Camera Memory Speed
Memory Card Comparison & Performance Tests for Digital Cameras
Nikon Coolpix P1000 SD card slot with card and battery door open

Nikon Coolpix P1000 Recommended SD Cards

Published: December 14, 2018

When Nikon designed the Coolpix P1000 they decided to shoot the moon, literally and figuratively. The P1000 is a monster of a camera, with 125x zoom up to 3000mm equivalent focal length. The camera can shoot RAW (.NRF) images as well as 4K video. The 1/2.3 inch CMOS sensor has 16MP resolution and has an ISO range from 100 to 6,400. The camera can shoot up to 7 frames at 7fps. The 3.2-inch LCD screen rotates and provides unlimited shooting possibilities. The Coolpix P1000 has a single SD card slot that supports SD, SDHC and SDXC memory cards.

To find the best memory cards for the Nikon P1000, a total of 123 Secure Digital cards were tested in the camera. Write speed tests for RAW images compare the performance of each card. Further information about the camera performance can be found in the analysis. Recommended SD cards for the Nikon Coolpix P1000 provide the best performance for this camera.

Nikon Coolpix P1000 Camera Details and Settings

The Nikon P1000 is mounted on a tripod and controlled by a remote timer. The test subject is a detailed scene with fixed lighting. The camera is set to 24mm focal length at f/2.8. The P1000 limits continuous shooting to 7 frames, however the camera will take further images if the shutter is pressed again. The test is conducted for 30 seconds: 2 second shutter actuation followed by 1 second pause for a total of 10 times. Due to the behavior of this camera it is not possible to determine an exact buffer full condition. Write speed is estimated based on the total amount of data written divided by the total write time. Several tests of different durations conducted and found an estimated 1.65 second write delay. This write delay is an approximate adjustment that accounts for the delay from the first shutter activation until the first file is written to the memory card as well as any delay in the on-screen indicator indicating the camera has finished writing. Write speed is calculated in MB/s (1 MB = 1,048,576 bytes) for RAW image format.

