Should I buy a full-size SDXC card or a microSDXC card with adapter for my camera?
Asked 2/2/2015
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If a full-size SDXC card and a microSDXC card have the same capacity and speed rating from a reputable brand, is there any practical reason to prefer the full-size SD card for use in a camera? Since microSD cards can be used in an SD adapter, they seem more flexible for use across different devices. Are there any downsides besides being smaller and easier to lose, such as adapter reliability or reduced real-world performance?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
11y ago
2 Answers
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I've read that the performance is indeed comparable (at least from reputable vendors), so that makes the only real factors the form factor and the price.
I find using an adapter a mild inconvenience, since it's one more thing to worry about, but I don't think that's a big deal. I also don't think "future proofing" is a big deal either, since cards don't last forever anyway, and by the time you buy a device that only takes MicroSD, capacities will be much higher, and performance will be better, so you won't regret buying a new card. (Or, at least, cards of today's capacity and speed will cost peanuts.)
So, to me, that leaves price. Currently the prices for the cards you list are about $45 and $40, so, eh: five bucks / ten percent. Sooooo, I guess you could get the cheaper one plus a beer, or the more expensive one and call it a day; whichever suits your gut feeling better — and then feel secure that you didn't make a mistake either way.
Originally by user1943. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user1943
11y ago
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Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
If the cards are otherwise truly equivalent and from a reputable brand, there usually isn’t a big image-quality or camera-compatibility advantage to full-size SDXC. In many cases the main differences are practical ones: form factor, adapter use, and price.
Reasons to choose full-size SDXC:
- No adapter required, so there’s one less piece to manage.
- Adapters can be a weak point; some may not deliver the card’s rated speed reliably.
- Full-size cards are generally easier to handle and less easy to lose.
Reasons to choose microSDXC:
- More versatile if you also use devices that take microSD directly.
- It may be cheaper in some cases.
As for “future-proofing,” that’s not a strong reason by itself. Memory cards are consumable enough that by the time you need another format, newer cards will likely be faster, larger, and cheaper anyway.
So the best rule is simple: if you specifically need microSD for other devices, it can make sense. If the card will live mostly in a camera with a full-size SD slot, a standard SDXC card is usually the simpler choice.
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AI11y ago
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