Camera Memory Speed
Memory Card Comparison & Performance Tests for Digital Cameras
Nikon D5500 SD card slot with door open

Nikon D5500 SD Card Comparison

Published: February 26, 2015

The Nikon D5500 is a mid-level DSLR camera with a 24.2-megapixel DX (APS-C) sensor. The articulating 3.2 LCD display features touchscreen control, a first for Nikon DSLR. The D5500 offers 4 to 5 frames per second continuous shooting (4 fps in 14-bit RAW mode; 5 fps in RAW 12-bit and JPEG). The EXPEED 4 processor enables fast professing and is capable of higher write speed compared to its predecessor (D5300 SD card test). The D5500 supports high-speed UHS-I SDHC and SDXC memory cards.

Write speed in the Nikon D5500 was tested using a variety of memory cards. A total of 43 SD cards were tested. All cards support at least Class 10 speed, and all but one card support UHS-I. The results are presented as write speed when shooting 14-bit RAW images and continuous shooting to show the number of shots in 30 seconds in RAW+JPEG, RAW and JPEG modes. The analysis provides additional details about the results and recommended SD cards for the D5500 are provided for both fastest and best value memory cards for this camera.

Nikon D5500 Camera Details and Settings

The tests are performed with controlled lighting and a detailed test scene. The D5500 is mounted on a tripod and focus is set using Live View at maximum magnification. A remote release timer is used for 30 second interval tests. Write speed is calculated by using the total bytes written to each card divided by the total write time. The card access light is used to measure write time; a video of each test is reviewed and provides accuracy within a few hundredths of a second. Write speed is measured in MB/s (1 MB = 1,048,576 bytes). The write speed results are for RAW image format (RAW+JPEG and JPEG modes provide lower write speed).

Nikon D5500 SD Card Write Speed

+ Show more prices
Memory CardSize
(GB)
Average Write Speed (MB/s)Price
Lexar Professional 2000x UHS-II 32GB3274.2$86.50
SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s 64GB6473.4$59.99
SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s 32GB3273.4$18.08
Kingston U3 90/80 MB/s 64GB6470.5$59.40
Kingston U3 90/80 MB/s 32GB3269.9$69.95
Toshiba Exceria Pro UHS-II 32GB3268.7
Toshiba Exceria Type 1 32GB3267.1
Samsung PRO 64GB6467.0$69.50
Samsung PRO 32GB3266.5$69.00
Kingston Class 10 UHS-I 64GB6464.1$36.38
Transcend R95 W85 U3 64GB6463.7$49.99
Transcend 95/85 MB/s U3 32GB3262.8
Sony 95MB/s U3 64GB6459.0$34.99
Lexar Professional 1000x UHS-II 32GB3258.8$44.99
Sony 95MB/s U3 32GB3257.8$15.99
SanDisk Extreme Plus 80MB/s microSD 32GB3254.6
Toshiba Exceria Type 2 32GB3252.3
Sony 94MB/s 32GB3249.9$26.29
SanDisk Extreme Plus 80MB/s 64GB6449.5$29.99
SanDisk Extreme Plus 80MB/s 32GB3249.1$41.00
PNY Elite Performance U1 64GB6449.1$19.99
Transcend 95/60 MB/s U3 64GB6447.8$29.95
SanDisk Extreme 60MB/s 32GB3246.9$17.84
Lexar Professional 600x 64GB6446.6$14.99
SanDisk Extreme U3 microSD 32GB3246.5$19.99
SanDisk Extreme 60MB/s 64GB6445.4$36.90
SanDisk Extreme U3 microSD 64GB6442.9$38.99
Kingston Ultimate 32GB3239.9
SanDisk Ultra 40MB/s 32GB Card 13239.9
Patriot EP Pro 90MB/s 32GB3239.8$31.58
SanDisk Extreme 45MB/s 32GB3239.1$9.50
SanDisk Extreme Pro 280MB/s UHS-II 32GB3238.2$69.00
Lexar Professional 600x 32GB3238.0$42.99
Lexar Professional 400x 32GB3235.8$79.99
Patriot EP Pro 90MB/s 64GB6434.8$24.99
PNY Elite Performance U1 32GB3232.4
Panasonic MicroP2 UHS-II 32GB3230.5
Transcend 600x 32GB3228.8$17.99
Samsung EVO 32GB3219.1$44.00
SanDisk Ultra 40MB/s 64GB6414.2$13.00
SanDisk Ultra microSD 64GB6413.5$24.99
SanDisk Ultra microSD 32GB3212.5$13.99
Toshiba FlashAir II 32GB3211.9

