Best SD Card for Leica Q

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This guide is for the original Leica Q (Typ 116), not the later Q2, Q3, or Q3 43. Leica specifies SD, SDHC, and SDXC media for the original camera, so a full-size 128GB SDXC card is a sensible one-card travel capacity without buying a UHS-II card solely for a newer Q body. The nine picks below are current full-size V30/U3 SDXC cards from established makers; that rating gives useful headroom for the Q’s stills, Full HD video, and transfers, while each remains ordinary SD media rather than a camera-specific proprietary format.

# Product Price Where to buy
1 SanDisk 128GB Extreme PRO UHS-I SDXC V30 $55-$75 Amazon · eBay
2 SanDisk 128GB Extreme UHS-I SDXC V30 $30-$50 Amazon · eBay
3 Lexar 128GB Professional SILVER PLUS UHS-I SDXC $50-$65 Amazon · eBay
4 Kingston 128GB Canvas Go! Plus UHS-I SDXC $40-$50 Amazon · eBay
5 Samsung PRO Plus 128GB Full Size SDXC $35-$55 Amazon · eBay
6 PNY 128GB Elite-X UHS-I SDXC V30 $25-$40 Amazon
7 Transcend 128GB 300S UHS-I SDXC V30 $25-$40 Amazon · eBay
8 Delkin Devices 128GB Advantage UHS-I SDXC V30 $30-$50 Amazon · eBay
9 Silicon Power 128GB Superior Pro UHS-I SDXC V30 $20-$35 Amazon

The picks, in detail

SanDisk 128GB Extreme PRO UHS-I SDXC V30
Pick 01 of 09

SanDisk 128GB Extreme PRO UHS-I SDXC V30

A current 128GB full-size UHS-I/V30 Extreme PRO, the straightforward premium choice for a Leica Q owner who wants one well-known card rather than a huge capacity.

  • 128GB SDXC
  • UHS-I, U3 and V30
  • full-size SD format
Pros

  • V30 minimum-write rating leaves ample margin for the original Q
  • Easy replacement from major photo retailers
Cons

  • The original Q cannot turn a UHS-I card into the faster workflow of a newer UHS-II body
SanDisk 128GB Extreme UHS-I SDXC V30
Pick 02 of 09

SanDisk 128GB Extreme UHS-I SDXC V30

The non-PRO Extreme is the value-oriented SanDisk option: 128GB, full-size SDXC and V30 without paying for a card whose peak interface speed the original Q does not need.

  • 128GB SDXC
  • UHS-I, U3 and V30
  • up to 180 MB/s read rating
Pros

  • Meets a modern V30 video specification
  • Usually costs less than Extreme PRO
Cons

  • Lower-tier positioning than the Extreme PRO line
Lexar 128GB Professional SILVER PLUS UHS-I SDXC
Pick 03 of 09

Lexar 128GB Professional SILVER PLUS UHS-I SDXC

Lexar’s current SILVER PLUS 128GB card pairs a V30 rating with a quoted 150 MB/s maximum write speed, making it a strong stills-and-video all-rounder for the original Q.

  • 128GB SDXC
  • UHS-I, U3 and V30
  • 205 MB/s read and 150 MB/s write ratings
Pros

  • Substantial quoted write rating for a UHS-I card
  • Sold new by photo specialists
Cons

  • Costs more than basic V30 cards
Kingston 128GB Canvas Go! Plus UHS-I SDXC
Pick 04 of 09

Kingston 128GB Canvas Go! Plus UHS-I SDXC

A current 128GB Canvas Go! Plus with U3/V30 certification and a 30 MB/s minimum write specification, aimed at photographers who want dependable capacity without a flagship-card premium.

  • 128GB SDXC
  • UHS-I, U3 and V30
  • 200 MB/s maximum read rating
Pros

  • Official V30 minimum-write specification
  • Good fit for a compact travel camera
Cons

  • Does not add any camera-side speed advantage over another quality UHS-I card
Samsung PRO Plus 128GB Full Size SDXC
Pick 05 of 09

Samsung PRO Plus 128GB Full Size SDXC

Samsung’s full-size PRO Plus is a genuine SDXC card, not the similarly named microSD version; its U3/V30 markings make it a clean choice for a Q owner who prefers Samsung media.

  • 128GB full-size SDXC
  • UHS-I, U3 and V30
  • rated for 4K UHD and Full HD
Pros

  • Clear V30 and U3 rating
  • Ruggedized Samsung card line
Cons

  • Check the listing says full-size SDXC, since PRO Plus also exists as microSD
PNY 128GB Elite-X UHS-I SDXC V30
Pick 06 of 09

PNY 128GB Elite-X UHS-I SDXC V30

PNY’s 128GB Elite-X is a full-size Class 10/U3/V30 SDXC option for Leica Q users seeking a mainstream lower-cost card rather than an ultra-fast specialist model.

  • 128GB SDXC
  • UHS-I, U3 and V30
  • Class 10 full-size card
Pros

  • Current V30 specification
  • Often one of the less expensive branded choices
Cons

  • Fewer specialist-photo workflow extras than premium lines
Price: $25-$40
Transcend 128GB 300S UHS-I SDXC V30
Pick 07 of 09

Transcend 128GB 300S UHS-I SDXC V30

The 128GB Transcend 300S is a full-size UHS-I V30 card suited to a practical Leica Q spare or second card, with no need to chase the UHS-II hardware used by later Q generations.

  • 128GB SDXC
  • UHS-I, U3 and V30
  • full-size card
Pros

  • Established storage brand
  • V30 rating suits everyday photo and video use
Cons

  • Less compelling for buyers who specifically want the fastest quoted read speeds
Delkin Devices 128GB Advantage UHS-I SDXC V30
Pick 08 of 09

Delkin Devices 128GB Advantage UHS-I SDXC V30

Delkin’s Advantage V30 is a photo-focused 128GB UHS-I card for buyers who would rather buy from a specialist memory-card maker than choose a general electronics brand.

  • 128GB SDXC
  • UHS-I, U3 and V30
  • full-size SD form factor
Pros

  • Photo-market specialist brand
  • V30 sustained-write class
Cons

  • Availability can be less universal than SanDisk or Samsung
Silicon Power 128GB Superior Pro UHS-I SDXC V30
Pick 09 of 09

Silicon Power 128GB Superior Pro UHS-I SDXC V30

Silicon Power’s Superior Pro provides another current 128GB full-size UHS-I/V30 alternative for an original Leica Q kit where capacity and a real video rating matter more than prestige branding.

  • 128GB SDXC
  • UHS-I, U3 and V30
  • full-size card
Pros

  • V30 option at a budget-friendly tier
  • Useful as a labelled backup card
Cons

  • Buy from an authorized seller to avoid counterfeit memory cards
Price: $20-$35

Buying tips

  • The original Q (Typ 116) takes SD, SDHC and SDXC cards; do not use a Q2 or Q3 recommendation as proof of what its slot can exploit.
  • Format a new card in the camera after copying off any existing files, and keep a second labelled card rather than relying on a single high-capacity card for a whole trip.
  • Buy memory cards from an authorized retailer. An implausibly cheap marketplace listing is a false economy when the card holds irreplaceable photographs.

As an Amazon Associate and eBay Partner, toptenpick.com earns from qualifying purchases. Prices and availability are subject to change.

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