Best Camera for Sports Photography: 12 Top Picks in 2024

Are you looking for the best camera for sports photography? Then you’ve come to the right place!

With so many cameras to choose from, it’s easy to lose track and buy the wrong camera, something you want to avoid at any cost.

With years of experience in the industry, I can say that the Canon R6 II is the best camera for sports photography, partly due to the good autofocus and fast burst mode.

I will of course also recommend a few affordable options, but also options for professionals, so don’t click away yet.

Don’t know exactly what to look out for? Then the buyer’s guide (bottom of article) can provide you with a good basis for choosing.

Let’s dive right into it!

My top picks

All cameras listed

1. Canon R6 II – Best mirrorless
2. Nikon Z8 – Best for professionals
3. Canon R50 – Best for beginners
4. Sony A1 – Best for video
5. Canon R8 – Best budget
6. Panasonic FZ300 – Cheapest
7. Canon R3 – Best Canon
8. Sony RX10 IV – Best point-and-shoot
9. Canon 90D – Best DSLR
10. Sony A7 IV – Best Sony
11. Canon R5 – Best for sporting events
12. Sony A6700 – Best APS-C

**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you purchase after clicking my links. You can support me without any additional fees. Rankings are not changed because of this.

What is the best camera for sports photography?

When I started photography years ago there weren’t many options for beginners, I had 150 dollars to spend so buying a good camera was not an option.

Still, I managed to do it, and during that time I learned valuable lessons, the most important of which is that you don’t need an expensive camera to take beautiful photos.

Knowing what kind of camera suited me has helped me a long way in my career, that’s the first step!

Do you know what’s even worse than buying the wrong camera? That’s right, buying the wrong lens. I recommend some good lenses for any camera to avoid this.

Let’s jump straight into the first (and best) camera!

PS: These tips can help you as soon as you get your camera in hand, so you can avoid a lot of mistakes.

1. Canon R6 II

Best mirrorless camera

Outstanding features

• 24MP sensor
• 40 fps burst mode
• Very good noise performance
• Deep learning autofocus on people
• 4K60p video
• Built-in stabilization
• Double memory card slots

Pros

• I have plenty of good points to mention about the R6 II, to begin with, the autofocus is very good. This is also the unique selling point of the R6 II, even when I used the 40fps mode the tracking worked perfectly.
• The size is also perfect, the grip feels good in the hand and I don’t feel like it could fall out of my hand at any moment. The AF-ON button is also in the right place, right by my thumb.
• Despite the higher resolution, the dynamic range is better than the original R6. You can push the shadows and highlights without problems.
• The battery is not bad, especially if you photograph competitions, one battery should be sufficient. I took over 1500 photos and it was still over 50% capacity. This also depends on the how long you shoot with it.

Cons

• I recommend you use the mechanical shutter, the rolling shutter is clearly visible when someone hits a ball, then it is more of an oval than a round ball.
• In addition, the buffer fills up very quickly when you use the 40fps mode, at least when you shoot in RAW.

Get the Canon R6 II now and get a $500 discount!

Canon lenses I recommend

After years of experience with different lenses, a few stood out to me. These are the Canon sports lenses I recommend for the R6 II.

• Canon 600mm: The very best lens that provides the best quality, so you can capture all emotions well.
• Canon 100-500mm: Versatile lens that you can use for both near and far away situations (my favorite!).
• Canon 100-400mm: Cheapest lens that can certainly deliver good quality AND with which you can capture clear emotions.

Want to know more? Read the Canon R6 II review!

2. Nikon Z8

Best professional camera

Outstanding features

• 46 MP full-frame stacked sensor
• 8K60p/4K120p RAW video
• 30fps burst mode (JPG)
• Deep learning autofocus
• Built-in stabilization

Pros

• I can name countless good points about the Nikon Z8 but I have to choose a few. Let’s start with the image quality because the sensor is unmatched by any competition. You can shoot high-quality photos with lots of details and natural colors. The 46 MP sensor is also great for portraits!
• It feels professional, which is to be expected from the best pro sports camera. The Z8 feels comfortable in my hand and is well-balanced with larger lenses. Buttons are also well placed, with the AF-on button at my thumb.
• I was impressed by the burst mode because you can shoot at a staggering 120fps (11 MP), 30fps (JPEG), or 20fps (RAW). These are all with the electronic shutter because the Z8 doesn’t have a mechanical shutter.
• Don’t be discouraged by the shutter type, you don’t need a mechanical shutter as this is one of the fastest readout speeds in any mirrorless camera. With 4ms, you don’t see a rolling shutter and you don’t have to worry about flickering.

