Fast answer: For most Sony A7 IV owners, start with a good UHS‑II V60 SD card. It’s the best balance of speed and price. Only buy V90 SD or CFexpress Type A if you shoot the heaviest video modes or you want faster buffer clearing and faster file copy.
Part of: Sony A7 IV Guide
If you’re using an external recorder, your camera may record externally while also writing proxy/stills to the card. Keep a reliable SD card in the camera even if you buy CFexpress. External recorder setup.
What cards the A7 IV can use (manual-backed)
Sony says: “This camera supports CFexpress Type A memory cards and SD memory cards (UHS‑I, UHS‑II compatible).”
(Sony A7 IV Help Guide PDF, “Memory cards that can be used” section, p. 22)
Sony also says: “CFexpress Type B memory cards cannot be used.” (p. 24)
Simple buying rules
- Most people: buy a UHS‑II V60 SD card first.
- Buy V90 SD if you plan to record the heavy “all‑intra” modes to SD. Sony lists XAVC S‑I 4K 600Mbps as requiring SDXC V90 or higher or CFexpress Type A (VPG200 or higher). (p. 22–23)
- Buy CFexpress Type A if you want the hardest modes, faster buffer clearing, or faster offload.
- If you record to both slots at once, Sony says both cards must use the same file system (exFAT vs FAT32). (p. 24)
- Format new cards in the camera before real use.
Quick decision table
| What you shoot | Minimum card class | Buy this first |
|---|---|---|
| Photos + normal 4K | UHS‑II V60 (or better) | One solid V60 SD card |
| Heavier 4K / all‑intra | V90 SD or CFexpress Type A (VPG200+) | If you’re unsure, start V60, then upgrade based on settings |
| External recorder + proxies/stills | Reliable SD card in-camera (V60 is a good default) | Keep SD even if you buy CFexpress |
What Sony’s manual says about “heavy” video (quick table)
| Format | Sony’s max bit rate | Sony’s supported card |
|---|---|---|
| XAVC HS 4K | 200Mbps | SDHC/SDXC (U3/V30 or higher) or CFexpress Type A |
| XAVC S 4K | 200Mbps | SDHC/SDXC (U3/V30 or higher) or CFexpress Type A |
| XAVC S‑I 4K | 600Mbps | CFexpress Type A (VPG200 or higher) or SDXC V90 or higher |
Source: Sony A7 IV Help Guide PDF, “Memory cards that can be used” p. 22–23.
Recommended picks (Enthusiasts)
Lexar Professional 1800x UHS‑II Gold 128GB (V60)
Good value V60 starter card for stills + normal 4K.
- ProGrade Digital UHS‑II V60 Gold 128GB — Amazon
- Sony SF‑M TOUGH UHS‑II 128GB (V60) — Amazon
- Lexar Professional 1800x UHS‑II Gold 256GB (V60) — Amazon
Recommended picks (Pros)
- SanDisk Extreme PRO UHS‑II V90 128GB — Amazon
- Sony SF‑G TOUGH UHS‑II 128GB (V90) — no confirmed Amazon US /dp link yet (we’ll add when confirmed)
- Sony CEA‑G160T CFexpress Type A 160GB — Amazon
- Lexar Professional CFexpress Type A Gold 160GB — Amazon
Setup steps (quick)
- Put the card in Slot 1.
- Format it in-camera: MENU → (Shooting) → Media → Format.
- Choose where stills/movies go: Media → Rec. Media Settings.
- If you want backup recording, use the “record to both slots” option, and keep cards matched.
