The best camera for sports photography isn't defined by having the most megapixels.
Rather, it's all about speed: since you're photographing🌝 fast subjects, you'll require fast frame rates, fast (and accurate!) autofocus, and fast workflow.
For this guide, I've compiled the best🌝 cameras for sports photography to account for all budgets and abilities, whether you're looking for an affordable bridge camera to🌝 shoot the kids playing football, or one of the best professional cameras that are used at the Olympics.
I've tested these🌝 cameras pretty extensively, many of them while photographing professional athletes and in live sporting environments.
I've split this guide into three🌝 different categories: pro-grade sports bodies, mid-priced models for enthusiasts, and finally cameras best suited for beginners.
Best camera for sports photography:🌝 my top picks
Why you can trust Digital Camera World Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services🌝 so you can choose the best for you.
Find out how we test.
With three flagship cameras to choose from, it's tough🌝 to narrow down – but right now the Nikon Z9 is the one I'd spend my money on, if you're🌝 looking for the top-tier pro model.
I really wish it had a fully articulating screen, but otherwise you're getting a powerhouse🌝 with killer AF, 45.
7MP stills, burst shooting up to a ridiculous 120fps, and 8K 60p video.
There's nothing you can't cover🌝 with this.
For enthusiasts, I can't recommend the Canon EOS R7 highly enough.Its meaty 32.
5MP sensor gives you plenty of resolution,🌝 with a blistering burst rate of 30fps, up to 8 stops of in-body image stabilization, and crucially it's an APS-C🌝 sensor – which a) keeps the camera nice and small, and b) gives you the advantage of a 1.6x crop🌝 factor.
This means that your lenses become effectively even longer; for example, the Canon RF 100-500mm becomes a 160-800mm monster!
And for🌝 beginners or more casual shooters, my money is on the Nikon CoolPix P950.
It doesn't have the most sophisticated AF system🌝 or resolution-redefining image quality, but what it does have is reach.
With an effective 24-2000mm (!!!) zoom range, you can cover🌝 an entire football field and still get captivating close-ups.
It would cost thousands to get that kind of range on any🌝 other camera – not to mention the hassle of switching lenses all the time!
Best camera for sports photography: pro cameras
(Image🌝 credit: James Artaius)1.
Nikon Z9 The best all-round camera for sports photography Our expert review: Specifications Type: Mirrorless Sensor: Full frame🌝 CMOS Megapixels: 47.5MP Monitor: 3.
2-inch, 2,100k dot 4-axis tilting touchscreen Continuous shooting speed: 20fps RAW (up to 1,000 buffer), 30fps🌝 hi-res JPEG, 120fps lo-res JPEG Viewfinder: EVF, 3,690k dots, 100% coverage Max video resolution: 4K UHD at 30p User level:🌝 Enthusiast Today's Best Deals View at Amazon View at Adorama US View at Walmart Reasons to buy + 120fps burst🌝 and deep buffer + 8K 60p video + Fantastic autofocus Reasons to avoid - Tilt-only screen (doesn't fully articulate) -🌝 Only 11MP at 120fps - "Only" 6 stops of in-body stabilization
As an all-round professional tool, the Nikon Z9 is the🌝 best sports camera I've ever used.
Let's start with speed: I was blown away by the face-melting 120fps burst shooting, and🌝 its buffer that can record a nominal 1,000 images per burst (with Nikon claiming as many as 5,000 when used🌝 with a high-spec CFexpress card).
That's only with 11MP JPEGs, but if you want full-fat 45.
7MP images you can blast up🌝 to 30 JPEGs or 20 RAWs.
It's an 8K 60p marvel as well, with high-res video in-camera that eclipses the competition.
Both🌝 stills and video are powered by what I think is Nikon's best autofocus ever (which is edging ever closer to🌝 Canon's market-leading AF tech) and it comes with the "pro DSLR" style integrated vertical grip for seamless shooting – and🌝 even better battery life.
