Capturing the action of a fast-paced sport is all about pure skill and high-end gear. You can have all the skills, but without the right camera or lens, it’s almost impossible to maintain picture quality for sports photography.
Canon cameras and lenses tend to be the top choice for most sports photographers out there. If you already have a Canon camera, then all you need for the perfect gear setup is a high-quality Canon sports lens.
That’s why, we bring you the best Canon Sports Lenses for your favourite Canon camera at affordable prices. Check them out below and find the perfect option to start your sports photography journey today.
Explaining Sports Lens
When it comes to clicking pictures of a sport, you can’t get your desired results with a regular camera lens. Sports lenses are different in their ability to track subjects through a fast-action game. These lenses are made to keep up with the pace of a moving sport.
Several different features make up a good-quality sports lens. Features like fast auto-focus, image stabilization, good zooming abilities, fast aperture, and so forth.
Fortunately, most Canon camera lenses for sports come with these features. Let’s check out some of those lenses below and see how these lenses stand out.
Lenses for Indoor Sports Photography
Sports isn’t just an outdoor activity anymore, there are plenty of sports played indoors as well. Badminton is an excellent example of such a sport where you need a sports lens to keep up with the quick movements of the players.
Now, the key difference between a normal sports lens and an indoor sports lens is the ability to click photos in low-light conditions. Without a good quality low-light lens, you will always end up with poor pictures and clips that look grainy.
How Canon Lenses Triumph Over Indoor Sports Photography Challenges?
Indoor photography is all about maintaining the perfect lighting conditions which comes down to lenses. Below you can surely find the best Canon lenses for indoor sports photography and get high-quality photos for indoor sports.
Whether it be the smoother focusing ability or the tougher lens mount, the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM is a significant upgrade from its predecessor. You can get excellent lighting from the lens that is 8 times better than a regular kit. It’s certainly one of the best if not the best affordable Canon mount lenses for sports.
Specifications
| Mount | EF, APS-C |
| Aperture Range | f/1.8 – 22 |
| Framing Distance | 50mm |
| Weight | 159g |
| Image Stabilization | No |
| Special feature | STM |
Pros
- Provides excellent lighting performance with a wide aperture
- Sharp and clear picture quality using the 50mm prime lens
- Great value for money option makes it an affordable choice
- Very lightweight and compact to easily carry along in the games
- STM makes it quiet and gives a smooth focus ability
Cons
- Doesn’t have image stabilization
- Only suitable for close-range shots
Capture some stunning sports photos with the Canon EF 85mm lens with its excellent image stabilization abilities. The lens is capable of producing some top-notch low-light images in the dark as well. Lastly, it has got ultrasonic motor that can provide impeccable autofocus abilities that are fast and accurate.
Specifications
| Mount | EF, APS-C |
| Aperture Range | f/1.4 – 22 |
| Framing Distance | 85mm |
| Weight | 950g |
| Image Stabilization | Yes |
| Special feature | Ring USM |
Get your hands on the best Canon lens for indoor sports photography with excellent framing distance and great low-light performance. To make things better it has got impressive image stabilization ability to click smooth and sharp images.
Specifications
| Mount | EF, APS-C |
| Aperture Range | f/2.8 – 32 |
| Framing Distance | 70 – 200mm |
| Weight | 1.48kg |
| Image Stabilization | Yes |
| Special feature | Ring USM |
Pros
- Very versatile to use with a great zooming range
- High-quality image stabilization provides sharp photos
- It has a solid build quality that makes it durable for heavy use
- The extended aperture range captures good low-light images
- Fast and accurate auto-focusing ability
Cons
- It’s a pretty heavy lens
- The lens is quite expensive
When it comes to sharp photos, prime lenses are one of the best choices. The Canon EF 135mm f/2L lens is the perfect choice because it combines both higher focal distance and the sharpness of the prime lens. With its exceptional image quality, you can click top-notch sports pictures while being at a distance.
Specifications
| Mount | EF, APS-C |
| Aperture Range | f/2 – 32 |
| Framing Distance | 135mm |
| Weight | 790g |
| Image Stabilization | No |
| Special feature | Ring USM |
Pros
- Sharp and exceptional image quality with great clarity
- A faster aperture makes it suitable for low-light conditions
- USM ring technology provides a quick autofocus feature
- Comparatively lightweight and easy to carry
- The focal length is pretty high for added versatility in shooting
Cons
- There is no image stabilization feature on this
- It has a fixed focal length which means no zooming
Pros
- Sharp and exceptional image quality with great clarity
- A faster aperture makes it suitable for low-light conditions
- USM ring technology provides a quick autofocus feature
- Comparatively lightweight and easy to carry
- The focal length is pretty high for added versatility in shooting
Cons
- There is no image stabilization feature on this
- It has a fixed focal length which means no zooming
If you want the best Canon lens for sports photography indoors from a distance, then this is the perfect choice. It’s a prime telephoto lens with a focal length of 300mm which can capture images from afar. Also, a great choice to have for people who fancy wildlife photography. What tops things off is the image stabilization feature of this lens.
