SD & CF Memory Card Compatibility for 188 Nikon Coolpix Cameras

There are 188 Nikon Coolpix cameras. 165 use SD memory cards. 20 can use Compact Flash (CF) cards with a maximum capacity of 2GB or smaller. 3 only have internal memory.

Older Nikon Coolpix cameras have hardware limitations that prevent them from working with newer, larger capacity memory cards. It’s like they can make a phone call, as long as it doesn’t require an area code. As a result, a camera might be limited to using up to 2GB or 32GB maximum capacity.

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SD Card Standards

There are four specifications for SD (Secure Digital) memory cards. Each standard has different transfer speed requirements, and file system.

The first SDUC card is planned to be released in 2025 by SanDisk. It will be the 4TB SanDisk Extreme PRO SDUC UHS-I memory card. (Western Digital Official Press Release)

SD Compatible Cameras (39 Models)

The maximum capacity SD card these cameras can use is 2GB. Using a card with a larger capacity will result in errors. The camera will not be able to capture photos.

Some Nikon Coolpix digital compact cameras are also compatible with MultiMediaCards (Wikipedia). This memory card standard was extended to Secure Digital (SD) cards, which is the cards can be used in the same slot.

If you have a MultiMediaCard (MMC), you can use it. It should work in most SD card readers, and will work in the “7-in-1” card readers. I would not recommend buying one as they are more expensive than SD cards.

Recommended SD Cards

The only reasonably priced 2GB SD card is from Transcend. Avoid buying used cards.

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SDHC Compatible Cameras (33 Models)

The maximum capacity memory card these cameras can use is 32GB. Trying to use a larger capacity card will result in errors.

Recommended SDHC Cards

32GB capacity cards are often the same price or cheaper than 16GB capacity cards. Cards with UHS-I will have the fastest continuous transfer speed.

I tested SanDisk, Lexar, Transcend, and PNY cards. They are effectively the same. My recommendation is to buy the least expensive 32GB card that has UHS-I.

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microSD cards can also be used with adapters. I don’t do this because microSD cards tend to have slower transfer speeds than full sized SD cards.

SDXC Compatible Cameras (93 Models)

SDXC are the most commonly used cards. 2TB is the maximum capacity memory cards these cameras can use.

Any card that has UHS-I will be fast enough. That includes 32GB SDHC cards.

A 64GB memory card will hold thousands of pictures. The only reason to get a card larger than 128GB is if lots of video will be recorded.

Recommended SDXC Cards

SanDisk, Lexar, and PNY have all been fine. I would also include Transcend. I don’t think you’ll notice a difference between any cards.

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CompactFlash Compatible Cameras (20 Models)

CompactFlash cards were used in some of Nikon’s first digital point and shoot cameras. The maximum capacity compatible cards will be 2GB. This is due file system limitations.

Recommended CF Cards

Just like with SD cards, Transcend is the only option. Other similarly priced cards are trying to fool people into thinking they are SanDisk cards.

It can also be cheaper to use a SD to CF card adapter.

Internal Memory (3 Models)

These 3 cameras only have internal storage. No memory card can be used to expand the storage.

This means needing to track down a proprietary USB cable.

There are other models that have internal storage and can also use memory cards.

Memory Card Readers

A memory card reader is the fastest way to read data from a card. Images and video can also be transferred to a phone with a USB-C card reader.

Plugging a camera into a computer via USB will result in slow USB 2.0 transfer speeds. If you don’t have the USB cable, Nikon has a support page. It will help you find which of the 9 proprietary cables is needed.

• UC-E21
• UC-E16
• UC-E12
• UC-E10
• UC-E6
• UC-E5
• UC-E3
• UC-E2
• UC-E1

SD Card Speed Ratings

MB/s is often used to represent the peak transfer rate of a memory card. Recording video requires knowing what the sustained write speed of a memory card is.

Marketing loves finding new ways to explain transfer rate requirements for video. Everything

• SD Association SD, SDHC, SDXC and SDUC Card Capacity Choices
• SD Association Speed Class Standards for Video Recording

The speed ratings of an SD card all revolve around the maximum continuous read and write speed a memory card is able to maintain. This is important to know to make sure the card can handle video recording.

If the card can not keep up with the video output of a camera, the recording will stop. This isn’t much of an issue as the cards currently being sold will be more than fast enough.

Using a card reader can allow for much faster transfers to a computer or phone. This can be a big time saver if the card is full of photos and videos.

Speed Class Rating

The sustained write speed of an SD memory card is the criteria for the Class rating. Cards that have a write speed of 10MB/s will be rated Class 10.

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

Class 10 is the maximum rating. Newer cards can has sustained write speeds over 90MB/s.

There will be a number inside of a ‘C’ on the SD card label that signifies the card’s Class rating.

Ultra High Speed (UHS) Bus

The Ultra High Speed bus (UHS) is found in SDUC, SDXC, and SDHC cards. UHS makes it possible for increased file transfer rates.

Three separate specifications have been made. The three are UHS-I, UHS-II, and UHS-III.

Look at the front of the SD card to figure out the UHS rating of a SD card. If the memory card has UHS, a Roman numeral I, II, or III will be on the label.

• UHS-I - Maximum transfer rate of 104 MB/s
• UHS-II - Maximum transfer rate of 312 MB/s
• UHS-III - Maximum transfer rate of 624 MB/s

Memory Card Image Capacity

Listed below is a quick estimation of the volume of high-quality JPEGs photos you should expect to save on a card:

• 2GB - 580 images
• 4GB - 1,160 images
• 8GB - 2,320 images
• 16GB - 4,640 images
• 32GB - 9,280 images
• 64GB - 18,560 images
• 128GB - 37,120 images