Best Memory Cards for the Canon EOS R5 C

You may not need the most expensive card for your R5 C, or maybe you need more memory than you thought. All the info you need to know is here!
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Memory cards are quite complicated to get right. Which card is fast enough to write 4K or 8K? How much video can I record from the R5 C? How many photos will this SD card write? This article will cut through the fog and show you which card is right for your R5 C.

The best SD card for photography on the Canon EOS R5 C is the Lexar 128GB UHS-II V90 SD card, and the best CFExpress Type B card for video on the R5 C is the Sandisk Extreme Pro 512GB.

Last update on 2023-09-24 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Now these are the all-around best memory cards for the Canon EOS R5 C for all recording modes available on the camera. Everyone will have different uses for the Canon R5 C, so while these recommended cards will suit most, for some cases you may not need 256GB, and in some other cases you may need more.

So we need to go more depth to work out which are the best memory cards for the Canon R5 C for all budgets, and yours.

Later in this article I break down the memory card lingo so you can figure out for yourself how much storage you actually need for wedding photos, video, or a hybrid combination etc.

What Memory Card Does the Canon R5 C Use?

The Canon EOS R5 C is a video centric camera that Canon still are marketing as a hybrid camera. But it will mostly be videographers buying this camera.

For photographers the Canon EOS R5 will still be the better option as both these cameras share much in common.

Like the R5 the Canon EOS R5 C supports two types of storage, and while you can use both for different purposes, Canon had different use-cases in mind.

Which is using SD cards for photography and some video, and using CFExpress Type B cards for 6K and 8K video.

You cannot record any of the following to the SD card (SD card recording is available at bitrates up to 650 Mbps only):

  • 12-Bit 8K (8192 x 4320), 50/25P, Cinema RAW Light LT/ST/HQ
  • 12-Bit 6K (5952 x 3140), 50/25P, Cinema RAW Light LT/ST/HQ
  • 12-Bit 2K (2976 x 1570), 50P, Cinema RAW Light HQ
  • 10-Bit 4K XF-AVC 4:2:2 PAL

For these recording modes you will need to get CF Express 2.0 Type B cards.

How Much 8K Can You Write to a Memory Card?

For 8K I recommend using the largest capacity cards you can afford. 512GB and 256GB cards are the best capacities. Anything smaller and you will reach full capacity quicker.

Best Card for Video
SanDisk 512GB Extreme PRO CFexpress Card Type B - SDCFE-512G-GN4NN
SanDisk Extreme PRO 256GB CFexpress Type-B Memory Card, 1700MB/s Read, 1200MB/s Write
Compatible Card
SanDisk 512GB Extreme PRO CFexpress Card Type B - SDCFE-512G-GN4NN
SanDisk Extreme PRO 256GB CFexpress Type-B Memory Card, 1700MB/s Read, 1200MB/s Write
Cinema RAW Light LT / 8192 x 4320 / 50P / 2140 Mbps
31 Mins
15 Mins
Cinema RAW Light ST / 8192 x 4320, 1070 Mbps
63 Mins
31 Mins
12-bit Cinema RAW Light ST / 8192 x 4320 / 25P / 1650 Mbps
41 Mins
20 Mins
Amazon Prime
-
Best Card for Video
SanDisk 512GB Extreme PRO CFexpress Card Type B - SDCFE-512G-GN4NN
Compatible Card
SanDisk 512GB Extreme PRO CFexpress Card Type B - SDCFE-512G-GN4NN
Cinema RAW Light LT / 8192 x 4320 / 50P / 2140 Mbps
31 Mins
Cinema RAW Light ST / 8192 x 4320, 1070 Mbps
63 Mins
12-bit Cinema RAW Light ST / 8192 x 4320 / 25P / 1650 Mbps
41 Mins
Amazon Prime
SanDisk Extreme PRO 256GB CFexpress Type-B Memory Card, 1700MB/s Read, 1200MB/s Write
Compatible Card
SanDisk Extreme PRO 256GB CFexpress Type-B Memory Card, 1700MB/s Read, 1200MB/s Write
Cinema RAW Light LT / 8192 x 4320 / 50P / 2140 Mbps
15 Mins
Cinema RAW Light ST / 8192 x 4320, 1070 Mbps
31 Mins
12-bit Cinema RAW Light ST / 8192 x 4320 / 25P / 1650 Mbps
20 Mins
-

Last update on 2023-09-24 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

It should be noted that all calculations are estimates. There are a lot of variables that you need to consider that can alter the length of recording.