Nikon P1000 SD Card Write Speed

+ Show more prices
Memory CardSize
(GB)
Average Write Speed (MB/s)Price
SanDisk Extreme Pro UHS-II 275MB/s microSDXC 64GB6434.1$68.13
Verbatim Pro II Plus UHS-II V90 64GB6434.1$49.95
SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s U3 V30 256GB25634.1$157.99
Sony SF-G 300MB/s UHS-II 32GB3234.0$92.54
SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s U3 V30 32GB3234.0$12.99
SanDisk Extreme Plus 100MB/s A1 microSDHC 32GB3234.0$11.95
SanDisk Extreme Plus 90MB/s U3 V30 64GB6434.0$35.99
SanDisk Extreme 100MB/s A1 microSDXC 64GB6434.0$13.50
Sony SF-G 300MB/s UHS-II 64GB6434.0$49.99
SanDisk Extreme 100MB/s A1 microSDHC 32GB3233.9$10.36
Toshiba Exceria Pro N401 95/75 MB/s 128GB12833.9$113.47
Integral UltimaPro X2 UHS-II V90 64GB6433.6$91.15
SanDisk Extreme Plus 95/90 MB/s U3 V30 microSDHC 32GB3233.6$15.95
SanDisk Extreme Plus 95/90 MB/s U3 V30 microSDXC 128GB12833.5$69.99
SanDisk Extreme Pro 300MB/s UHS-II 32GB3233.5$51.02
Delkin Power 2000x UHS-II V90 64GB6433.5$62.99
SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s microSDXC 64GB6433.5$14.29
SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s U3 V30 64GB6433.5$39.00
Delkin Power UHS-II V90 128GB12833.5$116.92
SanDisk Extreme Plus 95/90 MB/s U3 V30 microSDXC 64GB6433.4$28.95
SanDisk Extreme 90MB/s U3 V30 microSDXC 64GB6433.4$11.25
Sony SF-G 300MB/s UHS-II 128GB12833.4$167.19
AgfaPhoto Professional 64GB6433.4
Delkin Prime UHS-II V60 64GB6433.4$29.99
Lexar Professional 1800x microSD UHS-II 64GB6433.4$386.00
SanDisk Extreme Plus 100MB/s A1 microSDXC 128GB12833.4$75.00
SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s U3 V30 128GB12833.4$76.00
Sony M Series UHS-II 128GB12833.4$59.86
Verbatim Pro Plus V30 64GB6433.3$26.29
SanDisk Extreme Plus 90MB/s U3 V30 32GB3233.3$18.92
SanDisk Extreme Pro 300MB/s UHS-II 128GB12833.3$254.99
Kingston Canvas Go! V30 64GB6433.3$30.90
Lexar Professional 2000x UHS-II Rev B 128GB12833.3$189.99
SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s microSDHC 32GB3233.3$15.23
SanDisk Extreme 90MB/s U3 V30 microSDHC 32GB3233.3$10.28
SanDisk Extreme 90MB/s U3 V30 128GB12833.3$21.99
SanDisk Extreme Pro 300MB/s UHS-II 64GB6433.3$87.99
Lexar Professional 1800x microSD UHS-II 32GB3233.2$29.95
Toshiba Exceria Pro N502 64GB6433.2
Toshiba FlashAir W-04 64GB6433.2$220.00
Polaroid Extreme Performance 95/90 MB/s 64GB6433.2$50.00
SanDisk Extreme 90MB/s U3 V30 256GB25633.1$61.77
Transcend 95/60 MB/s U3 256GB25633.1$172.91
Kingston Canvas React V30 128GB12833.0$66.58
SanDisk Extreme 100MB/s A1 microSDXC 128GB12833.0$23.99
Kingston Canvas Go! V30 256GB25632.8$62.28
Samsung EVO Select microSDXC 256GB25632.8$60.50
Sony M Series UHS-II 64GB6432.8$39.99
SanDisk Extreme 90MB/s U3 V30 microSDXC 128GB12832.7$55.88
SanDisk Extreme 90MB/s U3 V30 64GB6432.5$15.99
Toshiba Exceria Pro UHS-II 32GB3232.5
Lexar Professional 633x U3 256GB25632.5$51.97
Sony 95MB/s U3 64GB6432.5$34.99
Lexar Professional 1000x UHS-II microSD 128GB12832.5$168.00
Kingston Canvas React V30 256GB25632.4$166.99
Transcend 500S 64GB Card 26432.4
Kingston Canvas React V30 64GB6432.3$10.99
PNY Elite-X microSDXC 64GB6432.2$23.99
Transcend 500S V30 64GB6432.2$29.99
SanDisk Extreme 90MB/s U3 V30 32GB3232.1$10.42
PNY Elite-X microSDHC 32GB3232.0$19.99
Transcend 600x 128GB12831.8$18.95
PNY Elite Performance U3 64GB6431.6$20.26
Sony 95MB/s U3 32GB3231.6$15.99
Silicon Power Superior Pro 128GB12831.3
Transcend 500S V30 128GB12831.2$55.99
Kingston Class 10 256GB25631.0$161.52
SanDisk Extreme Plus 100MB/s A1 microSDXC 64GB6430.7$50.00
Kingston U3 90/80 MB/s 256GB25630.6$144.00
Samsung PRO Plus microSDXC 64GB6430.5$52.99
Lexar Professional 2000x UHS-II 64GB6430.5$125.50
Lexar Professional 2000x UHS-II 32GB3229.9$86.50
Hoodman Steel UHS-II 64GB6429.8$89.99
Lexar Professional 1800x microSD UHS-II 128GB12829.8$199.99
Transcend 700S UHS-II V90 64GB6429.6$34.99
Transcend Ultimate UHS-II U3 64GB6429.6
Sony M Series UHS-II 32GB3229.5$55.77
Samsung PRO Plus microSDXC 128GB12829.3
Patriot EP PRO microSDXC 64GB6428.7$33.17
Lexar Professional 2000x UHS-II Rev E 32GB3228.6$86.50
Angelbird AV Pro V90 64GB6428.6
Lexar Professional 1000x microSD UHS-II 32GB3228.2$19.99
SanDisk Ultra 80MB/s 32GB3228.1$8.76
Transcend Ultimate UHS-II U3 32GB3227.9
ProGrade 250MB/s UHS-II V90 64GB6427.7
Adata Premier One UHS-II V90 64GB6427.6$42.82
Lexar Professional 1000x UHS-II 128GB12827.2$54.95
Lexar Professional 1000x UHS-II Rev C 128GB12827.2$54.95
Lexar Professional 1000x UHS-II microSD 64GB6427.1$29.95
Lexar Professional 1000x UHS-II 64GB6427.0$47.40
PNY Pro Elite microSDXC 64GB6425.9$10.99
Lexar Professional 1000x UHS-II Rev B 32GB3225.4$44.99
Lexar Professional 1000x UHS-II 32GB3224.8$44.99
Kingston U3 90/80 MB/s 128GB12824.7$49.28
Angelbird AV Pro V60 64GB6424.5
PNY Elite Performance U1 32GB3224.4
SanDisk Ultra 80MB/s microSD 128GB12824.4$14.97
SanDisk Extreme Pro 280MB/s UHS-II 32GB3224.4$69.00
ProGrade 200MB/s UHS-II V60 64GB6423.9$54.99
PNY Elite microSDXC 64GB6422.5$27.98
Lexar Professional 633x U1 128GB12821.7$17.95
Lexar Professional 1000x UHS-II Rev C 64GB6421.0$47.40
Samsung EVO Select microSDXC 64GB6420.3$22.99
Lexar Professional 633x U1 64GB6420.1$12.99
Sony Ultra-High Durability Professional 64GB6419.9$75.07
Sony Tough UHS-II 64GB6419.8$98.00
PNY Elite microSDXC 128GB12818.9$36.99
Kingston Canvas Select 64GB6418.8$14.04
Panasonic MicroP2 UHS-II 32GB3218.7
Lexar Professional 633x microSDXC 64GB6418.3$9.99
Lexar Professional 2000x UHS-II Rev E 64GB6417.7$125.50
SanDisk Ultra 80MB/s 32GB Card 23217.1$8.76
Samsung EVO Plus 128GB microSDXC12817.0$49.00
SanDisk Ultra 80MB/s 128GB12816.9$19.69
SanDisk Ultra 80MB/s microSD 64GB6416.7$11.68
Delkin Black 32GB3216.7
Delkin Elite 633x 32GB3216.7$19.99
Lexar Professional 1000x UHS-II 256GB25616.6$89.99
Samsung EVO Select microSDXC 128GB12816.6$59.95
Lexar Professional 633x microSDXC 128GB12816.1$15.99
Lexar Professional 633x U1 32GB3215.9$9.99
SanDisk Ultra 90MB/s microSD 200GB20015.1$58.50
SanDisk Ultra 80MB/s 64GB6414.6$9.98