Cons

• Although the Z8 is great for sports photography and can shoot at high speeds, the camera does overheat quite often while filming in 8K. It largely depends on the CF card used, if you have the wrong one, it can have worse performance.

Get the Nikon Z8 now and get a $500 discount!

Nikon lenses I recommend

After years of experience with different lenses, a few stood out to me. These are the lenses I recommend for the Z8.

• Nikon 400mm: The very best lens that provides the best quality, so you can capture all emotions well.
• Nikon 100-400mm: Versatile lens that you can use for both near and far away situations (my favorite!).
• Nikon 50-250mm: Cheapest lens that can certainly deliver good quality AND with which you can capture clear emotions.

3. Canon R50

Best beginner camera

Outstanding features

• 24MP sensor
• 4K30p oversampled video
• 15fps burst mode
• Deep learning autofocus
• Beginner oriented
• Small and compact

Pros

• I will explain why the R50 is the best beginner sports camera, starting with the image quality. It has the same sensor as the R10, a more expensive model, and you will get high-quality photos with it. That also depends on the settings, but overall, the photos are crispy and sharp with nice colors.
• The R50 will help you understand settings much quicker, if you change certain settings, it will show you how those affect the image. While changing the shutter speed, for example, it shows a graph of motion and so forth. I wish my first camera had that…
• Autofocus is also an aspect in which the R50 shines. Canon puts its best autofocus system in its beginner cameras, it will track subjects and won’t let go of them. Overall, I found this impressive.
• Did you know the R50 ranks as the best beginner Canon camera? It has unmatched specs for any beginner, especially for the price you pay.

Cons

• I don’t like everything about the R50, there is a lot to wish for. I wish the R50 was a little bigger than it is. My pinky doesn’t hold the camera and there is a lack of buttons. It’s hard to change the ISO, aperture, and shutter speeds quickly.
• The burst mode might be fast, a 12fps electronic first curtain shutter (no full mechanical shutter), but the buffer fills up quickly. If you shoot RAW, about 7 images are the best you get. With JPEG, it’s much better, about 42 images.

Get the Canon R50 now and get a $130 discount!

Canon lenses I recommend

After years of experience with different lenses, a few stood out to me. These are the lenses I recommend for the R50.

• Canon 600mm: The very best lens that provides the best quality, so you can capture all emotions well.
• Canon 100-500mm: Versatile lens that you can use for both near and far away situations (my favorite!).
• Canon 100-400mm: Cheapest lens that can certainly deliver good quality AND with which you can capture clear emotions.

4. Sony A1

Best camera for filming

Outstanding features

• 50MP full-frame stacked sensor
• 8K30p video
• 30fps burst mode (RAW)
• Deep learning autofocus
• Fast sensor readout
• Built-in stabilization

Pros

• I want to talk a little bit about the sensor because it’s unique and offers unique features. The stacked sensor of the A1 has incredible readout speeds which makes it possible to film in 8K, without the rolling shutter effect.
• The A1 seems to do a better job at overheating than the Z8, as this is the most advanced heat dissipation system of Sony. The camera gets hotter on the outside, while the internals cool down.
• It’s also unique with the burst mode because it has a 50 MP sensor, I thought this wasn’t going to be impressive. The A1 shoots 30fps in RAW format, which is the fastest high-resolution burst I’ve ever seen.
• Besides all of these features, many say that the A1 still has the best autofocus of any Sony camera. It doesn’t have an AI unit, but many think that the A1 does a better job than the A7R V.

Cons

• There are many things I like about the A1, and I couldn’t think of many downsides. I mean, you might have to sell a kidney, but that’s a small price to pay for the best video camera for sports, right?

Sony lenses I recommend

After years of experience with different lenses, a few stood out to me. These are the lenses I recommend for the A1.

