Lexar versus SanDisk

There’re two major brands, Lexar versus SanDisk in the market. But which is the better one? This article will help you to choose SD Card between these two major brands.

Reading and Writing Speed

In market there’re various type of SD Card. I will classify by reading and writing speed into four types. The more writing speed the better continuously shooting photo and video quality. The more reading speed the better access data from the card.

Lexar	Reading Speed	Writing Speed	SanDisk	Reading Speed	Writing Speed
2000x	300	260	Extreme PRO	280	250
1000x	150	75	Extreme PRO (2014)	95	90
			Extreme Plus	90	60
633x	95	45	Extreme	90	40
			Ultra	80	Various
300x	45	20	N/A

* Maximum read transfer, write speed lower in MB/s

From the table below shows that the reading speed of Lexar is better than SanDisk, while the writing speed of SanDisk is better.

Prices and Average Price

Most prices of Lexar are cheaper than SanDisk. For example, price for 64GB Lexar 633x is $31.95 but price for 64GB SanDisk Extreme is $37.49.

Conclusion

If reading speed or prices are important, Lexar will be an interesting choice. If writing speed or continuously shooting photo are important to you, SanDisk will suit you. However, between SanDisk Extreme PRO and Lexar 2000x, I recommend you to choose Lexar. Because it’s cheaper and faster than SanDisk.

The Reasons why you should buy a Card Reader

When you plugged your device to transfer data to your PC and nothing's happened. You unplugged and then plugged again. And again, nothing's happened ! This usually occur with no reason. Here'are the reason why you should buy a card reader.

1. No need driver installation

Card reader supported with USB. No need driver installation and can be supported with all operating system since it's "Plug and Play" device. While transferring data via most of device should be installed driver before.

2. You get All-in-one Card Reader

Most of card readers were designed to be supported all memory card format in one device. You just buy one card reader and it can be used with all type of card (e.g. SD/SDHC/SDXC, Compact Flash, Memory Stick (Sony), Micro SD, Mini SD)

Lexar® Multi-Card 25-in-1 USB 3.0 Reader
Credit Picture: Amazon

3. Reliable and faster transferring data

Sometimes when you start to transfer data from your device, it stopped and did not respond because of your device. After you started to transfer again, your data were gone. That why you should have a card reader because card reader will access data directly from your memory card.

What to do with your new card

When you've got your Memory Card. It's important to keep your things healthy. Here are some step you've do to before using it.

1 Open the package, Check some stuffs.
Check the stuffs in package, including warranty card, and make sure that don't have anything loss or damage. Some Micro SD Card will be sold with its adapter to SD Card.

Micro SD with its adapter SD (Source: Wikipedia)

2 Do not throw away the package
Seller will let you keep it for uses as a warranty card. Once you've used your Memory Card and find out that it unsatisfied you, you can return/change it to your seller within their policy.

3 Format your card
Even though card were pre-formated and ready to use. Formatting the card within your device will make sure that the device will recognize your card and change file system support with your device

How to choose your Memory Card

1. Type of Card

First of All, you have to find out what kind of card your device uses.(See your device's user manual or search from your device website) Most of devices use SD (Secure Digital) and CF (Compact Flash).

To Classify by capacity of Memory Card and technology. There're three format of SD.

   

SD Card symbol you can notice from the label or the memory card

1. SD, The first-generation Secure Digital (SDSC or Secure Digital Standard Capacity) supports cards with capacities up to 2 GB. Some old devices only support SD format.
2. SDHC, The Secure Digital High Capacity supports cards with capacities up to 32 GB.
3. SDXC (Secure Digital eXtended Capacity) supports cards higher than SDHC with the same size with capacities up to 2 TB.

2. Capacities and Speed of Card

I had a trip in Taiwan for 6 days and used Canon 6D (which had 20 Megapixels) for took some photos with only 32 GB SD Card. On the third day, My SD memory was full and I had to deleted some photo were taken before. In my opinion, purpose of uses is the most important thing to choose your right Memory Card. Here are the example checklist you may need to know.

• Purpose of using devices [ Pictures or Videos or Both ]
• How many Megapixels you'd like to use for every photo and video. The more pixels the better quality.
• Resolutions and File types used by device
• A 20 Megapixels photo use about 6-12 MB in JPEG file and use about 20-30MB in RAW file
• For every minute of full HD 1080p video (29.97fps) use 500 MB to 1.0 GB of memory card and use 25MB/s to transfer data that means if you have 32GB Memory Card, you can record video for only 30 - 60 minutes.
• Some devices can be recorded in 4K UHD 2160p video (29.97fps) for a minute use 2GB to 3GB and use about 50MB/s to transfer data
• Speed of Card (Class)
• The SD has standard speed classes indicating minimum data speed writing to record video.
• Class   ,  ,  ,   (UHS Class 1 : Ultra High Speed)  for recording in full HD 1080p video format
  
• If your device can be record in 4K video you should buy SD card in    UHS Class 3 

Credit: Flight Centre Canada

• Capacities of Card
• There're many format of capacities of card start from 16GB, 32GB, 64GB, 128GB, 256GB, 512GB

3. Calculate your need

• How long you is your trip ?
• For an example of one day trip usually took photo about 500-600 pictures (Believe me, you will make it) and about 5 minutes full HD video (may divide into 5 clips).
• 600 Pictues x 12 MB of JPEG file = 7,200 MB
• 5 Minutes full HD video x 1.0 GB of video file = 5,000 MB ( 1 GB = 1,000 MB)
• You need 12,200 MB or 12.2 GB for your one day trip (That's why I was run out of memory on the third day)
• If you have 6 days trip in your plan, you'll need about 73.2 GB of memory card.

4. Choose your card

• Reliable: I recommended you to choose brand name card for quality and minimize your risk. It's not worth when all of your photos have gone with has no warranty from your seller
• Combine capacities:
• From the example you need about 73.2 GB memory  Here are the SanDisk SD Card models and prices is USD from amazon

• From the table above, if you buy SanDisk Ultra, you'll have four choices

• 128 GB
• PROS - You have one memory card that suitable for continuous shooting and recording video
• CONS - Average price higher than the other choices.
• If you are interesting in SanDisk Extreme or Extreme Pro, I reccommend you to buy 128 GB because it's the cheapest one when compared aveage $/GB with the other

Image Sources: Wikipedia