Best Memory Cards for Sony A7R V: CFexpress Type A and SD

The Sony A7R V’s dual card slots use two different card formats with meaningfully different performance tiers. Slot 1 accepts CFexpress Type A cards — Sony’s proprietary ultra-fast format designed for the most demanding recording requirements. Slot 2 accepts SD UHS-II cards, the current professional standard for the traditional SD format. Understanding what each slot is optimized for, and which cards perform best in each, directly affects whether your workflow runs smoothly or not.

At 61MP, the A7R V generates large files — a single uncompressed RAW file can exceed 120MB. Shooting in burst mode quickly fills a camera’s buffer, and how fast that buffer clears to the card determines how long you can keep shooting. The wrong cards turn a 10-frame burst into a 30-second wait. The right cards barely register a pause.

Understanding the A7R V’s Dual Card System

The A7R V’s card slots are not interchangeable — they’re designed for different roles:

Slot 1 (CFexpress Type A): Sony’s fastest slot. CFexpress Type A cards use PCIe 3.0 and NVMe protocol, delivering read speeds up to 800 MB/s and write speeds up to 700 MB/s on the best current cards. This slot is designed for continuous burst shooting at maximum resolution, high-bitrate video recording, and pixel-shift multi-shot workflows that generate enormous temporary files.

Slot 2 (SD UHS-II): The SD UHS-II slot supports transfer speeds up to 312 MB/s theoretical maximum. In practice, the best UHS-II cards achieve 250–280 MB/s real-world write speeds. This slot works well for overflow recording, backup recording, and video modes that don’t demand maximum write throughput.

The A7R V’s simultaneous recording modes let you use both slots together: relay (overflow from Slot 1 to Slot 2 when Slot 1 fills), backup (identical copies to both cards simultaneously for safety), or sort (RAW to one slot, JPEG to the other). The appropriate mode depends on your shoot.

Best CFexpress Type A Cards for Sony A7R V

Sony TOUGH CFexpress Type A (CEAG160T / CEAG320T)

Sony’s own TOUGH series CFexpress Type A cards are the reference choice for the A7R V — they’re designed specifically for Sony cameras and have been validated for the full range of shooting modes including pixel-shift multi-shot. The 160GB and 320GB capacities cover the realistic range of professional use.

Rated write speeds: up to 800 MB/s read, 700 MB/s write on the 320GB version. Real-world testing in the A7R V shows buffer clearing on par with these specifications — sustained burst shooting at 10fps in compressed RAW clears to card within 3–4 seconds rather than the 10–15 seconds you’d see with slower cards.

The TOUGH casing (drop-proof to 5m, IPX8 waterproof) is overengineered for most shooters but genuinely useful for field photographers who operate in challenging conditions. Price: approximately $180–350 depending on capacity.

Sony TOUGH CFexpress Type A (CEAG80T)

The 80GB TOUGH version is the entry point to Sony’s CFexpress Type A lineup. Write speeds match the larger capacity variants at ~700 MB/s. For photographers who back up frequently between shooting sessions and prefer smaller, lower-cost cards, the 80GB provides adequate capacity for a typical portrait or event shooting day. Price: approximately $120.

Wise Advanced CFexpress Type A (WA-CFXA4T200)

Wise is the primary third-party CFexpress Type A manufacturer with production-quality cards tested for Sony mirrorless compatibility. The WA-CFXA4T200 (200GB) delivers rated read speeds of 800 MB/s and write speeds of 700 MB/s — matching Sony’s TOUGH specifications at a slightly lower price point (~$170 for 200GB).

Wise cards have a strong reputation among professional Sony shooters for reliability and consistency. If Sony’s TOUGH cards are unavailable or overpriced in your region, Wise is the go-to alternative.

Best SD UHS-II Cards for Sony A7R V

Sony TOUGH SD UHS-II (SF-G128T / SF-G256T)

Sony’s SD UHS-II TOUGH cards are the natural Slot 2 complement to the CFexpress cards. Rated at up to 300 MB/s read and 299 MB/s write — at the upper end of what UHS-II can deliver. The TOUGH casing provides the same drop and water resistance as the CFexpress lineup.

