The best camera for sports photography isn’t always the one with the most megapixels. A good sports camera needs to be fast and accurate, able to keep up with subjects that move quickly and unpredictably.
For this guide, we’ve compiled the best sports cameras for all budgets and abilities, from cheap bridge cameras that deliver the goods to the cutting-edge professional models that are used at the Olympics.
If you’re coming at this completely new, click to jump straight to our section on how to choose the best camera for sports photography, where we lay out the essentials.
When choosing the best camera for sports photography, a fast burst rate is vital – meaning a good sports camera needs to be able to capture a lot of shots in a short space of time, measured in frames per second.
But the other half of this picture is what’s called the buffer, meaning the number of consecutive shots a camera can take before it needs to stop to cool off. A camera that can shoot at 12fps isn’t much cop if it needs to stop every 13 frames. A decent zoom is also handy, as in sports you’re unlikely to be able to get super-close to the action.
In this list, we’ve picked a mix of interchangeable-lens cameras that offer access to big lenses, and bridge-style compact cameras that have a big zoom lens of their own. These latter types tend to be much more affordable, and are great for beginners who are learning the ropes of sports photography.
At the other end of the scale, the world of pro sports cameras tends to be where some of the most exciting developments are happening, especially in the mirrorless cameras sector. The Nikon Z9 (opens in new tab) offers 120fps burst speeds and the fastest shutter speed of just 1/32,000sec. Then there’s also the Canon EOS R3, a full-frame monster (opens in new tab) that allows you to control the AF point with the movement of your eye!
To help you find the best camera for sports photography for your needs, we’ve split this guide into three different categories. First, we deal with beginner cameras, then with the best mid-priced models for enthusiasts, and lastly, we list the top sports cameras for professionals.
Best camera for sports photography – the full list
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Professional sports cameras
These are the best professional sports cameras right now, for those who shot action subjects for a living and need the ultimate in speed, durability, and reliability.
The Sony A9 Mark II is the most advanced mirrorless camera around right now, it’s a superb sports-shooting machine thanks to its 20fps burst shooting with no viewfinder blackout, and its autofocus system puts basically all others to shame, capable as it is of making up to 60 calculations every second.
Sony has really gone above and beyond with other features useful for sports shooters, like the built-in 5GHz Wi-Fi for super-fast image transfer, and a new mechanical shutter designed with ultra-low vibration.
Read our full Sony A9 II review for more details
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Like including Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours on a best-seventies-album list, we’re not surprising anyone by putting the EOS-1D X Mark III in here, but all the same, the enterprise would feel wrong without it.
It’s the third iteration of the best action DSLR in the world, but it takes on advancements from the world of mirrorless to make for one of the best cameras ever made. The 1D X Mark III just shoots and shoots and shoots, and with an amazing smart controller that makes handling a breeze, and deep-learning autofocus that gets better with use, it’s one of the best sports-shooting cameras ever made.
Pro Canon shooters wanting the firm’s best sports camera should also consider the EOS R3 (opens in new tab), the latest full-frame mirrorless model for professionals. While it’s not supposed to be a replacement for the 1D X Mark III, as it’s not a “1-series” camera (that’ll be the EOS R1 (opens in new tab), whenever it gets here), it does considerably outstrip the 1DX Mark III in several key areas. Once we’ve fully tested it, and it’s available to buy, it may well find a place in this guide while we’re all twiddling our thumbs waiting for the EOS R1.
Read our full Canon EOS-1D X Mark III review for more details
The Canon EOS R3 is the latest addition to Canon’s mirrorless lineup, offering 6K Raw video, 30fps continuous shooting, and Eye control AF so you can place a focal point simply by looking at your subject.
It packs a lot of advanced features which make up for the fact it’s “only” 24.1MP. It might not be the highest resolution sensor, but at least when you’re shooting hundreds of images in burst mode, the file sizes will be smaller and it’ll take less time to transfer than if you were shooting with something like the Sony A1 (opens in new tab).
