The Canon EOS R5 is a 45 megapixel full-frame (36 x 24 mm) mirrorless camera that features two memory card slots, slot 1 supports CFexpress Type B cards and slot 2 supports SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-II / UHS-I) cards.
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 R5 Mark I 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 |
For further details on how these cards perform in-camera, please refer to our Canon R5 Memory Card Speed & Buffer Tests blog post.
Recommended UHS-II SDXC Cards
Our top recommended UHS-II SDXC cards based on speed and reliability for the Canon R5 Mark I 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 R5 Mark I 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: 23710
- HEIF L: 24290
- RAW: 6540
- CRAW: 15210
- RAW + JPEG L: 5120
- CRAW + JPEG L: 9260
- RAW + HEIF L: 4860
- CRAW + HEIF L: 8420
How many minutes of video can be recorded on a 64GB card?
When recording in 8k standard RAW 30fps at 2600 Mbps you will only be able to record 3 minutes of video with the R5 and a 64GB card. If you instead record in XF-AVC S YCC422 10bit standard intra 30fps at 450 Mbps then you can record for 18 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 8K RAW at 2600 Mbps (325 MB/s). This is the most demanding video recording option for the R5 Mark I.
Are CFexpress Type B 4.0 cards compatible with the R5 Mark I?
Yes, the R5 Mark I 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 R5 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 R5 Mark I?
No. The Canon R5 Mark I 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 R5 Mark I specifications?
Full specifications for the Canon R5 Mark I can be found on Canon's website.
