In this article, I am going to explore the best cameras for sports photography. It does not matter if you’re covering the fast-paced action on field or shooting action-packed indoor events. Getting the right camera is essential.
Some of the important considerations are the autofocusing speed, the rate of continuous shooting or the camera’s abilities in low-light conditions. All these factors are quite important so that every moment is captured perfectly.
Key Points & Best Camera For Sports Photography List
| Camera | Key Points |
|---|---|
| Canon R3 | 24.1 MP, Dual Pixel CMOS AF II, 4K video at 120 fps, 30 fps burst shooting, 5-axis IBIS |
| Nikon Z9 | 45.7 MP, 8K video at 30 fps, 120 fps burst shooting, Dual EXPEED 7 processors, 5-axis stabilization |
| Canon R7 | 32.5 MP, Dual Pixel CMOS AF II, 4K video at 60 fps, 15 fps burst shooting, 5-axis IBIS |
| Sony A1 | 50.1 MP, 8K video at 30 fps, 30 fps burst shooting, Real-time Eye autofocus, 5-axis IBIS |
| Canon EOS Rebel T6i | 24.2 MP, 1080p video at 30 fps, Dual Pixel AF, 5 fps burst shooting, 3-inch vari-angle touchscreen |
| Canon 7D II | 20.2 MP, Dual Pixel AF, 1080p video at 60 fps, 10 fps burst shooting, 65-point AF system |
| Nikon D500 | 20.9 MP, 4K UHD video, 10 fps burst shooting, 153-point AF system, 5-axis stabilization |
| Panasonic LUMIX DMC-FZ300 | 12.1 MP, 4K video at 30 fps, 24x optical zoom, 5-axis hybrid OIS, Weather-sealed design |
| GoPro HD Hero10 Black | 23 MP, 5.3K video at 60 fps, HyperSmooth 4.0, 20 fps burst shooting, Waterproof to 33 ft |
| Sony A1 (repeated) | 50.1 MP, 8K video at 30 fps, 30 fps burst shooting, Real-time Eye autofocus, 5-axis IBIS |
10 Best Camera For Sports Photography
1.Canon R3
The Canon R3 is deemed as the golden standard in sports photography cameras alongside the impressive 24.1 MP sensor this camera yields a burst shooting capability of up to 30 fps. The sports camera also comes with Dual Pixel CMOS AF II which allows for rapid, impressive, accurate autofocus allowing
Whatever the photographer is capturing to remain centered better during intense motion. This camera set even alongside the ingenious combination of 4K video at 120 fps along with in body stabilization makes it stand out in a professional sports photographer’s kit.
Specifications:
- Sensor: 24.1 MP Full-frame CMOS Sensor
- Processor: Dual DIGIC X Image Processor
- ISO Range: 100 to 102,400 (payment flexible for 50- 204,800)
- Autofocus: 1,053 AF points with Eye Control AF, Dual Pixel CMOS AF II
- Continuous Shooting: 30 fps with Electronic Shutter, 12 fps with Mechanical Shutter
- Video: 6K RAW video at 60 fps, 4K video at 120 fps, Full HD video at 240 fps
- Viewfinder: OLED EVF with magnification of 5.76 million dots and 0.76x
- Display: LCD touchscreen which is 3.2 inches in size and has 4.15 million dots
- Battery: LP-e19 lithium-ion (approx. 510 images)
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi, USB-C , Bluetooth , Ethernet and HDMI
- Dimensions: 152.0 x 116.4 x 88.4 (in mm)
- Weight: 1015 g (with card and battery)
2.Nikon Z9
The Nikon Z9 is excellent for sports, enabling you to capture fast-paced action. The camera has a 45.7 MP sensor and a 120 fps burst rate that helps in capturing high-resolution images with ease.
The 8K video recording and 30 fps shooting speed provides immense detail with the dual EXPEED 7 which does more than its fair share in image and video processing. The Z9 leaves sports photographers with little else to wish for given its 493 point tracking autofocus system.
Specifications:
- Sensor: An Integrated CMOS Sensor boasting of 45.7 MP Full-frame stacked
- Processor: Utilizes The Dual EXPEED 7 Image Processors
- ISO Range: The limits are between 64-25,600 but can expand to 32-102,400.
- Autofocus: 3D eye assisted hybrid AF system with 493 points 3D tracking
- Continuous Shooting: Electronic Shutter stands at 20 fps while Mechanical Shutter operates at 10 fps tier.
- Video: Edger on 8k UHD with 30 fps, switched to 4k UHD 120 fps or Full HD 240 fps.
- Viewfinder: 3.69 million-dot OLED EVF with a 0.8x magnification.
- Display: 3.2 inch LCD touch screen with tilting and 3.2 million dot resolution.
