When we talk about sports photography. Then speed is the name of the game, any lens which has better speed won the game. But what components join together to make a fast lens and why are they important? Best lenses for sports photography.
When you going to watch a professional outdoor sporting event. Then you have to look at the cameraman who is sitting on the sidelines.
They take the images of that live event, and you’ll see a huge amount of $5,000 to $13,000 lenses focusing on the live-action. One thing you notice is that many will be attached to monopods because of their heavy weight.
Things that are important for the lens used in sports photography
Apertures of the lens can be opened to f/2.8 on 300mm and 400mm lenses. If you talk about the wide f/4 on 500mm and 600mm lenses. You need light and all the light coming into the lens through these wide openings.
You can set the shutters at faster speeds, hence it is called the expression “fast lens. The secondary benefit of these lenses is the opportunity to create beautiful bokeh.
We talk about the magical quality of the blur in the out-of-focus areas of an image. The image was taken with this lens with an extremely shallow depth of field.
This feature can be used to keep the focus of the audience on the main action, rather than their action being pulled away by distracting many elements in the background.
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Top 6 Best Lenses for Sports Photography
1. Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM
- 70-200 mm focal length and 1:2.8 maximum aperture
- Lens construction consists of 23 elements in 19 groups (1 fluorite and 5 UD elements)
- 34-Degree - 12-Degree diagonal angle of view
- Inner focusing system with USM and full-time manual focus option
- 77 mm filter size. Extenders Compatible
This lens contains an EF mount; a telephoto zoom lens. The benefit of this lens is you take images from a far distance. Because in sports you are not allowed to go inside the ground and take images.
But you have to take the image from the distance where authorities allow you to sit. So you need that lens which had a good telephoto zoom lens.
This lens contains ultra-low Dispersion glass. The benefit of this feature is it provides strength to your inner focus. You can also set a full-time manual focus.
Because sometimes the automatic focus is not workable in sports events. This lens is best in this price range. Because it provides too many features as compared to another lens.
This lens contains a 70 to 200-millimeter focal length. The closest focusing distance of this lens is 4.9 feet. The aperture of this lens is f2.8 constant maximum aperture. The benefit of this feature it provides awesome sharpness to the image and you receive a good-quality image.
This lens contains UltraSonic Motor (USM). This lens is Compatible with Extender EF 1.5x II and 3x II. This ultrasonic motor ensures fast accurate focusing. The benefit of this feature is the quickly you focus on the best results you get. That’s why a good lens has this feature.
PROS:
- The sharpness of the images is very excellent
- The F2.8, the wide aperture creates some pretty eye-pleasing bokeh, due to this quality the image is perfect
CONS:
- The price is a little bit high
2. Nikon AF-S FX NIKKOR 300mm f/2.8
- Fast-aperture f/2.8 NIKKOR Super Telephoto. Wide aperture, professional telephoto performance
- Nikon VR II (Vibration Reduction) Image Stabilization. Vibration Reduction is engineered specifically for each VR NIKKOR lens.
- Exclusive Nano Crystal Coat. Further reduces ghosting and internal flare for even greater image clarity.
- Three Extra-low Dispersion (ED) Elements. Offers superior sharpness and color correction by effectively minimizing chromatic aberration
- Virtually eliminates coma and other aberrations, promoting image integrity
This lens has Fast-aperture f/2.8 NIKKOR Super Telephoto. It also provides a wide aperture. The benefit of this feature is you have to take an image from where you want.
Because in sports you have to take the image from far length. So this feature is very useful in sports events. This lens gives a professional telephoto performance.
The image stabilization of this lens is awesome. This lens has an outstanding feature of vibration reduction. Due to this feature, you find a perfect image on an uneven surface. Image stabilization is also a very important feature in any sports-designed lens.
This lens has an exclusive Nano Crystal Coat. The benefit of that feature is it helps to significantly eliminate backlit flaring and ghosting. This lens is resistant to dust and water. This resistance provides amazing durability to this lens. You are enable shooting even in unfavorable conditions.
This lens contains 3 Extra-low dispersion (ED) elements. Due to this feature, this lens offers superior sharpness and color correction to the image.
Another benefit of this feature is it effectively minimizes chromatic aberration which enhances the quality of the image. We recommend this lens because this lens has all the qualities which an expensive lens has.
This lens has the outstanding feature of virtually eliminating coma and other aberrations. The benefit of this feature is this lens promotes image integrity.
PROS:
- The image stabilization of this lens is amazing
- This lens contains a feature of virtually eliminates coma and other aberrations. This feature is very attractive
CONS:
- The price is high for beginners
3. SIGMA 70-300MM
- Designed for use with full frame digital SLR cameras. May also be used with smaller APS-c size sensors with a corresponding effective increase in focal length to about 100 to 450mm with most cameras
This lens has a large zoom range that allows You To capture images of intense action during the live event from a far distance with a very near close-up. The benefit of this feature is you take images from a far distance. This is so important feature in sports photography.
Because in sports you are not allowed to go inside the ground and take images. But you have to take the image from a distance where authorities allow you to sit. So this feature is so important for sports photography.
This lens has excellent color quality For enhancing natural lighting. The benefit of this feature is it allows you to take images perfectly during daylight.
Because most of the sports are happening in the daytime where light adjustment is a big issue. But due to this feature, you click images with very good quality and with very good light.
The price of this lens is very affordable. The price matters because for those photographers whose budget is low. This lens is so good because they don’t have so much money. So price plays an important role in the quality of any lens.
This lens is built in such a way that this lens is available with full-frame digital SLR cameras. You may also use this lens with smaller APS-c size sensors. This feature corresponds effective increase in focal length. The measurement of the focal length is about 100 to 450mm.