Nikon D5500 Continuous Shooting

Continuous shooting measures the number of images taken in 30 seconds. Three image modes are used: RAW+JPEG, RAW, and JPEG. RAW setting is 14-bit NEF; JPEG are large, fine quality. The D5500 is set to continuous high release mode. The detailed subject in this test produces 30.6 MB RAW files and 12.7MB JPEG files.

+ Show more prices
Memory CardSize
(GB)
Continuous Shooting – Images in 30 SecondsLowest
Price
RAW+JPEGRAWJPEG
SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s 64GB645375143$59.99
SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s 32GB325375143$18.08
Lexar Professional 2000x UHS-II 32GB325176143$86.50
Kingston U3 90/80 MB/s 64GB645073143$59.40
Kingston U3 90/80 MB/s 32GB325072143$69.95
Toshiba Exceria Pro UHS-II 32GB325071143
Toshiba Exceria Type 1 32GB324969143
Samsung PRO 64GB644969143$69.50
Samsung PRO 32GB324869143$69.00
Transcend 95/85 MB/s U3 32GB324666137
Transcend R95 W85 U3 64GB644466143$49.99
Kingston Class 10 UHS-I 64GB644266143$36.38
Sony 95MB/s U3 64GB644162132$34.99
Lexar Professional 1000x UHS-II 32GB324161126$44.99
Sony 95MB/s U3 32GB324160128$15.99
SanDisk Extreme Plus 80MB/s microSD 32GB324157129
Toshiba Exceria Type 2 32GB323955122
Sony 94MB/s 32GB323853118$26.29
SanDisk Extreme Plus 80MB/s 32GB323753120$41.00
SanDisk Extreme Plus 80MB/s 64GB643753118$29.99
Transcend 95/60 MB/s U3 64GB643753110$29.95
SanDisk Extreme 60MB/s 32GB323650116$17.84
PNY Elite Performance U1 64GB643552111$19.99
SanDisk Extreme U3 microSD 32GB323550113$19.99
Lexar Professional 600x 64GB643549111$14.99
SanDisk Extreme 60MB/s 64GB643449111$36.90
SanDisk Ultra 40MB/s 32GB Card 132314398
Patriot EP Pro 90MB/s 32GB32304398$31.58
Kingston Ultimate 32GB32304398
SanDisk Extreme 45MB/s 32GB32304397$9.50
Lexar Professional 600x 32GB32304295$42.99
SanDisk Extreme Pro 280MB/s UHS-II 32GB32294292$69.00
Lexar Professional 400x 32GB32283988$79.99
Transcend 600x 32GB32273280$17.99
PNY Elite Performance U1 32GB32253682
Panasonic MicroP2 UHS-II 32GB32253476
Patriot EP Pro 90MB/s 64GB64243986$24.99
SanDisk Extreme U3 microSD 64GB642046112$38.99
Samsung EVO 32GB32182454$44.00
SanDisk Ultra 40MB/s 64GB64141944$13.00
SanDisk Ultra microSD 64GB64141842$24.99
SanDisk Ultra microSD 32GB32131739$13.99
Toshiba FlashAir II 32GB32121739

Nikon D5500 Performance Analysis

The D5500 provides higher write speed compared to its predecessor, the D5300. The fastest card tested in the D5300 (SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s UHS-I 32GB) measured 37% higher write speed in the D5500. The maximum write speed measured in the D5500 was 74.2 MB/s. Buffer capacity is similar to the D5300, however the higher write speed of the D5500 allows for more shots in a given time interval (after the buffer reaches capacity). Due to the relatively small buffer, memory card speed has a big impact on continuous shooting performance. Faster cards provide a much higher frame rate after the buffer is full.

