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Canon EOS R5 SD card requirements

Best SD Card for Canon EOS R5

Expert recommendations based on Canon EOS R5 specifications

Recommended Spec

CFexpress Type B and SD UHS-II (V90 (CFexpress required for 8K RAW) or faster)

The R5 has one CFexpress Type B slot and one SD UHS-II slot. 8K RAW needs CFexpress; for SD, a V90 card covers 8K IPB and V60 covers most 4K.

Official Canon EOS R5 SD Card Requirements

  • Format: CFexpress Type B and SD UHS-II
  • Minimum Speed: V90 (CFexpress required for 8K RAW) (90 MB/s write)
  • Maximum Capacity: Up to 512GB
Why these requirements? Professional 8K camera recording. 8K RAW (Cinema RAW Light) can only be recorded to a CFexpress Type B card, and the SD slot can't handle it at all. The SD UHS-II slot needs a V90 card for standard 8K, while V60 is enough for 4K. High bitrate video demands fast, dual card slots for safety.

Detailed Specifications

Type
CFexpress Type B and SD UHS-II
Min Speed Class
V90 (CFexpress required for 8K RAW)
Write Speed
90 MB/s
Recommended Size
128GB, 256GB
Max Capacity
512GB

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
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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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.
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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.
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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?
The Canon EOS R5 takes a CFexpress Type B and SD UHS-II card rated V90 (CFexpress required for 8K RAW) or faster. 128GB or 256GB covers most owners, and the maximum is 512GB. Buy SanDisk, Lexar, Samsung or Kingston from a reputable seller: counterfeit cards are the most common cause of lost files.
Do I need two cards for the Canon R5?
No, but it's safer. The R5 has a CFexpress Type B slot and an SD UHS-II slot. Recording to both gives you a backup, but only the CFexpress card handles 8K RAW.
Can I shoot 4K on the R5 with V30 cards?
For standard 4K IPB, yes. 8K on SD needs V90, and 8K RAW needs CFexpress Type B.
What's the difference between CFexpress and SD in the R5?
Speed. CFexpress Type B writes over 1,000 MB/s and handles 8K RAW. A V60 or V90 SD UHS-II card costs less and covers 4K.
Is V90 required for Canon EOS R5?
Yes. V90 guarantees 90 MB/s of sustained write, which keeps the Canon EOS R5 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?
128GB covers light use; 256GB suits heavy use. The maximum is 512GB.
Can I use older or slower cards with Canon EOS R5?
Not below V90 (CFexpress required for 8K RAW). Slower cards cause dropped frames, clips that stop early, or corrupted files. Check the card label for the V90 (CFexpress required for 8K RAW) mark.
Do I need a UHS-II card for Canon EOS R5?
No, but it helps. The Canon EOS R5 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?
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?
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?
A card slower than V90 (CFexpress required for 8K RAW) 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?
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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