Sports Lenses

The best sports lenses tend to be zoom lenses in the range of 70mm to 400mm and have a big aperture to capture fast action. The general sports lens tends to be the 70-200 F2.8. You can get away with a F4-F5.6 lens in daytime light where some of the general telephoto lenses could work. For extremely dark shooting many switch over to a 85m or 105mm F1.4 lens.

For sports photography, mirrorless cameras offer a range of lenses that provide fast autofocus, excellent sharpness, and the ability to capture fast-moving subjects. The best mirrorless sports lenses often depend on the specific camera brand you’re using, but here are some top options across various systems:

For Sony (E-mount)

  1. Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II
    • Focal Length: 70-200mm
    • Key Features: Fast autofocus, image stabilization, constant f/2.8 aperture.
    • Why it’s great: Ideal for a variety of sports due to the zoom range and fast aperture. It’s sharp, has quick AF, and works well in low light.
  2. Sony FE 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 GM OSS
    • Focal Length: 100-400mm
    • Key Features: Extensive zoom range, sharpness, and fast AF with stabilization.
    • Why it’s great: The extra reach is excellent for field sports like soccer, football, and wildlife, offering versatility and clarity.
  3. Sony FE 400mm f/2.8 GM OSS
    • Focal Length: 400mm
    • Key Features: Lightweight for a super-telephoto, sharpness, f/2.8 aperture.
    • Why it’s great: One of the best lenses for sports like soccer, football, or baseball where you need to track fast subjects at long distances.

For Canon (RF-mount)

  1. Canon RF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM
    • Focal Length: 70-200mm
    • Key Features: Compact design, fast AF, image stabilization.
    • Why it’s great: Versatile zoom, fast aperture, and light for its class. Ideal for indoor and outdoor sports.
  2. Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM
    • Focal Length: 100-500mm
    • Key Features: Long-range telephoto zoom, lightweight, image stabilization.
    • Why it’s great: Great for outdoor sports like motorsports, field sports, or birding. It offers significant reach with decent aperture flexibility.
  3. Canon RF 400mm f/2.8L IS USM
    • Focal Length: 400mm
    • Key Features: Fast AF, f/2.8 aperture, image stabilization.
    • Why it’s great: Exceptional for action sports and low-light situations. Its fast aperture and prime telephoto focal length make it a pro-grade lens for serious sports photographers.

For Nikon (Z-mount)

  1. Nikon Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S
    • Focal Length: 70-200mm
    • Key Features: Excellent build, fast and silent AF, optical stabilization.
    • Why it’s great: Like the others, it’s ideal for a wide range of sports thanks to its versatile zoom and fast aperture. Tack-sharp and weather-sealed.
  2. Nikon Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S
    • Focal Length: 100-400mm
    • Key Features: Long-range zoom, advanced AF, optical stabilization.
    • Why it’s great: Perfect for sports requiring reach, and it’s a great all-round telephoto lens for sports such as baseball, football, or motorsports.
  3. Nikon Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S
    • Focal Length: 400mm
    • Key Features: Integrated 1.4x teleconverter, fast f/2.8 aperture.
    • Why it’s great: The built-in teleconverter adds versatility, while the fast aperture and stabilization make it excellent for tracking fast-moving subjects.

For Fujifilm (X-mount, APS-C)

  1. Fujifilm XF 50-140mm f/2.8 R LM OIS WR
    • Focal Length: 50-140mm (equivalent to 76-213mm on full-frame)
    • Key Features: Constant f/2.8 aperture, weather-sealed, optical stabilization.
    • Why it’s great: It’s a solid choice for many types of sports, offering fast autofocus and a useful zoom range.
  2. Fujifilm XF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR
    • Focal Length: 100-400mm (equivalent to 150-600mm on full-frame)
    • Key Features: Long reach, image stabilization, weather-sealed.
    • Why it’s great: Perfect for field sports and wildlife photography, with excellent image quality and stabilization.

Key Features to Look for in Sports Lenses:

  • Fast autofocus (AF): Quick and reliable AF is essential for capturing fast-moving subjects.
  • Image stabilization: Helps reduce motion blur when using longer focal lengths.
  • Wide aperture (f/2.8 or faster): Better for low light and isolating subjects with shallow depth of field.
  • Long focal length: Telephoto lenses allow you to shoot subjects from a distance, which is key in many sports.