Read our full Nikon Z9 review for more details2.
Canon EOS R3 The most advanced camera for sports🌝 photography Our expert review: Specifications Type: Mirrorless Sensor size: Full-frame CMOS Megapixels: 24.1 Monitor: 3.
2-inch vari-angle touchscreen, 4.
15 million dots🌝 Continuous shooting speed: 30fps Viewfinder: Electronic 0.5-inch, 5.
76m dots Max video resolution : 6K User level: Professional Today's Best Deals🌝 View at Amazon View at Adorama US View at Walmart Reasons to buy + Eye Control Autofocus + 6K RAW🌝 video + 30fps continuous RAW shooting + Fully articulating screen Reasons to avoid - No 8K video - Only a🌝 24.
1MP sensor - Split SD/CF Express card slots
The Canon EOS R3 is the manufacturer's de facto flagship camera, offering 6K🌝 RAW video, 30fps continuous shooting (RAW and JPEG), and remarkable Eye Control AF – which enables you to move focus🌝 points simply by looking at your subject (and yes, it really does work – even as someone who wears glasses!).
On🌝 top of that, I love the benefits of Canon's industry-leading autofocus performance, industry-best 8 stops of compensation (lens dependent) thanks🌝 to its in-body image stabilization system, and one of my personal favorite things is that the R3 is the only🌝 mirrorless flagship with a fully articulating touchscreen – which is important for taking full advantage of the video capabilities (in🌝 this case 6K RAW).
The flipside to these advanced features is that it only has a 24.
1MP sensor (though some pros🌝 I've spoken to feel that this is actually a benefit, since workflow speed can be more important than resolution).
It also🌝 splits memory duties between a CFexpress and an SD card, as opposed to twin CFexpress, which means only one slot🌝 will achieve full firepower.
Read our full Canon EOS R3 review for more details
(Image credit: Rod Lawton/Digital Camera World)
The Sony A1🌝 rewrote the rules for sports cameras, and cameras in general.
Not only does it boast an enormous 50.
1MP resolution, it makes🌝 use of pixel shift technology to crank out 200MP stills.
But it also packs 8K 30p video and 30fps continuous shooting🌝 to make it an absolute juggernaut for sports shooting.
There are a couple of provisos, though; in my experience the burst🌝 shooting sometimes topped out at 15-20fps, the lack of articulating screen makes videography less practical, and Sony's in-body image stabilization🌝 still trails its rivals in real-world use.
That said, the autofocus is absolutely stellar and the resolution alone makes this unbeatable🌝 if image quality is absolutely paramount.
Read our full Sony A1 review for more details
When I first tested the Sony A9🌝 in 2019, it was cutting-edge.
But while a lot has changed in the past four years, this is still a very🌝 capable camera for sports photography – especially if you want to keep your shooting setup as small as possible.
Like the🌝 A1, and unlike its rivals from Canon and Nikon, the A9 II eschews the "pro DSLR" form factor.
You can, of🌝 course, achieve the same effect by adding a vertical battery grip, but for me it's really valuable to have a🌝 standard mirrorless camera shape and size for staying light and nimble.
I love the lightning-fast 20fps continuous shooting speed and Sony's🌝 great autofocus, too, with 24.
2MP resolution that keeps my file sizes as svelte as my kit bag.
Read our full Sony🌝 A9 II review for more details
(Image credit: Digital Camera World)
DSLRs have been leapfrogged by mirrorless cameras in virtually every way,🌝 but the Canon EOS-1D X Mark III hybridizes the best of both technologies to remain a formidable sports camera.
Its battery🌝 life is unrivaled and it just shoots and shoots and shoots – I've never actually managed to kill a battery🌝 in a single session! And the optical viewfinder still preferred by many old-school photographers is present and correct.
