Nikon D800 Recommended SD and CompactFlash Media Cards

The Nikon D800 accepts both SD (Secure Digital) and CompactFlash media cards. Several cards have been tested and work with the D800. Other cards may work, but have not been tested. To assure compatibility, please use one of the following media cards with your Nikon D800.

Secure Digital – SD Memory Cards

SD media cards are available in several different speed classes, which are a rating of the read/write speed. Higher class cards can read and write data faster to the SD card. It is recommended to use at least a class 6 card when recording movies. Use of slower cards may cause movie recording to end unexpectedly because the camera can not write to the card quickly enough. The Nikon D800 supports UHS-1.

Manufacturer SD SDHC SDXC
SanDisk 2 GB 4 GB, 8 GB, 16 GB, 32 GB 64 GB
Toshiba 2 GB 4 GB, 8 GB, 16 GB, 32 GB 64 GB
Panasonic 2 GB 4 GB, 6 GB, 8 GB, 12 GB,
16 GB, 24 GB, 32 GB
48 GB, 64 GB
Lexar Media 2 GB 4 GB, 8 GB, 16 GB
Lexar Media Platinum II & Professional 2 GB 4 GB, 8 GB, 16 GB, 32 GB
Lexar Media Full-HD Video   4 GB, 8 GB, 16 GB

CompactFlash cards confirmed to work with the Nikon D800:
SanDisk Extreme SD (Fast, 30-45 MB/s)
SanDisk Extreme Pro SD (Fastest Speed up to 95 MB/s)
Lexar Professional SD

CompactFlash Memory Cards

The Nikon D800 support Type I CompactFlash cards. The following list shows the cards that have been tested and approved to be used with the D800. Other cards may work but have not been tested. Please note, Type II CompactFlash and microdrives are not supported.

Card Name Speed Stroage size
SanDisk Extreme Pro SDCFXP 16 GB, 32 GB, 64 GB, 128 GB
Extreme SDCFX 8 GB, 16 GB, 32 GB
Extreme IV SDCFX4 2 GB, 4 GB, 8 GB, 16GB
Extreme III SDCFX3 2 GB, 4 GB, 8 GB, 16GB
Extreme II SDCFH 2 GB, 4 GB, 8 GB
Standard SDCFB 2 GB, 4 GB
Lexar Media Professional UDMA 600 X 8 GB, 16 GB, 32 GB
400 X 8 GB, 16 GB, 32 GB
300 X 2 GB, 4 GB, 8 GB, 16 GB
Professional 233 X 2 GB, 4 GB, 8 GB
133 X 2 GB, 4 GB, 8 GB
80 X 2 GB, 4 GB
Platinum II 80 X 2 GB, 4 GB, 8 GB, 16GB
60 X 4 GB

CompactFlash cards confirmed to work with the Nikon D800:
Sandisk Extreme Pro CF cards
Lexar Professional Compact Flash Cards

22 thoughts on “Nikon D800 Recommended SD and CompactFlash Media Cards

  1. This is fine, but we need to know what pays off

    1) For the camera – the speed and buffer, and

    2) For the pc

    because it is not the same – does it pay off to buy the 600 x for the camera or is it enough with 400 x for the camera, and the same question for loading to the pc

    THANKS

  2. tried and failed a 32GB 600X kingston CF- failed to format…Kingston Ultimate X class 10 SD works fine

  3. Would like to know about the Transcend 32Gb 600x if it’s tested the last months and if it’s working well with my D800 and my D700.

  4. Pixelflash 533x 64gb gives card error when subjected to long continuous burst (>80 images) on a long lens (500mm vr).

  5. Will the Lexar Professional UDMA 7 1066x 64GB CompactFlash card work in my D800?

  6. New firmware on my D800 killed 2 Kingston cards to badly that they won’t even be recognised in any of my 3 PCs after in-camera formatting.

    Kingston say Nikon issue, Nikon say not their issue as Kingston not on their “approved” list.

    £150 of dead/useless/redundant cards anyone???

  7. I received 2 Lexar Pro 600X 32GB SDHC UHS-1 cards few days ago. When they were used with D800, I got 2 “end of file” error in LR 4 over ~50 twice (indicating possible corrupted files) and happened on “BOTH” cards. They were formatted by D800.
    This never occurred before when Sandisk SDHC/SDXC cards and even Lexar Pro 400X 32GB SDHC were used in the past 2 years. Anyone else has the same problem with the latest batch of Lexar 600X (LSD32GCRBNA800 RevA)?

    • This error can be caused by a variety of conditions, from the camera to the card to the transfer method to a computer hardware or software issue. How did you copy and open the files? If you still have the originals images on the cards, go back and try to copy again, possibly using a different card reader or computer to try to narrow down the possibilities. If you suspect the cards, try Check Flash (ChkFlsh) or H2testw to test the cards (after you have removed any important images).

  8. I just purchased a Lexar Professional 800 x 128 GB CF UDMA 7 card
    my Nikon shows a card error message. card will not format in camera.

    Any ideas

  9. I would like to add to the conversation on 32Gb CF cards and D810’s:
    Additional data from testing formatting different mfg CF cards with D810’s
    Method: used multiple D810′ s and multiple CF cards of each type.

    Results:
    Kingston Elite Pro 133x 16Gb format OK
    RiData Lightning Series 233x 16Gb format OK
    Adata 533x 8Gb, 16Gb, 32 Gb format OK

    Duracell Pro Photo UDMA 600x 32Gb “Err”
    Monster Pro Quality UDMA 500x 32Gb “Err”
    Have asked Nikon about the results, and they only can respond with their “approved table” list from their manuals.

  10. A Lexar Professional 400x rev. A 32GB working fine in D810, but a Lexar Professional 400x rev. B 32GB not working in the D810. The second card does work in a D700 and D300 and one USB3 card reader but not in a USB2 card reader.

  11. Hi!

    I used a Sandisk Ultra II 8 GB card which worked fine. Only now when I wanted to use my camera again, it reads ‘card error’. I tried other SD cards but they are all giving me an error. What do I do? I can’t format the card either. I also checked if there were any different files on the card, but that was not the case. I’m afraid that it could be a camera problem instead of a card problem.

    Please help me!

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