GB64395099$24.99
Patriot EP Pro 128GB128395098$58.57
Transcend 600x 32GB32384884$17.99
PNY Elite Performance U1 32GB32384793
Panasonic MicroP2 UHS-II 32GB32374589
Lexar Professional 633x microSDXC 200GB200354486$89.99
Samsung EVO 64GB64343761$49.00
Samsung EVO microSD 32GB32323865$31.70
SanDisk Ultra 80MB/s 32GB Card 232313461$8.76
Samsung EVO 32GB32303662$44.00
SanDisk Ultra 80MB/s 64GB64303050$9.98
SanDisk Ultra 80MB/s microSD 32GB32292951$8.50
SanDisk Ultra 40MB/s 32GB Card 232283360$8.49
SanDisk Ultra 40MB/s 64GB64263052$13.00
Toshiba NFC 16GB16242848
Patriot EP Pro 90MB/s 32GB32212732$31.58

Analysis

The Canon 80D can use UHS-I SD cards and supports the fastest SDR104 bus mode. Average write speed using the fastest cards reached 81.5MB/s. The 70D only reached up to 36.4MB/s average write speed (its speed is limited because it does not support SDR104). UHS-II cards are not supported by the 80D, however UHS-II cards are backwards compatible and can operate in UHS-I mode, although their speed is limited in this mode and offer offer no benefit in the 80D compared with fast UHS-I cards.

The buffer capacity and write speed of the 80D is improved over the 70D. When shooting RAW+JPEG, the 80D captured 17-20 shots at full frame rate (depending on the card), where the 70D only captured 7 images. In RAW mode the 80D captured 20-24 shots at full frame rate, while the 70D only captured 12-13. In JPEG mode the 80D was able to take 25 shots using the slowest card and up to 130 shots using the fastest card at full frame rate, the 70D only captured 20-27 shots in a similar test. The buffer capacity varies according to the card write speed because the camera clears the buffer while shooting; cards with faster write speed allow longer shooting at full frame rate.

Card write speed also affects the frame rate after the buffer has reached capacity. In RAW mode, frame rate with the buffer full varied from 0.3 to 2.3 fps, depending on card speed. In addition to card write speed, the frame rate depends on camera settings and the subject of the image. The detailed test scene in these tests creates 35.1 MB average RAW files and 14.4 MB average JPEG files. When shooting less detailed subjects the file size is smaller and increases the frame rate while the buffer is full.

Recommended SD Cards for the Canon 80D

Fastest UHS-I card:
81.5 MB/s write
SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s UHS-I SD Card
SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s UHS-I SD Card
Fastest UHS-II card:
81.5 MB/s write
Lexar Professional 2000x UHS-II SD Card
Lexar Professional 2000x UHS-II SD Card
Best Value:
75.2 MB/s write
Kingston Class 10 UHS-I SD Card
Kingston Class 10 SD Card

The fastest SD card for the Canon 80D is a tie between the SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s UHS-I and Lexar Professional 2000x UHS-II cards. Both performed up to 81.5 MB/s average write speed during continuous RAW shooting. Since the 80D only supports UHS-I, the UHS-II card operates in UHS-I mode and offers no write speed advantage in the camera, however in a UHS-II card reader the UHS-II card offers a much higher download speed (about 250 MB/s compared with 90MB/s for UHS-I cards when downloading images to a computer). (Note that the SanDisk Extreme Pro 280MB/s UHS-II card was much slower in UHS-I mode, only reaching 41.7 MB/s average write speed because the card does not support UHS-I SDR104 mode.)

Several cards offer a good value by offering high write speed and relatively low cost. The most notable is the Kingston Class 10 64GB SDXC card (SDA10/64GB), which was much faster than the 32GB capacity card. The above tables can be sorted by price and limited to specific card sizes by clicking on the titles in the header.

Canon 80D camera with USB cable in side port and open door

Downloading images from the Canon 80D

The Canon 80D is equipped with a USB 2.0 port on the camera that can be used to transfer images to a computer. To test the transfer speed, the SanDisk Extreme Pro 64GB SDXC card with 5GB of RAW images was placed in the camera and a USB cable was connected to a computer with a SSD drive. The transfer took 166 seconds, which was just over 30MB/s transfer rate. While the performance is about what could be expected from USB 2.0, it is far below the speed a USB 3.0 card reader can provide. Transfer speeds up to 90 MB/s are possible with UHS-I cards when using a separate USB 3.0 card reader. And UHS-II cards such as the Lexar Professional 2000x UHS-II are capable of average transfer speeds around 250 MB/s when copying RAW files using a UHS-II card reader. Additional card reader tests and benchmarks can be found in the Card Reader Reviews.