Camera Memory Speed
Memory Card Comparison & Performance Tests for Digital Cameras
Canon EOS R UHS-II SD card door open

Canon EOS R UHS-II and UHS-I SD Card Comparison

Published: October 25, 2018

The Canon EOS R is a 30.3 megapixel mirrorless full-frame digital camera. The EOS R uses Canon's Dual Pixel AF with over 5,000 selectable focus points. A new 54mm diameter internal flange mount was developed for the mirrorless camera and three adapters are available to mount EF and EF-S lenses that support all lens functions. An electronic OLED viewfinder provides 100% coverage and 0.76x magnification, while a 3.15-inch articulating LCD screen allows unlimited shooting angles. The EOS R uses the latest DIGIC 8 processor and is capable of up to 8 fps continuous shooting.

The EOS R has a single card slot that supports UHS-II SD cards and also works with UHS-I and standard SD cards. A total of 113 SD cards were tested in the EOS R to evaluate write speed. Maximum write speed for continuous shooting was calculated using each card. More information about the camera's performance and buffer capacity is detailed in the analysis, or you can skip right to the fastest SD cards recommended for the Canon EOS R based on the test results.

Camera Details and Settings

The Canon EOS R is mounted on a stable tripod and actuated by a remote release timer. The image subject is a detailed test scene illuminated by controlled lighting. A manual lens is mounted on the EOS R using the Canon Mount Adapter EF-EOS R and all manual settings are used to provide shot-to-shot consistency.

Write speed is determined using the buffer full condition. This begins when the buffer has reached capacity and the camera is unable to sustain the full continuous frame rate. In this condition shooting is limited to the rate at which the buffer is emptied. During the buffer full condition the total data written is known in addition to the time between shots. This method eliminates the need to use the card access light. Because the interval between shots is not constant for this camera, an extended test time of one minute is used for each card. A regular pattern in the shot intervals is observed and the first and last shots are chosen according to the repeating pattern. This minimizes the effect of arbitrary start and end times given the irregular intervals. The total bytes written during the selected interval divided by the time gives an average write speed. The fastest 30 cards were tested twice and the results averaged. Results are in megabytes per second, where 1MB = 1,048,576 bytes.

