Using the recommended memory cards for your Nikon D800 are mandatory!
Now that you finally have the game changing Nikon D800, you’ll definitely want to make sure you are using the recommended memory cards for the D800 and that your memory cards are going to be optimal for this super fast camera, AND that they have the transfer capacity for such ginormous files!
Slow memory cards will frustrate you and you may think that you’ve bought a dud camera, and if your memory cards are not large enough you’ll spend too much time swapping cards in and out, keeping track of your cards, and possibly (if you’re like me) losing them or forgetting where you put them!
But not all memory cards are made the same way, and the really cheap memory cards are cheap for a reason – memory card failure IS real and it does happen. Make sure you are using recommended memory cards to make sure that your images are safe and that you don’t miss a shot because your card is slow to buffer.
Here are the cards in my camera bag!
And from the mouth of Nikon here is the authoritative list of CF and SD cards for your D800 or D800E. Nikon has tested and approved these for use with the D800/ D800E.
Remember that the D800 and D800E uses CF (Compact Flash) memory Type I memory AS WELL AS SD (Secure Digital) memory. Again, like other Nikon cameras, type II CF cards are not supported.
Recommended CF Cards for the Nikon D800 and D800E
SanDisk |
||
|---|---|---|
SanDisk Extreme Pro Memory Cards
|
SDCFXP | 16 GB |
| 32 GB | ||
| 64 GB | ||
| 128 GB | ||
SanDisk Extreme |
SDCFX | 8 GB |
| 16 GB | ||
| 32 GB | ||
SanDisk Extreme IV |
SDCFX4 | 2 GB |
| 4 GB | ||
| 8 GB | ||
| 16 GB | ||
SanDisk Extreme III |
SDCFX3 | 2 GB |
| 4 GB | ||
| 8 GB | ||
| 16 GB | ||
SanDisk Ultra II (SDCFH-004G-A11) |
SDCFH | 2 GB |
| 4 GB | ||
| 8 GB | ||
| Standard | SDCFB | 2 GB |
| 4 GB | ||
LEXAR CF CARDS
|
Lexar Media |
||
|---|---|---|
| Lexar Media UDMA | 1000X | 16 GB |
| 32 GB | ||
| 64 GB | ||
| 128 GB | ||
| 600X | 8 GB | |
| 16 GB | ||
| 32 GB | ||
| 400X | 8 GB | |
| 16 GB | ||
| 32 GB | ||
| 300X | 2 GB | |
| 4 GB | ||
| 8 GB | ||
| 16 GB | ||
| Lexar Professional | 233X | 2 GB |
| 4 GB | ||
| 8 GB | ||
| 133X | 2 GB | |
| 4 GB | ||
| 8 GB | ||
| 80X | 2 GB | |
| 4 GB | ||
| Lexar Media UDMA | 80X | 2 GB |
| 4 GB | ||
| 8 GB | ||
| 16 GB | ||
Recommended Secure Digital SD Cards for Nikon D800 and D800E
The following SD, SDHC, SDXC, SDXC-I cards have been tested and approved for use in the camera. Cards with Class 6 or faster write speeds are recommended for movie recording. Recording may end unexpectedly when cards with slower write speeds are used.
| SD memory cards | SDHC memory cards 2 | SDXC memory cards 3 | |
| SanDisk | 2 GB 1 | 4 GB, 8 GB, 16 GB, 32GB | 64 GB |
| TOSHIBA | 4 GB, 8 GB, 16 GB, 32 GB | 64 GB | |
| Panasonic | 4 GB, 6 GB, 8 GB, 12 GB , 16 GB, 32 GB | 48 GB, 64 GB | |
| Lexar Media | 4 GB, 8GB, 16GB |
— |
|
|
Platinum II |
4 GB, 8 GB, 16GB, 32GB |
— |
|
| Professional | 4 GB, 8 GB, 16 GB, 32 GB |
— |
|
| Full HD Video |
— |
4 GB, 8 GB, 16 GB |
— |
1– If the memory card will be used with a card reader or similar device, check that the device supports 2 GB or greater cards.
2– 
SDHC Compliant Memory. If the card will be used with a card reader or similar device, check that that device is compliant with the SDHC standard.
3– 
SDXC / 
SDHC-I Compliant Memory. If the card will be used with a card reader or similar device, check that that device is compliant with the SDXC standard. The camera supports UHS-1.
Operation is not guaranteed with other makes of card. Contact the manufacturer for details on the cards not listed above.