Nikon P1000 Analysis

The write speed of the Nikon P1000 is limited by the camera. The maximum average write speed during continuous shooting was 34.1 MB/s. Several cards achieved this speed, or close to it. The camera does not support UHS-II, however UHS-II cards can be used in the camera because the cards are backwards compatible and will operate in UHS-I and Standard SD modes. Most cards tested are capable of much higher write speed but the camera can not take advantage of it.

During the test the fastest cards were able to get to 50 shots in RAW mode during the 30 second test. The slowest card managed only 32 shots in the same time period. The camera limits shooting to 7 shots when the shutter release is activated. The shutter release must be reactivated for the camera to continue shooting. The fastest cards allowed three to four 7-shot sets before the camera began to reduce the number of shots per set.

Recommended SD Cards for the Nikon Cookpix P1000

Recommended SD card:
SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s UHS-I SD Card
SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s UHS-I SD Card

When choosing a memory card for the P1000 several cards provide similar performance because the camera is the limiting factor. One card stood out by providing consistently high performance at a reasonable price: the SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s UHS-I card. Several sizes of this card were near the top of the list. SanDisk Extreme Plus and Extreme cards also provided good performance and support fast enough write speeds for this camera. Using a UHS-II card in the camera is overkill; these ultra-fast types of cards are much more expensive than fast UHS-I cards. The main advantage of a UHS-II card is its potentially higher read speed for faster transfers to a computer when using a UHS-II card reader.

Nikon Coolpix P1000 with USB cable in camera port with door open

Downloading images from P1000

The P1000 has an on-board USB Hi-speed (USB 2.0) port that can be used to transfer images from the camera to a computer. To test the download speed 200 RAW images were transferred from the P1000 to a computer with a SSD drive. A USB 2.0 cable was connected to the Micro-USB port on the camera to the computer. The card used in the camera is a SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s U3 V30 256GB. The 4.9GB transfer took just over 8 minutes and 40 seconds, at an average speed of 9.7MB/s. This is poor performance for USB 2.0 and it would be much faster to transfer images using a separate USB 3.0 card reader. Typical UHS-I cards can provide over 90MB/s read speed and UHS-II cards are able to reach over 250MB/s when copying files using a UHS-II card reader. Additional card reader tests can be found in the Card Reader Reviews.