Specifications
| Mount | EF, APS-C |
| Aperture Range | f/4 – 32 |
| Framing Distance | 300mm |
| Weight | 1.65kg |
| Image Stabilization | Yes |
| Special feature | Ring USM |
Pros
- Get high-quality images from a higher distance
- Excellent sharpness in the images with colours
- Perfect image stabilization for sharp and smooth photos
- Fast autofocus feature with ring-type USM
- It’s a heavy-duty lens that’s built to last for a long time
Cons
- The lens is very expensive
- It can get a bit heavy to use freely
Lenses for Outdoor Sports Photography
Clicking pictures in outdoor conditions is always a pleasure because you don’t need to worry about the lighting conditions. But it also comes with its challenges which are to keep up with the wider area and larger distances.
For an outdoor sports photography lens Canon is the perfect pick based on the following options. Check them out here –
Here’s a camera lens that gives you the option to be a versatile photographer. You can do wildlife, sports, and travel photography everything with this single lens. The aperture, image stabilization, and telephoto ability make it a top-notch Canon camera lens for sports photography.
Specifications
| Mount | EF |
| Aperture Range | f/4.5 – 32 f/5.6 – 38 |
| Framing Distance | 100 – 400mm |
| Weight | 1.56kg |
| Image Stabilization | Yes |
| Special feature | Ring USM |
Pros
- Excellent zooming ability that provides versatility in photography
- Capture crisp and clear images with image stabilization
- Even with the limited aperture range, it creates great bokeh
- Sharp photos without any shakiness with the image stabilization
- The heavy-duty construction makes it durable
Cons
- Not the best choice for low-light conditions
- It’s a bit heavy to carry around with you
Pros
- Excellent zooming ability that provides versatility in photography
- Capture crisp and clear images with image stabilization
- Even with the limited aperture range, it creates great bokeh
- Sharp photos without any shakiness with the image stabilization
- The heavy-duty construction makes it durable
Cons
- Not the best choice for low-light conditions
- It’s a bit heavy to carry around with you
Elevate your sports photography with the inclusion of this Canon telephoto lens for sports in your gear setup. It comes with a combination of range and quick autofocus that has image stabilization to capture smooth and sharp photos.
Specifications
| Mount | RF |
| Aperture Range | f/4.5 – 32f/7.1 – 54 |
| Framing Distance | 100 – 500mm |
| Weight | 1.36kg |
| Image Stabilization | Yes |
| Special feature | Dual Nano USM |
Pros
- Fast aperture range provides great lighting quality
- Impeccable image stabilization feature for non-shaky photos
- Super-impressive zooming ability for added versatility
- Build to last through heavy-duty use with solid construction
- Captures all the details with precise and high-speed autofocus
Cons
- Very expensive lens for commoners
- It’s quite heavy to carry and move around
If you don’t mind spending money on high-quality lenses then the Canon EF 600mm might just be the way for you. It’s a high-grade lens with excellent focal length used in professional sports photography to capture games like baseball, soccer, football, cricket, etc. Altogether, it’s the best Canon lens for motorsport photography.
Specifications
| Mount | EF |
| Aperture Range | f/4 |
| Framing Distance | 600mm |
| Weight | 3.92kg |
| Image Stabilization | Yes |
| Special feature | Ring USM |
Pros
- Features one of the best image stabilization abilities
- Click amazing photos from a great distance with a telephoto lens
- Comes with vivid colours on photos using super spectra coating
- Exceptional sharpness and clarity in images from a 9-blade aperture
- Rigid construction keeps it safe from dust, water and even sun-heat
Cons
- Too heavy to carry around
- Super expensive to use non-professionally
Free yourself from carrying a heavy-weight lens with the Canon RF 100-400mm lens. It’s a very lightweight lens that is also quite compact so you can take it wherever you go. No matter what game you need to cover, this lens has got you covered as the most portable Canon telephoto lens for sports.
Specifications
| Mount | RF |
| Aperture Range | f/5.6 – 32f/8 – 45 |
| Framing Distance | 100-400mm |
| Weight | 635kg |
| Image Stabilization | Yes |
| Special feature | NanoUSM |
Pros
- Get versatile shots under your portfolio with the wide zooming range
- Perfect to take on venues with the compact and lightweight nature
- Never experience camera shake using 5.5 stops image stabilization
- It has USM for smoother, quieter, and faster auto-focusing
- Get rich natural colours with super spectra coating on it.
