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Best Cameras & Lenses For Sports Action Photography

In every sports arena a sportsperson is dreaming of a career-defining moment, a moment that will be spoken about for years to come. But there is someone else waiting for their crowning moment too. A sports photographer can turn that athletes’ match-winner into a historical point of reference for the sport. Without photographers, we wouldn’t have seen the iconic images of Muhammad Ali, Usain Bolt and Michael Phelps at their peak. Without photographers, would their career-defining moments still be spoken about, with no focal point, no image that preserves their history? Much like the sports stars that they photograph, sports photographers rely on their instincts, often with less than a second to make a decision. Just like a sport star, they can’t do their job without the right equipment. This guide, specially curated by our experts, helps you find the best sports cameras and lenses for sports action photography.



Best Cameras & Lenses For Sports Action Photography

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EOS R3 Mirrorless Camera

The EOS R3 Mirrorless Camera is one of our best cameras for sports photography. It can automatically identify and track people, vehicles and animals, making it well suited to a range of different sports. Unlike many other cameras, you can use the Eye Control Autofocus feature that lets you focus on a subject simply by looking at it through the viewfinder, before taking the photo with incredible speed. Speed is crucial for sports. Freeze a bike in its tracks with 1/64,000 shutter speeds or capture the moment a player strikes a ball with 30 fps continuous shooting. Up to 8 stops of IS mean that you can keep any subject sharp even without the use of a tripod. Finally, higher ISO and IS mean that the camera can handle dwindling light with ease.

Key points:
• 1/64,000 shutter speed and 30 fps can freeze a moment in time
• Eye Control Autofocus will focus on whatever you’re looking at in the viewfinder
• Image stabilisation keeps your subject sharp, even without the use of a tripod
• Good hybrid capabilities are great for any videographer

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EOS R6 Mark II Mirrorless Camera

Another one of our best sports cameras is the EOS R6 Mark II, which will be at home during sports photography. Blending speed and performance, the camera has an incredible 40 fps shutter that won’t miss a single thing, even when working with the fastest sportspeople in the game. It can deliver up to 1000 JPEG images from a single burst as well – so you can have confidence that you’ll never miss a crucial moment and be one step ahead of your competition. Alongside the speed, the camera uses AI-based autofocus for tracking eyes, faces and people, great for following a player as they move across a pitch. An Image Stabilizer not only keeps your images sharp, but when combined with the high ISO, delivers great images in dimly lit conditions – perfect for those evening sports events.

Key points:
• Incredible 40 fps speed makes it one of our best cameras for sports photography
• Excellent autofocus can identify, track and focus on a player's eyes
• Low light capabilities mean you can use the camera well in low light
• Long battery life and 2 SD card slots mean you can carry on for long periods

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Lenses For Professionals

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RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1L IS USM Lens

Our stand-out lens for professional sports photographers is the RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1L IS USM. The lens has an advanced super-telephoto focal range. At 500mm, you can capture sporting subjects from several hundred metres away in breathtaking detail and clarity, in-part guaranteed thanks to the 5-stop Image Stabilizer that keeps your image sharp. Additionally, a sports photographer will often be caught out in tough weather. Weather sealing and a heat-resistant paint will prevent any damage during extreme weather, while a range of L-Series Canon technology guarantees quality from frame to frame.

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RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM Lens

The RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM is the ultimate telephoto zoom for sports because it combines a compact size (compared to other telephoto zoom lenses) with excellent zoom capabilities and superb image stabilisation. This means that the whole zoom range is optically stabilised, so even at 200mm images will stay sharp. The lens also has a wide aperture of F/2.8. This aperture excels in most light conditions – from bright and sunny afternoons to low light matches under the flood lights. This aperture also lets you enhance the subject, making them stand out against a busy background.

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RF 400mm F2.8L IS USM Lens

This class-leading, ultra-telephoto sport prime lens offers sharpness from frame to frame, with f/2.8 aperture offering a level of creativity that is perfect for any professional photographer. Alongside 5.5 stops of IS, the lens will deliver great images in lower light. Dual power focus drive means you can focus at speed, meaning it’s well suited to capturing key events, even when you’re quite far from the subject. Intuitive, the lens is designed to work with you, with handy MF and AF Start-Stop buttons at your fingertips. Heat and rain resistance make it great for when you’re caught out in bad weather.

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RF 600mm F4L IS USM Lens

Go one step further than the 400mm with this RF 600mm F4L IS USM. You can focus on your subject from hundreds of metres away, which is perfect for matches in large, open stadiums. Despite your distance, you’ll feel like you’re in the middle of the action. State-of-the-art Canon technology including Fluorite and Super SD Glass controls deliver superb sharpness, while dual power focus means you can focus almost immediately. Despite the lens been larger, it is user-friendly, with intuitive MF and AF controls placed next to your fingertips for instant control.

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RF 28-70mm F2L USM Lens

Sports journalism can require different challenges to those long-distance shots. A great second option is the 28-70mm lens. The wide-to-telephoto zoom range means you can not just focus on long-distance images, but also players closer to the camera, such as players taking a corner or hitting a serve. The lens also has a wide aperture as well. Delivering uncompromising quality, the wide-aperture lets you play with bokeh and sharpness, even in tougher light conditions.

