Sony M series vs. G series 128 memory cards

[jstevensphoto]

Hello everyone.   I ordered a new Sony A7Riv last month and I also ordered two M series sony cards.    Now I'm wondering if I need the faster G series.   Anyone have experience with these cards.  The new camera takes the UH 2 cards, so the cards are expensive.   Any thoughts appreciated. 

[Chrissie]

16 hours ago, jstevensphoto said:

Anyone have experience with these cards

Instead of relying on somebody's experience, I compare the requirements of the body to the capabilities of the memory card, in that the body can deliver data at a certain rate, and the card's write speed must always match (or exceed), what the body can deliver. Both information can be obtained from technical specifications.

That said:

the A7Riv delivers an impressive 61 MP image, which results in an uncompressed raw file size of around 102 MB. Even at 10 fps burst rate, this will not be the maximum "sustained" data rate which the camera can deliver, because the burst first goes into a limited-size internal buffer, from where the data is released into the memory card at a rate which the memory card does sustain. I wouldn't worry about stills shooting.

When recording video, the most demanding would be 4K @30/25fps, at a maximum sustained data rate of 100 MB/s:

Quote

IMAGE SIZE (PIXELS), NTSC

XAVC S 4K: 3840 x 2160 (30p, 100 M), 3840 x 2160 (24p, 100 M), 3840 x 2160 (30p, 60 M), 3840 x 2160 (24p, 60 M), XAVC S HD: 1920 x 1080 (120p, 100M), 1920 x 1080 (120p, 60M), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 50M), 1920 x 1080 (30p, 50M), 1920 x 1080 (24p, 50M), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 25M), 1920 x 1080 (30p, 16M), AVCHD: 1920 x 1080 (60i, 24M, FX), 1920 x 1080 (60i, 17M, FH)

IMAGE SIZE (PIXELS), PAL

XAVC S 4K: 3840 x 2160 (25p, 100M), 3840 x 2160 (25p, 60M), XAVC S HD:1920 x 1080 (100p, 100M), 1920 x 1080 (100p, 60M), 1920 x 1080 (50p, 50M), 1920 x 1080 (25p, 50M), 1920 x 1080 (50p, 25M), 1920 x 1080 (25p, 16M), AVCHD: 1920 x 1080 (50i, 24 M, FX), 1920 x 1080 (50i, 17 M, FH)

Sony "G"-type memory cards are specified as capable of sustained write speeds (on an unfragmented media) of 150 MB/s, so you'll be fine with those.

 

[jstevensphoto]

Thanks so much for the info.   I just changed my B&H order and got the Sony 128 G series cards, instead of the M series.   I don't do a lot of video, but at least I am ready if I suddenly want to shoot video.    I have never used compressed RAW, but I may consider it for shooting with this camera.    When I shoot commercially, I always use uncompressed RAW, just in case I need to bring up shadows, etc. Thanks again for the excellent info.  

6 hours ago, Chrissie said:

 

Sony "G"-type memory cards are specified as capable of sustained write speeds (on an unfragmented media) of 150 MB/s, so you'll be fine with those.