The Canon EOS R3 is a 24MP full-frame (36 x 24 mm) mirrorless camera. It features two memory card slots and is compatible with CFexpress Type B cards in slot 1 and SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-II / UHS-I) cards in slot 2.
If you want to record to both card slots simultaneously the write speed will be restricted by the slowest card which will be the UHS-II / UHS-I card in slot 2. For the best dual slot performance we recommend recording RAW to slot 1 (CFexpress) and JPEG to slot 2 (UHS-II). We also recommend choosing one of the faster SDXC UHS-II V90 cards.
We recommend formatting new memory cards in camera before using them for the first time.
Recommended CFexpress Type B Cards
Our top recommended CFexpress Type B cards based on speed and reliability for the Canon R3 are:
| CFexpress Type B Memory Card | Min Sustained Write Speed | Max Write Speed | Max Read Speed | Video Rating | CFexpress Standard |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delkin Devices BLACK 4.0 | 2040 MB/s | 3200 MB/s | 3600 MB/s | VPG400 | 4.0 |
| Delkin Devices POWER 4.0 | 820 MB/s | 3240 MB/s | 3650 MB/s | NA | 4.0 |
| Angelbird AV PRO SE v4 | 1050 MB/s | 1100 MB/s | 3700 MB/s | NA | 4.0 |
| SanDisk PRO-CINEMA | 1400 MB/s | 1500 MB/s | 1700 MB/s | NA | 2.0 |
| Lexar Professional DIAMOND 4.0 | 3200 MB/s | 3400 MB/s | 3700 MB/s | VPG400 | 4.0 |
| Nextorage NX-B2 PRO | 3400 MB/s | 3600 MB/s | 3900 MB/s | VPG400 | 4.0 |
| Delkin Devices POWER G4 | 805 MB/s | 1700 MB/s | 1780 MB/s | NA | 2.0 |
| Lexar Professional GOLD 4.0 | 3000 MB/s | 3300 MB/s | 3600 MB/s | NA | 4.0 |
| Lexar Professional SILVER 4.0 | 2600 MB/s | 3000 MB/s | 3600 MB/s | NA | 4.0 |
| ProGrade Digital 4.0 Gold | 850 MB/s | 3000 MB/s | 3400 MB/s | NA | 4.0 |
|
ProGrade Digital 4.0 Iridium |
850 MB/s | 3000 MB/s | 3550 MB/s | VPG400 | 4.0 |
| Sony CEB-G | NA | 1600 MB/s | 1850 MB/s | NA | 2.0 |
| SanDisk Extreme PRO | NA | 1200 MB/s | 1700 MB/s | NA | 2.0 |
Recommended UHS-II SDXC Cards
Our top recommended UHS-II SDXC cards based on speed and reliability for the Canon R3 are:
| UHS-II Card | Max Write Speed | Max Read Speed | Video Speed Class |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delkin Devices BLACK | 250 MB/s | 300 MB/s | V90 |
| Delkin Devices Power | 250 MB/s | 300 MB/s | V90 |
| Angelbird AV PRO SD (MK2) | 280 MB/s | 300 MB/s | V90 |
| Nextorage NX-F2PRO | 299 MB/s | 300 MB/s | V90 |
| SanDisk Extreme Pro | 260 MB/s | 300 MB/s | V90 |
| Sony SF-G Tough | 299 MB/s | 300 MB/s | V90 |
| Lexar Professional GOLD 2000X | 260 MB/s | 300 MB/s | V90 |
| OWC Atlas Ultra | 250 MB/s | 300 MB/s | V90 |
| Lexar Professional GOLD 1800x | 210 MB/s | 280 MB/s | V60 |
| Nextorage NX-F2SE Series | 100 MB/s | 280 MB/s | V60 |
FAQs
How many images can be stored on a 325GB card?
The number of images that can be stored on a 325GB memory card in the R3 varies based on the image type that you are recording in. The following values are approximate because file size varies with the scene being shot:
- JPEG L: 37560
- HEIF L: 34800
- RAW: 11860
- CRAW: 24130
- RAW + JPEG L: 9010
- CRAW + JPEG L: 14690
- RAW + HEIF L: 7970
- CRAW + HEIF L: 12240
How many minutes of video can be recorded on a 256GB card?
When recording in 6k standard RAW 59.94 fps at 2600 Mbps you will only be able to record 13 minutes of video with the R3 and a 256GB card. If you instead record in 4K UHD ALL-I 59.94 fps at 940 Mbps then you can record for 36 minutes.
Is a VPG400 rated CFexpress Type B card required for video?
We would recommend a CFexpress Type B card that is VPG 400 certified for video recording. This guarantees a minimum sustained write speed of 400 MB/s which is fast enough to support shooting in up to 6K RAW at 2600 Mbps (325 MB/s). This is the most demanding video recording option for the R3.
Are CFexpress Type B 4.0 cards compatible with the R3?
Yes, the R3 is compatible with CFexpress 4.0 cards because the 4.0 standard is backward compatible with 2.0. Unfortunately in-camera there is no speed benefit to using a 4.0 card over a 2.0 card because the R3 memory bus does not support the faster 4.0 speeds. Where you will see a benefit is when copying files from your memory card to your computer, with a 4.0 card this can be up to twice as fast compared to a 2.0 card when using a CFexpress 4.0 Type B compatible reader.
What is the difference between CFexpress Type B 2.0 and 4.0?
The main difference is speed. CFexpress Type B 4.0 cards utilize the PCIe Gen 4 bus which delivers twice the bandwidth (up to 4 GB/s) compared to CFexpress 2.0 Type B cards that utilize the PCIe Gen 3 bus (up to 2 GB/s).
CFexpress Type B 4.0 cards are backward compatible with CFexpress 2.0 devices, meaning a 4.0 card will work in a 2.0 camera or reader, but the performance will be limited to CFexpress 2.0 speeds. Similarly, a CFexpress 2.0 card will perform at its peak in a CFexpress 4.0 device.
Are CFexpress Type A cards compatible with the R3?
No. The Canon R3 is not compatible with the physically smaller CFexpress Type A cards, only CFexpress Type B cards are supported in slot 1 and SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-II/UHS-I)cards in slot 2.
What is the difference between UHS-I and UHS-II memory cards?
UHS-II offers much faster speeds (up to 312 MB/s) compared to UHS-I (up to 104 MB/s). This is possible via a second row of pins and two data lanes for simultaneous upstream and downstream data transfer. The extra row of pins are visible on the back of UHS-II cards. Both card types are backward compatible, but a UHS-II card will only operate at UHS-I speeds in a camera that only supports UHS-I cards.
Where can you find the Canon R3 specifications?
Full specifications for the Canon R3 can be found on Canon's website.
