Pentax *ist D Memory Card Compatibility

The Pentax *ist D needs SD memory cards. The largest capacity SD card that will work in the *ist D is 32GB.

SD memory cards that satisfy the SDUC or SDXC specifications are not going to work properly in the *ist D. These cards will be At least 64GB or bigger, so they are simple to avoid.

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Recommended *ist D SD Cards

Here are some options to select from that can be used with the *ist D. With any of the cards outlined below, you will not have to be worried about card problems or reduced functionality.

• 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

• 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.

• 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.

Best SD Cards

Good quality memory cards are made by both Lexar and SanDisk. Inexpensive third-party brands need to be avoided.

Memory card failures, such as a complete loss of all your images resulting from data corruption, is more likely to take place with low-cost cards. The reduction in construction quality is not worth the slight savings.

Get a reduced capacity card if you want to save some money. They will be a little lower in cost and you won’t need to be worried about the SD card becoming corrupted.

Be aware that, SD card issues are uncommon. Only only two cards have become corrupted out of the many I have possessed over time. Age could have contributed to the failure, as the SD cards were included with previously owned cameras.

Pentax *ist D SD Card Compatibility

4 separate specifications of Secure Digital (SD) memory cards exist. The Pentax *ist D is limited to using SD memory cards. The benefit is that there is an improvement in the transfer speeds and max capacity with the introduction of every updated 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 Pentax *ist D’s card reader is only compatible with the first and second SD card standards. SDXC or SDUC memory cards will not work.

• Secure Digital (SD) - These memory cards have a maximum capacity of 2GB and are compatible with the *ist D.
• Secure Digital High Capacity (SDHC) - The capacity of these memory cards range from 4GB to 32GB and are also compatible with the *ist D.
• 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.

Pentax *ist D Memory Card Full Error

Trying to use an SD memory card that has a capacity of 64GB or larger in the *ist D will result in the digital point and shoot camera to display an error.

Use an SD card which has a storage capacity of 32GB or less to resolve the problem.

If you have a memory card that is 32GB or smaller, and the card is not working correctly, format the card while it is in the camera.

Speed, Class, & Capacity

SD Card Image Capacity

This is a quick estimation of how many large JPEGs you can expect to fit on an SD card.

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

Memory Card Speed

The speed rating for SD memory cards is determined by sequential read and write speeds. The speed of the SD memory card is important when many photos need to be written or read from the card.

SD Card Speed Class Rating

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

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

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

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.

Conclusion

Buy an SD memory card for the Pentax *ist D 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.