This is a list of our best memory cards for the Pentax K-3 II. It has 2 x SD memory cards that both support UHS-I.
It’s a relatively fast camera with 8fps and a big buffer, so it’s recommended to get a fast enough memory card that will allow you to take pictures without waiting for the buffer to clear.
Our favorite memory card is the SanDisk Extreme PRO 64GB. It’s cheap, reliable, fast and has plenty of storage. Not to mention, SanDisk is the most popular brand for a reason.
After looking through many memory cards available, these are the top 3 (best price/speed ratio).
Best Pentax K-3 II Memory Cards
- SanDisk Extreme PRO UHS-I (95MB/s)
- Lexar Professional 2000x UHS-II (300MB/s)
- Lexar Professional 1000x UHS-II (150MB/s)
What to Remember about Memory Cards
Here are a couple key things to remember when purchasing a SD memory card.
- ALWAYS buy more than one SD card
- Memory cards don’t last forever
- If you run out of space in the middle of shooting you have another card to pop in
- Have two to four cards so you can setup a rotation between what’s in your camera and what you’re loading to your computer.
- Card size isn’t as important as buying more than one card
- Card capacity is nice but having a backup card(s) is much more valuable for real life
- If you must, skip a meal rather than buy a cheap SD card
- A bad memory card is going to slow down the ability to use your camera to its fullest
- The card failing unexpectedly can also have dire consequences
If you want to learn more our partner site, Best Photography Gear, provides a thorough review of the different memory card brands, terms, & expressions out there. They break it down so it’s easy to understand the differences so you can select the right one.
SanDisk Extreme Pro 64GB
Our top pick: The SanDisk Extreme Pro 64GB (95MB/s) is hands down the best memory card on the market right now, and has been for a few years. As mentioned previously, it’s affordable, reliable and really fast with 95MB/s and UHS-I U3.
For 8fps and sports photography, it’s a perfect card.
You can buy it at Amazon or see more reviews here.
Lexar Professional 2000x UHS-II
If you want something faster. check out the Lexar Professional 2000x. It has a UHS-II interface so the K-3 II won’t be able to take advantage of the extra speed, but you will still transfer the images to your computer nearly twice as fast.
In-camera, it will be as fast as a UHS-I card, simply because no Pentax camera right now supports anything faster.
It even comes with a USB 3.0 reader, as well as Image Rescue software that can help recover your lost photos. Definitely a great deal for the money, but more expensive than the Sandisk above.
You can buy it at Amazon or see more reviews here.
Lexar Professional 1000x UHS-II
The Lexar Professional 1000x 64GB is a slower, more affordable version of the card above. Instead of 300MB/s, it tops out at 150MB yet is still UHS-II U3 so the minimum will always be 30MB/s.
It’s less expensive than the SanDisk but it’s a fraction slower, despite being UHS-II. You will notice an improvement in read speeds (aka moving the images, displaying files etc.) so you will have to decide what matters more to you.
You can buy it at Amazon or see more reviews here.
Don’t buy memory cards from unknown brands or something that looks too good to be true. More often than not, those cards will fail right when you’ll need them the most.
A memory card is where all of your work is stored until you transfer that on the computer.
Make sure to get a card from any of the following brands: SanDisk, Lexar, Transcend and Kingston. There are a few good out there, but the 5 we mentioned are more than enough.
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