Best Nikon D40X SD Memory Cards

The Nikon D40X uses SD memory cards. 32GB is the biggest capacity SD card that can be used in the D40X.

SD memory cards labeled as SDXC or SDUC will not function properly in the D40X. These cards will be 64GB or larger, so they can easily be avoided.

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Here are several choices to pick from that will function correctly in the D40X. With all of the cards below, you will not have to worry about card errors or poor performance.

PNY Elite 32GB SD Memory Card
PNY Elite 32GB SD Card
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  • Sequential read speed of up to 100MB/s
  • Class 10, U1 rating delivers speed and performance for full HD photography and HD videography.
  • V10 video speed rating to capture uninterrupted HD video at 1920x1080 format
  • Compatible with point & shoot cameras, DSLR cameras, standard & advanced HD-enabled video cameras, and more
  • Reliable & Durable: Magnet Proof, Shock Proof, Temperature Proof, Waterproof

SanDisk Ultra 32GB UHS-I SD Card
SanDisk Ultra 32GB SD Card
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  • Quick transfer read speeds up to 90MB/s.
  • Write speeds are not capable of recording 4k video.
  • Class 10 rating for Full HD video (1080p).
  • Waterproof, temperature proof, X-ray Proof, magnet-Proof, and shockproof.

Samsung EVO Plus 32GB SD Memory Card
Samsung EVO Plus 32GB SD Card
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  • UHS Speed Class 1 (U1) supports Full HD video and burst shots. 130MB/s transfer speeds1 let you upload footage to your PC in an instant.
  • Built to survive tough conditions and heavy usage, whether you’re at home, outside, or on the go. Backed by 10-year limited warranty.
  • Highly durable with comprehensive 7-proof protection.
  • Backed by a 10 year warranty.

Be sure to get a card from a company with a great reputation, such as SanDisk or Lexar. Avoid getting cards from bargain-priced no-name brands.

Bargain-priced cards are more likely to experience file corruption, meaning you might lose all of your photos stored on the card. A small amount of decrease in price is not worth the decline of construction quality.

The smart way to reduce costs is to get a memory card with a smaller sized capacity. They probably will be a little less expensive and you won’t have to be anxious about the SD card failing.

Even then, SD card issues are rare. Through the years, I have only suffered from only two cards become corrupted. Age may have played a role, as the SD cards were bundled with used digital cameras.

four different specs of Secure Digital (SD) memory cards are currently being manufactured. The Nikon D40X is limited to using SD memory cards. The benefit is that there is an improvement in the max capacity and transfer rates with the release of every new specification.

Secure Digital memory card readers are backward compatible. A card reader built into a digital camera that can use SDXC cards will also be able to use SDHC and SD memory cards.

The Nikon D40X’s card reader will only work with the first two SD card technical specs. SDUC or SDXC SD memory cards won’t be compatible.

  • Secure Digital (SD) - These memory cards have a maximum capacity of 2GB and are compatible with the D40X.
  • Secure Digital High Capacity (SDHC) - The capacity of these memory cards range from 4GB to 32GB and are also compatible with the D40X.
  • Secure Digital eXtended Capacity (SDXC) - The capacity of these memory cards range from 64GB to 2TiB.
  • Secure Digital Ultra Capacity (SDUC) - The capacity of these memory cards range from 4TiB to 128TiB.
SD card contacts
SD Card Contacts

Trying to use an SD memory card that has a capacity of 64GB or larger in the D40X results in the point and shoot camera to display an error.

Get a card which has a capacity of 32GB or smaller to avoid the problem.

If you attempting to use an SD memory card that has a capacity less than 32GB, and it is not functioning correctly, try to format the memory card in the camera.

This is an estimation of how many large JPEGs you could expect to keep on an SD card.

  • 4GB - 1920 images
  • 8GB - 3840 images
  • 16GB - 7680 images
  • 32GB - 15360 images

Speed ratings for SD cards are determined by sequential read and write speeds. The speed of the card is important when many pictures need to be written to the SD card.

SD Card Speed Class
SD Card Speed Class

The Class speed rating of an SD card is dependant on the sustained write speed of the SD memory card. A Class speed rating of 2 means that the SD memory card can maintain a write speed of more than 2MB per second.

  • Class 2 - 2MB/s
  • Class 4 - 4MB/s
  • Class 6 - 6MB/s
  • Class 8 - 8MB/s
  • Class 10 - 10MB/s

The highest rating an SD card can obtain is Class 10. There are cards that are a lot faster than 10MB/s. Those SD memory cards use other solutions, such as UHS (Ultra Highspeed Bus), that have a separate rating standards.

Sustained write speeds of 2MB, 4MB, 6MB, or 8MB per second means the card has a speed class of 2, 4, 6, or 8. Cards that have write speeds of 10MB/s or faster are rated as Class 10.

Buy an SD memory card for the Nikon D40X based on price. An expensive card isn’t going to improve performance. As long as it is a speed class 10 card, you will be fine. My recommendation is the PNY Elite 32GB SD memory card.