Canon EOS R SD Card Write Speed

+ Show more prices
Memory CardSize
(GB)
Average Write Speed (MB/s)Price
Lexar Professional 2000x UHS-II Rev E 64GB64182.7$125.50
ProGrade 250MB/s UHS-II V90 64GB64181.5
Lexar Professional 2000x UHS-II 64GB64181.3$125.50
Adata Premier One UHS-II V90 64GB64181.1$42.82
Lexar Professional 1800x microSD UHS-II 64GB64180.3$386.00
Lexar Professional 2000x UHS-II 32GB32179.2$86.50
Delkin Power 2000x UHS-II V90 64GB64179.1$62.99
Sony SF-G 300MB/s UHS-II 64GB64178.8$49.99
Lexar Professional 2000x UHS-II Rev B 128GB128178.2$189.99
SanDisk Extreme Pro 300MB/s UHS-II 64GB64177.8$87.99
Lexar Professional 2000x UHS-II Rev E 32GB32177.6$86.50
SanDisk Extreme Pro 300MB/s UHS-II 128GB128177.5$254.99
Verbatim Pro II Plus UHS-II V90 64GB64177.3$49.95
Integral UltimaPro X2 UHS-II V90 64GB64177.1$91.15
Lexar Professional 1800x microSD UHS-II 32GB32176.5$29.95
Sony SF-G 300MB/s UHS-II 32GB32176.5$92.54
Sony SF-G 300MB/s UHS-II 128GB128176.0$167.19
SanDisk Extreme Pro 300MB/s UHS-II 32GB32174.3$51.02
Toshiba Exceria Pro UHS-II 32GB32164.8
SanDisk Extreme Pro 280MB/s UHS-II 32GB32162.3$69.00
Transcend 700S UHS-II V90 64GB64159.0$34.99
Transcend Ultimate UHS-II U3 64GB64145.6
Hoodman Steel UHS-II 64GB64141.3$89.99
Transcend Ultimate UHS-II U3 32GB32137.9
Lexar Professional 1800x microSD UHS-II 128GB128102.6$199.99
Sony M Series UHS-II 32GB32101.4$55.77
SanDisk Extreme Pro UHS-II 275MB/s microSDXC 64GB64100.2$68.13
ProGrade 200MB/s UHS-II V60 64GB6492.0$54.99
Sony M Series UHS-II 64GB6492.0$39.99
Sony M Series UHS-II 128GB12891.9$59.86
Lexar Professional 1000x UHS-II Rev C 64GB6489.7$47.40
Lexar Professional 1000x UHS-II 32GB3277.0$44.99
Lexar Professional 1000x UHS-II 128GB12876.0$54.95
Lexar Professional 1000x UHS-II 64GB6475.9$47.40
SanDisk Extreme Plus 95/90 MB/s U3 V30 microSDXC 64GB6475.6$28.95
SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s microSDHC 32GB3275.2$15.23
SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s microSDXC 64GB6475.2$14.29
PNY Pro Elite microSDXC 64GB6475.1$10.99
Patriot EP PRO microSDXC 64GB6475.1$33.17
Kingston U3 90/80 MB/s 256GB25674.8$144.00
Lexar Professional 1000x UHS-II Rev B 32GB3274.7$44.99
Sony Ultra-High Durability Professional 64GB6474.4$75.07
SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s U3 V30 256GB25674.2$157.99
SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s U3 V30 64GB6473.8$39.00
SanDisk Extreme Plus 95/90 MB/s U3 V30 microSDHC 32GB3273.7$15.95
SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s U3 V30 32GB3273.7$12.99
SanDisk Extreme Plus 100MB/s A1 microSDXC 64GB6473.5$50.00
SanDisk Extreme Plus 100MB/s A1 microSDHC 32GB3273.5$11.95
SanDisk Extreme Plus 95/90 MB/s U3 V30 microSDXC 128GB12873.5$69.99
Samsung PRO Plus microSDXC 128GB12873.3
SanDisk Extreme Plus 100MB/s A1 microSDXC 128GB12873.2$75.00
