Camera Memory Speed
Memory Card Comparison & Performance Tests for Digital Cameras
Nikon D7500 SD card door open

Fastest SD cards for the Nikon D7500

Published: June 22, 2017

The Nikon D7500 is more than a refresh of the D7200 which it follows. The D7500 inherits the 20.9MP DX (APS-C) format sensor from the D500 along with the Expeed 5 processor and is capable of delivering 8fps and brings the same ISO range as the D500, ISO 100 to 51,200 and is expandable from ISO 50 to 1.6M. The 3.2-inch 922k-dot tilting LCD includes touch control and the camera is 1.2 ounces lighter than the previous model. The D7500 delivers 4K video in 24, 25 and 30p, although it uses a 1.5X crop of the sensor. Full HD 1080 video uses the full sensor and offers an additional 60p frame rate.

In contrast to the previous model and the D500, the D7500 only offers a single memory card slot. The slot supports SD cards including UHS-I. A total of 131 SD cards were tested in the D7500. The results are presented in write speed for 14-bit RAW images. Additional tests were performed comparing RAW+JPEG, RAW and JPEG continuous shooting performance. A detailed analysis includes information observed during testing. Recommended SD cards for the D7500 are provided based on the highest write speed from the test results.

Camera Details and Settings

Tests are conducted using a detailed test scene with controlled lighting. The D7500 is mounted on a tripod and a remote release timer is used. Focus is set using manual focus on the lens. Write speed is calculated during the buffer-full condition during extended continuous shooting. Write speed is the data in bytes written to the memory card divided by the write time. Write speed is measured in MB/s (1 MB = 1,048,576 bytes). Each card is tested at least twice and the results are averaged. The the write speed table below is for RAW image format (RAW+JPEG and JPEG modes have lower write speed).