• Sony 100-400mm: The very best lens that provides the best quality, so you can capture all emotions well.
• Sony 200-600mm: Versatile lens that you can use for both near and far away situations (my favorite!).
• Sony 70-300mm: Cheapest lens that can certainly deliver good quality AND with which you can capture clear emotions.

5. Canon R8

Best budget camera

Outstanding features

• 24 MP full-frame sensor
• 4K60p video
• 40fps burst mode
• Deep learning autofocus
• Compact and lightweight

Pros

• I’ve got many great things to say about such a camera, let me start with the image quality. As it’s the same R6 II sensor, you have great noise performance, natural colors, and crispy images. It doesn’t have stabilization, but I don’t think you need it for sports photography.
• Besides the image quality, it’s a much smaller camera than the R6 II, one aspect that I sometimes like. It’s also much lighter, which makes it feel cheaper. It fits into my bag as a secondary camera, which is just perfect.
• Just like the other Canon cameras, the R8 has the best autofocus on the market. Some may even say it’s better than the Z8 autofocus, which is remarkable to me.

Cons

• There are a few downsides to the EOS R8. It has only one card slot, which is not enough for most people. I like to have 2 slots, as I know I won’t lose photos. I have shot with one card before and that went well, but I heard some stories…
• The burst may be fast (40fps, electronic), but it can only shoot for about 2 seconds with that burst. The buffer is small. With the 6fps burst (electronic first curtain), you can shoot until the card is full.

Get the Canon R8 now and get a $300 discount!

Canon lenses I recommend

After years of experience with different lenses, a few stood out to me. These are the lenses I recommend for the R8.

• Canon 600mm: The very best lens that provides the best quality, so you can capture all emotions well.
• Canon 100-500mm: Versatile lens that you can use for both near and far away situations (my favorite!).
• Canon 100-400mm: Cheapest lens that can certainly deliver good quality AND with which you can capture clear emotions.

6. Panasonic FZ300

Best cheap camera

Outstanding features

• 12 MP sensor
• Stabilization
• 24-600mm range
• 30fps burst (4K photo mode)
• F2.8-8 aperture

Pros

• Let’s talk a little bit about the FZ300 because there are lots of great things to say. First, the image quality is fine for sports photography. I am not going to say it’s the best, but for a camera this cheap, it’s great.
• The autofocus seems to work fine for sports photography, but it might be a bit slower than high-end cameras. That’s something I would expect it’s not nearly as fast as the RX10 IV.
• The burst is extremely fast, with a 30fps burst (4K photo mode), you can capture all the action on sports fields. This is just as fast as the R3 and A1, the quality is just not the same.

Cons

• You need to use a fast shutter speed if you’re shooting sports and with the aperture of F8 at 600mm, the ISO will be higher. As a result, you will have bad image quality if it’s an overcast day. With sunlight, I think you would be fine.

7. Canon R3

Best Canon camera

Outstanding features

• 24 MP full-frame stacked sensor
• Very fast readout
• 30fps burst mode (RAW)
• 6K60p RAW video
• Optimal ergonomics
• Long battery life
• Eye control autofocus

Pros

• I think you don’t need a super high-resolution camera for sports photography, most high-resolution cameras have more noise problems. The R3 is completely different, without much noise at higher ISOs you will have clear photos.
• It shoots 30fps in RAW format, without any problem. The buffer is also large, you can shoot up to 175 RAW photos or 375 JPEGs while shooting 30fps. That means you can shoot for more than 5-10 seconds without the buffer filling up.
• Ergonomically, the R3 is the most perfect camera Canon has made. All buttons are well-designed and the AF-on button also serves to change the focus points. It’s a big camera and well-balanced with large lenses, like the 400mm or 600mm.
• Battery life is something to talk about because, in most mirrorless cameras, that’s not too good. Now, the R3 can shoot for hours on a single charge, I think it’s made for 700 shots, but you can shoot for far longer.

Cons

• One downside is also the resolution, if you’re thinking about the Sony A1 or Nikon Z9, you will have many more pixels. If you’re shooting at higher ISOs, the R3 might be worth it. Else, the Z9 might be a better option.

Get the Canon R3 now and get a $500 discount!

Canon lenses I recommend

After years of experience with different lenses, a few stood out to me. These are the lenses I recommend for the R3.