For example, the environment, the ambient temperature can drastically reduce record times. The battery health can also play a factor.

How Much 4K Can You Write to a Memory Card?

Below are the recording modes for which you can use a UHS-II SD card for, however for the higher bitrates I would still recommend the CFExpress Type B card to avoid any issues.

Recording times are for 6K, 4K, and FullHD.

Best Card for Video
SanDisk 512GB Extreme PRO CFexpress Card Type B - SDCFE-512G-GN4NN
ProGrade Digital SDXC UHS-II V90 300R Memory Card (256GB)
SanDisk 128GB Extreme PRO SDXC UHS-II Memory Card - C10, U3, V90, 8K, 4K, Full HD Video, SD Card - SDSDXDK-128G-GN4IN
Compatible Card
SanDisk 512GB Extreme PRO CFexpress Card Type B - SDCFE-512G-GN4NN
ProGrade Digital SDXC UHS-II V90 300R Memory Card (256GB)
SanDisk 128GB Extreme PRO SDXC UHS-II Memory Card - C10, U3, V90, 8K, 4K, Full HD Video, SD Card - SDSDXDK-128G-GN4IN
12-bit Cinema RAW Light LT / 5952 x 3140 / 25P / 556 Mbps
122 Mins
61 Mins
30 Mins
12-bit Cinema RAW Light LT / 2976 x 1570 / 50P / 287 Mbps
237 Mins
166 Mins
133 Mins
12-bit Cinema RAW Light LT / 2976 x 1570 / 25P / 144 Mbps
474 Mins
237 Mins
118 Mins
12-bit Cinema RAW Light ST / 2976 x 1570 / 50P / 441 Mbps
154 Mins
76 Mins
38 Mins
12-bit Cinema RAW Light ST / 2976 x 1570 / 25P / 221 Mbps
308 Mins
154 Mins
77 Mins
12-bit Cinema RAW Light HQ / 2976 x 1570 / 25P / 448 Mbps
152 Mins
76 Mins
38 Mins
4:2:2 10-bit (Intra-frame) XF-AVC Recording Bit Rate / Sampling (PAL) / 4096x2160 or 3840x2160 / 25P / 410 Mbps
156 Mins
78 Mins
34 Mins
4:2:2 10-bit (Intra-frame) XF-AVC Recording Bit Rate / Sampling (PAL) / 2048x1080 or 1920x1080 / 50P or 50i / 310 Mbps
207 Mins
103 Mins
51 Mins
4:2:2 10-bit (Intra-frame) XF-AVC Recording Bit Rate / Sampling (PAL) / 2048x1080 or 1920x1080 / 25P / 160 Mbps
401 Mins
200 Mins
100 Mins
4:2:2 10-bit (Long GOP) XF-AVC Recording Bit Rate / Sampling (PAL) / 4096x2160 or 3840x2160 / 50P / 260 Mbps
246 Mins
123 Mins
61 Mins
4:2:2 10-bit (Long GOP) XF-AVC Recording Bit Rate / Sampling (PAL) / 4096x2160 or 3840x2160 / 25P / 160 Mbps
401 Mins
200 Mins
100 Mins
4:2:2 10-bit (Long GOP) XF-AVC Recording Bit Rate / Sampling (PAL) / 2048x1080 or 1920x1080 / 50P or 50i / 50 Mbps
1284 Mins
642 Mins
321 Mins
MP4 Recording Bit Rate / Sampling (PAL) / HEVC 4:2:2 10-bit (Long GOP) / 8192x4320 or 7680x4320 / 25P / 540 Mbps
118 Mins
59 Mins
30 Mins
MP4 Recording Bit Rate / Sampling (PAL) / HEVC 4:2:2 10-bit (Long GOP) / 4096x2160 or 3840x2160 / 50P / 225 Mbps
285 Mins
142 Mins
71 Mins
MP4 Recording Bit Rate / Sampling (PAL) / HEVC 4:2:2 10-bit (Long GOP) / 4096x2160 or 3840x2160 / 25P / 135 Mbps
475 Mins
237 Mins
118 Mins
MP4 Recording Bit Rate / Sampling (PAL) / HEVC 4:2:2 10-bit (Long GOP) / 2048x1080 or 1920x1080 / 50P or 25P / 50 Mbps
