The Sony A7IV is a highly anticipated and versatile mirrorless camera that offers stunning image quality, fast autofocus, 4K video recording, and in-body image stabilization.
However, to get the most out of your Sony A7IV, you need to pair it with the right memory card that suits your shooting style, budget, and expectations.
There are many memory cards available for Sony A7IV, ranging from SD cards to CFexpress cards, from UHS-I to UHS-II, from V30 to V90. How do you decide which one is the best for your needs?
In this guide, we will help you find the best memory card for Sony A7IV based on several factors such as speed, capacity, compatibility, and price.
What is Sony A7IV?
Sony A7IV is a mirrorless camera that uses a full-frame sensor with a 1.0x crop factor. This means that the effective focal length of any lens attached to it will be the same as the actual focal length. For example, a 50mm lens will act like a 50mm lens on Sony A7IV.
Sony A7IV has an E-mount system that can accept both E and FE lenses. E lenses are designed for APS-C cameras and cover only a smaller portion of the sensor area. FE lenses are designed for full-frame cameras and cover the entire sensor area.
However, both E and FE lenses can be used on Sony A7IV, with some limitations. E lenses can be used normally without any cropping or vignetting. FE lenses can be used either in crop mode or full-frame mode.
In crop mode, the camera will use only the center part of the sensor that matches the APS-C size, which will result in lower resolution and narrower field of view. In full-frame mode, the camera will use the entire sensor area, but the image may have severe vignetting or dark corners.
What are Memory Cards?
Memory cards are small storage devices that are used to store images and videos captured by digital cameras. Memory cards come in different types, sizes, speeds, and capacities.
The most common types of memory cards for digital cameras are SD cards and CFexpress cards. SD cards are small and thin cards that have a notch on one side and a lock switch on another side. CFexpress cards are larger and thicker cards that have pins on one side and a groove on another side.
The most common sizes of memory cards for digital cameras are SDXC and SDHC. SDXC stands for Secure Digital eXtended Capacity and it can store up to 2TB of data. SDHC stands for Secure Digital High Capacity and it can store up to 32GB of data.
The most common speeds of memory cards for digital cameras are UHS-I and UHS-II. UHS stands for Ultra High Speed and it indicates the maximum bus speed of the card. UHS-I cards have a maximum bus speed of 104 MB/s while UHS-II cards have a maximum bus speed of 312 MB/s.
The most common capacities of memory cards for digital cameras are 64GB, 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB. The capacity of a memory card indicates how much data it can store. The higher the capacity, the more images and videos you can store on the card.
How to Choose the Best Memory Card for Sony A7IV?
To choose the best memory card for Sony A7IV, you need to consider several factors such as:
Speed
The speed of a memory card determines how fast it can read and write data to and from the camera. The speed of a memory card is measured in MB/s (megabytes per second) and it can range from 10 MB/s to 800 MB/s.
In general, faster memory cards are good for high-resolution images and 4K video recording while slower memory cards are good for low-resolution images and HD video recording.
Capacity
The capacity of a memory card determines how much data it can store on the card. The capacity of a memory card is measured in GB (gigabytes) or TB (terabytes) and it can range from 8GB to 2TB.
Higher capacity memory cards are good for longer shooting sessions while lower capacity memory cards are good for shorter shooting sessions.
Compatibility
The compatibility of a memory card determines if it can work with your camera or not. The compatibility of a memory card depends on its type, size, speed, and format. Compatible memory cards are good for seamless performance while incompatible memory cards are good for nothing.
Price
The price of a memory card determines how much money you need to spend on it. The price of a memory card depends on its type, size, speed, capacity, and brand. Cheaper memory cards are good for saving money while more expensive memory cards are good for getting better quality.
Best Memory Cards for Sony A7IV
Based on the factors above, here are some of the best memory cards for Sony A7IV that we recommend:
Sony TOUGH CFexpress Type A Card
The Sony TOUGH CFexpress Type A Card is one of the best CFexpress cards for Sony A7IV. It offers blazing-fast read speeds of up to 800 MB/s and write speeds of up to 700 MB/s, which are ideal for high-resolution images and 4K video recording.
It also has a tough and durable design that is waterproof, dustproof, shockproof, and temperature-resistant. It comes in two capacities: 80GB and 160GB.
This memory card is compatible with the card slot 1 of Sony A7IV, which supports both CFexpress Type A cards and UHS-II SD cards. It also comes with a USB Type-C reader that allows you to transfer data to your computer quickly and easily.
The Sony TOUGH CFexpress Type A Card is an excellent choice for anyone who wants a fast and reliable CFexpress card for their Sony A7IV.
SanDisk Extreme PRO UHS-II SD Card
The SanDisk Extreme PRO UHS-II SD Card is one of the best UHS-II SD cards for Sony A7IV. It offers impressive read speeds of up to 300 MB/s and write speeds of up to 260 MB/s, which are suitable for high-resolution images and 4K video recording.
It also has a robust and resilient design that is waterproof, shockproof, x-ray-proof, and temperature-proof. It comes in various capacities: 32GB, 64GB, 128GB, and 256GB.
Theis SanDisk Extreme SD Card is compatible with both card slots of Sony A7IV, which support UHS-II SD cards. It also comes with a UHS-II SD reader that allows you to transfer data to your computer efficiently and securely.
The SanDisk Extreme PRO UHS-II SD Card is a great choice for anyone who wants a high-performance and high-capacity UHS-II SD card for their Sony A7IV.
Conclusion
A good memory card can make a big difference in your Sony A7IV's performance and image quality. By choosing a memory card that suits your needs and expectations, you can enhance your shooting experience and creativity.
Depending on your budget, preferences, and needs, you can choose from the two memory cards we recommended above: the Sony TOUGH CFexpress Type A Card or the SanDisk Extreme PRO UHS-II SD Card. Both of them are compatible with the Sony A7IV and can deliver excellent results.
If you want to learn more about how to choose the best memory cards for your Sony A7IV or other cameras, you can check out these resources:
– Best Memory Cards for Sony a7 IV – Camera Times
– Best Memory Cards for Sony a7R IV – Camera Times
– Top 5 Best Sony a7IV SD Cards in 2023 – SD Memory Cards
Remember, the best memory card for your Sony A7IV is the one that meets your needs and expectations. We hope this article has helped you make an informed decision and improve your photography skills.
Happy shooting!
Further Reading
(1) Best Memory Cards for Sony a7 IV – Sony Camera News
(2) Best Sony A7 IV Memory Cards With Speed & Buffer Tests – AlphaShooters.com