Best Camera for Sports Photography in 2024 (Beginner to Pro)

Using the best camera for sports photography gives you the best chance of capturing all the on-pitch action. You need good image quality, a fast burst, and a reliable AF system. Without these features, you’ll struggle to keep up.

Thankfully, all the cameras in this article have been specially selected for capturing sports photography. We have options for beginners, intermediates, and pros, but they all have the features and functions you need for high-quality sports photography. 

The Canon EOS R10 is our top choice thanks to its rapid mechanical shutter and sophisticated AF system. It’s beginner-friendly but also caters to more advanced photographers.

Keep reading to find out more about all the best cameras for sports photography. 

What is the Best Camera For Sports Photography?

The best camera for sports photography helps you capture sharp images of fast moving subject. It should help you photograph the key players at key moments, creating high-energy images that capture the excitement of any sporting event. 

Finding the best camera for sports photography isn’t easy. No matter your skill level, there are certain features you need to look out for. You want good-looking images, so you need good image resolution. But you also need a fast and accurate autofocus system.

You might also need a fast burst mode to capture the fastest action. Good video features are another positive feature of a modern sports photography camera.

We’ve considered all this when compiling our list. We have cameras at different levels and prices. But every camera on this list is fit for sports photography.

Here’s a quick rundown of the list. We’ll then look at each sports camera in detail. And the FAQ section at the end has some extra info.

Best Cameras for Sports Photography

Now we look at each camera in more detail. They examine all the important specs and features, so you can find a camera that matches your sports photography objectives. 

The Canon EOS R10 is a brilliant mirrorless camera for sports photography. It’s lightweight, compact, and affordable. While it’s a beginner-friendly model, its advanced features will also satisfy more experienced sports shooters. 

A 24.2 MP APS-C sensor provides excellent image quality, with clear details and accurate colors. This is backed by the DIGIC X processor, which delivers fast buffering and image processing. 

The native 100 – 32,000 gives you the flexibility to shoot in low light, but you can also expand it to 51,200 if you need more wiggle room. The images remain relatively noise-free until you get to the very top of the ISO scale, allowing you to cover indoor sports and night games. 

Canon’s Dual-Pixel CMOS autofocus system is the best in the business. And even though the R10 is towards the entry-level side, it still has superb AF support. It offers human, animal, and vehicle subject detection, so you can capture anything from horse racing to Formula 1. 

When it comes to burst shooting, you can use the mechanical or electronic shutter. The electronic option gives you a rapid-fire 30 fps shooting speed, which can be great for capturing blink-and-you-miss-it moments. But you might experience some distortion. 

The 15 fps mechanical burst is often the best choice for sports photography. You get no distortion, and 15 fps is still fast enough for most sports photographers. 

Sports videographers will love the 4K video recording. It has a 30 fps frame rate at full resolution, so the playback is smooth and jerk-free. It also has excellent AF coverage, with a special Movie Servo AF mode that works well when recording sports. 

Built-in Wi-Fi connectivity allows you to transfer media from the camera to other devices quickly and easily. This allows you to post sports shots on social media while the game is still going on. This is great for sports bloggers. 

The Olympus OM System OM-1 is a camera that has to feature on a list of the best cameras for sports photography. It’s packed with advanced features for capturing fast sporting action. You can even produce pro-level sports videos, which is why it’s the total package for sports photographers.

The OM-1 is a Micro Four Thirds (MFT) camera. It’s compact and lightweight but durable enough for life on the sidelines.

Its sensor is smaller than an APS-C or full-frame camera, giving you a more compact camera body. That’s why the OM-1 is such a compact and lightweight camera. It’s the perfect fit for any camera backpack or messenger bag.

The MFT sensor gives you a 20 MP resolution. That’s a strong resolution for a sensor of this size. And the image quality is impressive. The details are sharp, the colors well-rendered, and it has a high dynamic range.

If 20 MP isn’t enough, you have a high-res shot mode. This takes several images and creates one high-resolution composite. The results are stunning 50 MP images and can be shot handheld. So you don’t need a tripod or monopod to use it.

The burst mode is the best in the business. It gives you 120 fps of sequential shooting with the electronic shutter, so you never miss a moment.

You don’t get AF tracking at that speed. But it can capture split-second actions from the players. Full AF tracking gives you a max continuous shooting speed of 10 fps.

A dedicated AF-on button allows you to use back button focusing, a key feature for sports photographers. 

Another bonus for sports photographers is the five-axis image stabilization. It gives you more control over your exposure settings and five stops of shutter speed compensation.

It’s ideal for indoor and night sporting events. It also provides smooth video footage, so you don’t need a camera gimbal.

The video features are just as impressive. You can shoot with 4K video resolution and a 60 fps frame rate at full resolution. That means you get ultra-smooth sports footage at the highest quality. The slow-motion options are great, too. You get a 240 fps rate in Full HD.

The Olympus OM System OM-1 has everything a sports photographer needs. It’s compact and weather-sealed for outdoor shooting. And it has all the features you need to capture intense sporting action.

It’s a true hybrid camera with outstanding features for photos and video. If you love the Olympus/OM System style, see our list of the best OM System cameras.

