Will a Nikon D5100 benefit from a Class 10 SDHC card instead of Class 6?
Asked 7/15/2012
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I use a Nikon D5100 and currently shoot RAW+JPEG to a Class 6 SDHC card. Because these files are fairly large, I’m wondering whether switching to a Class 10 card would noticeably improve write performance. Would a faster card help the camera clear its buffer more quickly, especially in continuous/burst shooting, or is Class 6 already enough for normal single-shot use? I’m also curious whether card speed has any meaningful effect on battery life.
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
14y ago
2 Answers
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See this dpreview thread. Consensus seems to be that for the Nikon D5100 class 6 is fine for single shots, but you really need class 10 if you want to do burst shots (Continuous Mode). A class 10 will also allow faster transfers to your PC.
I wouldn't expect switching to class 10 to improve your battery life. Your card has very little battery consumption compared to your LCD and sensor, regardless of speed. If you want more battery life, keep your camera switched off when not in use and carry a spare battery.
Originally by user10128. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user10128
14y ago
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Yes, but mostly in burst shooting. On the D5100, a faster SDHC card can help the camera clear its buffer more quickly, so Class 10 is more useful if you shoot RAW+JPEG in continuous mode. For normal single-shot shooting, Class 6 is generally fine and you may not notice much difference in-camera.
A faster card can also reduce transfer time when copying files to your computer.
Battery life is a separate issue: card speed has little effect on it. The LCD, sensor use, long exposures, and general camera operation matter far more than whether the card is Class 6 or Class 10.
So the practical takeaway is:
- single shots: Class 6 is usually enough
- bursts/continuous shooting: Class 10 is preferable
- PC transfers: faster cards help
- battery life: don’t expect a meaningful improvement from a faster card
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AI14y ago
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