Any Advantages to Full Size SD Cards These Days?

A while back now I stuck to buying full size SD cards for my DSLR cameras because I back then found them cheaper and reportedly faster. Cards like the 32GB SanDisk Extreme Pro that has 80MB/s write speeds, thankfully still alive and kicking.

Fast forward a little to now and it just looks like most deals are for microSD which can reach almost the same speeds like the updated Samsung Evo Plus/Pro's. So they're practically just as fast, and just as cheap if not cheaper. Are there any factors left to not just going exclusively microSD, plus adaptors when needed? I don't plan on updating my cameras any time soon either.

The context (of all things) is I was thinking of getting an updated USB3 card reader like the small Ugreen A+C one ($20) but if I go only micro going forward, I can put that money towards say a Samsung Evo Pro 256GB and includes the smaller card reader without needing to cater for full SD size.

Comments

  • In theory there should be no speed difference class for class, sd compared to micro sd with adapter since no actual electronics are involved…

    If you’re going to be inserting and reinserting the micro sd to the adapter maybe (?) there’s a chance one of the pins could break/degrade but I really don’t see this being a huge if actual issue..

  • Depends on what speed you are going for. With an adapter, you will have no issues with UHS-I speed.

    But if you go for UHS-II, then the sd card reader have two rows of connectors to facilitate with even higher speed transfer.

    I don't know if UHS-II speed exist for micro sd. But if you have a camera that takes crazy shutter and at high resolution, you'll need UHS-II to keep up

  • I got some full size ones for my camera, I needed to get the fast ones because recording in 4K was a hassle otherwise and there was an annoying buffer delay or whatever with standard SD cards with raw photos. I don't know if the fast ones come in micro?

  • It's suprsingly pretty close. Sony's full size TOUGH SD Card has a 55MB/s advantage. Don't know what the sustained read/write is or the rated lifespan.

    https://havecamerawilltravel.com/fastest-microsd-cards/
    Verbatim Pro+ II V90 microSDXC
    Rated read speed: 295 MB/s
    Rated write speed: 245 MB/s

    https://havecamerawilltravel.com/fastest-sd-cards/
    Sony TOUGH-G V90 UHS-II SDXC
    Rated read speed: 300 MB/s
    Rated write speed: 299 MB/s

  • MicroSD cards can be a nuisance because they are too small to label.

    • +1

      Get a tiny (gold colour) marker pen from office works and number them.

  • +1

    More difficult to misplace due to larger physical size :)

    • This is an understated reason - the Fiddly Factor is a significant one.
      Unless the device size is restrictive (a phone, for example) I don't see any benefit in a format so small that they can't be easily handled.

      When I purchase trail cameras, I always choose those that take full sized SD cards - don't want to be handling a needlessly small black fleck in the forest.

  • my micro sd card lives in an adaptor in my camera

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