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Canon EOS R5 Mark II SD card requirements

Best SD Card for Canon EOS R5 Mark II

Expert recommendations based on Canon EOS R5 Mark II specifications

Recommended Spec

CFexpress Type B (Slot 1) and SD UHS-II (Slot 2) (V90 (SD), VPG400 (CFexpress Type B) or faster)

The R5 Mark II has one CFexpress Type B slot and one SD UHS-II slot. 8K RAW and 4K/120 need CFexpress; a V90 SD card works for lower-bitrate modes and backup.

Official Canon EOS R5 Mark II SD Card Requirements

  • Format: CFexpress Type B (Slot 1) and SD UHS-II (Slot 2)
  • Minimum Speed: V90 (SD), VPG400 (CFexpress Type B) (90 MB/s (SD), 400+ MB/s sustained (CFexpress Type B) write)
  • Maximum Capacity: No official limit
Why these requirements? Canon's updated 45MP flagship adds a new AI-driven processor and Eye Control AF, supporting 8K RAW video and 30fps burst shooting. Slot 1 is fixed CFexpress Type B (required for 8K RAW and the fastest bursts), while Slot 2 is a separate SD UHS-II slot. When writing to both slots simultaneously, the SD card becomes the bottleneck, so a V90 card is essential to avoid throttling the faster CFexpress card during backup recording.

Detailed Specifications

Type
CFexpress Type B (Slot 1) and SD UHS-II (Slot 2)
Min Speed Class
V90 (SD), VPG400 (CFexpress Type B)
Write Speed
90 MB/s (SD), 400+ MB/s sustained (CFexpress Type B)
Recommended Size
256GB, 512GB
Max Capacity
No official limit

Top SD Card Recommendations

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SD Card Verified Speed Class Write Speed Pros Price
SanDisk Extreme PRO CFexpress Type B VPG-400 SD card - 100USD
SanDisk Extreme PRO CFexpress Type B
 		VPG-400 Up to 1400 MB/s
  • A common choice for the Canon R5 and Nikon Z8 and Z9.
 $$ Check Price
Sony TOUGH G-Series SD V90 SD card - 100USD
Sony TOUGH G-Series SD
 Full Review 		V90 Up to 299 MB/s
  • One-piece molded body rated for drops
  • water and bending. Writes up to 299 MB/s.
 $$ Check Price
Kingston Canvas React Plus SD V90 SD card - 45USD
Kingston Canvas React Plus SD
 Full Review 		V90 Up to 260 MB/s
  • V90 UHS-II card at a lower price than Sony and SanDisk V90 cards.
 $ Check Price

Compare These Cards

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See how the recommended cards for Canon EOS R5 Mark II stack up side by side, or swap in any other card.

professional
SanDisk Extreme PRO CFexpress Type B

SanDisk Extreme PRO CFexpress Type B

 $$ · Premium
  • UHS RatingNone
  • Speed ClassVPG-400
  • App PerformanceN/A
  • Read SpeedUp to 1700 MB/s
  • Write SpeedUp to 1400 MB/s
  • EnduranceStandard
Available Capacities64GB, 128GB, 256GB, 512GB

Pros

  • A common choice for the Canon R5 and Nikon Z8 and Z9.

Cons

  • Runs warm during long 8K recording.
View on Amazon
professional
Sony TOUGH G-Series SD

Sony TOUGH G-Series SD

 $$ · Premium
  • UHS RatingUHS-II
  • Speed ClassV90
  • App PerformanceN/A
  • Read SpeedUp to 300 MB/s
  • Write SpeedUp to 299 MB/s
  • EnduranceStandard
Available Capacities32GB, 64GB, 128GB

Pros

  • One-piece molded body rated for drops
  • water and bending. Writes up to 299 MB/s.

Cons

  • Expensive.
View on Amazon
professional
Kingston Canvas React Plus SD

Kingston Canvas React Plus SD

 $ · Mid-Range
  • UHS RatingUHS-II
  • Speed ClassV90
  • App PerformanceN/A
  • Read SpeedUp to 300 MB/s
  • Write SpeedUp to 260 MB/s
  • EnduranceStandard
Available Capacities32GB, 64GB, 128GB, 256GB

Pros

  • V90 UHS-II card at a lower price than Sony and SanDisk V90 cards.

