Sony Pulls Back From Memory Cards

credits: Sony

The global shortage of solid-state memory is starting to hit the photography world in a real way, and Sony is the first major brand to take a step back. The company has announced that it is suspending orders for most of its SD and CFexpress memory cards, citing ongoing semiconductor shortages. According to a notice published by Sony Japan, the decision took effect on March 28, 2026, with both authorised dealers and direct Sony Store customers affected.

The suspension covers a wide range of products across all tiers. On the CFexpress side, Type A cards in 240GB, 480GB, 960GB, and 1920GB capacities are affected, along with 240GB and 480GB Type B cards. Sony’s SD lineup is also heavily impacted, including TOUGH series cards (64GB, 128GB, 256GB) and standard models ranging from V60 to V30 speeds. Even entry-level SD cards are not spared, which shows that this isn not just about high-end components, it is a broader supply issue affecting all types of solid-state storage. At the moment, it looks like only the 960GB CFexpress Type B and some lower-end SD cards remain available.

The bigger issue behind all of this is demand from outside the camera industry. Memory supply is being heavily pulled toward AI data centres, where large-scale storage is in constant demand. That is driving up costs, but more importantly, it is also limiting how much hardware is available for other products. In Sony’s case, it has led to a temporary exit from large parts of the memory card market until things stabilise. The company says it plans to resume production eventually, but without a timeline, and given how widespread the shortage is, it may take a while before things return to normal.