Pentax K-70 Memory Card Compatibility
The Pentax K-70 may use SDXC, SDHC, and SD memory cards. Fast write speeds are an important aspect for burst shooting and video.
An incorrect SD card can reduce the functionality of your camera.
If you’re in a hurry, here’s the best SD card you can buy for the Pentax K-70:
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- UHS-I, U1, and Class 10 Speed Rating. Can sustain 10MB/s write speeds.
- Excellent choice for photos.
- Capable of recording Full HD (1920x1080) Video.
- Inexpensive with more than good enough performance.
- Larger capacities are available for a reasonable price.
Best SD Cards
Cards have greatly reduced in cost since the release of the Pentax K-70.
Since the price range are so low, it doesn’t make financial sense to purchase anything besides a high-quality memory card.
SanDisk Extreme Pro, Lexar Professional, and PNY Elite Performance cards have all been reliable for me. I have never encountered data errors or a card failure with any of those SD cards.
Every trouble I have encountered has been when using low-cost unbranded SD cards. Trying to save around a dollar isn’t worthwhile if your K-70 will not operate properly.
If you want to save some money, pick a lower capacity SD card from a high-quality manufacturer. That way, you’ll know your photos are secure on the card.
Recommended SD Cards
- UHS-I, U1, and Class 10 Speed Rating. Can sustain 10MB/s write speeds.
- Excellent choice for photos.
- Capable of recording Full HD (1920x1080) Video.
- Inexpensive with more than good enough performance.
- Larger capacities are available for a reasonable price.
- UHS-I, U3, V30, and Class 10 Speed Rating. Can sustain 30MB/s write speeds.
- Good for burst shooting photos and recording 4K video.
- Larger capacity cards are available.
- Reliable & Durable: Magnet Proof, Shock Proof, Temperature Proof, Waterproof.
- Comparatively expensive for faster read speeds.
- UHS-I, U3, V30, and Class 10 Speed Rating. Can sustain 30MB/s write speeds.
- Only makes sense for professional use or if you need the largest storage capacity available.
- Temperature-proof, waterproof, shock-proof, and X-ray-proof.
Pentax K-70 SD Card Compatibility
Only SDXC, SDHC, and SD memory cards can be used by the Pentax K-70. Ensure that you have the latest firmware installed on your camera for the best functionality.
The newest SDUC (Secure Digital Ultra Capacity) cards, can’t be used with the K-70.
Four different versions of Secure Digital (SD) cards that you need to be aware of. They can be told apart based on the memory card’s storage capactiy.
- SD (Secure Digital) - 128MB to 2GB.
- SDHC (Secure Digital High Capacity) - 4GB to 32GB.
- SDXC (Secure Digital eXtended Capacity) - 64GB to 2TB.
- SDUC (Secure Digital Ultra Capacity) - 4TB to 128TB.
Image Capacity
Here is a quick estimation of the number of max-quality JPEGs photos you should expect to store on a SD card:
- 16GB - 4,640 images
- 32GB - 9,280 images
- 64GB - 18,560 images
- 128GB - 37,120 images
Speed, Class, & UHS Ratings
Card Speed
The speed rating of an SD card is based on the continuous read and write transfer speeds of the card. The speed of a memory card is essential for video in addition to continuous shooting.
Slows SD cards can cause a reduction in the number of continuous images the Pentax K-70 can take. This is because the buffer in the camera is not able to write to the memory card quickly enough.
With video, a slow memory card can cause an abrupt end to shooting. The video file might also end up being corrupted. If you intend to record video, it is crucial the SD card you use meets the minimum requirements of the K-70.
Read speed is important for file transfers to a computer. If you have cards that are full, a card with a fast read speed will reduce the transfer time.
Speed Class Rating
The continuous write speed of an SD card is the criteria for the Class rating. Cards that have a minimum write speed of at least 10MB/s will be labeled Class 10.
- Class 2 - 2MB/s
- Class 4 - 4MB/s
- Class 6 - 6MB/s
- Class 8 - 8MB/s
- Class 10 - 10MB/s or faster
Every brand of card that you can buy will be Class 10. To check the class rating of a memory card, find a number inside of a C on the front label.
Ultra High Speed (UHS)
The Ultra High Speed bus (UHS) comes in SDUC, SDXC, and SDHC cards. UHS cards to have increased write speeds.
There are three separate specifications. They are UHS-I, UHS-II, and UHS-III.
Look at the front of the memory card to determine the UHS rating of a SD card. A Roman numeral I, II, or III on the front of the memory card, that is going to be the rating of your card.
- 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
Related Cameras
Taking the details into consideration, the 64GB SanDisk Extreme Pro is the best memory card for the Pentax K-70. The card also has excellent compatibility with other cameras.
The following are more posts on cameras with the same specs as the K-70: