SanDisk has started started shipping its highest capacity SD memory card, the 64 GB Ultra SDXC.

The Ultra SDXC, which has a read speed of 15 MB per second, is built for capturing and storing 1080p high-definition video files from digital cameras and camcorders and transferring the content quickly to a computer, the company said.

The new card, launched Monday, is based on the SD 3.0 specification, which makes it possible to manufacture SD cards with storage capacity up to 2 terabytes. The Ultra SDXC can store more than eight hours of HD video with a recording speed of 9 Mb per second.

"SDXC is the successor to the popular SDHC card format," Susan Park, director of retail product marketing at SanDisk, said in a statement. "The 64GB SanDisk Ultra SDXC card delivers the speed and capacity consumers need for extended HD video recording and improved rapid shooting of still images."

Because the SD 3.0 specification is new, there are only a handful of devices that support the standard. SanDisk, however, expects the number of supporting cameras, camcorders, smartphones and other devices to increase rapidly. Canon, for example, announced at the Consumer Electronics Show in January that its VIXIA camcorders and new PowerShot cameras would be compatible with SDXC cards.

The Ultra SDXC card costs $350 and comes with a lifetime limited warranty.

SanDisk last September introduced its fastest memory cards for digital cameras used by professionals and enthusiasts. The Extreme Pro CompactFlash features an advanced memory controller that enables read and write speeds of up to 90MB per second, double the performance of SanDisk's previous-generation memory cards for high-end cameras. The latest cards are available with capacities ranging from 16GB to 64GB.

The Extreme Pro CompactFlash ranges in price from $300 to $800.