1284 Mins
642 Mins
321 Mins
Amazon Prime
Amazon Prime
Amazon Prime
Best Card for Video
SanDisk 512GB Extreme PRO CFexpress Card Type B - SDCFE-512G-GN4NN
Compatible Card
SanDisk 512GB Extreme PRO CFexpress Card Type B - SDCFE-512G-GN4NN
12-bit Cinema RAW Light LT / 5952 x 3140 / 25P / 556 Mbps
122 Mins
12-bit Cinema RAW Light LT / 2976 x 1570 / 50P / 287 Mbps
237 Mins
12-bit Cinema RAW Light LT / 2976 x 1570 / 25P / 144 Mbps
474 Mins
12-bit Cinema RAW Light ST / 2976 x 1570 / 50P / 441 Mbps
154 Mins
12-bit Cinema RAW Light ST / 2976 x 1570 / 25P / 221 Mbps
308 Mins
12-bit Cinema RAW Light HQ / 2976 x 1570 / 25P / 448 Mbps
152 Mins
4:2:2 10-bit (Intra-frame) XF-AVC Recording Bit Rate / Sampling (PAL) / 4096x2160 or 3840x2160 / 25P / 410 Mbps
156 Mins
4:2:2 10-bit (Intra-frame) XF-AVC Recording Bit Rate / Sampling (PAL) / 2048x1080 or 1920x1080 / 50P or 50i / 310 Mbps
207 Mins
4:2:2 10-bit (Intra-frame) XF-AVC Recording Bit Rate / Sampling (PAL) / 2048x1080 or 1920x1080 / 25P / 160 Mbps
401 Mins
4:2:2 10-bit (Long GOP) XF-AVC Recording Bit Rate / Sampling (PAL) / 4096x2160 or 3840x2160 / 50P / 260 Mbps
246 Mins
4:2:2 10-bit (Long GOP) XF-AVC Recording Bit Rate / Sampling (PAL) / 4096x2160 or 3840x2160 / 25P / 160 Mbps
401 Mins
4:2:2 10-bit (Long GOP) XF-AVC Recording Bit Rate / Sampling (PAL) / 2048x1080 or 1920x1080 / 50P or 50i / 50 Mbps
1284 Mins
MP4 Recording Bit Rate / Sampling (PAL) / HEVC 4:2:2 10-bit (Long GOP) / 8192x4320 or 7680x4320 / 25P / 540 Mbps
118 Mins
MP4 Recording Bit Rate / Sampling (PAL) / HEVC 4:2:2 10-bit (Long GOP) / 4096x2160 or 3840x2160 / 50P / 225 Mbps
285 Mins
MP4 Recording Bit Rate / Sampling (PAL) / HEVC 4:2:2 10-bit (Long GOP) / 4096x2160 or 3840x2160 / 25P / 135 Mbps
475 Mins
MP4 Recording Bit Rate / Sampling (PAL) / HEVC 4:2:2 10-bit (Long GOP) / 2048x1080 or 1920x1080 / 50P or 25P / 50 Mbps
1284 Mins
Amazon Prime
ProGrade Digital SDXC UHS-II V90 300R Memory Card (256GB)
Compatible Card
ProGrade Digital SDXC UHS-II V90 300R Memory Card (256GB)
12-bit Cinema RAW Light LT / 5952 x 3140 / 25P / 556 Mbps
61 Mins
12-bit Cinema RAW Light LT / 2976 x 1570 / 50P / 287 Mbps
166 Mins
12-bit Cinema RAW Light LT / 2976 x 1570 / 25P / 144 Mbps
237 Mins
12-bit Cinema RAW Light ST / 2976 x 1570 / 50P / 441 Mbps
76 Mins
12-bit Cinema RAW Light ST / 2976 x 1570 / 25P / 221 Mbps
154 Mins
12-bit Cinema RAW Light HQ / 2976 x 1570 / 25P / 448 Mbps
76 Mins
4:2:2 10-bit (Intra-frame) XF-AVC Recording Bit Rate / Sampling (PAL) / 4096x2160 or 3840x2160 / 25P / 410 Mbps
78 Mins
4:2:2 10-bit (Intra-frame) XF-AVC Recording Bit Rate / Sampling (PAL) / 2048x1080 or 1920x1080 / 50P or 50i / 310 Mbps
103 Mins
4:2:2 10-bit (Intra-frame) XF-AVC Recording Bit Rate / Sampling (PAL) / 2048x1080 or 1920x1080 / 25P / 160 Mbps
