One SD card can fit inside the Nikon D3500 DSLR camera. But which SD memory card is the best to buy for this camera? Here are some helpful suggestions.
I go into great depth below, but if you want the quick version, here are some excellent options that you should have no trouble locating at your favorite electronics or photography store and can be a fantastic value:
There’s a strong probability that the new Nikon D3500 DSL you purchased didn’t come with a memory card. Although the camera doesn’t come with one by default, some sellers add peripherals, like SD cards, as part of bundles they put together. Therefore, you might be curious about the best memory cards for it.
There isn’t a memory card included with it by default. For cameras, a plethora of unique memory cards is readily accessible. My goal is to make choosing quality ones for the D3500 simple. Based on my own memory card tests and photography with my own Nikon D3500, these suggestions.
Nikon D3500 Memory Card Requirements & Compatibility
An entry-level DSLR with a 24MP DX-format sensor is the Nikon D3500. It’s an excellent choice for people switching to DSLRs for more control and higher image quality as well as for people just getting started with DSLR cameras. The quality of these entry-level DSLRs today is astounding. The photographs they produce are of outstanding quality, even if they may not have all the bells and whistles of the higher-end, more expensive versions.
There is only one SD card slot on the D3500. The UHS-I speed bus is used by the slot. Furthermore, it works with SD, SDHC, and SDXC cards.
It’s broadly compatible, and you can put just about any SD card now on the market in this camera and have it operate well. I go into more detail about what these technical terms mean below, but the short version is that it’s widely compatible. Paying too much for a faster card than the D3500 can fully utilize is the riskier option.
So which SD memory cards work best with the D3500? Which one should you purchase?
Nikon does not produce memory cards and does not publicly endorse any SD memory cards.
You might have found this pretty cryptic advice if you had looked for the solution in the instruction manual:
The camera is compatible with SD, SDHC, and SDXC memory cards, including UHS-I-compliant SDHC and SDXC cards. For recording movies, SD Speed Class 6 or above cards are advised; using slower cards may cause the recording to be interrupted. Make sure the cards you choose to utilize in card readers are appropriate for the hardware. For details on features, functionality, and usage restrictions, get in touch with the manufacturer.
Right, then. That’s not particularly useful. It is the same kind of general advice that Nikon typically provides with their cameras. While correct, it is also not particularly helpful when attempting to decide which SD card to purchase. These days, it’s difficult to locate a card that is Speed Class 6, and it’s not immediately clear how that compares with, say, a U3 speed rating.
With some specific recommendations for cards that meet the criteria of being compatible with the D3500, dependable, simple to acquire at major retailers, and affordable, I want to transform Nikon’s advice into something more usable.
I’m not attempting to list every memory card that functions with the D3500; there are several that don’t appear on my list but do as well. However, I’m hoping that these suggestions may help you save time so that you can go shooting. I spend a lot of time testing memory cards, and these recommendations are based both on my experience shooting with my D3500 and those tests.
The good news is that you don’t need to purchase an expensive card for the Nikon D3500—and the quickest SD cards with cutting-edge technology are expensive. For the D3500, I’ve read suggestions to purchase cards like the SanDisk Extreme Pro or Kingston Canvas React Plus cards elsewhere. I think that’s bad counsel.
Those SD cards are excellent.
They’re among the quickest SD cards you can get, and they’re considerably faster than the D3500 can use. I have them, use them in other cameras, and have tested them myself. And such fast cards cost a lot more money.
It would be much better for you to purchase an SD card that is more appropriately matched to the D3500 and use any extra cash to purchase a high-quality tripod or add lenses to your collection. In conclusion, using a UHS-II card rated for V90 is optional, but it’s unnecessary for this camera and won’t provide any additional advantages when you’re shooting. Thankfully, there are several good SD cards available that are affordable and trustworthy.
For my Nikon D3500, which SD card should I buy?