For photographers using Slot 2 as a JPEG simultaneous recording slot or for backup RAW recording of less demanding situations, the TOUGH SD cards perform reliably. Price: approximately $70–130 depending on capacity.

ProGrade Digital V90 SD UHS-II

ProGrade Digital’s V90-rated SD cards are a strong alternative to Sony’s own SD lineup. V90 is the UHS speed class designation requiring minimum 90 MB/s sustained write — sufficient for all video modes and RAW burst shooting that the A7R V uses the SD slot for.

ProGrade V90 cards are available in 64GB, 128GB, and 256GB capacities at prices often 15–20% below Sony’s TOUGH SD cards for equivalent specifications. For shooters who want reliability without paying the Sony brand premium, ProGrade is the practical choice.

Lexar SILVER Series SDXC UHS-II V90

Lexar’s SILVER series V90 cards provide rated 250 MB/s read speeds and 120 MB/s write — adequate for the A7R V’s SD slot applications. At entry-level V90 pricing (~$50–80 for 128GB), these are the budget-conscious recommendation for Slot 2 backup recording where write speed is less critical than in Slot 1.

Card Speed Comparison Table

How Much Capacity Do You Actually Need?

At 61MP, the A7R V produces files in these size ranges:

• Uncompressed RAW: 110–125MB per file
• Lossless Compressed RAW: 60–85MB per file
• Compressed RAW: 35–55MB per file
• JPEG Extra Fine: 15–25MB per file

A 160GB CFexpress Type A card holds approximately:

• ~1,400 uncompressed RAW files
• ~2,200 lossless compressed RAW files
• ~4,200 compressed RAW files

For a full-day wedding or commercial shoot in lossless compressed RAW, 160GB is tight but manageable with disciplined card rotation. For landscape photographers shooting multi-shot pixel-shift sequences (which generate temporary files several times larger), 320GB provides comfortable headroom. For video work at 4K 60p XAVC S-I (approximately 25GB per hour), 160GB covers about 6 hours of continuous recording.

Card Readers: Don’t Bottleneck at Transfer

A fast CFexpress Type A card needs a fast reader to realize its full transfer speed to your workstation. Sony’s MRW-G2 CFexpress Type A and SD reader (USB 3.2 Gen 2, 10 Gbps) is the reference reader for the A7R V — it handles both card formats simultaneously and saturates the CFexpress Type A’s bandwidth capability.

Budget USB-A card readers rated for USB 3.0 (5 Gbps) will artificially cap your transfer speeds to approximately 500 MB/s regardless of the card’s rated performance. If you’re investing in 800 MB/s CFexpress cards, pair them with a reader capable of matching that throughput.

FAQ

Can I use CFexpress Type B cards in the Sony A7R V?

No. CFexpress Type A and Type B cards are physically different form factors and are not interchangeable. The Sony A7R V only accepts CFexpress Type A in Slot 1. Type B cards (used in Nikon and Canon systems) do not fit.

Is CFexpress Type A significantly faster than UHS-II SD in the A7R V?

Yes, substantially. CFexpress Type A in the A7R V achieves ~700 MB/s write versus ~250–300 MB/s for the best UHS-II cards. For buffer clearing during burst shooting at full 61MP resolution, this difference translates to 3–4 second buffer recovery versus 10–15 seconds with SD UHS-II in the fastest recording position.

Should I use one 320GB card or two 160GB cards for a wedding shoot?

Two 160GB CFexpress cards with Slot 2 backup recording is the safest approach for any irreplaceable event. Card failure is rare but not impossible, and the backup simultaneous recording mode ensures you have duplicate RAW files if a card fails mid-reception.

Can I record video to the SD slot while shooting RAW stills to CFexpress?

The A7R V records video and stills to the same slot during a session — you designate which slot is primary for each media type. You can configure RAW stills to CFexpress Type A and JPEG stills to SD, but video recording uses whichever slot you’ve designated as the video recording slot in the setup menu.