Whether you’re shooting with a DSLR or a high-end mirrorless camera, there’s a plethora of choices when it comes to lenses. But which ones are best for catching the action?
There is a wide range of lenses that can be used for sports and action photography. If you’re just dabbling, a lower-cost lens may be sufficient (until you gain experience), but if you want to shoot publishable sports pictures, there are lenses specifically made for this purpose.
NOTE: Lens availability and pricing are current as of September 2015
Best Sports Photography Lenses:
If you’re looking for a good lens for sports photography, we’ve compiled a list of lenses that can help you take amazing sports photos. Whatever camera you may have and whatever your skill level may be, you’re sure to find something here that fits your needs.
Beginner Lenses for Sports Photography
A low-cost sports photography rig based on an APS-C DSLR should give you a combined range of around 18-200mm (35mm equivalent: approx. 28-300mm). This can include one, two, or three zoom lenses. A kit lens and a lower end tele-zoom will do you fine and should cost in the $300 range, while an all-in-one superzoom will cost a bit more.
The advantage of kit lenses is that most of them now have built-in image stabilization, and they’re lightweight. The disadvantage is that they’re slow—the widest apertures are around f/3.5-4.5, and they get smaller as you zoom to longer focal lengths. To compensate, you need to choose higher ISO settings, so you can still use action-stopping shutter speeds. This setup is not comparable to those of professional sports photographers, so don’t expect too much. It will not produce the kind of superior image quality you see on sports magazines—but it will certainly be sufficient enough to allow you to capture your kid’s soccer or basketball games with ease.
DSLR cameras
Kit Lenses:
- Canon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 USM ()
- Nikon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G with Vibration Reduction ($246.95)
- Pentax 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 ()
- Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 ()
Consumer tele-zooms generally cost between $200 and $450. However, off-brand lenses are about the same quality as the manufacturer’s lenses, so you can save by buying a Sigma or Tamron.
Tele-Zoom Lenses:
- Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 II ()
- Nikon 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED VR II AF-S DX ($346.95)
- Pentax 50-200mm f/4-5.6 ED Weather Resistant ()
- Tamron SP AF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 DI VC ()
MILC Cameras
Mirrorless cameras are the fastest-growing camera category, with a wide selection of cameras with built-in, eye-level viewfinders and fast burst rates. Focus speeds have improved greatly. Shutter lag, once a problem in this category, has been virtually eliminated in the mid-range and advanced cameras such as the Olympus OM-D E-M10, the Nikon 1 AW 1, the Sony Alpha a6000, and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX8.
One of the advantages of MILCs over DSLRs is that they’re small, and so are the lenses made for them. This is especially true with smaller-sensor cameras, such as the Panasonic and Olympus Micro Four Thirds models, as well as the smaller-sensor Nikon 1 series. Since the angle of coverage is 2x or more, a shorter lens will effectively bring you closer to the action, even if you’re sitting in the stands. The disadvantage is that the lenses tend to have smaller apertures, so you’ll need to boost the ISO.
For Micro Four Thirds
- Olympus M.Zuiko ED 40-160mm f/4-5.6 ()
- Olympus M.Zuiko ED 75-300mm f/4.8-6.7II ()
- Olympus M.Zuiko 40-150mm f/2.8 ()
- Panasonic 45-200mm f/4-5.6 G Vario Mega IOS ($299.99)
- Panasonic 100-300mm f/4-5.6 ($597.95)
- Tamron 14-150mm f/3.5-5.8 ()
For APS-C systems
For Nikon 1 System
In addition to small-sensor MILCs, Sony’s A7 series of full-frame cameras are challenging full-frame DSLRs for professional sports photo coverage. The elimination of a mirror mechanism freed Sony’s designers to create a camera with faster shooting sequences and shutter speeds in cameras such as the Sony a7II and the new Sony a7RII. Couple that capability with the a7’s top-rated sensor and you have a champion combination.