Here are some additional cards and the expanded version of the cards I described at the beginning of this post.
Although they might not be the quickest SD cards available, they are quick enough for this camera. Additionally, it is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all SD cards that are compatible.
My focus is on cards that are quick enough for all of the functions of this camera, from a known and dependable company, easily accessible at retailers, and economical. Although you can utilize a faster, better card, doing so won’t provide any further benefits while using the camera (but you might see some faster speeds when downloading the photos to a computer, depending on your computer and memory card reader combination).
Best Nikon D3500 Memory Cards
SanDisk 256GB Ultra SDXC UHS-I Memory Card - 100MB/s, C10, U1, Full HD, SD Card - SDSDUNR-256G-GN6IN
- Fast for better pictures and Full HD video(2) | (2)Full HD (1920x1080) video support may vary based upon host device, file attributes, and other factors
- Great choice for compact to mid-range point-and-shoot cameras
Free shipping
Lexar Professional 633x 256GB SDXC UHS-I Card, Up To 95MB/s Read, for Mid-Range DSLR, HD Camcorder, 3D Cameras, LSD256CBNL633 (Product...
- High-speed, Class 10 performance leverages UHS-I (U1 or U3 depends on capacity) technology for a read transfer speed up to 95MB/s (633x).
- Capture high quality images of stunning 1080p full-HD, 3D, and 4K video
Kingston 256GB SDXC Canvas Select Plus 100MB/s Read Class 10 UHS-I U1 V30 Memory Card (SDS2/256GB)
- Faster speeds — Class 10 UHS-I speeds up to 100MB/s.
- Capture in full HD & 4K UHD video (1080P) — the advanced UHS-I interface makes the card ideal for cinema-quality full HD (1080P).
- Multiple capacities — Up to 512GB to store all your memorable photos and videos.
Free shipping
PNY 256GB Elite-X Class 10 U3 V30 SDXC Flash Memory Card - 100MB/s, Class 10, U3, V30, 4K UHD, Full...
- Class 10 U3 V30 speed rating with read speeds up to 100MB/s
- Class 10 U3 V30 rating delivers speed and performance for burst mode HD photography and 4K Ultra HD Videography
- Ideal for photography and videography enthusiasts and for recording and transferring content between devices and computer
Free shipping
Delkin Devices 256GB Advantage SDXC UHS-I (V30) Memory Card (DDSDW633256G)
- Unmatched Speed: Achieve impressive data transfer rates up to 100MB/s read and 80MB/s write, ensuring minimal waiting and uninterrupted 4K UHD and Full HD 1080p video capture. Perfect for professional photographers and videographers.
1. Ultra U1 UHS-I SanDisk
SanDisk 256GB Ultra SDXC UHS-I Memory Card - 100MB/s, C10, U1, Full HD, SD Card - SDSDUNR-256G-GN6IN
- Fast for better pictures and Full HD video(2) | (2)Full HD (1920x1080) video support may vary based upon host device, file attributes, and other factors
- Great choice for compact to mid-range point-and-shoot cameras
Free shipping
- Fast for better photos and Full HD video(2) | (2)Full HD (1920×1080) video support may differ depending on…
- Outstanding option for compact to mid-range point-and-shoot cameras
Their affordable midrange choice is the SanDisk Ultra series. The most recent Ultra cards are substantially faster than earlier models, making them a decent entry-level choice for cameras that don’t put a lot of strain on their SD card. The Extreme cards, which are the next step up, are also a nice choice, but the Ultra cards are frequently significantly less expensive. They are typically fairly simple to locate in stores as well.
SanDisk reuses the names of its models, and older, slower models are still available. The most recent Ultra card has a UHS-I interface and is rated for U1 video recording.
It is available in capacities ranging from 32GB to 256GB.
2. I Lexar 633x V30
Lexar Professional 633x 256GB SDXC UHS-I Card, Up To 95MB/s Read, for Mid-Range DSLR, HD Camcorder, 3D Cameras, LSD256CBNL633 (Product...
