Sony A33 Memory Card Recommendations
Howdy friends! Choosing the right memory card is an important step. With so many choices out there, it’s tough to decide on the right one. In this guide I’ll shed some light on memory card compatibility, image/video capacity and specific requirements needed to record HD video with the Sony A33. Enjoy!
Compatibility
The A33 takes 5 types of memory cards…
- SD – Universal memory card that can hold up to 4GB worth of images and video.
- SDHC – Universal memory card that can hold up to 32GB worth of images and video.
- SDXC – Universal memory card that can currently hold up to 128GB worth of images and video.
- Memory stick PRO Duo – Sony branded memory card (only works with Sony cameras) that can hold up to 32GB worth of data.
- Memory stick PRO-HG Duo – A speedier Sony branded memory card (only works with Sony cameras) that can hold up to 32GB worth of data.
Image Capacity
The information below shows the total number of images that can be recorded (based on memory card size)…
4GB – 618 images (fine) and 251 images (raw)
8GB – 1,258 images (fine) and 514 images (raw)
16GB – 2,569 images (fine) and 1,054 images (raw)
32GB – 5,083 images (fine) and 2,089 images (raw)
64GB – 10,166 images (fine) and 4,178 images (raw)
128GB – 20,332 images (fine) and 8,356 images (raw)
HD Video Requirements
In order to record HD video on the A33, your memory card will need to meet one of the following requirements…
- SD card with a Class 4 rating or higher
- Memory stick Pro duo with a Mark 2 rating
- Memory stick Pro-HG
Sony specifically states that if your memory card doesn’t meet one of the above requirements, you’ll experience problems with video recording and playback.
Video Capacity
Video clips are limited to 11 minute segments when using SteadyShot (image stabilization) and 29 minutes without. The information below shows the overall recording time (based on memory card size)…
4GB – 28min 30sec (AVCHD) and 41min 40sec (MP4)
8GB – 58min 10sec (AVCHD) and 1hr 24min 40sec (MP4)
16GB – 1hr 58min 50sec (AVCHD) and 2hr 52min 30sec (MP4)
32GB – 3hr 55min 20sec (AVCHD) and 5hr 41min (MP4)
64GB – 7hr 50min 40sec (AVCHD) and 11hr 22min (MP4)
128GB – 15hr 41min 20sec (AVCHD) and 22hr 44min (MP4)
Memory Card Recommendations
I recommend a Class 10 SDHC or SDXC memory card (see here) with a capacity that matches your shooting style.
Types
When looking at the compatible memory card types, SDHC/XC memory cards are more widely used than Sony branded Pro Duo memory cards. Which means you can use your SDHC/XC memory card in many different cameras, regardless of brand. With Sony Pro Duo cards, you’re limited to Sony branded cameras.
Class Ratings
As for meeting video requirements, Sony calls for a class 4 rating or higher. In my experience, class 10 cards perform better when it comes to recording long video segments. Class ratings are basically the minimum read/write speeds of the memory card. For example, a class 10 memory card has a minimum write speed of 10 megabytes per second. Having a higher class rating ensures the video buffer rate never exceeds the minimum class rating of the card.
Speed Ratings
In addition to class ratings, you’ll probably also see speed ratings associated to SDHC/XC cards. Speed ratings reflect the maximum read/write speed of the card. Generally speaking, higher speed ratings won’t improve the overall performance of the Sony A33. However, if your memory card is full of images and videos, a faster speed rating can greatly reduce the overall time it takes to transfer the data over to your computer.
Recommended Capacity
When looking at recommended capacity, it really depends on your shooting style. If you plan on taking lots of video, shooting in RAW or using burst mode on a regular basis then I recommend going with a 16GB or 32GB card. If you don’t plan on using the above mentioned features all that much then I recommend going with an 8GB or 16GB card.
Recommended Brands
As for memory card brands, you have a couple different options. In the last few years I’ve been using Transcend memory cards and have been very pleased with the overall performance and price of these cards. SanDisk and Lexar have both built a solid reputation in the industry when it comes to reliability, but they are a bit more expensive when compared to the Transcend brand.
My picks
Here are my memory card picks for the Sony A33…
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Check out the Sony A33 homepage for more tips, advice and recommendations. Happy shooting!