The Nikon Z50 is a fantastic camera for sports photography beginners. It’s compact and lightweight, making it easy to take on the road. The quality of the photos and videos is excellent. It also has features that capture all the on-field action.

The APS-C sensor gives you a 20.9 MP image resolution. Combined with the fast EXPEED 6 image processor, you take high-quality images with very little processing time. You can snap sports photos quickly without waiting for the camera to buffer.

You get an 11 fps continuous shooting mode. It uses a mechanical shutter, so there’s no distortion with moving subjects. And it has full AF coverage at full speed. 

Sports fans will also love the hybrid autofocus system. It uses 209 on-sensor focus points to find and track your subject. These focus points provide coverage of the full frame, giving you edge-to-edge sharpness. And it doesn’t lose focus if your subject is moving.

It is great for video, too. You can record 4K videos at 30 fps. It’s smooth footage with incredible detail. And you have slow-motion video options in Full HD. There’s no cropping in slow-mo, so it’s perfect for shooting sports.

The Nikon Z50 has a fully articulating LCD screen, built-in effects, and Wi-Fi connectivity for easy image transfers. The camera also has some weather-sealing, so you can shoot outdoors in light rain. 

The Canon EOS R7 is a the perfect option for amateur sports photographers looking to upgrade. Its image quality packs a punch, and its features won’t let you fall behind the action on the pitch.

It has an APS-C sensor with an impressive 32.5 MP resolution. The details and color rendering are outstanding, and you also get very low noise when shooting in low-light conditions. A wide dynamic range gives accurate detail in bright and dark areas.

A standard max ISO of 32,000 should be enough for most sporting events. But you can expand the ISO range to 51,200 if you are struggling for light.

This mirrorless has one of the best autofocus systems on a Canon camera. A Dual-Pixel CMOS AF system uses 651 focus points to lock and track your subject, so fast athletes and speeding cars are no problem.

The mechanical shutter gives you a burst rate of 15 fps. That’s fast enough for most sporting situations, and it has full AF support. 

But if you need something quicker, switch to the electronic shutter. It gives you 30 fps of continuous shooting. You won’t miss a shot with a frame rate like that.

The video features are just as impressive. The video resolution is 4K. And you get a max frame rate of 60 fps with no cropping. You record super smooth sports footage with cinematic quality.

Plus, the five-axis image stabilization works for stills and video recording. It’s a lifesaver if you’re shooting the EOS R7 handheld.

The Nikon Z6 II is another intermediate-to-pro-level camera that’s ideal for sports photography. It’s a full frame machine with a powerful sensor and processor. It’s also lightweight and compact for a full frame camera, so it’s an easy fit for any decent camera backpack. 

A 24.5 MP resolution gives you glorious image quality with sharp details and accurate colors. The larger pixels on a full frame sensor also give you better low-light performance and a wider dynamic range than APS-C cameras. 

Nikon’s EXPEED 6 processor delivers high-resolution images even under pressure. You can make the most of the 14 fps burst rate, shooting dozens of full-res images in sequence without buffering or lagging. 

Using a 273-point hybrid focusing system, the N6 II has no problem keeping your fast-moving subjects in focus. It has face and eye-detection capabilities for locking onto individual athletes. The system also works well in low light, so you can still capture sharp shots indoors or at night. 

The Z6 II is compatible with the Nikon MB-N11 vertical battery grip. It provides a comfortable grip whether holding the camera horizontally or vertically, and it gives battery life a 1.9x boost. It’s a great option for serious sports photography. 

Advanced video features also make it a great option for sports videography. You can record uncropped 4K footage with a smooth 60 fps frame rate. There’s also a 120 fps slow-motion option if you switch down to Full HD resolution. 

5-axis image stabilization is another handy feature for sports photography. It reduces camera shake and motion blur, which is always helpful when using a telephoto lens to snap fast-moving subjects. 

Thorough weather sealing allows you to use the Nikon Z6 II outside in bad conditions so you can keep working when the heavens open. 

It’s not often we see something that’s genuinely revolutionary in the photography world. But Sony’s A9 III is a true trend-setting, with an incredible global shutter system giving you a 120 fps continuous shooting speed. 

We’ve seen cameras with fast burst modes before, but these usually rely on the electronic shutter. As the pixels on a CMOS sensor are activated in sequence, moving subjects can appear bent and distorted when captured with the electronic shutter. 

The A9 III’s global shutter, however, activates all the pixels at once. That means it can hold the shutter curtain open like with any electronic shutter, but all the images are sharp and lifelike. Moving objects don’t bend or warp. 

The result is a 120 fps burst that captures any moving subject accurately. These are full resolution 24.6 MP images, and you get full AF coverage in burst mode. There’s also no viewfinder blackout, so you can keep your eye on your subject as you shoot. 

A fast shutter speed is vital for sports photography, but few cameras can match the 1/80,000 of the A9 III. You never have to worry about motion blur again, even if you’re shooting Formula 1 or Moto GP. 

The AF system is excellent, using 759 focus points for accurate subject detection and tracking. It also has 5-axis image stabilization built in. 

