Camera Memory Speed
Memory Card Comparison & Performance Tests for Digital Cameras
Samsung NX1 SD card slot

Samsung NX1 SD Card Comparison

Published: February 6, 2015

When Samsung announced the NX1, it took many by surprise. It has specifications that Nikon and Canon enthusiasts envy: 15fps continuous shooting, 28 megapixel sensor and hundreds of contrast and phase detect AF sensors covering 90% of the frame. Its DRIMe V image processor provides fast continuous burst shooting and 4K Ultra HD video. The NX1 also supports the latest UHS-II SD cards.

The UHS-II interface provides a bus speed up to 312 MB/s, compared with a 104 MB/s maximum bus speed with UHS-I. To take advantage of UHS-II speed, compatible devices have a second row of pins. UHS-II cards are backwards compatible in existing devices without the extra pins, but operate at standard UHS-I speed.

To compare memory card performance in the Samsung NX1, 32 SD cards were tested in the camera. The cards include some of the fastest UHS-II currently available as well as several high performance UHS-I cards. The results are presented as write speed for each card when shooting RAW images. Continuous shooting results show how many shots are taken in 30 seconds using three different image modes (RAW+JPEG, RAW and JPEG). Following this is an analysis and recommended SD cards for the NX1 including the fastest SD card and best value memory cards.

Note: After these tests were performed Samsung released updated firmware that improves shooting performance.

Camera Card Speed Test Details

The test target is detailed static scene under controlled lighting. The Samsung NX1 is mounted to a tripod. Focus is set using MF assist at 8X magnification. A remote release shutter timer is used to provide intervals of 30 seconds. The card access light is used to determine write time for write speed tests. The total bytes written to the card are divided by the write time gives average write speed in MB/s (1 MB = 1,048,576 bytes). Write speed results are presented for RAW image format (JPEG have slightly lower speed).

Samsung NX1 SD Card Write Speed

+ Show more prices
Memory CardSize
(GB)
Average Write Speed (MB/s)Price
Toshiba Exceria Pro UHS-II 32GB3259.3
SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s 64GB6458.2$59.99
SanDisk Extreme Pro 280MB/s UHS-II 32GB3258.0$69.00
SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s 32GB3255.9$18.08
Transcend 95/85 MB/s U3 32GB3255.5
Samsung PRO 64GB6455.2$69.50
Kingston U3 90/80 MB/s 64GB6454.9$59.40
Samsung PRO 32GB3254.4$69.00
Kingston Class 10 UHS-I 64GB6453.1$36.38
Kingston U3 90/80 MB/s 32GB3253.1$69.95
Sony 95MB/s U3 64GB6452.2$34.99
Toshiba Exceria Type 1 32GB3252.2
Sony 95MB/s U3 32GB3251.9$15.99
SanDisk Extreme Plus 80MB/s microSD 32GB3251.6
Lexar Professional 600x 64GB6448.5$14.99
Toshiba Exceria Type 2 32GB3247.9
SanDisk Extreme Plus 80MB/s 64GB6447.5$29.99
PNY Elite Performance U1 64GB6446.8$19.99
Sony 94MB/s 32GB3246.8$26.29
SanDisk Extreme Plus 80MB/s 32GB3245.6$41.00
SanDisk Extreme 60MB/s 32GB3244.5$17.84
SanDisk Extreme 60MB/s 64GB6444.3$36.90
Transcend 95/60 MB/s U3 64GB6443.2$29.95
SanDisk Extreme 45MB/s 32GB3240.4$9.50
Lexar Professional 600x 32GB3239.6$42.99
Kingston Ultimate 32GB3238.1
Lexar Professional 400x 32GB3237.4$79.99
Patriot EP Pro 90MB/s 32GB3236.5$31.58
Panasonic MicroP2 UHS-II 32GB3235.9
Transcend 600x 32GB3232.8$17.99
PNY Elite Performance U1 32GB3232.0
Samsung EVO 32GB3218.1$44.00

Samsung NX1 Continuous Shooting

The continuous shooting test compares the number of images taken in 30 seconds with three different image modes: RAW+JPEG, RAW, and JPEG. The JPEG setting is large, super fine. The NX1 is set to continuous high 15fps mode. The detailed subject in this test produces 31.0 MB RAW files and 12.2MB JPEG files.