Tried and tested🌝 tech is complemented by cutting-edge HEIF files and HDR PQ support, dual CFexpress cards, 12-bit internal 4K RAW, not to🌝 mention the brilliant Smart Controller (which, to me, makes joysticks feel positively archaic) and the fantastic Deep Learning AF system.
Not🌝 to mention the EF mount that offers one of the richest lens selections on the market.
Read our full Canon EOS-1D🌝 X Mark III review for more details
Best camera for sports photography: for enthusiasts
(Image credit: Alis Volat)6.
Canon EOS R7 The best🌝 APS-C camera for sports photography Our expert review: Specifications Type: Mirrorless Sensor: APS-C Image Stablizer: Up to 8 stops Megapixels:🌝 32.
5 MP Lens mount: Canon RF-S AF points: 651 Burst rate: 15fps mechanical / 30fps electronic Buffer: 126 JPEG /🌝 42 RAW Size: Approx.132.0 x 90.4 x 91.
7 mm Weight: 530g Today's Best Deals View at Walmart View at Amazon🌝 View at Adorama US Reasons to buy + 32.
5MP resolution + Up to 30fps bursts + 7K oversampling + Rock-solid🌝 image stabilization Reasons to avoid - Unusual control wheel - Cheaper RF-S lenses still missing
The old Canon EOS 7D Mark🌝 II used to be the king of APS-C for sports shooting, and now that mantle has passed to its successor🌝 – the Canon EOS R7, which is my personal choice for shooting sports with a crop sensor camera.
It keeps what🌝 made the previous DSLR great, with fantastic ergonomics in a compact and light form factor, but ups the ante in🌝 every possible respect.
Up to 8 stops of in-body image stabilization for stills and movies, blistering 30fps burst shooting, oversampled 7K🌝 video, market-leading autofocus, plus the advantage of a 1.
6x crop factor to increase the effective focal length of your lenses🌝 – so something like the Canon RF 600mm f/11 gives you 960mm of reach!
Read our full Canon EOS R7 review🌝 for more details
(Image credit: Fujifilm)7.
Fujifilm X-H2S The best APS-C sports camera for speed Our expert review: Specifications Type: Mirrorless Sensor:🌝 APS-C Megapixels: 26.
1MP Lens mount: Fujifilm X AF points: 425 Burst rate: 40fps electronic, 15fps mechanical Buffer: 140 shots (electronic),🌝 unlimited (mechanical, until card runs out) Weight: 579g Today's Best Deals View at Walmart View at Amazon View at Adorama🌝 US Reasons to buy + Up to 7 stops of stabilization + Continuous shooting at 40fps + 6.
2K 30p and🌝 4K 120p video Reasons to avoid - No eye Control AF
If I was judging these cameras by looks alone, the🌝 Fujifilm X-H2S might be my top pick! Beauty isn't just skin deep, though, as the X-H2S delivers peak performance for🌝 both stills and video.
The "S" in its name stands for "speed", with the camera hitting a class-leading 40fps continuous shooting.
Better🌝 yet is the seemingly unlimited buffer – it feels like I can hold my finger down forever and it will🌝 never fill up.
That's bolstered by up to 7 stops of in-body image stabilization, and uncropped 6.
2K 30p and 4K 120p🌝 video.
Fujifilm promises that the X-H2S can capture 240 minutes of 4K 60p footage before overheating becomes an issue, but what🌝 I love is that the manufacturer also offers an optional cooling fan – so if you want to really push🌝 the video, or shoot in hot environments, you're covered.
Read our full Fujifilm X-H2S review for more details
(Image credit: Rod Lawton/Digital🌝 Camera World)
I've always loved the Canon EOS 90D, which was introduced to amalgamate the popular 7D Mark II and 80D🌝 cameras.
The result is an all-purpose camera that offers plenty of speed and weatherproofing for sports shooting, with a chunky 32.
5MP🌝 sensor delivering plenty of resolution.