Cons

  • Harder to find in stores.
View on Amazon

Sony TOUGH G-Series SD

The Sony TOUGH G-Series is a V90 UHS-II SD card that reads up to 300 MB/s and writes up to 299 MB/s. Its one-piece molded body has no ribs or write-protect switch to break, and it is rated for drops, water and bending.

Target User: High-end camera users and professionals in rugged environments
Best For: Mirrorless Cameras, DSLR Cameras, Action Cameras

For users looking for a more budget-friendly option, consider the Lexar Professional SD card or the Delkin Devices Power SD card, which offer similar performance but at a lower price point.

Kingston Canvas React Plus SD

The Kingston Canvas React Plus SD delivers high-speed performance at an affordable price, making it an excellent choice for professionals who require reliable data transfer and recording, but also value budget-friendly options.

Target User: Mobile videographers, photographers, and content creators
Best For: Action Cameras, Drones, Smartphones & Tablets, Mirrorless Cameras

Consider Kingston Canvas React Plus over other mid-range V90 cards in its class, offering comparable performance without the premium price tag.

Frequently Asked Questions

What SD Card Do I Need for Canon EOS R5 Mark II?
The Canon EOS R5 Mark II takes a CFexpress Type B (Slot 1) and SD UHS-II (Slot 2) card rated V90 (SD), VPG400 (CFexpress Type B) or faster. 256GB or 512GB covers most owners, and the maximum is No official limit. Buy SanDisk, Lexar, Samsung or Kingston from a reputable seller: counterfeit cards are the most common cause of lost files.
Why does my SD card slow down 8K recording on the R5 Mark II?
If you're recording to both slots simultaneously, the camera's overall write performance is limited by the slower SD card. For 8K RAW, record to the CFexpress Type B slot only, or use a V90 SD card in the second slot to minimize the gap between the two media types when backup recording is enabled.
Is CFexpress Type B required for the R5 Mark II?
Yes, for 8K RAW video and the fastest electronic shutter burst rates, CFexpress Type B is required. For 4K video and most photography, the SD UHS-II slot with a V60 or V90 card is sufficient, so casual shooters can save money by skipping CFexpress entirely.
How is this different from the original EOS R5's SD card needs?
The Mark II carries over the same dual CFexpress Type B / SD UHS-II slot layout, but its faster sensor readout and AI processing push more data per second in burst and video modes. V90 SD cards are now the recommended baseline rather than V60, to keep pace with the camera's higher-throughput shooting modes.
Is V90 required for Canon EOS R5 Mark II?
Yes. V90 guarantees 90 MB/s (SD), 400+ MB/s sustained (CFexpress Type B) of sustained write, which keeps the Canon EOS R5 Mark II free of dropped frames, clips that stop early, or corrupted files. Faster cards work too.
What size SD card should I get for Canon EOS R5 Mark II?
256GB covers light use; 512GB suits heavy use. Maximum capacity: No official limit.
Can I use older or slower cards with Canon EOS R5 Mark II?
Not below V90 (SD), VPG400 (CFexpress Type B). Slower cards cause dropped frames, clips that stop early, or corrupted files. Check the card label for the V90 (SD), VPG400 (CFexpress Type B) mark.
Do I need a UHS-II card for Canon EOS R5 Mark II?
No, but it helps. The Canon EOS R5 Mark II has a UHS-II slot, so UHS-II cards write and offload faster. UHS-I cards work at UHS-I speed.
Should I use more than one card with Canon EOS R5 Mark II?
For long shoots, yes. Two mid-size cards cost about the same as one large card, and a failure then loses half your files instead of all of them.
Does the brand matter for Canon EOS R5 Mark II?
Yes. SanDisk, Lexar, Samsung and Kingston cards meet their rated speeds. Buy from the brand's store or a major retailer: counterfeit cards sold under those names are common on marketplaces.
What happens if I use the wrong card with Canon EOS R5 Mark II?
A card slower than V90 (SD), VPG400 (CFexpress Type B) causes dropped frames, clips that stop early, or corrupted files. A card over the maximum capacity or in the wrong format may not be recognized.
How long will an SD card last in Canon EOS R5 Mark II?
Several years in normal use. Cards usually fail from wear or counterfeit flash, not age. Replace yours at the first write error, corrupted file or "card not recognized" message.

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