Best Camera Lenses for Sports

In search of the perfect action shot? Capturing a hurdler in mid stride, a baseball bat striking a ball flying at 90 mph, or a great soccer pass takes precise camera work and a great lens.

There are a number of good camera lenses that are appropriate for taking sports action shots. Depending on your preference, you can get an autofocus lens that will focus automatically, or a manual focus which you have to adjust yourself. Some of the higher end lenses are capable of both automatic and manual focusing. Focal length for lenses ranges from 24 mm to about 400 mm. A 400 mm focal length will allow you to take focused shots, such as a picture of an individual player, while a 24 mm focal length is well suited to taking wider shots like pictures of the whole team or playing field.

Most lenses have a focal range of about 70 mm to 300 mm to allow you to take both close detail shots and cinematic crowd shots. Camera lenses more suited to wider shots will have a range of around 24 mm to 105 mm, and lenses that are better for focusing close up generally have a focal range of about 105 mm to 400 mm.

Camera lenses can be heavy, but if you are trying to capture clear action shots on the fly, you need something that you can carry easily from midfield to the end zone. Look for affordable, lightweight lenses with a wide focal range and a good overall focus.