- Battery: Approx 700 taken with Li-ion battery EN-EL18d
- Connectivity: Wireless, Bluetooth, Ethernet, USB, HDMI
- Dimensions: 90.5 mm thick, 149.5 mm long and 116.4 mm wide
- Weight: 1340 customer reviews rating when counted with the batteries
3.Canon R7
One of the best cameras for sports photography has to be the Canon R7. With a 32.5 MP sensor paired with a 15 fps burst shooting rate, high action scenes are easily recorded.
The Dual Pixel CMOS AF II is quite effective for fast and precise autofocus, even in tough conditions. In terms of 4K video recording, it works at 60 fps while being capable of in body image stabilization which ensures steady, detailed shots during movement. This makes the device suitable for both sports lovers as well as professionals.
Specifications:
- Sensor: 32.5 mega pixel APS-C CMOS sensor
- Processor: Dual DIGIC X Image Processor
- ISO Native Range: 100 – 32,000 (with a boost setting available to 51,200).
- Autofocus Functionality: Nikon’s Dual Pixel CMOS AF II with 651 AF points, Eye Detection AF
- Other Camera Performance Features: 30 fps video recording with electronic shutter, 15 fps video recording with a mechanical shutter.
- Video: 60fps at 4K and 120fps Full HD
- Viewfinder: For enhanced close -up shooting this Canon EOS R7 has a 2.36 million-dot OLED EVF which is 0.76x.
- Display: 3-inch flip screen. Its touchscreen features a high number of 1.62 million dots.
- Battery: LP-E6NH lithium battery that has an estimated 660 shots.
- Connectivity: Wireless LAN, Bluetooth, Type C USB, HDMI
- Dimensions: 132.0 x 90.4 x 91.7 mm
- Weight: 612g which includes the battery and card
4.Sony A1
The Sony A1 is the perfect sports camera. It has a 30 frames per second shooting option and a 50.1 mega pixel sensor. This combination allows the camera to capture moving players without missing the details. It comes equipped with a Real Time Eye autofocus which is an advanced feature in the advanced focus technology.
In a single camera integration the A1 allows shooting 8K videos and still stabilizes the images over 30 frames. All of these aspects combined give a high quality end product.
Specifications:
- Sensor: 35.9 x 24.0 mm Full-frame Exmor RS CMOS sensor
- Processor: Dual BIONZ XR Image Processor
- ISO Range: 100–32,000 (extendable from 50–102,400)
- Autofocus: 759-point phase-detection AF system equipped with Real-Time Eye AF
- Continuous Shooting: Up to 30 fps (Electronic Shutter)
- Video: Shoots 8K UHD videos at 30 fps, 4K UHD videos at 120 fps or Full HD videos at 240 fps
- Viewfinder: 9.44 million-dot OLED EVF Viewer along with a 0.90x viewfinder magnification
- Display: 3.0 inch LCD screen that is touch sensitive with a resolution of 1.44 million dots, tilting feature available as well.
- Battery: NP-FZ100 rechargeable lithium ion battery capable of taking around 530 shots.
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB 3.2, HDMI and Ethernet supported.
- Dimensions: 128.9 mm in length by 96.4 mm width and 79.8 mm thickness.
- Weight: 737 grams with included card and battery.
5.Canon EOS Rebel T6i
Canon EOS Rebel T6i is a great choice for sports photography . The combination of a 24.2 MP sensor and Dual Pixel autofocus enables quick focusing on moving objects. The camera has a decent burst frame rate of 5 fps
Which is enough for shooting sports and a max video resolution of 1080p at 30 fps which is great for videos. Its ease of use and lightweight body makes it ideal for beginner sports photographers that want a combination of performance and reliability.
Specifications:
- Sensor: 24.2 MP APS-C CMOS Sensor.
- Processor: DIGIC 6 Image Processor.
- ISO range: It ranges from 100 to around 12,800 but this can be extended to a maximum of 25,600.
- Autofocus: The Auto Focus system is made out of 19 points and all of them are cross type.
- Continuous Shooting: It captures around 5 frames per second.
- Video: It supports Full HD 1080p videos at a frame rate of 30 fps.
- Viewfinder: The eye piece is pentamirror optical covering approximately 95 percent of the area.
- Display: It has a 3.0 inch vari-angle LCD touch display with a resolution of 1.04 million dots.
- Battery: This camera is powered by an LP-E17 which is around Lithium Polymer which takes around 440 shots approximately per charge.
- Connectivity: Canon has incorporated NFC and WIFI capabilities within the model.
- Dimensions: 132.6 x 101.3 x 77.8 mm.
- Weight: The overall weight of the camera along with the battery and card is around 555 grams.