200 Mins
4:2:2 10-bit (Long GOP) XF-AVC Recording Bit Rate / Sampling (PAL) / 4096x2160 or 3840x2160 / 50P / 260 Mbps
123 Mins
4:2:2 10-bit (Long GOP) XF-AVC Recording Bit Rate / Sampling (PAL) / 4096x2160 or 3840x2160 / 25P / 160 Mbps
200 Mins
4:2:2 10-bit (Long GOP) XF-AVC Recording Bit Rate / Sampling (PAL) / 2048x1080 or 1920x1080 / 50P or 50i / 50 Mbps
642 Mins
MP4 Recording Bit Rate / Sampling (PAL) / HEVC 4:2:2 10-bit (Long GOP) / 8192x4320 or 7680x4320 / 25P / 540 Mbps
59 Mins
MP4 Recording Bit Rate / Sampling (PAL) / HEVC 4:2:2 10-bit (Long GOP) / 4096x2160 or 3840x2160 / 50P / 225 Mbps
142 Mins
MP4 Recording Bit Rate / Sampling (PAL) / HEVC 4:2:2 10-bit (Long GOP) / 4096x2160 or 3840x2160 / 25P / 135 Mbps
237 Mins
MP4 Recording Bit Rate / Sampling (PAL) / HEVC 4:2:2 10-bit (Long GOP) / 2048x1080 or 1920x1080 / 50P or 25P / 50 Mbps
642 Mins
Amazon Prime
SanDisk 128GB Extreme PRO SDXC UHS-II Memory Card - C10, U3, V90, 8K, 4K, Full HD Video, SD Card - SDSDXDK-128G-GN4IN
Compatible Card
SanDisk 128GB Extreme PRO SDXC UHS-II Memory Card - C10, U3, V90, 8K, 4K, Full HD Video, SD Card - SDSDXDK-128G-GN4IN
12-bit Cinema RAW Light LT / 5952 x 3140 / 25P / 556 Mbps
30 Mins
12-bit Cinema RAW Light LT / 2976 x 1570 / 50P / 287 Mbps
133 Mins
12-bit Cinema RAW Light LT / 2976 x 1570 / 25P / 144 Mbps
118 Mins
12-bit Cinema RAW Light ST / 2976 x 1570 / 50P / 441 Mbps
38 Mins
12-bit Cinema RAW Light ST / 2976 x 1570 / 25P / 221 Mbps
77 Mins
12-bit Cinema RAW Light HQ / 2976 x 1570 / 25P / 448 Mbps
38 Mins
4:2:2 10-bit (Intra-frame) XF-AVC Recording Bit Rate / Sampling (PAL) / 4096x2160 or 3840x2160 / 25P / 410 Mbps
34 Mins
4:2:2 10-bit (Intra-frame) XF-AVC Recording Bit Rate / Sampling (PAL) / 2048x1080 or 1920x1080 / 50P or 50i / 310 Mbps
51 Mins
4:2:2 10-bit (Intra-frame) XF-AVC Recording Bit Rate / Sampling (PAL) / 2048x1080 or 1920x1080 / 25P / 160 Mbps
100 Mins
4:2:2 10-bit (Long GOP) XF-AVC Recording Bit Rate / Sampling (PAL) / 4096x2160 or 3840x2160 / 50P / 260 Mbps
61 Mins
4:2:2 10-bit (Long GOP) XF-AVC Recording Bit Rate / Sampling (PAL) / 4096x2160 or 3840x2160 / 25P / 160 Mbps
100 Mins
4:2:2 10-bit (Long GOP) XF-AVC Recording Bit Rate / Sampling (PAL) / 2048x1080 or 1920x1080 / 50P or 50i / 50 Mbps
321 Mins
MP4 Recording Bit Rate / Sampling (PAL) / HEVC 4:2:2 10-bit (Long GOP) / 8192x4320 or 7680x4320 / 25P / 540 Mbps
30 Mins
MP4 Recording Bit Rate / Sampling (PAL) / HEVC 4:2:2 10-bit (Long GOP) / 4096x2160 or 3840x2160 / 50P / 225 Mbps
71 Mins
MP4 Recording Bit Rate / Sampling (PAL) / HEVC 4:2:2 10-bit (Long GOP) / 4096x2160 or 3840x2160 / 25P / 135 Mbps
118 Mins
MP4 Recording Bit Rate / Sampling (PAL) / HEVC 4:2:2 10-bit (Long GOP) / 2048x1080 or 1920x1080 / 50P or 25P / 50 Mbps
321 Mins
Amazon Prime