Samsung PRO Plus microSDXC 64GB6473.0$52.99
SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s U3 V30 128GB12873.0$76.00
Lexar Professional 1000x UHS-II Rev C 128GB12872.2$54.95
Samsung EVO Select microSDXC 256GB25669.9$60.50
Delkin Elite 633x 32GB3269.8$19.99
Delkin Black 32GB3269.8
Sony 95MB/s U3 64GB6469.5$34.99
Sony 95MB/s U3 32GB3269.5$15.99
Polaroid Extreme Performance 95/90 MB/s 64GB6465.9$50.00
Kingston U3 90/80 MB/s 128GB12865.7$49.28
Kingston Canvas Go! V30 64GB6465.6$30.90
Verbatim Pro Plus V30 64GB6465.6$26.29
Toshiba Exceria Pro N401 95/75 MB/s 128GB12865.3$113.47
Kingston Canvas React V30 64GB6464.9$10.99
Toshiba FlashAir W-04 64GB6464.7$220.00
Kingston Canvas React V30 128GB12863.7$66.58
SanDisk Extreme 100MB/s A1 microSDXC 64GB6462.5$13.50
SanDisk Extreme 100MB/s A1 microSDHC 32GB3262.2$10.36
Kingston Canvas React V30 256GB25662.1$166.99
SanDisk Extreme 90MB/s U3 V30 microSDXC 64GB6462.1$11.25
SanDisk Extreme 90MB/s U3 V30 microSDHC 32GB3261.0$10.28
PNY Elite-X microSDXC 64GB6460.5$23.99
Transcend 500S V30 128GB12858.6$55.99
SanDisk Extreme Plus 90MB/s U3 V30 32GB3258.2$18.92
SanDisk Extreme Plus 90MB/s U3 V30 64GB6457.9$35.99
Transcend 500S V30 64GB6457.8$29.99
SanDisk Extreme 90MB/s U3 V30 128GB12857.4$21.99
SanDisk Extreme 90MB/s U3 V30 microSDXC 128GB12856.1$55.88
Lexar Professional 1000x UHS-II microSD 128GB12855.1$168.00
PNY Elite Performance U3 64GB6455.0$20.26
Transcend 600x 128GB12854.4$18.95
Transcend 95/60 MB/s U3 256GB25653.2$172.91
Lexar Professional 633x U3 256GB25653.1$51.97
SanDisk Extreme 100MB/s A1 microSDXC 128GB12852.9$23.99
SanDisk Extreme 90MB/s U3 V30 256GB25652.3$61.77
Lexar Professional 1000x UHS-II microSD 64GB6447.3$29.95
SanDisk Extreme 90MB/s U3 V30 32GB3246.2$10.42
PNY Elite-X microSDHC 32GB3246.1$19.99
SanDisk Extreme 90MB/s U3 V30 64GB6445.3$15.99
Kingston Class 10 256GB25644.3$161.52
Panasonic MicroP2 UHS-II 32GB3244.3
Lexar Professional 1000x microSD UHS-II 32GB3243.9$19.99
Lexar Professional 1000x UHS-II 256GB25642.9$89.99
SanDisk Ultra 80MB/s 32GB3238.6$8.76
SanDisk Ultra 80MB/s microSD 128GB12835.8$14.97
PNY Elite Performance U1 32GB3234.9
SanDisk Ultra 80MB/s 128GB12832.6$19.69
Lexar Professional 633x U1 128GB12831.9$17.95
PNY Elite microSDXC 128GB12830.9$36.99
PNY Elite microSDXC 64GB6429.0$27.98
Samsung EVO Select microSDXC 64GB6426.6$22.99
Lexar Professional 633x U1 64GB6424.3$12.99
Lexar Professional 633x microSDXC 64GB6423.9$9.99
Kingston Canvas Select 64GB6422.3$14.04
SanDisk Ultra 80MB/s microSD 64GB6421.9$11.68
Lexar Professional 633x U1 32GB3219.9$9.99
Samsung EVO Select microSDXC 128GB12819.6$59.95
Samsung EVO Plus 128GB microSDXC12819.4$49.00
Lexar Professional 633x microSDXC 128GB12819.2$15.99
SanDisk Ultra 80MB/s 32GB Card 23218.2$8.76
SanDisk Ultra 90MB/s microSD 200GB20017.4$58.50
SanDisk Ultra 80MB/s 64GB6415.0$9.98

