Gear Up for the Olympics: Must-Have Lenses for Sports Photographers

The countdown to the Olympic Games is on, and the world shifts focus to the multi-sport event which takes place in Paris this summer. From athletics to equestrian to diving, we explore the best and most versatile lenses for sports photography and crown the best camera body and lens combination for the job.

The Olympic Games have a long history, going back to 776 BC in ancient Greece. Normally held every four years on a leap year, this major multi-sport event sees the best athletes in the world represent their respective countries, eventually leading to gold medal-winning performances that leave us mere mortals in awe of the talent, strength, and hard work that go hand in hand with their success. When it comes to coverage of the Olympic Games, the best of the best equipment is used by photographers shooting the event to capture every key moment of action and celebration. From the split-second finish of a 100-meter sprint to the precise landing of a gymnast, having the right lens can make the difference between a good shot and a once-in-a-lifetime capture that tells the story of the Games in a single frame.

At a major event such as this, speed and quality are vital considerations. Only the best will do. Upgrading your equipment can be a costly exercise, but it is vital to have the right tools for the job when it comes to sports photography to ensure that you can get in close enough to the action and succeed in freezing the moment. Fast telephoto lenses do not come cheap; however, there is a way to help keep the cost to a minimum. It is no secret that many photographers now buy gently used products rather than new in order to maximize their kit within budget, and MPB offers a convenient service for buying and selling used photography equipment.

In the spirit of the Olympics, take this article as some healthy competition between camera brands, and lens types, each battling it out to see who comes out on top. I had a browse through MPB's website and gathered some equipment for your consideration in sports photography.

The Starting Line-Up of Sports Lenses

The Workhorse: Nikon Nikkor Z 70-180mm f/2.8

Suitable for many events, amongst many others, the Nikon Z 70-180mm is a fantastic choice when it comes to sports. With its fast autofocus and excellent sharpness—even up close—this midrange telephoto lens comes straight out of the gate as a winning contender.

Pair this with the Nikon Z9, and you have a winning combination that can handle pretty much anything in view with world-class performance and solid reliability.

In Pole Position: Fujinon XF 200mm f/2 OIS WR with XF 1.4x WR Teleconverter

This lens is hailed as the ultimate lens for sport, action, and wildlife photographers. When you combine the FUJINON XF 200mm f/2 R LM OIS WR with the XF 1.4X TC WR teleconverter, you can reach action even further away, adding versatility to this amazing lens. This lens is incredibly sharp, even wide open at f/2, so you can be sure to capture the action from dawn to dusk.

Attach this lens to the Fujifilm X-H2 for a perfect pairing that combines quality, accuracy, and sharpness.

The Underdog: Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Sport 

When you are dealing with an event that has action across a wide geographical space, such as a football game, you need a telephoto zoom lens, and this Sigma offering is a perfect fit. With a focal length range from 150mm to 600mm, you can be sure to capture every moment from track to field. 

Pair this Nikon fit lens with the Nikon D850 for a solid performance duo.

The Sure Bet: Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS III USM

Canon’s EF 600mm f/4L IS III USM is still an amazing choice for sports photography. If you still shoot with your trusty DSLR body, such as the amazing Canon 5D Mark IV, then you can’t go wrong with this lens for bringing the action close to you. It’s sharp, it’s fast, it’s sturdy and reliable, which makes it a solid option for sports. It is on the pricey side; however, this lens is compatible with every EOS camera ever produced, when used with the appropriate lens adapter, so this option will survive regular gear upgrades.

The Camera Body and Lens Worthy of the Gods of Olympus

In honor of Zeus, the king of Olympus, I have chosen what I consider the king combination of camera body and lens for sports photography. If you want to shoot full-resolution raw and JPEG images with AF/AE tracking at a lightning-fast 120 frames per second, with pin sharp focus, the Sony a9 III body and Sony FE 100-400mm G Master OSS super telephoto lens is the combination for you.

The AF system on the Sony a9 III has 759 on-sensor phase detection points which cover around 95% of the imaging area and can focus down to -5 EV. It is capable of recognizing human subjects through posing as well as eye and face detection. This means that even if the person's head is turned away, it will still detect the subject as human. This has been made possible through AI deep learning. Did I mention that the a9 III is also capable of focusing on helmets rather than heads? With all of that in mind, the Sony a9 III comes out on top specifically for sports photography.

The lens of choice to pair with the Sony a9 III has to be Sony’s FE f/4.5-5.6 100-400mm GM OSS super-telephoto zoom lens. This premium G Master series super telephoto zoom lens provides fast, precise autofocus; it lets you capture distant action with outstanding quality and immediacy. Such high-quality professional optics ensure consistency across the frame at any focusing distance throughout the zoom range. For its size, this lens is relatively lightweight at only 1,395g, which allows photographers to move with the action as needed.

Honorable Mention

Brand new on the market, this article wouldn't be complete without mentioning a close contender for the prosumer market, the newly released Nikon Z6 III. Boasting significant upgrades over the Z6 II, this lightweight full frame camera has borrowed some of its features from the high-end Nikon Z8 and introduced a new 24.5MP partially stacked CMOS sensor. It offers up to 60 fps JPEG in full resolution and 120 fps with an APS-C crop, further solidifying its appeal for capturing fast-paced moments, making it an excellent choice for sports and action photography.

Pair this camera with the fantastic Nikon Nikkor Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S, and you have an extremely versatile sports setup, whether you are shooting at the Olympic Games or your child's school sports event.

At the time of writing, there were no Nikon Z6 III camera bodies available as yet on MPB as they are so new. However, stock changes quickly, and there will be many photographers who buy to try, then trade in on MPB as they move on to their next camera body.

That’s the beauty of buying and selling secondhand camera equipment: you can upgrade and switch systems for a much lower cost than buying new, allowing you to explore your photographic pursuits at a much faster pace. After all, the needs of a photographer can change regularly, sometimes from job to job, contract to contract. Included with each purchase is complete peace of mind with a generous six-month warranty, making MPB a natural choice for trading and upgrading your photography equipment. Why work with what you’ve got when you can work with what you need?

I have tried to include something for everyone, with different budgets and needs. But is your winning combination missing from this article? What are your go-to lenses for sports photography, and what sports do you cover?