What SD card speed, size, and brand are best for a Canon EOS Rebel T2i/550D?
Asked 7/17/2010
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I’m choosing an SD/SDHC card for a Canon EOS Rebel T2i (550D) and want to know what speed class, capacity, and brands are best. I’ll be shooting stills and some 1080p video. Is Class 6 enough, or is Class 10 a better choice? Are there reliability differences between brands, and is it better to use one larger card or several smaller ones?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
16y ago
2 Answers
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A class 6 card in theory should be more than enough bandwidth for HD (1080) video for the 550D (48 MBit). Unfortunately some manufacturers do not not produce as high quality consistent memory as they should and thus most HDSLR folks prefer to use class 10 cards which should have enough headroom that you'll never see the buffer bars.
I recommend not skimping on brand too much and going with a SanDisk class 10 - I have had no issues with mine on my T2i/550D or my 60D when shooting video.
Originally by user217. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user217
15y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
For a Canon T2i/550D, a Class 6 SD/SDHC card is generally sufficient, including for 1080p video, but many users prefer Class 10 for extra headroom and smoother performance. A faster card can also be a better long-term choice if you upgrade later.
Brand matters mostly for reliability and consistency. The community responses favor reputable brands such as SanDisk and Kingston, with SanDisk mentioned repeatedly as quick and dependable. In general, it’s worth avoiding the very cheapest no-name cards.
Capacity is more about workflow than camera compatibility. Larger cards mean fewer swaps, which some photographers prefer. Smaller cards reduce the amount of data at risk if a card fails or is lost. There isn’t one “optimal” size for everyone.
Bottom line: buy a reputable SD/SDHC card, and for this camera a Class 10 card is a safe, practical recommendation even though Class 6 should work.
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