Does UHS-I compatibility mean a camera can use the card’s full 104 MB/s speed?
Asked 1/31/2011
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UHS-I cards are rated for transfer speeds up to 104 MB/s. If a camera is described as compatible with UHS-I or newer SD specifications, does that mean it should be able to reach the card’s maximum speed? For example, with a Nikon D7000, will a UHS-I card always deliver its full performance, or can the camera still be limited by its internal hardware/controller?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
15y ago
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The D7000 is, I think, much like the Pentax K-5 in this regards (the reviewer is incorrect on his assertion about camera support). The camera is compatible with version 3 of the SD specification (SDXC) but that doesn't mean that the camera has the necessary hardware to take advantage of the greater transfer rates, though it can take advantage of some speed gains since SDHC cards don't usually hit the max for their specification. SDHC devices can handle SDXC given the right drivers and software, but that doesn't mean that they can take full advantage of the specs.
I think this, to some degree at least, bears out with the testing described in your links with some gain on the other card, but probably not enough for most shooters to spend the extra cash. Gotta love the transitional period, it leaves people unsure of what to buy.
Originally by user472. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user472
15y ago
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Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
No. A camera being compatible with a newer SD card standard does not guarantee it can use the card at the card’s maximum rated speed.
In practice, the camera also needs the internal hardware/controller to support those higher transfer modes. A camera may accept and work with the card, and even show some speed improvement, but still fall well short of the card’s advertised maximum throughput.
That’s the key distinction: compatibility means the card will function; it does not necessarily mean the camera can exploit the full UHS-I bandwidth. In transitional generations of cameras, this is common—support for the card format/spec may be present without full support for the highest transfer rates.
So with a camera like the D7000, a UHS-I card may be faster than an older card, but you should not assume it will reach 104 MB/s in-camera.
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