In addition to accepting lenses designed for other mirrorless models, the a7 cameras accept Sony’s Alpha mount DSLR lenses (including pro glass) via an adapter with full functionality and speed.
Professional Lenses for Sports Photography
If you want sharp, high-contrast images and you’re ready to earn a few bucks as a professional sports photographer, it’s time to upgrade to high-end lenses that are specifically designed for fast-paced sports and action photography.
But first, you need a DSLR with a fast burst rate and the processing power to let you keep shooting with ease while the images you capture are transferred to the memory card (when you’re shooting 100 RAW frames at 10fps, this becomes a real issue). Full-frame DSLRs such as the Nikon D750 and Canon EOS-1D X are favorites among hardcore sports photographers. However, they do fall somewhere between the $6,000 to 7,000 range. If that sounds like too much, you may want to consider lower-cost newcomers like the Nikon D610 or the Canon EOS-6D, both of which are available for under $1,500 and are therefore within reach of weekend warriors and serious enthusiasts.
Note: There are other factors in considering a pro-level DSLR, including autofocus speed and accuracy, which are beyond the scope of this article.
Ultra-fast primes or high-end zoom lenses are necessary for professional sports photography. Speed, as well as superior focus fall-off, makes the difference between amateur and pro sports photos. Look for zooms with a maximum aperture of f/2.8; this maximum aperture should remain constant throughout the zoom range. The engineering and extra glass elements that go into making this possible are what boost the prices of such lenses. Be prepared to spend over a grand in some cases.
Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM ()
Features:
- Standard to telephoto zoom lens
- Maximum aperture of f/2.8
- Four UD glass elements
- 18 elements in 15 groups
- Inner focusing system with USM
- Compatible with tele-extenders (EF 1.4x II and 2x II) for increased range
- Rotating type zoom system
Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L USM (Price not available)
Features:
- Super telephoto zoom lens
- Image Stabilizer with two modes
- Maximum aperture of f/4.5
- Fluorite and Super UD glass elements
- Floating lens system
- 17 elements in 14 groups
- Compatible with tele-extenders (EF 1.4x II and 2x II) for increased range
Canon EF 400mm f/2.8 L IS II USM ()
Features:
- Super telephoto lens
- Image Stabilizer with three modes
- Maximum aperture of f/2.8
- Fluorite optics
- Ultrasonic Autofocus Motor
- 16 elements in 12 groups
Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G AF-S VR II (Price not available)
Features:
- Standard to telephoto zoom lens
- VR II Image Stabilization
- Maximum aperture of f/2.8
- 7 extra-low dispersion (ED) elements
- 21 elements in 16 groups
- Silent Wave Motor AF system
Nikon 80-200mm f/2.8D ED AF Zoom ()
Features:
- Telephoto zoom lens
- Maximum aperture of f/2.8
- Three extra-low dispersion (ED) elements
- 16 elements in 11 groups
Nikon 300mm f/2.8 G ED-IF II AF-S VR-II ()
Features:
- Super telephoto lens
- VR II Image Stabilization
- Maximum aperture of f/2.8
- Three extra-low dispersion (ED) elements
- 11 elements in 8 groups
- Nano Crystal and Super Integrated Lens Coating
Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 EX DG OS HSM ()
Features:
- Standard to telephoto zoom lens
- Optical Stabilization system
- Maximum aperture of f/2.8
- FLD and SLD glass elements
- 22 elements in 17 groups
- Hyper-Sonic Motor (HSM) Autofocus
You can save a bundle by buying slightly older, non-stabilized versions of these lenses. You won’t really need stabilization in most cases anyway, and here’s why:
Because these lenses are too heavy to handhold, you’ll also need to invest in a monopod. A tripod is too bulky to have with you in the field, and a monopod with a good ballhead will give you the right combination of stability and portability that you need.
For monopods, I recommend the Manfrotto MM290C4US Carbon Fiber Monopod or the Bower VT6000 Duo Flex 2-in-1. Depending on the model, you may also need to buy a ballhead so you can move your camera more easily.