Nikon D7500 SD Card Write Speed

+ Show more prices
Memory CardSize
(GB)
Average Write Speed (MB/s)Price
Sony SF-G 300MB/s UHS-II 32GB3281.2$92.54
Lexar Professional 2000x UHS-II 32GB3281.1$86.50
Lexar Professional 2000x UHS-II 64GB6480.9$125.50
SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s 256GB25680.6$139.99
SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s 32GB3280.6$18.08
Sony SF-G 300MB/s UHS-II 128GB12880.5$167.19
SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s microSDHC 32GB3280.4$15.23
Sony SF-G 300MB/s UHS-II 64GB6480.3$49.99
SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s U3 32GB3280.2$18.08
SanDisk Extreme Pro 300MB/s UHS-II 32GB3280.2$51.02
SanDisk Extreme Plus 95/90 MB/s U3 V30 microSDXC 64GB6479.8$28.95
SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s microSDXC 64GB6479.7$14.29
SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s 64GB6479.6$59.99
SanDisk Extreme Pro 300MB/s UHS-II 128GB12879.5$254.99
SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s 128GB12879.5$99.99
SanDisk Extreme Pro 300MB/s UHS-II 64GB6479.4$87.99
SanDisk Extreme Plus 95/90 MB/s U3 V30 microSDHC 32GB3279.3$15.95
Sony M Series UHS-II 32GB3279.0$55.77
Lexar Professional 2000x UHS-II Rev E 32GB3279.0$86.50
Sony M Series UHS-II 128GB12878.8$59.86
Lexar Professional 1800x microSD UHS-II 64GB6478.8$386.00
PNY Pro Elite microSDXC 64GB6478.7$10.99
Transcend Ultimate UHS-II U3 32GB3278.5
Panasonic Gold 95/90 64GB6478.4
Patriot EP PRO microSDXC 64GB6478.4$33.17
Sony M Series UHS-II 64GB6478.4$39.99
SanDisk Extreme Plus 100MB/s A1 microSDHC 32GB3278.3$11.95
SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s U3 V30 128GB12878.2$76.00
SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s U3 V30 64GB6478.2$39.00
SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s U3 V30 256GB25678.1$157.99
SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s U3 V30 32GB3278.1$12.99
PNY Pro Elite 64GB6478.0
Transcend Ultimate UHS-II U3 64GB6477.9
SanDisk Extreme Plus 95/90 MB/s U3 V30 microSDXC 128GB12877.9$69.99
Samsung PRO Plus 32GB3277.8
Kingston U3 90/80 MB/s 32GB3277.7$69.95
Lexar Professional 2000x UHS-II Rev E 64GB6477.7$125.50
Hoodman Steel UHS-II 64GB6477.7$89.99
Kingston U3 90/80 MB/s 256GB25677.7$144.00
SanDisk Extreme Plus 100MB/s A1 microSDXC 64GB6477.6$50.00
Kingston U3 90/80 MB/s 64GB6477.5$59.40
SanDisk Extreme Plus 100MB/s A1 microSDXC 128GB12877.4$75.00
SanDisk Extreme Pro UHS-II 275MB/s microSDXC 64GB6477.2$68.13
Samsung PRO Select microSDXC 64GB6477.2
Samsung PRO Plus microSDXC 64GB6477.1$52.99
Kingston U3 (90/80) microSD 64GB6477.0$64.66
Kingston U3 (90/80) microSD 32GB3276.8$187.76
Toshiba Exceria Pro UHS-II 32GB3276.3
Samsung PRO Plus 64GB6476.2$118.00
Samsung PRO Plus microSDXC 128GB12874.6
Samsung PRO Select microSDXC 128GB12874.5$99.99
Lexar Professional 1000x UHS-II Rev C 64GB6473.9$47.40
Samsung EVO Select microSDXC 256GB25673.5$60.50
Delkin Elite 633x 32GB3273.0$19.99
Delkin Black 32GB3272.8
Kingston Class 10 UHS-I 64GB6471.9$36.38
Transcend 95/85 MB/s U3 32GB3271.5
Transcend 633x microSDHC 32GB3270.9$33.91
Sony 95MB/s U3 32GB3270.9$15.99
Transcend Ultimate 633x microSD 64GB6470.8$125.99
