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Like its sister camera, the newer Sony ZV-E10, this popular camera is designed with YouTube vloggers in mind. It is one of the most popular vlogging cameras on the market today.
With its lightweight frame, vari-angle flip out screen, and wide angle (25.7mm) lens, this will be a workhorse camera for any YouTuber choosing it.
With YouTube and video in mind, this is my recommendation for the best memory card for the Sony ZV-1:
- Shot speeds up to 90MB/s, transfer speeds up to 170MB/s [requires a compatible device capable of reaching such speeds, such as the SanDisk SD UHS I card reader (sold separately)] | Based on internal testing; Performance may be lower depending upon host device, interface, usage conditions and other factors 1MB=1,000,000 bytes; X = 150KB/sec
- Perfect for shooting 4K UHD video (1) and sequential burst mode photography, (1)Full HD (1920x1080) and 4K UHD (3840 x 2160) video support may vary based upon host device, file attributes and other factors. Compatibility - Compatible with microSDHC and microSDXC supporting host devices
Last update on 2023-09-24 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
But as I always say with my SD card recommendations, one card does not fit all. Everyone will have different needs and situations. We all film differently so our needs must be reflected in the options listed here.
- 20.1MP stacked back illuminated 1” Exmor RS CMOS sensor w/ DRAM. Large aperture 24-70mm1 F1.8-2.8 ZEISS Vario-Sonnar T lens.Bluetooth : Yes (Bluetooth Standard Ver. 4.1 (2.4 GHz band)). Operating Temperature : 0 degrees C. - +40 degrees C. / 32 degrees F. - 104 degrees F.
- Fast Hybrid Autofocus and Real Time Eye Autofocus and Real-time Autofocus tracking.
Last update on 2023-09-24 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Table of Contents
What Type of Memory Card Does the Sony ZV-1 Use?
The Sony ZV1 has one memory card slot and can use both UHS-I SD cards and Sony Memory Stick media cards.
Bear in mind Memory Stick media cards cannot record any of the high quality (100Mbps) video formats on the ZV1.
It might be an idea to have in mind what you want to record on the Sony ZV1 as Sony state to record the various movie modes you will need to use specific cards with minimum requirements.
For XAVC S (100Mbps) – you will need an SDXC/SDHC Memory Card (U3).
For XAVC S (60Mbps/50Mbps) – you will need an SDXC/SDHC Memory Card (Class 10, or U1 higher).
High Frame Rate – you will need an SDXC/SDHC memory card (Class 10, or U1 or faster)
AVCHD – you will need an SD/SDXC/SDHC memory card.
How Much Video Can You Record to the Sony ZV-1
So now we know what we can record and where we can record to, in the table below is listed the recommended compatible SD cards and how much they can record:
Last update on 2023-09-24 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
I personally think the 64GB SD card is a bit too small for video. I think for photos is fine, when I film I will just keep the camera rolling and cut out the best bits, so a 64GB capacity will not work for me.
Last update on 2023-09-24 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Sony note that when an SDHC memory card is used to record an XAVC S movie over extended periods of time, the recorded video will be divided into file sizes of 4GB in size. This is because of the nature of the older SDHC filing system.
You will not have this issue using SDXC cards, which are the only ones recommended in this article.
How to Choose the Right SD Card for the Sony ZV-1
Now I’m supplied you with all the data to determine what the best memory cards for the Sony ZV-1 are, but what if you want to figure it out for yourself, or for another camera?
Then you’ll need to be able to read the information on the front of any SD card and understand what it means and what that card is capable as well as its limits.
There are three things Sony states an SD card must satisfy in order to meet the requirements for the Sony ZV1:
SDXC/SDHC
For all the video recording formats on the ZV1 you need to have an SD card that is SDHC/SDXC compatible.
The two terms represent two different filing systems. SDHC cards are older cards whose filing system only stores up to 32GB. So any card over 32GB is an SDXC card.
The newer SDXC cards can theoretically store up to 2TB of data however there is no 2TB SD card on the market yet.
Speed Class Rating
The next requirement from Sony is for recording XAVC S (100Mbps) video you need a card of U3 (and no less).
U3 represents the minimum write speed of the card which is 30Mbps, which is sufficient for most cameras on the market.
For XAVC S (60Mbps), the minimum required card is Class 10 and U1 represent essentially the same thing. A minimum write speed of 10Mbps.
Finally
Now that you have the right SD card for your Sony ZV1, you will no doubt need an SD card reader to transfer your videos from camera to computer.
I recommend this SD card reader which is from one of my favorite brands:
- Simultaneously read and write on two cards to save yourself the effort of constant unplugging and re-plugging.
- USB 3.0 enables data transfer rates of up to 5Gbps for faster Sync times, backward compatible with USB 2.0/ 1.1.
Last update on 2023-09-24 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
I hope this article has aided you in deciding which SD card is right for your and your ZV1 recording needs.
No one wants to get the wrong card that’s too small of a capacity, requiring a further purchase. Or a card too big for your needs meaning you could have better spent that money on other essential gear.
Links
If you’re purchasing the Sony ZV-1 for YouTube and you are just starting out your YouTube career then you need to check out my article about how to start a YouTube channel.
And then to help you as you grow your business, keep bookmarked my pillar article, ‘How to Start a Creative Business‘. This article has everything you need to know for every step of your journey growing your business.
Aldo don’t forget to follow me on YouTube for even more content.
Artist / Photographer / Videographer