For professionals working with high-resolution photography and 4K/8K video, UHS-II V90 SD cards are the gold standard. Here’s a side-by-side comparison of four top-rated cards: SanDisk Extreme PRO, Lexar Professional 2000x, Sony SF-G Tough, and ProGrade Digital COBALT—based on reviews, specs, NAND origins, and current Canadian pricing.
SanDisk Extreme PRO SDXC UHS-II V90
- Manufacturer: SanDisk (Western Digital)
- NAND Type: Likely TLC or MLC (co-developed with Kioxia)
- Controller: Proprietary WD
- Max Read / Write: 300MB/s / 260MB/s
- Sustained Write: 90MB/s (V90 compliant)
- Durability: Water, shock, temperature, and X-ray proof
- Performance Notes:
- Reliable in 4K/8K video
- Good burst photo performance (e.g., 38 RAW frames on Nikon Z7 II)
- Consumer Rating: 4.8/5
- Price: Approximately $333.99 CAD (256GB) via Amazon.ca
Ideal for: Professionals needing reliable, high-speed cards with vertically integrated production.
Lexar Professional 2000x SDXC UHS-II V90
- Manufacturer: Lexar (owned by Longsys)
- NAND Type: Likely sourced from SK hynix, Micron, or YMTC
- Controller: Sourced or in-house
- Max Read / Write: 300MB/s / 260MB/s
- Sustained Write: 90MB/s
- Durability: Shock, vibration, water, and X-ray resistant
- Performance Notes:
- Fast real-world write speeds (~255MB/s)
- Excellent for 8K RAW and burst photography
- Consumer Rating: 4.6/5
- Price: Approximately $359.99 CAD (256GB) via Canada Computers
Ideal for: Budget-conscious professionals who still need top-tier speed.
Sony SF-G Tough Series SDXC UHS-II V90
- Manufacturer: Sony
- NAND Type: Sony-manufactured
- Controller: Sony proprietary
- Max Read / Write: 300MB/s / 299MB/s
- Sustained Write: 90MB/s
- Durability: IP68-rated, crushproof, bendproof, no write-protect switch
- Performance Notes:
- Best-in-class durability (18x bend-resistant)
- Consistently stable under heavy data loads
- Consumer Rating: 4.7/5
- Price: Approximately $308.00 CAD (128GB) via Vistek.ca
Ideal for: Professionals working in extreme environments (outdoors, adventure shoots, field video production).
ProGrade Digital COBALT SDXC UHS-II V90
- Manufacturer: ProGrade Digital
- NAND Type: Likely Micron or SK hynix
- Controller: ProGrade proprietary
- Max Read / Write: 300MB/s / 250MB/s
- Sustained Write: 90MB/s
- Durability: Designed for professional use; not as rugged as Sony Tough
- Performance Notes:
- High sustained speed ideal for cinema workflows
- Popular among video creators for stability
- Consumer Rating: 4.8/5
- Price: Approximately $229.99 USD (256GB) via ProGrade official store
Ideal for: Video professionals seeking reliable performance at a mid-tier price.
Final Thoughts
All four cards are V90-rated, support 8K video, and use the UHS-II interface. Your best choice depends on your priorities:
- Choose Sony Tough for ruggedness
- Choose SanDisk for proven reliability and vertical integration
- Choose Lexar for affordability with strong speed
- Choose ProGrade for professional video at a reasonable price
Is In-House Manufacturing Important?
Yes. Brands like SanDisk and Sony manufacture both NAND and controllers, which allows for better quality control, tighter integration, and more consistent performance. Brands that source components from third parties—like Lexar and ProGrade—can offer great value but may be more variable in consistency depending on batch or supplier.
At MemoryShop.ca, we only sell to business customers. If your organization is looking for bulk SD cards for production, creative, or enterprise environments, contact us directly for tailored recommendations and volume pricing.