Which high-speed memory cards work best for Sony a7R VI high-resolution shooting?

Question

So I finally saved up enough to get the Sony a7R VI because I really want to take amazing photos of my nieces wedding in Seattle next month but honestly looking at the manual is making my head spin. I spent so much on the camera body itself that I dont want to mess it up by getting the wrong memory stuff but there are so many letters and numbers on these cards its making me crazy.

I see things like V90 and V60 and then this other thing called CFexpress Type A which is way more expensive than the stuff I use in my old point and shoot. I think the files are gonna be huge since the resolution is so high but I dont know if I actually need the super expensive ones or if the regular SD cards are fine. I have about 350 dollars left in my budget for cards and I really dont want the camera to freeze up or take forever to save when shes walking down the aisle.

Is there a specific brand or type that people usually go for with this specific camera so it doesnt lag? Sorry if this is a really basic question but I literally have no idea what the difference is between the slots or what the letters mean...

DsdeSon · Accepted Answer

You definitely want to look at CFexpress Type A or at least V90 SD cards for that camera. Honestly, those a7R VI files are absolute monsters so your concern about lagging is totally valid. If you go with cheap cards, the buffer will take ages to clear while youre waiting to take the next shot, which is a nightmare at a wedding. Basically, those two slots on your camera are hybrid. CFexpress Type A is the gold standard for speed and basically eliminates the waiting time. But man, they are pricey. With 350 dollars, you could grab something like the Sony CEA-G160T 160GB CFexpress Type A and maybe have a little left over. In my experience, these are the safest bet for reliability and they dont overheat as much during long days. If you want more storage space for the money tho, look at V90 SD cards. Theyre slower than CFexpress but still way faster than your old point-and-shoot stuff. Ive used the SanDisk Extreme PRO 128GB UHS-II SDXC V90 for high-res shoots and it holds up well without freezing. Just make sure it says V90 on the front. V60 might be okay for single shots, but for a wedding, sticking with V90 or CFexpress is the way to go so you dont miss the kiss because the camera is busy thinking... Personally, Id get one fast CFexpress for your main slot and a big V90 for the second as a backup.

LarryWix · Answer

I learned the hard way at a shoot a few years back that cheaping out on cards is a recipe for disaster. I thought a slower card would be fine for single shots, but the moment I started burst firing during the ceremony, the camera just locked up. The red light stayed on for what felt like an eternity while the buffer tried to dump data, and I missed the walk back up the aisle. Honestly, it was a nightmare. With those massive files from the R series, you really have to be careful about the V rating. If you see a card that says V30, just put it back. Those are meant for lower res stuff and they will absolutely choke on those high-res RAW files when things get fast. Also, be careful where you buy; counterfeit cards are a huge problem and they tend to fail right when the camera gets warm. Stick to names you recognize and test everything before the big day.