Re: sony a7 III - unable to read memory card in slot 1
Short Version: Yes, I had issues with 2 new purchase 128GB ExtremePro UHS-I SD cards, but a 9 month older one and my (3) 64 GB ExtremePro UHS-I SD cards work fine.
Long Version: Bought the newest ExtremePro 95MBs/R and 90MBs/W V30 UHS-I SD cards in both 64 and 128GB when I bought a Panasonic G9 in January of this year. Both the slots in the G9 are UHS-II and the cards worked fine. Bought a couple more identical 64GB UHS-I cards a few weeks later as they were just a bit over $30 on sale. All 4 cards also work fine in my D500 slot II which is UHS-II. When I got my A7III a month ago I put the 128GB card in Slot 1 and the 64GB in slot II. They work just fine and I did put the 2 other 64GB cards in the A7III and they worked fine too.
About 2 weeks ago Amazon had a sale on the SanDisk 128GB UHS-I cards and I bought one. It was labeled identically to my older 128GB card, however when I put it in slot 1 of the A7III I got the error screen saying it could not read the card in Slot 1, nor could I format the card. Put it in Slot 2 and I could format it and it worked fine. However putting it back into slot I formatted, the same error screen came up. I thought it was defective and returned it. Two days later I got the replacement 128GB card and it had the same issues, it would work in slot 2, but not slot 1.
This time before returning it, I tested the replacement 128GB card in the G9 and D500 and it worked fine in those UHS-II slots. Knowing now it was not the card I called Sony for help. After having me try the card in slot 1 and reading them the error screen, I was finally told that Sony was aware of card errors with SanDisk 128GB SD cards and they were “working on it”. That is all they would say. Their solution was to 1) Buy a Sony 128GB card and use it in slot 1, 2) use the SanDisk 128GB card in slot 2, and 3) call SanDisk for a replacement.
When I called SanDisk and after being transferred up to the pro line dept they had me try the card and text them the error screen. I was told that SanDisk was not aware of any issues with their cards and the A7III and they offered to replace the card.
In the thread I posted about this at another site one of the regulars there said it was most likely a card controller change (maybe the result of WD buying SanDisk?) and that Sony had not caught up with it yet, but most likely would in a FW update. As my 9 month older 128GB card with identical labeling worked just fine, but 2 brand new ones did not, this makes sense. In the meantime I am using the replacement 128GB card in G9/D500 as needed and it works fine. Plus there is a lifetime limited warranty for replacement if anything happens with read errors in those cameras.
To the OP, as my 64GB cards all work fine, but they are all 8 months old or more, you may have a newer card with the same issue as the 128GB cards. I suggest you call Sony to talk specifically about your 64GB card issue.
Oct 08, 2018 at 10:36 AM
Previous versions of SpecFoto's message #14623478 « sony a7 III - unable to read memory card in slot 1 »
