Best SD card for Leica Q3 28mm

[EV80]

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Today I changed the SD card in my camera, tired of it always freezing. I had a 128GB SanDisk at 300MB/s. Now I have a 128GB SanDisk at 180MB/s and the camera feels much smoother. It hasn't frozen in about 400 shots at home, testing it with and without flash, etc. It's very likely that the other SD card was failing, and I've been having these freezing problems about every 10 photos.
Can you recommend a suitable and fastest SD card for my Leica Q3?
Thank you very much.

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[F-train]

I did the reading for you: most recommended on Leica owner sites is Kingston Canvas React Plus.

Best performance and decent price. And as reliable as Sandisk. You probably have a dud, trash it before you lose pictures.

[EV80]

Thank you so much for your recommendation. Honestly, I was going crazy looking for the best option I was able to return the SanDisk to Amazon after two years. It's incredible how the camera is now super fast with an old card. I just ordered the Kingston one right now Have a nice day!

[F-train]

That’s good service from Amazon.

You’re welcome!

[setuporg]

Now that we've settled the question for Q3 28mm, what's the best card for Q3 43?

[RQ44]

I have 100% success with 128mb 300mb card from sandisk. Weird you had issues, perhaps your card was faulty. Was it a genuine card from an electronics store or an ebay special?

[Oxfordian]

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16 hours ago, setuporg said:

Now that we've settled the question for Q3 28mm, what's the best card for Q3 43?

Why would the card need to be different, wouldn't the same make/model of card that works in the Q3/28 also work just fine in the Q3/43?

I have Lexar cards and use a mix of 64GB and 128GB with the same speed rating on all cards, these are used in my Q3/28 and SL2 without issue, I just format the card in camera before I head out.

[Robert Ardinger]

17 hours ago, setuporg said:

Now that we've settled the question for Q3 28mm, what's the best card for Q3 43?

"Humor Alert" or perhaps if using a 128GB card in the Q3 (28) one needs a 196GB card in the Q3 43? (1.535 times larger?)

FWIW, I use Sandisk 300MB cards in both Q's and have had no problems.

[Genoweffa]

On 4/21/2025 at 4:43 PM, setuporg said:

Now that we've settled the question for Q3 28mm, what's the best card for Q3 43?

one that saves pictures on q3 for later transfer to a computer…

This was easy…ask us a tough question

Edited April 24 by Genoweffa

[alterahorn725]

I recommend Nextorage SD Card 128GB UHS-II SDXC V90 or Sony SF-G128T.

Both are fast and reliable.

[Doc_P]

I purchase my cards only from reliable vendors (e.g. Jacobs, Alternate in Germany or directly from Amazon (no other vendor within amazon)) and had some time ago issues with different brands, especially Sandisk. Having read about the experience from a photographer from Graz, who had washed her Sony Tough Card and the card worked flawless afterwards, I tried the Sony Tough Card (G series). Superior build quality, tough, reliable, speed as indicated. Since then only the SF-G64T and SF-G128T models! No more challenges. Unfortunately these Tough cards are a little bit to tight for the Leica S3, here I use OWC Atlas Pro models...

Edited April 28 by Doc_P

[PATB]

I am not sure about best, but I have been using the "ProGrade Digital SDXC UHS-II V90 300R Memory Card (256GB)", purchased from ProGrade at Amazon, for my Q3 43.  No issues after thousands of pictures and several trips.  But my "SanDisk 128GB Extreme PRO SDXC UHS-II Memory Card - C10, U3, V60, 6K, 4K UHD, SD Card - SDSDXEP-128G-GN4IN", purchased from Amazon, also works and is much cheaper 😅 

[ktmrider2]

My Q3 would freeze with the Sony Tough card every time I hit play.  Thought I would have to return it.  Took it to Miami Leica store and switched to Scandisc and perfect ever since.  Avoid the Tough brand.

l

[PhotoCruiser]

vor 16 Stunden schrieb ktmrider2:

My Q3 would freeze with the Sony Tough card every time I hit play.  

Have you tried another Sony Tough and format the card in the camera, also deep format with a external software? I can understand that a slow or defective card can lead to problems with writing big and/or many files, but reading them surprises me.
I have a Sony SF-G Tough SDXC UHS-II 128 GB, SDXC, U3, UHS-II 300mb/sec for my SL-2 and no issues at all, but the SL2 has 48MP, not 60.
A good test to conduct with a SD card is to use a program to test read and write speed, there are sometimes quite a difference between whats written and what is reality.
Blackmagic Disk Speed Test is the one i use 

I have many SD Cards mostly the best and fastest Sandisk, had Lexar and now the Sony Tough and never had problems nor in my Leicas, nor in my D800 and not in many compact cameras i had for underwater photography.

Chris

[ktmrider2]

Leica Store Miami told me they had numerous reports of Q3’s having problems with the Tough brand.  I don’t do enough digital photography to have an opinion.  I bought the camera in December, 2024, and used it along with my MP for travel.  Every time I hit the play button, the camera would freeze up and I would have to remove the battery to restore operation.  The Leica Store updated the software to the latest version and we switched cards and the camera has been fine since.  Honestly, if it was a problem with a film camera I would have a strong opinion but digital is beyond my experience.

[Cogito]

On 4/19/2025 at 3:24 AM, EV80 said:

Today I changed the SD card in my camera, tired of it always freezing. I had a 128GB SanDisk at 300MB/s. Now I have a 128GB SanDisk at 180MB/s and the camera feels much smoother. It hasn't frozen in about 400 shots at home, testing it with and without flash, etc. It's very likely that the other SD card was failing, and I've been having these freezing problems about every 10 photos.
Can you recommend a suitable and fastest SD card for my Leica Q3?
Thank you very much.

Sandisk used to have a solid reputation, but their QC has fallen. After 2 failed cards on professional jobs I've stopped purchasing them. 

[EV80]

On 4/22/2025 at 4:02 AM, RQ44 said:

I have 100% success with 128mb 300mb card from sandisk. Weird you had issues, perhaps your card was faulty. Was it a genuine card from an electronics store or an ebay special?

From Amazon! But luckily I was able to return it. I bought the Kingston in the end. I've had it for a few days and it's been perfect so far. The camera is flying now too.

[Serg557]

I use a 256 GB Delkin Devices memory card in the Leica Q2. It works without any problems or delays

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica Q

[luetz]

I am still using 32 GB Extreme Pro 300MB/s cards in my Q3(28).  I have 4 of these cards that I started using when I still had my Canon 5D.  I have never had a card issue(once).  Not sure but... it seems people are buying the highest capacity cards that are mentioned as "troublesome". I shoot "L-DNG" only and not limited by its capacity.

I only shoot stills..and have no use for Video....just curious

[Trankster]

I have used sd cards from SanDisk, Lexar, Delkin and Sony for years and only had a problem once about 10 years ago on a trip to Peru--may have been a SanDisk card.  I removed the card immediately and replaced it with a fresh card.  I was able to recover most of the photos from the bad card on my computer when I returned home.  I threw the card away needless to say.  

Most recently my cards have been V60 128 and 256 GB cards.  My feeling is that most cards from reputable brands are reliable, but there can be a problem with any card whether the fault of the card itself or the camera's computer causing the corruption.