Last update on 2023-09-24 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

The Other Best Memory Cards for the Canon EOS R5 C

Sandisk isn’t the only brand who produce the best memory cards for the Canon EOS R5 C to consider, but they have yet to fail on me in over 10 years as a professional photographer.

But there are alternative brands producing SD cards that are just as good, if not better.

Sony, for example, with their Tough series are cards that should last years of use.

The build quality is of particular note, built with what looks like one plastic case as opposed to two. The design looks like it will help it to take a good bit of use.

Below is a (automatically updated) list of the bestselling UHS-II cards on Amazon for consideration:

SaleBestseller No. 1
SanDisk 256GB Extreme PRO SDXC UHS-II Memory Card - C10, U3, V60, 6K, 4K UHD, SD Card - SDSDXEP-256G-GN4IN
  • For prosumers and professionals shooting with MIL and cinema cameras
  • Record cinema-quality 6K and 4K UHD with Video Speed Class 60 rating (Full HD (1920x1080), 4K UHD (3840x2160), and 6K (6144x3160) video support may vary based upon host device, file attributes and other factors. See HD page on official SanDisk website. Video Speed Class 60 (V60), sustained video capture rate of 60MB/s, designates a performance option designed to support real-time video recording with UHS enabled host devices. See the SD Association’s official website for additional details.)
SaleBestseller No. 2
SanDisk 128GB Extreme PRO SDXC UHS-II Memory Card - C10, U3, V90, 8K, 4K, Full HD Video, SD Card - SDSDXDK-128G-GN4IN
  • Tap into pro performance designed for professional and advanced photographers and videographers.
  • Super-fast write speeds of up to 260MB/s help rapidly clear buffer time to support continuous burst mode shooting and cinema-quality video recording(2). Requires compatible devices capable of reaching such speeds.
SaleBestseller No. 3
Lexar Professional 1667x 128GB SDXC UHS-II/U3 Card (LSD128CBNA1667) For Camera
  • Get high-speed performance with UHS-II technology (U3) for a read transfer speed up to 250MB/s (1667x)
  • Captures high-quality images and extended lengths of stunning 1080P full-HD, 3D, and 4K video with a DSLR camera, HD camcorder, or 3D camera
SaleBestseller No. 4
PNY 128GB EliteX-PRO60 UHS-II SDXC Memory Card - 280MB/s Read, U3, V60, 4K UHD, Full HD, UHS-II for Professional Photographers & Content Creators, DSLR & Mirrorless Cameras &Advanced Video Cameras
  • Extreme performance for professional photographers and videographers with read speeds up to 280MB/s & write speeds up to 100MB/s for seamless content capture
  • Class 10, U3 Rated with V60 Video Speed to enhance performance and capture ultra high resolution imagery and extended lengths of 4K Ultra HD and Full HD video
SaleBestseller No. 5
Kingston Canvas React Plus 128GB SD Card | SDXC UHS-II | 300R/260W U3 V90 | Full HD/4K/8K | SDR2/128GB
  • Ultimate speeds to support professional camera use
  • Capture 4K/8K Ultra-HD high-speed shots without dropping frames

Last update on 2023-09-15 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Finally

No R5 C user should get the wrong memory card when the information is all here; either by spending more than is required on too large a capacity memory card, or just as bad, getting a card too small for your needs.

Making the mistake of getting smaller capacity cards means having to make workarounds for the bottlenecks you will encounter; and too large capacity SD cards for your needs means extra money spent that could be spent on other essential gear.

Get the right memory card the first time.

Once you have picked the best card for your requirements you will then need an SD card reader to get your data off quickly and efficiently:

Last update on 2023-09-24 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

If you’re using the Canon EOS R5 C to build your own business, then you’ll need to know more than the best memory cards for the Canon EOS R5 C, then you need to check out my comprehensive guide on How to Start a Creative Business.

All the information you need to know about starting to build a business is in the article; linking to even more related articles that go into further detail.

Also don’t forget to check me out on YouTube for much more content.