6.Canon 7D II
Canon 7D II is the best camera for sports photography. It has a 20.2 megapixel sensor and the camera can be capable of shooting 10 frames per second which excels in capturing fast-paced events. Its 65 point auto focus system easily tracks moving objects accurately and gives it a rugged build
Which is ideal for extreme settings. Its full high definition 1080p at 60 frames per second along with a strong weather sealing enables Canon 7D II to produce stellar quality which sports lens enjoy the most.
Specifications:
- Sensor: APS-C CMOS sensor with a resolution of 24.2 Megapixels
- Processor: Integrating a DIGIC 6 Image Processor
- ISO Range: Native ISO 100-12,800 range along with an extendable range of 25,600
- Autofocus: 19-point phase-detection AF system embedded within
- Continuous Shooting: Capable to shoot continuous images at a speed of 5 frames/second
- Video: Can record Full HD video at a resolution of 1080p and 30 frames in a second
- Viewfinder: The device has been incorporated with Optical pentamirror with 95 percent viewing coverage
- Display: The built touch screen LCD of the camera has a size of 3.0 inches, a pixel resolution of 1040 K dots and an adjustable angle.
- Wi-Fi: Yes, alternatively featuring NFC alongside GPS
- Battery: LP-E17, lithium-ion battery which is built within. Approximately 440 shots can be clicked.
- Dimensions: 132.6 by 101.3 by 77.8 in mm
- Weight: Approximately 555g when a battery and card are included
- Other Features: Introduces Dual Pixel CMOS AF (Live View), Creative filters and HDR movie mode, Time lapse movie.
7.Nikon D500
In sporting arenas, the frequent pitfall for many photographers is an inability to perfectly snap a crisp shot while there is a ton of fast-moving action around them. However, with the Nikon D500, sports photography becomes candid and easy. Be it the 20.9 MP sensor or the 10 fps continuous shooting that enables rapid capture, there is never a dull moment.
The 153-point autofocus system is meticulous and hops under pressure irrefutably making the Nikon D500 the best lid in the market for professional sports photographers looking for something rugged with incredible functionality. Plus, 4K UHD video recording is built into the body itself which gets weather sealed making it one of the tough cameras out there.
Specifications:
- Sensor: 20.9 megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor
- Processor: Dual EXPEED 5 Image Processor
- ISO range: 100 – 51,200 which is expandable to 50 – 1,640,000
- Autofocus: 153-point AF system with 99 cross-type sensors
- Continuous Shooting: 10 FPS
- Video: 4K UHD 30p and Full HD at 60p
- Viewfinder: Optical pentaprism, 100% coverage
- Display: 3.2 inch tilting and touch LCD with resolution of 2,359,000 dots
- Wi-Fi: Yes includes Bluetooth and NFC
- Battery: EN-EL15a lithium-ion battery with a capacity of approximately 1240 shots.
- Dimensions: 147 x 115 x 81mm
- Weight: 860g with card and battery
- Other Features: 10-bit N-Log 4K HDMI output, SD card slots, weather sealed body and 4k time lapse.
8.Panasonic LUMIX DMC-FZ300
Indeed, sports photography can be challenging, but the Panasonic LUMIX DMC-FZ300 gives any sports photographer the upper hand. The camera is fitted with a 12.1 MP image sensor along with a 24x optical zoom lens that is essential for taking images of athletes in action during events such as football or basketball.
The camera has the ability to record 4K videos at 30 frames per second. This feature allows the camera to capture highly dynamic images in good quality. You won’t have to worry about missing any footage or images thanks to its autofocus and 5-axis hybrid optical image stabilization which allows smooth video capturing of moving athletes.
Specifications:
- Sensor: 12.1 MP High Sensitivity MOS sensor
- Processor: Venus Engine
- ISO Range: 100-12800 (expandable from 80 to 25600)
- Autofocus: 49-area contrast detection AF system
- Continuous Shooting: 12 frames per second (fps)
- Video: 4K UHD 30 fps, Full HD 10800 60 fps
- Viewfinder: 0.39 inch OLED electronic viewfinder, 100 percent viewfinder coverage
- Display: 3.0 inch fully articulated touchscreen LCD, 1,040,000 pixel
- Lens: Leica DC Vario-Elmarit 24-600mm F2.8-4.5
- Wi-Fi: Yes, there is an NFC option
- Battery: 7.2V 1200mAh rechargeable lithium-ion battery (about 380 shots)
- Size/Weight: 130.1 x 88.9 x117.7 mm ,691 g , includes a battery and card
- Other Features: 5-axis hybrid optical image stabilization, 4K Photo mode, splash and dust enabled case, anti-aliasing, time lapse.