- High-speed, Class 10 performance leverages UHS-I (U1 or U3 depends on capacity) technology for a read transfer speed up to 95MB/s (633x).
- Capture high quality images of stunning 1080p full-HD, 3D, and 4K video
- Utilizing Class 10 performance at high-speed UHS-I technology (U1 or U3 depending on capacity) for a read
- Capture spectacular 1080p full-HD, 3D, and 4K video in high-quality pictures.
For a while now, the Lexar 633x line has been a mainstay among Lexar’s SD cards. Although quicker cards are now available, this one is still quick enough for this camera and offers decent value for the money.
The fact that they are offered in sizes ranging from 32GB to TB is one of this range’s distinguishing features.
3. V30 UHS-I Kingston Canvas Select Plus
Kingston 256GB SDXC Canvas Select Plus 100MB/s Read Class 10 UHS-I U1 V30 Memory Card (SDS2/256GB)
- Faster speeds — Class 10 UHS-I speeds up to 100MB/s.
- Capture in full HD & 4K UHD video (1080P) — the advanced UHS-I interface makes the card ideal for cinema-quality full HD (1080P).
- Multiple capacities — Up to 512GB to store all your memorable photos and videos.
Free shipping
- More rapid rates—Class 10 UHS-I rates of up to 100MB/s.
- The card is perfect for full HD and 4K UHD video (1080P) capture thanks to its cutting-edge UHS-I interface.
Although Kingston is a less well-known company than some of the others, they have been producing dependable memory cards for a very long time. They are a company that focuses more on dependable and affordable memory cards than on the newest speeds.
The Kingston SDS2 Canvas Select Plus card isn’t the quickest in the company’s lineup, but it’s fast enough to function effectively in this camera. It comes in capacities ranging from 16GB to 128GB.
4. Elite-X V30 UHS-I from PNY
PNY 256GB Elite-X Class 10 U3 V30 SDXC Flash Memory Card - 100MB/s, Class 10, U3, V30, 4K UHD, Full...
- Class 10 U3 V30 speed rating with read speeds up to 100MB/s
- Class 10 U3 V30 rating delivers speed and performance for burst mode HD photography and 4K Ultra HD Videography
- Ideal for photography and videography enthusiasts and for recording and transferring content between devices and computer
Free shipping
- Class 10 U3 V30 speed rating, 100MB/s read speed
- Speed and performance are delivered by the Class 10 U3 V30 rating for 4K Ultra HD and burst mode HD photography.
- Another less well-known brand is PNY, but it has a long history and produces excellent memory cards that are typically quite reasonably priced and good value.
- Sizes for this particular device are from 64GB to 512GB.
5. V30 UHS-I Delkin Devices Advantage
Delkin Devices 256GB Advantage SDXC UHS-I (V30) Memory Card (DDSDW633256G)
- Unmatched Speed: Achieve impressive data transfer rates up to 100MB/s read and 80MB/s write, ensuring minimal waiting and uninterrupted 4K UHD and Full HD 1080p video capture. Perfect for professional photographers and videographers.
- Supports High Frame Rate Video Recording in 4K and Full HD 1080p
- Approved for RAW Continuous Shooting
Delkin Devices has been operating for a while, although the business has been quite quiet lately. However, they have updated their complete variety of cards to streamline the range and bring the cards up to date in terms of specifications.
The Advantage card has a UHS-I interface and a V30 rating. There are present sizes available up to 512GB.
Various Brands
There are also numerous other smaller, largely unheard-of brands. Generally speaking, I’d advise sticking with a brand you already know and trust or one of the brands I’ve included on this page because they have a history of producing high-quality cards. Some of the lesser-known brands might function, but they might not be everything they purport to be. The ones listed above ought to provide a solid selection of products you may find conveniently in stores close to you.