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Bodies For Enthusiasts

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EOS R10 Mirrorless Camera

Throw yourself into the world of sports with one of our best action cameras - the hybrid APS-C EOS R10 Mirrorless Camera. Aimed at enthusiasts, it is a perfect entry into the world of sports action photography. Heavyweight features such as 1/4000 shutter speed and 23 fps continuous electronic shooting means you can always capture a player in time, while revealing great quality thanks to the 24.2 megapixel sensor. The camera has an advanced AI-based deep learning autofocus system that can track your subject, making your job easier when there’s a lot going on the pitch. As the camera is APS-C, it is small and compact, great for portability when moving from one event to the next.

Key points:
• 1/6000 shutter speed and up to 23 fps continuous shooting is perfect for past paced action
• One of our best action cameras, it is super small and compact
• AI based autofocus can identify, track and capture sports players
• Great for the hybrid enthusiast with impressive 4K video

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EOS R7 Mirrorless Camera

The EOS R7 confines powerhouse features inside a small and compact APS-C body, proving to be fast and powerful despite the lightweight design. AI-based autofocus can identify and track a player, revealing incredible detail when you print your photos thanks to the impressive 32.5 megapixel sensor. The APS-C sensor means that when taking a photo you’ll have 1.6x more reach, getting you closer to the action when photographing players at a distance. The camera also has a 30 fps electronic shutter that can capture the action as and when it happens, while weather sealing and an Image Stabilizer keeps the image sharp when the weather gets tough.

Key points:
• APS-C sensor gets you 1.6x closer to the action, perfect for sports at a distance
• Weather sealing and image stabilisation keeps images sharp in tough conditions
• Super fast, it has a 30 fps electronic shutter that captures action instantly
• 32.5 megapixels lets you print sharp photos of your work

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Lenses For Enthusiasts

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RF 200-800mm F6.3-9 IS USM Lens

The RF 200-800mm F6.3-9 IS USM gets you extremely close to distance subjects, with a super-telephoto zoom that makes you feel as though you’re in the middle of the action. This fantastic zoom range means you can make sports players feel as though they are close by, zooming in to see the detail on their faces or kit. At this range, 5.5 stops of IS will keep the image sharp, so your audience can see the whole detail. The lens blends Canon optical prowess with practicality, and includes handy zoom and control rings, lens function buttons and weather sealing for instantaneous control and protection whatever the conditions.

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RF 24-240mm F4-6.3 IS STM Lens

The RF 24-240mm F4-6.3 IS USM is a must-have for anyone looking to get to grips with sports photography. It contains all of the focal lengths that a sports photographer could possibly need and is capable of wide-angle images of the whole stadium to telephoto shots of players from afar. You can zoom 10x closer with this lens – great for seeing the detail of players actions in-field. The built-in Image Stabilizer will keep the players’ faces sharp as well. The lens is lightweight, weighing just 750g, making it a good choice for moving across a sports arena with lots of equipment.

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RF-S 55-210mm F5-7.1 IS STM Lens

The EOS R7 confines powerhouse features inside a small and compact APS-C body, proving to be fast and powerful despite the lightweight design. AI-based autofocus can identify and track a player, revealing incredible detail when you print your photos thanks to the impressive 32.5 megapixel sensor. The APS-C sensor means that when taking a photo you’ll have 1.6x more reach, getting you closer to the action when photographing players at a distance. The camera also has a 30 fps electronic shutter that can capture the action as and when it happens, while weather sealing and an Image Stabilizer keeps the image sharp when the weather gets tough.

Key points:
• APS-C sensor gets you 1.6x closer to the action, perfect for sports at a distance
• Weather sealing and image stabilisation keeps images sharp in tough conditions
• Super fast, it has a 30 fps electronic shutter that captures action instantly
• 32.5 megapixels lets you print sharp photos of your work

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RF 100-400mm F5.6-8 IS USM Lens

This lightweight lens also comes with a great zoom range, but does so in a compact package that weighs less than 635 grams. Affordability is blended with high-quality features, getting you closer to your subject with a 5.5 Image Stabilizer that makes your image appear sharp. Finally, a Nano USM Motor and Lens Control Ring lets you focus by hand in an instant, so you never miss a key moment on the field.

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RF 85mm F2 MACRO IS STM Lens

Our final option is a prime lens. A great second lens for your kitbag, it won’t be able to take long-distance images of players, but close-up images of subjects when they’re close to the camera. For example, if a footballer is taking a corner or a throw-in, then this lens is the one to reach for. A wide-aperture will deliver a soft background and sharp subject, letting enthusiasts play with creativity and expand their skills. The fast aperture also makes it great for lower light too – whether that be indoor sports or evening matches. This lens can excel during football, tennis, basketball and other court-based games.

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Compact Cameras And Binoculars

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10x32 IS Binoculars

With precision optics and Powered Image Stabilizer to counteract movement, follow the race to victory or curve of a free kick with a stable 10x view. Enjoy bright, handheld detail and comfortable identification, with handheld tracking that delivers clear and accurate visibility of the most distant action.

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PowerShot ZOOM

Finally, our PowerShot ZOOM is a three-step monocular camera that gets you closer and closer to your subject. With one hand you can use this camera to get closer to your subject three times (100mm to 400mm to 800mm), making it great for user-friendly use at sports games. A 4-axis Image Stabilizer means your 12.1 megapixel images will always be sharp, while other innovative features such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth let you share your images with ease.

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