+ Show more prices
Memory CardSize
(GB)
Continuous Shooting – Images in 30 SecondsLowest
Price
RAW+JPEGRAWJPEG
SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s 64GB645374159$59.99
Toshiba Exceria Pro UHS-II 32GB325273162
SanDisk Extreme Pro 280MB/s UHS-II 32GB325173157$69.00
SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s 32GB325170161$18.08
SanDisk Extreme Plus 80MB/s microSD 32GB325067159
Samsung PRO 32GB324970153$69.00
Transcend 95/85 MB/s U3 32GB324970145
Samsung PRO 64GB644969160$69.50
Kingston U3 90/80 MB/s 32GB324967159$69.95
Kingston U3 90/80 MB/s 64GB644871150$59.40
Sony 95MB/s U3 64GB644867155$34.99
Sony 95MB/s U3 32GB324867155$15.99
Toshiba Exceria Type 1 32GB324768161
Toshiba Exceria Type 2 32GB324763156
Sony 94MB/s 32GB324664150$26.29
SanDisk Extreme Plus 80MB/s 32GB324663156$41.00
SanDisk Extreme 60MB/s 32GB324662160$17.84
SanDisk Extreme Plus 80MB/s 64GB644662158$29.99
Kingston Class 10 UHS-I 64GB644366131$36.38
PNY Elite Performance U1 64GB644362146$19.99
Lexar Professional 600x 64GB644264154$14.99
SanDisk Extreme 60MB/s 64GB644160157$36.90
Lexar Professional 600x 32GB324055139$42.99
SanDisk Extreme 45MB/s 32GB324054142$9.50
Lexar Professional 400x 32GB324053140$79.99
Transcend 95/60 MB/s U3 64GB643960156$29.95
Kingston Ultimate 32GB323854134
Panasonic MicroP2 UHS-II 32GB323850126
Patriot EP Pro 90MB/s 32GB323751138$31.58
Transcend 600x 32GB323648134$17.99
PNY Elite Performance U1 32GB323547134
Samsung EVO 32GB323033113$44.00

Samsung NX1 Performance Analysis

Although the NX1 supports the UHS-II interface, using UHS-II cards did not result in significantly faster write speed. In these tests the camera averaged up to 60 MB/s write speed with the fastest cards during continuous shooting. This is somewhat of a disappointment given the potential of UHS-II speed. The NX1 is otherwise a very fast and capable camera.

In the continuous shooting test, its buffer reached 20-21 RAW+JPEG files, 21-23 RAW files and 72-81 JPEG files before the camera slowed. With the buffer filled, there was a marked difference between cards. Slow cards such as the Samsung EVO 32GB only sustained 0.35 fps with the buffer full in RAW+JPEG, 0.42 fps RAW, and 1.7 fps JPEG (super fine). Compare with faster cards that provide up to 1 fps RAW+JPEG, 1.8 fps RAW and 3.5 fps JPEG (super fine) with the buffer full.

Recommended SD Cards for the Samsung NX1

Secure Digital Cards:

Fastest:
Toshiba Exceria Pro UHS-II SD Card
Toshiba Exceria Pro 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:
Samsung PRO UHS-I SD Card
Samsung PRO UHS-I SD Card

The fastest SD card in the Samsung NX1 was the Toshiba Exceria Pro UHS-II. Very close behind it was the SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s UHS-I 64GB SDXC Card. Although the NX1 supports UHS-II, the camera does not take advantage of the additional write speed provided by these cards, and fast UHS-I cards provide nearly the same performance in the camera.

From a value perspective, Samsung PRO SD cards provides excellent performance at a relatively low cost. Both the 32 and 64GB PRO cards performed well.

Transferring images from the NX1

The NX1 has a built-in USB 3.0 port to transfer images from the camera. The transfer speed was measured by downloading 4GB of RAW files from the camera using its built-in USB 3.0 port. The files were written to a fast SSD drive. Transfers reached up to 60MB/s using UHS-I cards, and up to 65MB/s using UHS-II cards. A separate USB 3.0 card reader can provide faster transfer speeds. For example, UHS-II cards provide above 200MB/s read speeds when used in a UHS-II SD card reader. See theCard Reader Reviews for additional tests and information.