Samsung PRO U3 32GB3270.7
Transcend R95 W85 U3 64GB6470.3$49.99
Samsung PRO U3 64GB6470.0$89.98
Samsung PRO microSDXC 64GB6469.6
Lexar Professional 1800x microSD UHS-II 32GB3269.4$29.95
Lexar Professional 2000x UHS-II Rev B 128GB12867.6$189.99
Lexar Professional 1000x UHS-II Rev B 32GB3267.5$44.99
Lexar Professional 1000x UHS-II 32GB3267.1$44.99
Sony 95MB/s U3 64GB6467.0$34.99
Lexar Professional 1800x microSD UHS-II 128GB12866.2$199.99
Lexar Professional 1000x UHS-II 128GB12865.9$54.95
Lexar Professional 1000x UHS-II 64GB6465.0$47.40
PNY Elite-X microSDHC 32GB3264.8$19.99
Lexar Professional 1000x UHS-II Rev C 128GB12864.8$54.95
Lexar Professional 1000x UHS-II 256GB25664.2$89.99
SanDisk Extreme 100MB/s A1 microSDHC 32GB3263.5$10.36
SanDisk Extreme 100MB/s A1 microSDXC 64GB6462.6$13.50
SanDisk Extreme 90MB/s U3 V30 microSDXC 64GB6462.1$11.25
SanDisk Extreme 90MB/s U3 V30 microSDHC 32GB3261.9$10.28
SanDisk Extreme Plus 90MB/s U3 V30 32GB3260.2$18.92
PNY Elite-X microSDXC 64GB6459.5$23.99
SanDisk Extreme Plus 90MB/s U3 V30 64GB6459.0$35.99
SanDisk Extreme 90MB/s U3 V30 128GB12858.7$21.99
SanDisk Extreme 90MB/s U3 V30 256GB25658.7$61.77
SanDisk Extreme 90MB/s U3 V30 microSDXC 128GB12857.5$55.88
PNY Elite Performance U3 128GB12857.3$39.99
Transcend 95/60 MB/s U3 256GB25657.2$172.91
SanDisk Extreme 100MB/s A1 microSDXC 128GB12856.6$23.99
Transcend 600x 128GB12856.3$18.95
Transcend 95/60 MB/s U3 128GB12856.3$104.31
Transcend 95/60 MB/s U3 64GB6455.9$29.95
Transcend 600x 64GB6455.7$31.98
Lexar Professional 633x U3 256GB25655.6$51.97
PNY Elite Performance U1 64GB6455.3$19.99
Lexar Professional 1000x UHS-II microSD 128GB12852.3$168.00
SanDisk Extreme 90MB/s U3 V30 64GB6449.2$15.99
PNY Elite Performance U3 256GB25648.5$99.89
SanDisk Extreme 90MB/s U3 V30 32GB3248.2$10.42
Delkin 1900x UHS-II 32GB3247.2
Lexar Professional 1000x UHS-II microSD 64GB6446.6$29.95
Lexar Professional 1000x microSD UHS-II 32GB3246.1$19.99
Patriot EP Pro 90MB/s 32GB3243.5$31.58
Kingston Ultimate 32GB3243.1
SanDisk Extreme Pro 280MB/s UHS-II 32GB3241.8$69.00
SanDisk Ultra 80MB/s 32GB3238.6$8.76
Patriot EP Pro 128GB12837.6$58.57
Patriot EP Pro 90MB/s 64GB6437.0$24.99
Transcend 600x 32GB3235.5$17.99
PNY Elite Performance U1 32GB3234.8
Panasonic MicroP2 UHS-II 32GB3233.6
Kingston Class 10 256GB25633.2$161.52
Lexar Professional 633x microSDXC 200GB20032.9$89.99
SanDisk Ultra 80MB/s microSD 128GB12832.1$14.97
PNY Elite microSDXC 64GB6429.1$27.98
Lexar Professional 633x U1 64GB6425.9$12.99
Lexar Professional 633x U1 128GB12825.9$17.95
PNY Elite microSDXC 128GB12825.8$36.99
Lexar Professional 633x microSDXC 64GB6425.3$9.99
Samsung EVO Select microSDXC 64GB6423.2$22.99
Samsung EVO microSD 32GB3222.3$31.70
Samsung EVO microSDXC 64GB6421.7$38.00
Lexar Professional 633x U1 32GB3220.3$9.99
Samsung EVO Select microSDXC 128GB12820.2$59.95
Samsung EVO Plus 128GB microSDXC12820.1$49.00
Lexar Professional 633x microSDXC 128GB12819.8$15.99
SanDisk Ultra 80MB/s 128GB12819.7$19.69
SanDisk Ultra 80MB/s 32GB Card 23219.1$8.76
SanDisk Ultra 80MB/s microSD 64GB6418.5$11.68
SanDisk Ultra 80MB/s microSD 32GB3214.9$8.50
SanDisk Ultra 90MB/s microSD 200GB20014.8$58.50
SanDisk Ultra 80MB/s 64GB6414.6$9.98