The 6K and 4K video footage are crystal clear and best of all it doesn’t seem to suffer from the same overheating issues as the R5 and R6. We were seriously impressed with the R3 when we got to do hands-on with it. It’s a super-fast, intuitive camera that’s more than capable of producing high-quality pictures and videos.
Read our full Canon EOS R3 review for more details
This could be the ultimate mirrorless camera. There is literally nothing it can’t shoot. Sports? Check, thanks to its unreal 30fps continuous shooting. Fine detail? Check, thanks to its 50.1MP resolution. Video? Check, thanks to its 8K recording capability (even though it’s hampered by not having a fully articulating screen). The Sony A1 is far and away the most advanced and most powerful camera on the market… yet this comes at a cost, literally.
It’s about twice the cost of the Sony A9 II, and it’s even more expensive than the 100MP medium format Fujifilm GFX 100S (opens in new tab). There are also caveats on the 30fps burst, which isn’t always achievable (sometimes topping out at 15-20fps, which is still impressive but less impressive than the spec sheet). Overall, though, if you want a camera that can take on any possible assignment, this is it.
Read our full Sony A1 review for more details
The Nikon Z9 is a startling step forward for professional imaging. It’s capable of burst-shooting at a face-melting 120fps, for one, and its buffer can record a nominal 1,000 images per burst, with Nikon recording it being capable of as many as 5,000 when used with a high-spec CFExpress card.
It also uses deep-learning AF, meaning its focusing ability should get better over time, and the back-side illuminated sensor delivers superior low-light performance.
Read our full Nikon Z9 review for more details
Sports cameras for enthusiasts
For enthusiasts who know what they’re doing and want a camera that’ll give them options to suit their level of expertise, these are the best DSLRs and mirrorless cameras for sports photography. These models all have the impressive burst-shooting rates needed for shooting fast action and give the user access to the kinds of excellent lenses that’ll deliver great results every time.
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Stradling the line firmly between enthusiast cameras and pro sports cameras. The Fujifilm X-H2S boasts the highest performance for stills and videos in the history of the X Series.
With double the processing power of its predecessor, it offers a class-leading 40fps continuous shooting with full autofocus functions. What is truly amazing is the unlimited buffer, while nearly never useful in practice, you can keep shooting until your card is full.
For sports photographers and users who don’t want the size or price of a full-frame sensor, the Fujifilm X-H2S is a terrifically powerful companion. It also is one of the nicest looking cameras, made of solid sturdy metal construction, it feels good in the hand and you certainly will want to show it off.
Read our full Fujifilm X-H2S review for more details
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Canon has a long legacy in DSLR cameras when it comes to sports and wildlife photography, with the company’s EOS 7D (opens in new tab) range of cameras being the go-to cameras for serious enthusiasts for years.
This legacy has evolved in mirrorless form with the Canon EOS R7. Keeping what made the previous cameras great, with fantastic ergonomics but in a compact and light form factor. With its APS-C sensor, you can get closer to the action with a natural crop of 1.6x on the advertised focal length on an RF lens. Paired with something like the Canon RF 600mm, you get a relative focal length of 960mm.
With in-body stabilization of up to 5 stops, which works with compatible lenses to provide up to 8 stops of stabilization you can be confident using long telephoto lenses even with shaky hands. Canon’s truly astounding autofocus system with auto recognition will also enable you to track athletes, cars, motorbikes, and more.
Read our full Canon EOS R7 review for more details
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The new baby in Nikon’s Z range of mirrorless cameras, the Nikon Z 50 (opens in new tab) is an APS-C model aimed squarely at enthusiasts and newbies looking to take their first step into mirrorless shooting. It’s a great choice for sports photography thanks not only to its 11fps burst shooting but also to its sophisticated autofocus system and impressive image quality, with the dynamic range you’ll be talking about for days.
It’s a good system to invest in with one eye on the future – though that does mean the native lens selection is currently a little limited. The most telephoto reach you’ll currently get with a Z-branded lens is 250mm.
