Best Memory Card for Nikon Z5IIC
The Nikon Z5 IIC records N-RAW to one SD card, and Nikon recommends a Video Speed Class 90 card for that file. There is no second slot to fall back on. The SanDisk Extreme PRO SDXC UHS-II Card is the V90 card rated at up to 300 MB/s read and 300 MB/s write, with a 90 MB/s minimum sustained write. Check SanDisk Extreme PRO SDXC UHS-II Card on Amazon.
Our Top Picks at a Glance
Reviewed September 2026 · one UHS-II SD slot · N-RAW asks for V90
V90, with up to 300 MB/s write and a 90 MB/s minimum. That is the rating Nikon points to for N-RAW.
Check Price at Amazon Read full review ↓Also V90. Nextorage rates it at 300 MB/s read and 299 MB/s write, in 64, 128, and 256 GB.
Check Price at Amazon Read full review ↓V90 as well, at up to 300 MB/s read and 260 MB/s write. The minimum sustained write is still 90 MB/s.
Check Price at Amazon Read full review ↓This page contains affiliate links. A purchase through those links may earn Cameraegg a commission at no extra cost to you.
| Card | Job on this camera | Class and speed | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| SanDisk Extreme PRO SDXC UHS-II Card | N-RAW on the single slot | V90 · up to 300/300 MB/s | Check price |
| Nextorage NX-F2PRO | N-RAW, 64–256 GB | V90 · up to 300/299 MB/s | Check price |
| Lexar Professional 2000x SDXC UHS-II Card | N-RAW, lower peak write | V90 · up to 300/260 MB/s | Check price |
How We Picked
One slot, and Nikon names V90 for N-RAW. The three cards are all V90. The split is the published write speed.
- N-RAW on this camera is an SD recording, and Nikon asks for V90. Nikon Asia, September 24, 2026: N-RAW video records to an SD memory card, with restrictions on the video formats, and Video Speed Class 90 cards are recommended. The same note says High-Speed Frame Capture+, up to 30 fps and fixed at JPEG L NORMAL, advises a recommended card. Pre-Release Capture can save up to one second before the shutter in that mode.
- The slot is a single UHS-II socket. PetaPixel’s September 23, 2026 hands-on, and B&H’s September 24, 2026 announcement, both describe one SD UHS-II slot. A failed or full card stops the camera. There is no second card to keep shooting.
- All three cards publish a V90 minimum and a UHS-II peak write. SanDisk Extreme PRO SDXC UHS-II card specifications: up to 300 MB/s read and 300 MB/s write, 90 MB/s minimum sustained write, V90 and U3. Nextorage NX-F2PRO specifications: 300 MB/s read, 299 MB/s write, V90, 64/128/256 GB, pSLC. Lexar Professional 2000x SDXC UHS-II specifications: up to 300 MB/s read and 260 MB/s write, V90, minimum write 90 MB/s.
Detailed Reviews
SanDisk Extreme PRO SDXC UHS-II Card View on Amazon View on B&H
| Bus and class | SDXC UHS-II · V90 · U3 |
|---|---|
| Speed | Up to 300 MB/s read and 300 MB/s write |
| Sustained video write | 90 MB/s minimum |
| Other | About 2 g · lifetime limited warranty on SanDisk’s sheet |
Why it fits the Z5 IIC. Nikon’s N-RAW note for this camera recommends V90. SanDisk’s sheet puts this card at up to 300 MB/s write and a 90 MB/s minimum, which is the V90 floor. The camera has one UHS-II slot, so the card that holds N-RAW is also the card that holds the stills. A 14 fps mechanical burst and the 30 fps JPEG mode both write to that same card.
Buy the 128 GB or larger when N-RAW is the reason for the purchase. Skip a UHS-I card for that job. It can still take stills, and it does not carry the V90 minimum Nikon names.
Check Price on Amazon US, UK, CA, DE → Check Price on B&H
Nextorage NX-F2PRO View on Amazon View on B&H
| Bus and class | SDXC UHS-II · V90 · U3 · Class 10 |
|---|---|
| Speed | 300 MB/s read · 299 MB/s write |
| Capacities | 64 GB, 128 GB, 256 GB · pSLC |
| Size | About 24×32×2.1 mm · about 2 g |
Why it fits the Z5 IIC. Nextorage rates the NX-F2PRO at 299 MB/s write and V90, one megabyte per second under the SanDisk peak, on pSLC. The 64 GB step is the smallest of the three V90 lines here. Nikon still wants V90 for N-RAW, and this card publishes that class. It does not add a second slot. Nothing does.
Buy the 128 GB when N-RAW clips and stills share one card and 64 GB would fill during a long take. Skip it if you want the 300 MB/s write line specifically. That is the SanDisk card.
Check Price on Amazon US, UK, CA, DE → Check Price on B&H
Lexar Professional 2000x SDXC UHS-II Card View on Amazon View on B&H
| Bus and class | UHS-II · V90 · U3 |
|---|---|
| Speed | Up to 300 MB/s read · up to 260 MB/s write |
| Minimum write | 90 MB/s |
| Capacities on Lexar’s V90 page | 64 GB, 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB |
Why it fits the Z5 IIC. Lexar’s Professional 2000x UHS-II card is V90, so the minimum sustained write matches the class Nikon recommends for N-RAW. The peak write is 260 MB/s, under the SanDisk 300 and the Nextorage 299. For a camera with one slot, the class matters more than the last 40 MB/s of the brochure speed. UHS-II still matches the slot PetaPixel and B&H describe.
Buy it when the card must be V90 and the 260 MB/s write rating is acceptable. Skip it when the highest published write is the point. Use a 128 GB or larger if N-RAW and stills share the card. A spare lens for this body is covered in the starter-lens guide for the Z5 IIC.
Check Price on Amazon US, UK, CA, DE → Check Price on B&H
If You Need Something Else
A V60 or V30 card can hold JPEG stills. It is the wrong card once N-RAW is turned on. Nikon’s note for this camera names V90 for that mode, and High-Speed Frame Capture+ already asks for a recommended card. Keep the V90 card in the only slot.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why V90 is the class Nikon names
Nikon Asia’s September 24, 2026 announcement says N-RAW records to an SD card, with format restrictions, and recommends Video Speed Class 90. V90 means a 90 MB/s minimum sustained write. All three cards above publish that class.
What a single slot changes
PetaPixel and B&H both describe one UHS-II SD slot. Stills, H.265, and N-RAW share it. A full card ends the take. There is no backup slot in the body.
What 4K 60p does to the file, not the card class
Nikon’s footnote on 4K UHD 60 fps says the image area is cropped to DX. That is a crop, not a lower speed class. N-RAW still carries the V90 recommendation, with Nikon’s own format restrictions.
What High-Speed Frame Capture+ writes
Nikon fixes that mode at JPEG L NORMAL, up to 30 fps, and says to use a recommended card. Pre-Release Capture can keep up to one second of frames from before the shutter. Those JPEGs land on the same card as the video.
Which capacity to start with
Nextorage starts at 64 GB. Lexar’s V90 line includes 512 GB. N-RAW on a single card fills a 64 GB card faster than JPEG stills. A 128 GB card is the practical start when both file types share the slot.
Final Verdict
The SanDisk Extreme PRO is the V90 card for N-RAW on the Z5 IIC’s only slot, up to 300 MB/s write. The Nextorage NX-F2PRO is also V90, at 299 MB/s write, in 64, 128, and 256 GB. The Lexar Professional 2000x stays V90 at up to 260 MB/s write, with a 90 MB/s minimum.