Like the pro 1D X Mark III, this is very much a hybrid between DSLR and🌝 mirrorless tech, offering the fidelity of an optical viewfinder for those who want it along with a sophisticated autofocus system🌝 in live view – which, for me, is where the camera truly shines.
It's a generation behind the R7, but the🌝 AF is still incredibly robust and reliable.
The only real criticism here is that the buffer capacity is a bit limited.
Read🌝 our full Canon EOS 90D review for more details
Best camera for sports photography: beginner bridge cameras
(Image credit: Nikon)
I'm a big🌝 convert to bridge cameras thanks to Nikon's CoolPix PXXX series – and the P950 is my pick for a sporting🌝 option.
It boasts a monstrous 83x optical zoom, giving you an unbelievable 24-2000mm zoom range, which takes you from full-width shots🌝 of the football field to an extreme close-up of your favorite player.
A few things have to give, to achieve that🌝 ridiculous reach.
The camera has contrast-detect autofocus, and the 7fps burst comes with a 10-shot buffer, so you won't always be🌝 able to keep up with fast action, and there are some sharpness issues at the telephoto end.
Still – you just🌝 can't argue with that wild 24-2000mm reach, and I'm happy to make a few sacrifices for that kind of versatility.
Read🌝 our full Nikon Coolpix P950 review for more details
(Image credit: Panasonic)10.
Panasonic FZ300 The best value for money sports bridge camera🌝 Average Amazon review: ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ Specifications Type: Compact Sensor: 1/2.
3-inch MOS Megapixels: 12.
1MP Lens: 25-600mm (equivalent) f/2.
8🌝 AF points: 49 Burst rate: 12fps with AF (or up to 30fps using 4K Photo mode) Buffer: Not specified Weight:🌝 640g Today's Best Deals View at Amazon View at Walmart View at BHPhoto Reasons to buy + Impressive zoom lens🌝 + Well-priced package Reasons to avoid - Small sensor...- ...
with low megapixel count
The Panasonic Lumix FZ300 (the FZ330 outside North🌝 America) is an inexpensive bridge camera with an impressive 24x optical zoom that's ideal for sports photography.
It's no slouch in🌝 burst shooting either, with a 4K Photo mode that enables you to exploit the 30fps 4K frame rate for the🌝 purposes of stills shooting – as long as you don't mind a resolution cut to 8MP.
Resolution in general is the🌝 camera's main area of disadvantage, topping out at 12.
1MP, meaning it's not a great choice if you're planning to make🌝 prints – but as the majority of my images end up on websites or social media, that needn't be the🌝 end of the world.
If a 25-600mm reach is more important to you than image quality, look no further.
(Image credit: Panasonic)11.
Panasonic🌝 Lumix FZ1000 II The best sports bridge camera for image quality Average Amazon review: ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ Specifications🌝 Type: Compact Sensor: 1-inch MOS Megapixels: 20.
1MP Lens: 25-400mm (equivalent) f/2.
8-4 AF points: 49 Burst rate: 30fps (using 4K Photo🌝 mode, 8MP), 12fps (single AF), 7fps (continuous AF) Buffer: 100+ shots (JPEG), 26 shots (RAW) Weight: 810g Today's Best Deals🌝 View at Amazon View at Adorama US View at Walmart Reasons to buy + 20.
1MP, 1-inch sensor + Good shot🌝 buffer + Useful Zoom Assist mode Reasons to avoid - Max aperture falls quickly - Comparatively expensive
Here's a compromise if🌝 you don't need the reach of the P950, but want more image quality than the FZ300: the Panasonic's FZ1000 II.
Its🌝 1-inch sensor is physically larger than the others, and also packs more pixels.
So if I want the best image quality,🌝 resolution, dynamic range and low light performance, this is the one I'll reach for.
The compromise in this case is the🌝 zoom range – but I'll be honest, 25-400mm is still ludicrously versatile!
