Introduction
The Lexar Professional SILVER PLUS SDXC UHS-I Card is positioned as a mid-range option in Lexar’s Silver series of SD and microSD cards. This card offers slightly enhanced write speeds compared to the standard Silver card, while both use UHS-I technology. The Silver Pro card, in contrast, uses UHS-II technology, providing significantly faster transfer rates but at a higher cost.
Specification Overview
- Capacity: 256GB
- Transfer Speeds: Read up to 205 MB/s, Write up to 150 MB/s
- Speed Class: V30
- Technology: UHS-I
- Available Capacities: 64GB, 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB
- Warranty: Limited lifetime warranty
Build and Handling
The Lexar Professional SILVER PLUS SDXC UHS-I card conforms strictly to the SD card format, ensuring compatibility with most camera brands, including Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Fujifilm. The card fits directly into the SD card slot and is instantly recognized by cameras.
The card’s size and weight are standard, with the primary difference from other cards being the label indicating the branding, model, and capacity. The build quality is typical of Lexar, robust and reliable. The single line of contacts on the back confirms that it is a UHS-I card. Handling the card presents no issues, reflecting its solid construction and user-friendly design.
Features
The Lexar Professional SILVER PLUS card stands out primarily due to its write speed, which reaches up to 150 MB/s, a slight improvement over the standard Silver card’s 140 MB/s. The read speed remains consistent at 205 MB/s. Available in capacities ranging from 64GB to 1TB, this card caters to the needs of enthusiast photographers.
Aimed at the mid-range market, the Silver Plus card offers a balanced combination of performance and cost, priced at approximately £40. It is designed to meet the demands of enthusiast photographers, working well with cameras such as the Sony A7 IV and Canon EOS R5C.
The card’s V30 speed class rating, which guarantees a minimum write speed of 30 MB/s, ensures it can handle most burst shooting scenarios and HD/4K video recording.
Additionally, Lexar SD cards are known for their durability, and the SILVER PLUS is no exception. It is waterproof, temperature-resistant, vibration-resistant, magnetic-proof, shockproof, and drop-proof, making it a reliable choice for long-term use. Another valuable feature is the Lexar Recovery Tool, a software that assists in recovering deleted files from the SD card.
Performance
In performance tests, the Lexar Professional SILVER PLUS SDXC UHS-I Card was used in the Sony A7 IV, testing various modes, including JPEG and RAW combined, as well as HD and 4K video recording.
For photography, the card performed admirably. Shooting in JPEG and RAW simultaneously produced a combined file size of around 80 MB per image. In burst mode, the card stored approximately 20 images before the buffer filled, slightly outperforming the standard Silver card, which stored 17 images. Although CFexpress Type A cards offer uninterrupted shooting, the Silver Plus’s performance is commendable for an SD card.
The Silver Plus card also handled 1080p and 4K video storage without issues, although for higher-resolution footage, a CFexpress card might be preferred. The card’s read speed, though advertised as similar to the standard Silver card, was found to be noticeably faster during file transfer tests. Interestingly, while the Silver Plus card had a slightly slower write speed in benchmarks compared to the standard Silver, it still exceeded Lexar’s quoted speeds.
Final Thoughts
The Lexar Professional SILVER PLUS SDXC UHS-I Card emerges as a strong contender among UHS-I SD cards. The difference in performance between UHS-I and UHS-II technology is minimal, particularly considering the actual demands of mirrorless and DSLR cameras.
Throughout testing, the Silver Plus card demonstrated its capability to handle high-resolution stills and footage. Although the performance difference compared to the standard Silver card is slight, the Silver Plus offers a marginal edge in read speed and real-world write speed.
For those who prioritize speed but are not ready to invest in UHS-II or CFexpress cards, the Silver Plus provides a cost-effective, high-performing alternative. As one of the fastest UHS-I cards on the market, it offers excellent value for its price.
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