PROS:
- The price of the lens is very reasonable
- The image stabilization quality of this lens is awesome
CONS:
- The zoom of this lens has some problems it is not as smooth as stated by consumers
4. Canon EF 100-400mm
- Compact, high performance L-series super-telephoto zoom makes it ideal for sports and wildlife photography
- Rotation-type zoom ring allows for more precise composition and excellent balance when handholding
- Improved zoom torque adjustment ring allows easy setting of zoom tension, Focal Length & Maximum Aperture:100-400mm 1:4.5-5.6, Closest Focusing Distance-3.2 ft. / 0.98m
- New Air Sphere Coating (ASC) helps to significantly reduce backlit flaring and ghosting, Highly resistant to dust and water, and amazing durability enabling shooting even in harsh conditions
This lens has a compact, high-performance L-series telephoto zoom. This feature makes this lens perfect for sports photography. Because it zooms from a very far distance. We stated earlier the benefit of this feature but once again we tell you. Due to this feature, your work is so easy.
Because in sports you are not allowed to go inside the ground and take images. But you have to take the image from the distance where the place is provided by ground authorities. So this feature is so important for sports photography.
This lens contains a rotation-type zoom ring. This feature allows this lens for more precise composition. This feature makes your work easy and provides excellent balance when hand-holding the lens. This lens is perfect for those surfaces where you don’t stand properly due to the crowd or any other reason.
This lens has an amazing feature of a new air sphere coating. The positive aspect of that technology is it helps to significantly eliminate backlit flaring and ghosting.
This lens is highly resistant to dust and water. This resistance provides amazing durability to this lens. You continue your shooting even in unfavorable conditions.
This lens has an Improved zoom torque adjustment ring. This feature helps in the easy setting of zoom tension.
It provides a focal length & maximum Aperture that is approximately 100-400mm 1:4.5-5.6. The closest Focusing Distance of this lens is 3.2 ft. / 0.98m. This feature of this lens is very much in demand.
PROS:
- This lens has an amazing zoom torque feature
- The autofocus of this lens is outstanding
CONS:
- The image stabilization of this lens is not good
5. Olympus M.Zuiko ED 75-300mm
- Notes on shooting: edges of pictures may be cut off if more than one filter is used or if a thick filter is used. When using a Flash, flash light may be blocked by lens body, lens hood, etc.
- Excellent imaging performance. Super-telephoto shooting in a compact, lightweight, affordable lens.
- MSC mechanism for fast, q1uiet auto focusing
- Closest focusing distance 0.9m (at 75mm of focal length) / 1.5m (except 75mm of focal length)
- Maximum image magnification 0.18x (35mm equivalent maximum image magnification 0.36x)
This lens has the amazing feature of cutting edges of pictures. You may cut the image sides off if more than one filter is used. It also cut the edges if a thick filter is used. When using a flashlight and it reflects then it is blocked by the lens body and lens hood. This feature is very attractive to the user.
This lens has excellent imaging performance. This lens has the feature of a Super-telephoto. Due to this feature, you take images from far lengths. This lens is perfect for sports shooting. This lens is a compact, lightweight, affordable lens. Which makes it so special.
This lens has a technology of MSC mechanism for fast, quiet autofocusing. In sports, fast and autofocus are very important. Because in sports the situation is changing quickly and you may take the images quickly. So this feature helps you.
This lens has a maximum image magnification of 0.18x. This magnification is awesome due to this magnification you get perfect results because we stated earlier that you have to zoom from a far length. So this zoom makes your image special.
PROS:
- This lens is Inexpensive compared to full-frame equivalent lenses.
- This lens is flexible to use because it has a wide zoom range (75 mm – 300 mm)
CONS:
- This lens has slow to auto-focus under overcast conditions
6. SONY FE 135mm f/ 1.8 G master
- FOCUS: Focal length: 135mm / Minimum focus distance of 27.5”
- APERTURE: Aperture range: f/1.8 to f/22 / 11 blade aperture design
- TYPE: 35 mm full frame format Sony E-mount lens
- ZOOM: 0.25x maximum magnification
- OPTICS: Nano Anti-Reflective Coating technology / 13 lens elements in 10 groups
The measurement of the lens is incredible. The lens is about 3.5/8th inches long and 6 inches tall in length. Definitely, this lens is the smallest in our article list. The weight of the lens is also very light it is not too heavy. The weight of the lens is only 2 pounds.
The compatibility of the lens is great. If you want to pair the lens with a Sony mirrorless camera it is easily attached to it. Remember one thing you can keep the weight of your device slightly down.
The composition of the lens is very qualitative, it is made up of magnesium alloy. The benefit of magnesium alloy is it keeps the model durable but the weight of the lens is not too heavy.
I found the weather sealing on the lens to be very good, and the lens itself feels very stylish. One more thing you have to be remembered, the bright aperture of the lens allows you to shoot indoor sports activities that are slightly dim.
PROS:
- The autofocus of the lens is great
- Image stabilization is also very useful
CONS:
- Some consumers complain about the slowdown during autofocus
FINAL CONCLUSION
In our article, we tell you all things about the best lenses for sports photography. At the start of our article, we tell the importance of a good lens in sports photography. I make this field your carrier then a good lens is very important for you.
We also tell you the features of a good sports photography lens. We also tell you which thing to keep in your mind when you buy a sports photography lens for yourself.
In the end, we conclude that when you buy a lens for sports photography then read our article. Because in our article we give you complete information about the lens which is best for sports photography. We hope you are satisfied with our article and give us positive feedback.