With 4K at 120 fps, the video features are just as impressive. And that’s with pro-level 10-bit 4:2:2 color sampling for clear, vibrant sports footage. 

The Sony A9 III is a professiona-grade camera with a professional-grade price tag, but it’s truly state of the art. The high-tech features make it a sports photographer’s dream. 

The flagship Nikon Z9 is a true workhorse for professional photographers. It has the built-in vertical grip for comfortable horizontal and vertical shooting. It delivers extended battery life compared to other pro mirrorless cameras. And the features are perfectly suited to the demands of professional sports photography. 

The full frame sensor and EXPEED 7 processor produce stunning 45.7 MP images. It also has an expandable ISO range, allowing you to stretch to 102,400 for low-noise low-light images. It also has a 64 ISO low setting, so you can maximize the image quality in bright light. 

A fast burst gives you full-resolution images at 30 fps. And that’s with the mechanical shutter, so there’s no distortion. If that’s not fast enough, you can shoot with a 120 fps burst. The images are limited to 11 MP, but it gives you the speed you need. 

You don’t have to worry about the large RAW files filling up your memory cards too quickly. The camera has three RAW file size options, allowing you to reduce the size when taking hundreds of photos in quick succession. These are high-efficiency RAW images, not compressed JPEGs, so you don’t lose any options in post-production. 

3D Tracking takes subject detection and tracking to another level. It’s incredibly fast and accurate, and you never have to worry about missing a shot because the AF was too slow or confused. 

You can create your own focus areas, giving you more accuracy when focusing. This mode can work simultaneously with subject-detection and eye-detection modes. 

8K video recording means you can shoot cinema-quality sports videos. It has a 30 fps frame rate, so fast action isn’t jerky or laggy. You also have an option for 4K at 120 fps for dynamite slow-motion footage. 

Best Camera for Sports Photography FAQs

Now, we answer some of the hottest questions on sports photography cameras. This information will help you find the best camera to capture all the sporting action.

What Features Are Important in a Camera for Sports Photography?

Sports photography is a tricky discipline. But having a camera with all the right features helps you achieve better results. These are some of the features you need to look out for.

You can learn about the best sports photography settings to give you a better understanding of what you need from your camera. 

Sensor Resolution

Sensor resolution is an important feature of any camera. The resolution is the best indicator of the camera’s image quality. Image resolution is measured in megapixels (MP). Generally, the higher the MP, the better the image quality.

Other factors influence the image quality of any camera. But looking for a higher MP number is a good way to ensure better-quality images.

Wide ISO Range

A sports camera needs a wide ISO range. You can keep the ISO low on sunny days. But you need higher ISO settings when shooting night games or indoor events.

The ISO tells you how sensitive the sensor is to light. A higher ISO setting makes the camera’s sensor more sensitive to light. And it allows it to work in lower light.

A low ISO gives you superior images. The details are sharper, the colors are richer, and there’s no digital noise. But the sensor needs more light to properly expose the image. So, you have to balance the shutter speed and aperture.

Higher ISO settings also lose image quality. When you reach the top ISO settings, you see more digital noise in your images.

 

Fast Burst Mode

A fast burst mode is essential for sports photography. Everything happens so fast. So, you can’t always get the perfect shot with a standard shutter mode. It’s best to have more speed.

Beginners might be happy with a continuous shooting speed of 5 fps. But professionals have been demanding faster and faster burst speeds.

The camera manufacturers have delivered. Burst speeds of 30 fps are now common in the best mirrorless cameras. And the Olympus OM System OM-1 has an incredible 120 fps burst speed. You won’t miss a thing with that camera.

Fast, Relible Autofocus (AF) and Tracking

A good autofocus system is a welcome feature in any camera. But a sports camera needs an AF system that can track moving subjects. Athletes won’t stay still while you find focus. That’s why you need a fast and reliable AF.

It needs to find your subject quickly and follow them as they move. Look for cameras with subject-tracking AF.

In-Body Image Stabilization (IBIS)

Image stabilization counteracts camera shake. That means you can shoot with slower shutter speeds without experiencing motion blur. You also have more exposure options in lower light. And it gives you sharper images. IBIS is a real bonus for sports photographers.

What Is the Best Lens for Sports Photography?

Sports photographers need a telephoto or super-telephoto lens. While some still use prime telephoto lenses, we recommend you use a zoom lens.

Zooms give you the magnification to get close to the players from the stands. And the zoom capabilities give you more freedom and flexibility.

A 70-200mm lens is a great choice for sports photographers. This is why the Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS III USM is our top choice sports lens. But some photographers may prefer lenses with a larger telephoto range.

Check out our full list of the best lenses for sports photography.

Conclusion: Best Camera for Sports Photography

Sports photography is difficult without the right camera. Because the action moves quickly, you often get blurry images or empty shots. But finding the best camera for sports photography is a complete game-changer.

Maybe you’re a devoted sports parent or a sports reporter. A sports photography camera is a must-have.

The Olympus OM System OM-1 is the best camera for sports photography. Its compact but weather-sealed body is suitable for any environment. It has powerful features for still images and impressive video options. It has a 120 fps burst mode for rapid sequential shooting.