Nikon D7500 Continuous Shooting

The following table contains a comparison of continuous shooting with the D7500 using different images modes and memory cards. The maximum number of continuous shots is capped at 100 by the camera. Write speed is calculated using the buffer-full condition. The card access light is not used for write speed calculation. Where buffer capacity does not limit shooting in 30 seconds no write speed is calculated. A detailed test scene is used which results in large file sizes.

For these tests the fastest SD card as determined by the write speed test, the Sony G-Series UHS-II 32GB, was used. The slowest SD card, the SanDisk Ultra 80MB/s UHS-I 64GB, was tested with select image modes to compare. (The buffer clearing time is marked n/a where test results were unavailable.)

The * designates the JPEG image mode that gives priority to image quality.

Image Type / Card ComparisonShots at full fpsShots in 30 secondsAverage Write SpeedTime to clear buffer
Sony SF-G Series UHS-II 32GB
RAW (lossless compressed) 14-bit + JPEG fine *317879.3 MB/s14.4 sec
RAW (lossless compressed) 14-bit + JPEG fine368779.2 MB/s13.6 sec
RAW (lossless compressed) 14-bit + JPEG normal *389478.9 MB/s12.9 sec
RAW (lossless compressed) 14-bit + JPEG normal409977.3 MB/s12.5 sec
RAW (lossless compressed) 14-bit + JPEG basic *4310079.6 MB/s12.4 sec
RAW (lossless compressed) 14-bit + JPEG basic4310079.0 MB/s11.8 sec
RAW (compressed) 14-bit + JPEG fine *398979.2 MB/s15.6 sec
RAW (compressed) 14-bit + JPEG fine4410079.1 MB/s14.3 sec
RAW (compressed) 14-bit + JPEG normal *4710079.9 MB/s13.5 sec
RAW (compressed) 14-bit + JPEG normal5110079.0 MB/s13.4 sec
RAW (compressed) 14-bit + JPEG basic *5610079.1 MB/s13.4 sec
RAW (compressed) 14-bit + JPEG basic5710078.3 MB/s12.7 sec
RAW (lossless compressed) 12-bit + JPEG fine *429277.8 MB/s16.3 sec
RAW (lossless compressed) 12-bit + JPEG fine4710077.3 MB/s14.9 sec
RAW (lossless compressed) 12-bit + JPEG normal *5210077.9 MB/s14.5 sec
RAW (lossless compressed) 12-bit + JPEG normal5510077.4 MB/s13.8 sec
RAW (lossless compressed) 12-bit + JPEG basic *5610076.9 MB/s13.2 sec
RAW (lossless compressed) 12-bit + JPEG basic6210077.8 MB/s13.3 sec
RAW (compressed) 12-bit + JPEG fine *4910077.2 MB/s16.3 sec
RAW (compressed) 12-bit + JPEG fine5410077.3 MB/s14.6 sec
RAW (compressed) 12-bit + JPEG normal *6210077.8 MB/s14.6 sec
RAW (compressed) 12-bit + JPEG normal6910076.8 MB/s14.0 sec
RAW (compressed) 12-bit + JPEG basic *7710076.5 MB/s14.1 sec
RAW (compressed) 12-bit + JPEG basic8010076.8 MB/s13.5 sec
RAW lossless compressed 14-bit5010081.2 MB/s11.3 sec
RAW compressed 14-bit7210081.6 MB/s12.7 sec
RAW (lossless compressed) 12-bit7110079.5 MB/s12.3 sec
RAW compressed 12-bit10010012.2 sec
JPEG fine *1001007.7 sec
JPEG fine1001001.7 sec
JPEG normal *1001000.5 sec
JPEG normal1001000.4 sec
JPEG basic *1001000.4 sec
JPEG basic1001000.4 sec
SanDisk Ultra 80MB/s 64GB
RAW (lossless compressed) 14-bit + JPEG fine *263513.5 MB/s74.8 sec
RAW (compressed) 12-bit + JPEG basic516614.2 MB/sn/a
RAW (lossless compressed) 14-bit354814.6 MB/s60.8 sec
RAW (compressed) 14-bit465913.9 MB/s72.7 sec
RAW (lossless compressed) 12-bit456114.4 MB/s70.3 sec
RAW (compressed) 12-bit547013.7 MB/sn/a
JPEG fine *769514.3 MB/s74.0 sec
JPEG fine9110052.5 sec
JPEG normal *10010038.7 sec
JPEG normal10010023.6 sec
JPEG basic *10010015.8 sec
JPEG basic1001009.1 sec

Nikon D7500 Performance Analysis

Nikon limited the D7500 with a single SD card slot and only UHS-I support. While UHS-II cards can be used in the D7500 they operate in UHS-I mode and their write speed is not much faster than fast UHS-I cards in the camera. The D7500 supports UHS-I mode SDR104 which provides up to 104MB/s bus speed. The highest average write speed measured shooting 14-bit RAW lossless compressed images was 81.2 MB/s.

