Technology guide
The factors that determine how a storage product behaves — explained without marketing numbers.
Performance
Read speed governs how quickly a device retrieves stored data — transfers, playback, loading. Write speed governs how quickly data is recorded, and it is the limit that matters for burst photography and continuous video. A product is only as fast as its slowest sustained operation.
02 — Standards
Class markings communicate a guaranteed minimum sustained write speed. They exist so a device can be matched to a recording requirement with confidence.
Minimum sustained write speed, the original SD classification.
Minimum sustained write speed for UHS bus devices.
Minimum sustained write speed defined for video recording.
Random read/write performance for running applications from the card.
The bus mode that determines maximum theoretical transfer rate.
The markings for each STINGRAY model are listed on its product page.
Capacity
Capacity should be matched to file size and session length, not chosen by the largest number available. Higher-resolution capture, longer recording and denser logging all consume space faster; the right capacity keeps a workflow running without unnecessary card swaps.
Compatibility
Compatibility depends on the host device: the card format it accepts, the bus interface it supports, the maximum capacity it addresses and the file system it expects. A faster card in a slower host runs at the host's limit. Always verify the device specification first.
Read your card
A memory card states its own specification on its face. Once you can read the markings, you can judge any card in seconds.
Total addressable storage on the card.
Hours of 4K footage or tens of thousands of stills before a swap.
The Ultra High Speed bus the card runs on.
Determines the ceiling for transfer rates on a compatible host.
Minimum sustained write of 10 MB/s.
The baseline for Full HD recording without dropped frames.
Minimum sustained write of 30 MB/s on a UHS bus.
Headroom for 4K capture and high-bitrate photography bursts.
Minimum sustained write of 30 MB/s, defined for video.
A recording guarantee, not a peak figure — takes survive.
Random read and write performance for running applications.
Apps and systems installed on the card stay responsive.
05 — Selection guide
A short decision framework rather than a recommendation engine.
Camera, drone, smartphone, computer or embedded system. Confirm the accepted format and interface.
Capacity, sustained write speed, read speed or durability — workflows rarely need all four equally.
Select a product whose class guarantees meet the recording or application requirement.