• Canon 600mm: The very best lens that provides the best quality, so you can capture all emotions well.
• Canon 100-500mm: Versatile lens that you can use for both near and far away situations (my favorite!).
• Canon 100-400mm: Cheapest lens that can certainly deliver good quality AND with which you can capture clear emotions.

8. Sony RX10 IV

Best point-and-shoot camera

Outstanding features

• 20 MP 1″ sensor
• 24fps burst mode
• Fast Sony AF
• 24-600mm range
• F2.4-4 aperture

Pros

• There are lots of things I like about the RX10 IV. Although it might not be the newest camera, it provides great-quality images of athletes. It has a 20 MP sensor, it shows a lot of details and natural colors.
• With the autofocus of Sony, it tracks the eyes of people effortlessly, it tracks the subject and doesn’t let go. I think this is the best autofocus system for any compact camera for sports photography.
• If you want to, you can shoot 24fps with the burst mode. That is with full autofocus tracking, something that is quite impressive for a point-and-shoot camera.
• The 24-600mm zoom range is excellent for sports, as you can get close to the subject without buying thousands of dollars of lenses. The aperture is F4, which is a lot better than the F8 aperture of the FZ300.

Cons

• One thing I dislike is the noise at higher ISOs. The RX10 IV has a small sensor, so using a fast shutter speed, you might need to bump up the ISO, which will not be in favor of the image quality.

9. Canon 90D

Best DSLR camera

Outstanding features

• 32 MP sensor
• 4K30p video
• 45 cross-type AF points
• 11fps burst mode
• Eye-autofocus

Pros

• Now, there are some benefits of a DSLR camera for sports photography, to which the first one is the viewfinder. On mirrorless cameras, there is a slight delay, with the 90D, there isn’t. What you’re seeing in the VF is happening right now and you won’t miss shots anymore.
• The 90D shoots 11 frames a second, which is impressive considering it is ‘old’ technology. For a camera like this, for this price, the speed is unmatched by any competition.
• Autofocus is different than mirrorless cameras. The 90 doesn’t have spectacular features but features a 45-point system, of which the center point is the most accurate. I remember that I always shot with the center point on my DSLRs, it’s just a habit now.
• It’s an APS-C sensor, which is great for sports photography. Yes, it might show more noise, but you get much closer to the athletes than full-frame cameras, with the same lens.

Cons

• Due to the APS-C sensor, the noise performance is not as good as the R8, for example, pay attention if you have to photograph in dark sports halls or on overcast days.

Canon lenses I recommend

After years of experience with different lenses, a few stood out to me. These are the lenses I recommend for the 90D.

• Canon 600mm: The very best lens that provides the best quality, so you can capture all emotions well.
• Canon 100-400mm: Versatile lens that you can use for both near and far away situations (my favorite!).
• Canon 70-300mm: Cheapest lens that can certainly deliver good quality AND with which you can capture clear emotions.

PS: Don’t know if you should buy a mirrorless camera or DSLR? Here’s a guide!

10. Sony A7 IV

Best Sony camera

Outstanding features

• 33 MP full-frame sensor
• 4K60p (cropped)
• 10fps burst mode
• AI Autofocus
• Two SD card slots

Pros

• Let me start by saying the image quality is great. The 33 MP resolution is the sweet spot for sports photography, as you don’t have huge files while maintaining great image quality. The photos look sharp and the colors are natural and vibrant.
• The autofocus is on the good side, I know Sony is one of the market leaders in this aspect. It’s not as good and fast as the A1 but for most situations, it is great.
• I don’t think a 30fps burst mode is mandatory for sports, the 10fps burst mode of the A7 IV is more than great for sports photography. It doesn’t have pre-burst capture as the Canon cameras, but it works fine.

Cons

• One downside is the burst. You can only shoot 10fps when shooting lossy RAW. With the Lossless RAW, the burst mode is lower than 10fps.

Sony lenses I recommend

After years of experience with different lenses, a few stood out to me. These are the lenses I recommend for the A7 IV.

• Sony 100-400mm: The very best lens that provides the best quality, so you can capture all emotions well.
• Sony 200-600mm: Versatile lens that you can use for both near and far away situations (my favorite!).
• Sony 70-300mm: Cheapest lens that can certainly deliver good quality AND with which you can capture clear emotions.