The buffer depth is an impressive 100 JPEGs (or🌝 25 RAWs), and the clever Zoom Compose Assist mode tracks your subject while you're zoomed in and keeps hold of🌝 them even if they suddenly leave the frame – useful if a football player unexpectedly changes direction.
The 4K Photo mode🌝 is also handy, allowing you to shoot 8MP images at 30fps.
How to choose the best camera for sports photography
One of🌝 the most important features of a sports camera is a good burst mode.
This refers to how many frames per second🌝 your camera can capture; the faster it is, the more likely you are to capture that winning mid-action shot.
Mirrorless cameras🌝 tend to be more impressive in this area, as they don't have a physical shutter to move.
However, there are many🌝 DSLRs that have very respectable burst modes.
However, a great burst mode means very little without a good buffer depth to🌝 accompany it.
This refers to the number of continuous photos that a camera can take before it needs to pause (at🌝 which point the camera needs to process, preventing you from shooting again until the buffer clears).
If you're shooting in JPEG,🌝 you'll find that there will be a larger buffer than if you're shooting in RAW.
However, professional cameras should be capable🌝 of decent buffer depths for RAW files as well.
Another super important feature of the best camera for sports photography is🌝 fast and efficient autofocus.
Without an autofocus system that's able to keep up with the action, you'll likely end up with🌝 a lot of misfocused images.
Look for good coverage of autofocus points – and if the camera has a sophisticated AF🌝 tracking system, then you're definitely on the right lines.
How we test cameras
We test DSLR and mirrorless cameras in real-world shooting🌝 scenarios and in carefully controlled lab conditions.
Our lab tests measure resolution, dynamic range, and signal-to-noise ratio.
Resolution is measured using ISO🌝 resolution charts, dynamic range is measured using DxO Analyzer test equipment and DxO Analyzer is also used for noise analysis🌝 across the camera's ISO range.
For compact cameras, we use real-world results and handling alone in compiling our guides.
Crucially, we also🌝 test cameras in real-world shooting environments.
In the case of the best cameras for sports photography, this means taking them courtside,🌝 trackside, ringside and cageside and taking photographs during actual sporting events.
FAQs
What type of camera does a sports photographer use? Professional🌝 sports photographers typically use full-frame flagship cameras from the "big three" manufacturers.
These include DSLRs like the Canon EOS-1D X Mark🌝 III and Nikon D5, and mirrorless cameras such as the Sony A1, Canon EOS R3 and Nikon Z9.
These offer large🌝 sensors with good ISO performance, high dynamic range, and fast continuous shooting speeds.
Many semi-pro and enthusiast photographers opt for APS-C🌝 DSLR or mirrorless cameras.
These feature physically smaller image sensors, but their the 1.5x / 1.
6x crop factor increases the effective🌝 focal length of lenses.
Beginners and casual shooters are advised to opt for bridge cameras.
Unlike interchangeable lens cameras, these have fixed🌝 lenses with large – sometimes extreme – focal ranges.
They are also simple to use and operate, in many ways, like🌝 point-and-shoot cameras.
Is a DSLR or mirrorless camera better for sports photography? Traditionally DSLRs have been favored for sports photography due🌝 to their absence of lag and better battery life, compared to mirrorless cameras that have historically experienced latency in their🌝 electronic viewfinders and cannot achieve the same battery performance.
These days, however, mirrorless cameras can achieve lag-free, blackout-free shooting.
Combined with their🌝 increasingly superior specifications (particularly in terms of autofocus, burst speeds and stabilization), they are becoming more and more popular.
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even🌝 though they still cannot match DSLRs' battery life.
Do sports photographers shoot in RAW or JPEG? Professional sports photographers tend to🌝 shoot in JPEG, as it is faster and more efficient – both in terms of shooting and uploading their files.
In🌝 general, many sports photographers shoot in JPEG + RAW, so that a high-quality "negative" is retained for editing purposes.