9.GoPro HD Hero10 Black
If you’re an action sports enthusiast, the GoPro HD Hero10 Black will be the ideal camera for you. It’s capable of taking audacious high-resolution photos and videography through its 23 mega pixel sensors and powerful 5.3K video quality at an unusual 60 frames per second.
GoPro’s camera is equipped with HyperSmooth 4.0 technology that offers smooth footage even for the most dynamic conditions. The design seems to be streamlined towards an outdoor aesthetic as it’s waterproof and aimed at burst shooting up to 20 frames per second, making it for outdoor sports photography.
Specifications:
- sensor: 23 Mega Pixel (native resolution of 12 Mega Pixel)
- Processor: GP2
- ISO Range: 100–6400
- Autofocus: Fixed focus (does not have a manual focus)
- Continuous Shooting: 20 fps (Burst Mode)
- Video: 5.3K 60fps, 4K 120fps,1080p 240fps
- Stabilization: HyperSmooth 4.0 (Electronic Image Stabilization)
- display: rear with a touchscreen of 2.27 inches and front with a color display of 1.4 inches
- Battery: Lithium-ion Rechargeable Battery of 1720mAh capacity (usage time of about 2-3 hours)
- Connectivity: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Output HDMI
- Waterproof: Yes (without casing, dive to the depths of 10 meters which is approximately 33 feet)
- Dimensions: 71.8 mm x 55.4 mm x 33 mm
- Weight: 153 g
- Other features: live streaming, timewarp 3.0, voice control, gps, night lapse, raw photo capture, waterproof without casing.
10.Sony A1
Sony A1 is widely regarded as the best sports camera around. This camera has a 50.1-megapixel sensor and continuous shooting of up to 30 frames every second making it great for fast-action shots. The camera’s Real Time Eye autofocus feature allows it to efficiently follow the movement of an object so it is able to work well with erratic conditions.
The combination of stunning 30 fps 8k video recording together with 5 axes in body image stabilization makes this camera great for professional athletes.
Specifications:
- Sensor: 35.9 x 24.0 mm Full-frame Exmor RS CMOS sensor
- Processor: Dual BIONZ XR Image Processor
- ISO Range: 100-32,000 (Optimal range is 50-102,400)
- Autofocus: 759 phase-detection autofocus points, Real-Time Eye AF
- Continuous Shooting: 30 fps (Electronic Shutter)
- Video Capability: 8K at 30 fps, 4K up to 120 fps and Full HD at 240 fps
- Viewfinder: OLED electronic viewfinder, 9.44million-dot with 0.90x magnification
- Display: LCD touchscreen that has 3.0 inches with a resolution of 1.44million dots
- Battery: Lithium ion NP-FZ100 with a capacity of taking roughly 530 shots
- Connectivity: Bluetooth, USB 3.2, HDMI, Ethernet and Wifi
- Size: 128.9 x 96.4 x 79.8 mm
- Weight: 737 grams including battery and card
- Additional Features: Also includes 5-axis in-body image stabilization, 10-bit colour depth, 16-bit raw audio output and dual card slots (CFexpress Type A and SD UHS-II).
Things To Consider When Shopping For The Best Cameras For Sports Photography
Autofocus Performance: Forget about capturing images that feature a subject in motion if you don’t have a fast and precise autofocus in your arsenal.
Continuous Shooting Speed: A good camera should have a great frames-per-second (fps) rate and an F1.8 fast aperture rating to make sure timings have a large shooting window.
Low-Light Performance: If you intend to shoot sports in dimly lit venues, you’ll want to ensure that the camera you are using is strong in this particular area.
Sensor Size and Resolution: A bigger sensor means higher-quality images whereas having a bigger resolution means you can crop the image while losing little quality.
Burst Movies: Fast burst mode cameras provide you with the added benefit of multi-shoot frames which ensures that important shots aren’t missed.
Durability and Build: Since sports often take place in extreme weather conditions having a hard wearing, weatherproof camera is a necessity.
Lens Compatibility: Ensure the camera you purchase supports robust telephoto lenses for effective distance shots.
Video Capabilities: Not all sports photographers require effective video recording during action shots but if you do then consider getting 4k or 8k recorders.
Viewfinder and Display: Action shots require quick framing and to simplify this task an excellent electronic or optical viewfinder along with an adequate touch screen tend to have better response time.
Conclusion
In conclusion, if your line of work involves sports, you’ll be looking for cameras with fast autofocus, high continuous shooting speeds, good low-light capability, and a durable structure.
The ideal camera should be able to perfectly focus on quick moving objects while being able to offer compatibility with different lenses and different resolutions.
Think about your requirements e.g. video recording or burst mode, then select a camera that will enable you to take stunning pictures of the adrenaline-filled moments of the sport.