11. Canon R5

Best camera for sporting events

Outstanding features

• 45 MP full-frame sensor
• 8K30p RAW video
• 20fps burst mode
• Deep learning autofocus
• Built-in stabilization

Pros

• Let’s start with the resolution because we’ve seen some cameras on the list with a similar resolution. A 45 MP sensor, unfortunately not stacked, but I don’t think that’s mandatory for sports. It shows lots of details with a wide dynamic range.
• You can shoot up to 20fps with the electronic shutter, although I don’t recommend using that. The rolling shutter effect is apparent, but with the 12fps mechanical shutter, you don’t have this effect.
• It has the same autofocus as the Canon R6, it’s a little bit older than the R6 II and R3. It works perfectly for sports photography, I don’t think it works any differently than the new models, except for the amount of subjects to detect.

Cons

• One downside of the R5 is the overheating. Some may say is the best hybrid camera for sports photography, but I don’t think it is. Yes, you can shoot a fair amount of video, but it starts overheating in 4K60p/8K30p quickly.

Get the Canon R5 now and get a $500 discount!

Canon lenses I recommend

After years of experience with different lenses, a few stood out to me. These are the lenses I recommend for the R5.

• Canon 600mm: The very best lens that provides the best quality, so you can capture all emotions well.
• Canon 100-500mm: Versatile lens that you can use for both near and far away situations (my favorite!).
• Canon 100-400mm: Cheapest lens that can certainly deliver good quality AND with which you can capture clear emotions.

12. Sony A6700

Best APS-C camera

Outstanding features

• 26MP sensor
• 4K120p (1.19x crop)
• 4K30p oversampled video
• 11 fps burst mode
• Deep learning autofocus
• Built-in stabilization

Pros

• With the update to the A6700, the autofocus has been drastically improved. It has many tracking features and, like we’re used to with Sony, it works flawlessly. You can track a subject and it won’t let go.
• The A6700 has the same FX30 sensor, which means the quality will be great. It also has the same video features, like a 4K120p function, which is phenomenal for sports videography.
• If you think the burst mode is slow, let me change your mind. For Sony cameras, an 11fps burst mode is fast. This is with the mechanical shutter, so you don’t see any rolling shutter. The R5 has a 12fps mechanical shutter, just one frame faster than the A6700.

Cons

• One downside to the A6700 is the size. It’s such a small camera and for someone with large hands, like me, it’s too small. My pinky cannot properly hold the camera and I think that’s a dealbreaker for me.

Sony lenses I recommend

After years of experience with different lenses, a few stood out to me. These are the Sony A6700 lenses I recommend.

• Sony 100-400mm: The very best lens that provides the best quality, so you can capture all emotions well.
• Sony 200-600mm: Versatile lens that you can use for both near and far away situations (my favorite!).
• Sony 70-300mm: Cheapest lens that can certainly deliver good quality AND with which you can capture clear emotions.

Buyer’s guide: What to look for?

Quick autofocus & tracking

Anyone who has ever done sports photography knows that autofocus is one of the most important aspects of taking great photos. Ideally, you want an AI tracking mode that can recognize people’s eyes.

Most new system cameras, therefore, have this option. In general, this feature works very well with any brand, but Canon and Sony in particular are the frontrunners according to many photographers.

Choose a camera that has good tracking options, so that you will not get blurry photos due to poor autofocus.

Burst mode & buffer

The second most important is the burst mode and buffer. Since we’re talking about very fast action in sports photography, you need a camera that can keep up with the action. A camera that is too slow can prevent you from getting everything captured.

A burst mode of at least 10 fps is the minimum for sports photography for me. A faster burst mode is desirable, but certainly not necessary.

You need to know the difference between an electronic and mechanical shutter. When you shoot with the electronic shutter, the readout speed of a camera has an impact. With a slow readout speed, you suffer from a rolling shutter, which causes unnatural images. You don’t have this effect with a mechanical shutter.

Canon’s R6 II and the Nikon Z8 have a pre-burst mode where photos are taken before you press the shutter button, which is extra handy.

