SD memory cards get new speed display
The SD Association has announced a new standard to classify SD memory cards. SD and micro SD memory cards should provide better insight into the minimum sequential write speed with a Video Speed Class designation.
According to the SD Association, the new SD 5.0 specifications are necessary to clarify which memory cards are suitable for 8k movie recording or 360-degree video recording. The organization is therefore creating the new Video Speed Class. The various sd memory cards, including sdhc, sdxc and micro-sd, will be provided with a V logo followed by a number in the near future. That number indicates the minimum sequential write speed of the memory card.
The SD Association states that recording at 60fps in an 8k resolution of 7680×4320 pixels requires a minimum sequential write speed of 60MB/s. At 120fps, that would be 90MB/s. In practice, the required writing speed will depend on the compression applied by the camera in question.
Previously, the speed of memory cards was indicated by the Speed Class. However, many memory cards nowadays are much faster than the maximum speed prescribed by ‘Class 10’. The SD Association has therefore already come up with a new standard for cards equipped with an Ultra High Speed bus. However, the U1 and U3 designations, which stand for minimum sequential write speeds of 10MB/s and 30MB/s, are also in many cases not sufficient to clearly reflect the actual performance of such UHS memory cards.
Most manufacturers display high read speeds on their memory cards. Finding out the actual writing speed is sometimes difficult. The speeds are often clearly stated only for the fastest and most expensive memory cards. The new SD 5.0 standard should make it easier to find out the minimum sequential write speed, as the Video Speed Class provides a much wider spectrum of speeds; from 6MB/s to 90MB/s. While the organization touts the new standard for 8k video and other new film formats, the introduction of the new classification may be of wider benefit. It is not yet known when manufacturers will provide their memory cards with the correct Video Speed Class logos.