To understand continuous shooting results it is important to realize the image subject and camera settings affect frame rate and the number of shots that can be taken in a given time interval. Subjects with more detail create larger files which take longer to write. The frame rate is reduced after the buffer has reached capacity; faster cards clear the buffer faster and allow more shots to be taken in a given time interval. Faster cards can allow more "buffer capacity" because they clear space while the camera continues shooting at full frame rate. A detailed subject is used for these tests to show the difference between cards, not the absolute maximum number of shots possible under ideal conditions. You may notice the following numbers differ from the "buffer capacity" provided by Nikon due to differences in image size and memory cards used.

When shooting RAW+JPEG mode the D5500 was only able to buffer 5 shots regardless of the card used. Faster cards provided higher frame rate after the buffer had filled: 1.6 fps for the fastest card versus 0.24 fps for the slowest card.

Shooting in 14-bit RAW mode the faster cards reached 9 shots at full frame rate; slower cards did not clear the buffer as quickly and only got to 6 shots at full frame rate. With the buffer full, the frame rate was 2.5 fps with the fastest card and 0.6 fps with the slowest card.

Shooting JPEG at the highest setting (large, fine) with detailed test subject (12.7MB file size) the D5500 could shoot full frame rate for the entire 30 seconds. Slower cards reduced the number of shots the camera could take at full frame rate; the slowest card provided only 14 shots before it slowed to 1.2 fps for the remainder of the 30 seconds.

The D5500 does not support the UHS-II interface, but UHS-II cards can be used because the cards are backward compatible and revert to UHS-I speed. The speed provided in UHS-I mode depends on card: the SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s UHS-II reverts to 50MB/s bus speed in UHS-I mode, while Toshiba Exceria Pro 260MB/s and Lexar Professional 1000x and 2000x UHS-II cards use to 104MB/s bus speed (SDR104 mode). There is no benefit in using a UHS-II card in the D5500, but they do provide faster download (read) speed in a UHS-II card reader.

Recommended SD Cards for the Nikon D5500

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

In terms of write speed, the fastest SD card in the Nikon D5500 was the Lexar Professional 2000x UHS-II card which reached 74.2 MB/s write speed. The card operates in UHS-I mode in the D5500, however when used in a UHS-II device it can offer much higher speed. The card comes with a UHS-II card reader and measured over 250 MB/s when downloading images (it posted 296.5 MB/s sequential read and 272.6 MB/s sequential write in benchmarks using the same reader).

Other than bragging rights (and extreme download speed) UHS-II cards are not necessary for the D5500. In fact, the SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s UHS-I 64GB SDXC Card provides all the speed you can use in the D5500. It measured 73.4MB/s write speed in the D5500. Continuous shooting in RAW+JPEG mode the SanDisk card edged out the faster Lexar 2000x card.

There were several candidates to consider for best value SD card for the D5500. Dividing the card price by the maximum write speed and capacity provided a starting point. Among the higher speed-value cards the Kingston Class 10 64GB SDXC card emerged as the winner. It provides high speed at a reasonable price in a 64GB card.

Nikon D5500 USB cable to camera port with door open

Downloading images from D5500

The D5500 has a built-in USB 2.0 port to transfer images from the camera using a USB cable. The download speed was tested by transferring 4GB of RAW files from the camera to a SSD drive on a computer. The maximum transfer speed measured 32MB/s when using the fastest SD cards. A separate USB 3.0 card reader provided much faster transfer speed. For example, the Lexar Professional 2000x UHS-II card provided 250MB/s actual transfer speed copying the same files with its included UHS-II reader. UHS-I cards reached just above 90MB/s actual transfer speed when downloading images. See the Card Reader Reviews for more test and and information about card readers.