Finally, it is also important to look at the buffer. If your buffer is too small, you can only use burst mode for 1-2 seconds. Professional cameras often have a large buffer, perfect for sports photography.

Resolution & sensor size

A difficult choice you have to make is the choice between a crop and a full-frame sensor. There are advantages to both, for example, the APS-C sensor has a crop factor that brings you closer to the subjects.

Full-frame sensors generally have better image quality and better ISO performance.

A high resolution is nice for sports photography so that you can zoom later, but that is not always desirable due to the large file size. A resolution of 24 MP is almost always more than sufficient.

ISO performance & noise level

I just mentioned that the full-frame sensors have better noise performance, that’s because the pixels on the sensor are larger and can capture more light.

As sports photographers, we often have to use an ISO of 2000 or higher, with an APS-C sensor you will soon notice disturbing noise. With full-frame sensors, you can sometimes go up to ISO 4000 without seeing much noise.

So keep the sensor choice in mind when choosing a camera for sports photography.

Robustness & durability

We often find ourselves on rough terrains, such as sports fields, cross tracks, or other terrains. The weather is sometimes not too good and of course, we don’t have a choice.

That is why you must choose a camera that can take a beating and is water and dust-resistant. Professional bodies such as the Canon R3 and the Nikon Z8 are often very robust and dust-resistant. So you can go for years without worrying about these aspects.

Lightweight & ergonomics

Walking around for hours and holding the camera for a long period is a requirement of any sports photographer, so it is useful to choose a camera that does not weigh 3 kg. Today’s system cameras are getting lighter and lighter, which is of course to our advantage.

Ergonomics are also important, the lighting can change at any time and you have to be able to act quickly. A small camera where the buttons are not optimal is not convenient. You have to keep your eye on the viewfinder while adjusting the settings.

As a result, a larger camera, such as the Canon R6 II, can be useful. All buttons are perfectly placed for these situations.

FAQ

Is DSLR or mirrorless better for sports photography?

In today’s day and age, mirrorless cameras tend to be better for sports photography than DSLR cameras. The autofocus on the newer cameras is much better and mirrorless cameras have AI technology to focus on athletes.

DSLR cameras have older technology but have some pros over mirrorless models. They have a pentaprism viewfinder, without a screen. There is no delay when you track a subject, something that a mirrorless camera does have, although it’s a short delay.

What camera do NBA photographers use?

NBA photographers mostly use the Nikon Z9, Sony A1, or Canon R3. These are the most popular and professional cameras used in the NBA sports. These cameras have the best autofocus, fast burst rates, and the highest quality.

These come at a price, though. The Sony A1 is the most expensive camera, costing a whopping $6,500, followed by the Canon R3, which costs $5,999.

You don’t always need the most expensive cameras for sports photography, here’s a list of the best cameras under $1500, that might be worth a look.

Is 600mm good for sports?

A 600mm lens is good for sports photography. If you’re using a full-frame camera, you can get close to the athletes and get a smooth out-of-focus background. Most soccer photographers use a lens like this, to capture all the emotions of the people without getting too close.

A 600mm lens is good for sports photography. If you’re using a full-frame camera, you can get close to the athletes and get a smooth out-of-focus background. Most soccer photographers use a lens like this, to capture all the emotions of the people without getting too close.

How do I get high-quality sports photos?

Several factors determine the quality of sports photos. In general, you need a high-end camera with a good lens. The lens is more important for the quality of the image, as the sharpness is determined by that.

You should use a fast shutter speed of around 1/2000 if you want to freeze all the action. Keep your ISO as low as possible, to reduce any noise in the photos, and keep the aperture all the way open. If that’s F2.8, use F2.8 and if that’s F4, use F4.

Don’t forget to set the autofocus mode in tracking and continuous mode. This is essential for sports photography, as you want to focus on the athletes all of the time.

Finally, you can edit the images, give them a nice personal touch and you will have high-quality sports photos.

Conclusion

Now it’s your turn to make the choice. There are many sports photography cameras that you can choose from. Now that you know the pros and cons of each camera, you can make the choice.

Don’t you want to take professional sports photos? Then you can get started with an amateur camera. If you do want to shoot professionally, then professional sports photography cameras are perfect for you.

PS: Sports photography itself can also be called a sport, with all those large lenses that we have to hold.

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