Nikon D3100 Memory Card Recommendations

Howdy friends! Choosing the right memory card is an important step. With so many choices out there, it’s tough to decide on the right one. In this guide I’ll shed some light on memory card compatibility, image/video capacity and specific requirements needed to record HD video with the Nikon D3100.

• Compatibility
• Image Capacity
• HD Video Requirements
• Video Capacity
• Recommendations

Compatibility

The D3100 takes 3 types of memory cards…

1. SD – Up to 4GB worth of images and video.
2. SDHC – Up to 32GB worth of images and video.
3. SDXC – (Currently) Up to 64GB worth of images and video.

Image Capacity

The information below shows the total number of images that can be recorded (based on memory card size)…
4GB – 460 images (fine) and 226 images (raw)
8GB – 920 images (fine) and 452 images (raw)
16GB – 1,840 images (fine) and 904 images (raw)
32GB – 3,680 images (fine) and 1,808 images (raw)
64GB – 7,360 images (fine) and 3,616 images (raw)

HD Video Requirements

In order to record HD video on the D3100, your memory card will need to have a Class 6 rating or higher. If it doesn’t meet this requirement, video recording may stop unexpectedly.

Video Capacity

No matter how large your memory card is, video clips are limited to 10 minute segments. The information below shows the overall recording time based on the highest quality movie frame size (1920×1080):
4GB – 26min 40sec (.mov)
8GB – 53min 20sec (.mov)
16GB – 106min 40sec (.mov)
32GB – 213min 20sec (.mov)
64GB – 426min 40sec (.mov)

Memory Card Recommendations

I recommend a Class 10 SDHC or SDXC memory card (see here) with a capacity that matches your shooting style. Continue reading for my full recommendation…

Class Ratings

As mentioned above, Nikon calls for a class 6 rating or higher when shooting video. In my experience, class 10 cards perform a bit better when it comes to recording long segments. Class ratings are basically the minimum read/write speeds of the memory card. For example, a class 10 memory card has a minimum write speed of 10 megabytes per second. Having a higher class rating ensures the video buffer rate never drops below the minimum class 6 rating.

Speed Ratings

In addition to class ratings, you’ll probably also see speed ratings associated to SD, SDHC and SDXC cards. Speed ratings reflect the maximum read and write speed of the card. Generally speaking, higher speed ratings won’t improve shooting performance. However, you may notice faster shot to shot times when shooting in RAW and more consistent bursts when using continuous mode. Memory cards with faster speed ratings can also greatly reduce the overall time it takes to transfer data to your computer.

Recommended Capacity

When looking at capacity, it really depends on your shooting style. If you plan on taking lots of video, shooting in RAW or using burst mode on a regular basis, then go with a 16GB or 32GB card. If you don’t plan on using those features all that much, then go with an 8GB or 16GB card.

Recommended Brands

As for memory card brands, you have a couple different options. Nikon recommends SanDisk, Toshiba, Panasonic and Lexar memory cards (mentioned on page 177 of the manual). Over the last few years I’ve used Transcend memory cards for both personal and professional work. If you want to go with a more established brand, then I recommend SanDisk or Lexar. They’ve both built a solid reputation in the industry when it comes to reliability and performance.

My picks

Here are my memory card picks for the Nikon D3100…

8GB (class 10) 16GB (class 10) 32GB (class 10)

8GB (class 10) 16GB (class 10) 32GB (class 10)

8GB (class 10) 16GB (class 10) 32GB (class 10)

Check out the Nikon D3100 homepage for more tips, advice and recommendations. Happy shooting!