Analysis

The Canon EOS R supports UHS-II SD cards which theoretically operate up to 312 MB/s. The highest average write speed during continuous shooting was 182.7 MB/s. The camera is also compatible with UHS-I cards and supports SDR104 (up to 104 MB/s). The fastest UHS-I cards averaged up to 75.6 MB/s write speed in the EOS R.

Buffer Capacity (shots at full FPS)

CardBuffer Capacity in shots vs file size (different image subjects)
27.0 MB RAW37.1 MB RAW50.0 MB RAW
Adata Premier One UHS-II 64GB614628

The EOS R has a generous buffer. Using the fastest UHS-II cards and a detailed image subject that produced 50 MB RAW files the camera could capture between 28-30 images at full frame rate. The full frame rate of the EOS R was just under 8 fps. Slower UHS-II cards such as the Lexar 1000x, ProGrade 200 MB/s and Sony M Series cards dropped the number of shots to 21 at full frame rate. Using UHS-I cards the buffer capacity was between 19-21 shots. These numbers are for a rather large 50 MB RAW file size which the highest average write speed of up to 182 MB/s.

Using a different test scene that produced 37 MB RAW images, the buffer capacity was up to 46 shots with the fastest UHS-II cards and between 26-30 shots with UHS-I cards. With this file size the highest average write speed was up to 161 MB/s. Changing the image subject to one with less detail and large out of focus areas produced 27 MB RAW files and resulted in a 61 shot buffer capacity with the fastest UHS-II cards. Different image subjects and levels of detail create different file sizes and has an impact on buffer capacity. The camera is writing during continuous shooting and the buffer capacity varies with card write speed: faster cards allow the buffer to clear faster and increase the number of shots at full frame rate.

CardShots at full fpsShots in 30 seconds
RAW+JPEG
56.6 MB
RAW
38.9 MB
JPEG
17.7 MB
RAW+JPEG
56.6 MB
RAW
38.9 MB
JPEG
17.7 MB
Lexar Professional 2000x UHS-II Rev E 64GB354470111146162
ProGrade 250MB/s UHS-II V90 64GB354470109146162
SanDisk Extreme Pro 300MB/s UHS-II 64GB354170109146161
ProGrade 200MB/s UHS-II V60 64GB2829706991162
SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s U3 V30 64GB2828706077153
SanDisk Extreme 90MB/s U3 V30 64GB2728584458119
SanDisk Ultra 80MB/s 64GB282558353577

Continuous shooting JPEG performance was worse than expected given the high RAW write speed of the EOS-R. The table above shows performance of various speed cards using different image modes. For this comparison the test scene produced 38.9 MB RAW files and 17.7 MB JPEG files (large, high quality). It should be noted that JPEG write speed was limited considerably by camera processing and the difference between memory cards was most apparent using cards with lower write speed.

Fastest SD Cards for the Canon EOS R

Lexar Professional 2000x UHS-II 64GB SDXC card
Lexar Professional 2000x UHS-II card

ProGrade 250MB/s UHS-II V90 64GB SDXC Card
ProGrade 250MB/s UHS-II V90 card

The fastest cards in the Canon EOS R are Lexar 2000x UHS-II and ProGrade 250MB/s UHS-II V90 cards. These fast UHS-II cards provide the highest average write speed during extended continuous shooting. UHS-II cards provide a notable improvement over slower UHS-I cards but also cost significantly more. The Lexar and ProGrade cards averaged around 182 MB/s write speed during continuous shooting, providing 30 to 60 RAW shots at full frame rate, depending on the image subject. Additional high performing UHS-II cards include the Adata Premier One UHS-II V90, Sony SF-G UHS-II, Delkin Power UHS-II, SanDisk Extreme Pro 300MB/s UHS-II, Verbatim Pro II Plus V90 UHS-II and Integral UltimaProX2 UHS-II V90. All of the aforementioned cards are recommended for maximum continuous shooting performance with the EOS R.

UHS-I cards can provide decent performance in the EOS R for short bursts of photos, up to around 20 shots in RAW. After that the buffer may cause shooting to slow down and be limited by the write speed of the memory card. The EOS R also has an irregular shot interval when the buffer is full, capturing a few consecutive shots followed by a pause. The EOS R maintained up to around 75MB/s write speed using the faster UHS-I cards. Recommended UHS-I cards for the EOS R include various sizes and formats of the SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s UHS-I cards.

Canon EOS R USB 3 Type-C cable in side port with door open

Downloading images from the Canon EOS R

The Canon EOS R has a USB Type-C port that can be used to transfer images from the camera to a computer. Canon states this USB-C port is equivalent to SuperSpeed USB (USB 3.1 Gen 1), which is technically equivalent to USB 3.0, and theoretically could provide up to 625 MB/s transfer speed. To test the transfer speed using the USB-C port on the EOS R, a Lexar 2000x UHS-II Rev E 64GB SDXC card was used in the camera. The card contained 200 RAW images totaling 10GB. Downloading the images using a USB 3.1 cable from the camera to a computer with SSD drive took 132 seconds and averaged 76.0 MB/s. Similar transfers using external UHS-II USB card readers averaged over 250MB/s. For maximum transfer speed a separate card reader should be used. Card reader tests are available in the Card Reader Reviews.