The D7500 has a large buffer and when used with a fast SD card it is capable of shooting up to 50 RAW lossless compressed 14-bit images continuously at full frame rate before the buffer limits shooting. The buffer is significantly larger than the D7200, which captured 18 RAW images (lossless compressed, 14-bit) in a similar test. Switching the D7500 to compressed 12-bit RAW increased this number to 100, the maximum number of shots the camera allows in one continuous burst.

The speed difference between cards affects the number of shots that an be captured at full frame rate because faster cards clear the buffer while shooting. An even bigger difference is seen when the buffer has reached capacity, when the camera is only able to continue shooting according to the write speed of the card. A fast card is capable of shooting 14-bit lossless compressed RAW at 2.9 fps with the buffer full, while a slow one limits shooting to 0.5 fps. Another difference is buffer clearing time. When shooting RAW images the D7500 clears the buffer in about 12 seconds with fast cards, while slow cards can take over a minute.

These tests are performed using a detailed image subject that creates large image files. The number of shots may increase slightly with a less detailed subject because the file size will be smaller.

The D7500 does not have the UHS-II interface, but UHS-II cards can be used in the D7500 because the cards are backwards compatible and operate in UHS-I mode. UHS-II cards are much faster in UHS-II devices, such as UHS-II card readers. One benefit in choosing a UHS-II is fast download speed when transferring pictures to a computer, where the cards can reach up to 300 MB/s.

Recommended SD Cards for the Nikon D7500

Fastest UHS-II card:
81.2 MB/s write
Sony G Series UHS-II 32GB SD Card
Sony G Series UHS-II 32GB
Fast UHS-II card:
81.1 MB/s write
Lexar Professional 2000x UHS-II 32GB
Lexar Professional 2000x UHS-II 32GB
Fast UHS-I cards:
78.1 - 80.6 MB/s write
SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s UHS-I SD Card
SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s UHS-I Cards

(best value)

The fastest SD card in the Nikon D7500 is the Sony G Series UHS-II 32GB card. It measured 81.2 MB/s average write speed during continuous shooting in the D7500. Practically matching its performance was the Lexar Professional 2000x UHS-II 32GB card that averaged 81.1 MB/s. The cards were so close in performance in the D7500 that after running each card 9-10 times the difference was only 0.1 MB/s average and could be considered a virtual tie. These are UHS-II cards, and while the D7500 doesn't support UHS-II, they operate in UHS-I mode in the camera and came out just above the fastest UHS-I cards. They are recommended for those seeking the highest write speed as well as extremely high 250-300MB/s read speeds for transferring images from the card to a computer.

The fastest UHS-I cards were several models of SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s UHS-I cards. These are recommended for those seeking a high performance card for the D7500 as well as a good value. They reached up to 80.6 MB/s average write speed in the D7500. These UHS-I cards offer up to 95MB/s read speed for quick downloads. From a value perspective the Extreme Pro comes out on top.

Nikon D7500 with USB cable in USB port for transferring images from camera with door open

Downloading images from the Nikon D7500

The D7500 has a built-in USB port that can be used to download images from the camera to a computer. The port supports USB 2.0 which limits the transfer speed. To test the speed 100 RAW files (2.7 GB) were transferred from the camera to a computer. The Lexar 2000x UHS-II 32GB was used in the camera and connected to a computer with USB 2.0 and a fast SSD drive. The transfer took 85 seconds and averaged 33.0 MB/s. This is close to the maximum speed USB 2.0 can provide. A much faster way to transfer images would be to use a separate USB 3.0 card reader. In such a reader, UHS-II cards can provide around 250 MB/s rate when transferring images, and UHS-I cards can reach above 90 MB/s. More card reader tests are available in the Card Reader Reviews.