While an FTZ adapter does help here, using F-mount lenses is a good stopgap solution but not ideal in the long run. Still, with every sign that Nikon plans to make this system a future priority, the Z 50 represents a solid investment.
Read our full Nikon Z 50 review for more details
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The Canon EOS 90D is a do-it-all DSLR designed to function well in myriad different shooting situations, fast enough for sports photographers while also boasting rugged weatherproofing for outdoor use.
Its sophisticated metering system helps nail the exposures in JPEG mode – useful, as the RAW buffer is a little limited compared to the competition. Surprisingly for a DSLR, the EOS 90D really comes into its own in Live View mode using the LCD, with great touchscreen controls and a solid Live View autofocus system.
Read our full Canon EOS 90D review for more details
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Sony has done a great job of carving out a niche for its APS-C cameras alongside the full-frame flagships. The Sony A6600 offers 11fps burst shooting and a sophisticated 425-point autofocus system that boasts features like real-time Eye AF tracking – a great tool for keeping track of a fast-moving player.
It’s a little disappointing that the shot buffer has been reduced from the previous (and cheaper) A6500, but this is still an exceptional imaging machine.
Read our full Sony A6600 review for more details
Bridge cameras for beginners
If you’re looking for something straightforward, self-contained, and affordable that’ll allow you to get some good shots of the kids’ sports days, look no further. These bridge cameras have large zoom lenses that let you get close to the action, are designed to be intuitive to use, and all carry smaller price tags than mirrorless cameras or DSLRs.
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It’s just… an enormous zoom lens, isn’t it? If you’ve ever wanted to stand at the side of a rugby pitch and zoom in so far that you can see a player’s individual follicles (and really, who hasn’t?) then the Nikon CoolPix P950, with its 83x optical zoom, is the camera for you. A little more affordable than the flagship P1000, this impressive camera can bring even the most distant subjects within easy reach.
There are a few sharpness issues at the telephoto end, particularly if you’re working at high ISO settings, but in all honesty, it’s much more useful than it has any right to be.
Read our full Nikon Coolpix P950 review for more details
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The Panasonic Lumix FZ300 (the FZ330 outside of North America) is an inexpensive bridge camera with an impressively big 24x optical zoom that’s perfect for sports photography. It’s no slouch in burst shooting either, with a 4K Photo mode that allows you to utilize the 30fps 4K frame rate for the purposes of stills shooting – as long as you don’t mind a resolution cut to 8MP.
Although resolution more generally is the camera’s main area of disadvantage – its resolution tops out at 12.1MP, meaning it’s not a great choice if you’re planning to make prints, and the relatively small sensor does affect performance in low light. If neither of these are important factors for you, this is a strong choice for simple sports photography.
For a bridge camera with a little more oomph, we’d definitely recommend considering Panasonic’s FZ1000 II. Its 1-inch sensor gives you a significantly greater dynamic range to work with, making it easier to shoot in challenging light conditions and generally improving versatility. While the FZ1000 II is a pretty minor refresh over the original FZ1000, for sports photographers it does deliver a few improvements where it counts.
The buffer depth is greater, for one, and there’s also the new Zoom Compose Assist mode. This 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 perfectly respectable burst modes as well.
However, a great burst mode means very little without a good buffer depth to accompany it. This refers to the number of continuous photos a camera can take before it needs to pause. If you’re shooting in JPEG, then 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.
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 that will make you want to tear your hair out! You’ll want to 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.
Whether it’s photographing a Formula 1 car racing around the track or a sprinter reaching the finish line, almost all sports photography requires an absolutely essential ingredient: telephoto lenses (opens in new tab). If you have a bit more cash to splash, then you’ll want to plump for an interchangeable-lens camera that has great telephoto options. Alternatively, if you’re on a budget, then you’d do well to consider a compact camera with a generous zoom – such as the bridge cameras we’ve listed at the top of this article.
How we test cameras
We test DSLR and mirrorless cameras (opens in new tab) 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.
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