Cons
- The aperture is not wide enough for quality low-light shots
- It’s not an affordable choice at all
Fast performance and a unique optical design take the Canon EF 200-400mm to a new level. It’s a medium-range super-telephoto lens that brings you the power of distance and clarity in the same unit. And what makes it even more versatile is its built-in 1.4x extender that turns the 200-400mm into 280-560mm.
Specifications
| Mount | RF |
| Aperture Range | f/4 – 32 |
| Framing Distance | 200-400mm 280-560mm (1.4x extender) |
| Weight | 1.83kg |
| Image Stabilization | Yes |
| Special feature | Ring USM |
Pros
- Switch modes quickly with the built-in extender for versatility
- Excellent optical prowess that provides vibrant and colourful images
- A pretty solid build quality ensuring durability for heavy use
- Sharp and shake-free images with great image stabilization
- The zooming range itself is suitable for various conditions
Cons
- Not that great for low-light pictures
- The lens is pretty heavy to carry in different places
What to Look for Before Buying Cannon Sports Lenses?
Finding a good Canon lens for sports is all about considering some factors based on your preferences. There is no universal choice for the best pick, so going through these factors can help you find the perfect lens.
Check out these factors to get the best Canon DSLR lens for sports that aligns with your needs.
- Fast autofocus
The key criterion for capturing the super fast action of a sport is the fast autofocus feature. No matter which lens you get, it has to have faster autofocus ability so that it can track quick-moving subjects with ease. With the best Canon lenses for sports, you need to look for the Ultra Sonic Motor (USM) which comes with quiet and fast auto-focus ability.
- Focal Length Versatility
It’s always better to get a lens that provides you the option to be more versatile with your images. A larger focal length range is always better for versatility. The ideal focal length to capture sports photos should always be within the range of 100mm to 500mm lens. However, it will mostly depend on the sports you are covering.
- Image Stabilization
Keeping your camera is the most difficult thing to do at a sports event with action-packed movement throughout the game. Sometimes even you will need to move around the stadium to keep up with your subjects. That’s where image stabilization can become a game changer and help you capture high-quality images. And the best Canon lens for shooting sports always has this feature.
- Zoom Choices
Having a longer zoom range on your camera lens is always great for sports photography. The range usually depends on what kind of sports you are planning to cover. Using a 70-200mm camera should be enough to capture photos of most sports whether it be indoor or outdoor sports. But if you go for something with a higher zooming range, that also works.
- Unleashing the Low-Light Capabilities
What makes up the best Canon lens for indoor sports is the capability to capture images in low-light conditions. No matter what kind of lighting conditions are around you, the pictures you take from the sports events will always come out bright. Although, for outdoor sports, it doesn’t matter that much.
- Budget
Setting a budget is always a crucial aspect before you go ahead and look for camera lenses. The best affordable Canon mount lens for sports can range from $1000 to $10000. If you are going for a lower focal length and limited aperture setting, then the price will be lower. But if you want professional-grade quality, then you will end up with an expensive choice.
- Build Quality
Unlike other lenses, the best Canon lens for action sports should have a solid build quality. Since you might be moving around a lot in the venue there will be a lot of risk of damaging the lens. Also, you have to carry the lens with you, so it has to have a heavy-duty build.
- Aperture
In terms of the aperture, it’s best to go for a lower aperture number which allows the lens to have a wider aperture. It allows more light to come through and ensures better lighting conditions. A faster aperture is always a better option. Typically anything with f/2.8 – 4.5 is a great range to be in for capturing sports photos.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some popular questions regarding the best camera lens for sports Canon owners often ask. Check out the answers to clear out all the confusion.
Is it important to have an external light source for sports photography?
No, you don’t need external light sources like softbox, flashes, or other lights to get proper lighting in sports photography. Especially, outdoors, the natural lighting can bring you amazing images throughout.
Do I need to get multiple camera lenses for sports?
The choice depends on your needs. If you capture both indoor and outdoor photos then you will need to get two lenses for both types of photography. An indoor lens comes with a wider aperture for better low-light images. Whereas outdoor cameras are more focused towards the focal length.
Is a zoom lens better than a prime lens for sports photography?
Yes, if you are thinking of sharper image quality, faster auto-focus, and faster aperture then prime lenses are better than zoom lenses. Just make sure to get a higher focal length ranging between 200mm to 400mm. But for versatility, a zoom lens is a much better choice.
What are the ideal lens specifications for indoor sports photography?
The ideal camera lens for indoor sports photography has a focal length of 70 – 200mm, an aperture of f/2.8, USM and image stabilization.
Eye on the Prize: Capturing Sports Photos with Your New Lens
In the end, it’s all about figuring out your preferences and what you want to achieve with your camera lens. Getting the best Canon sports lens is all about checking the features and seeing whether they fit your needs or not.
You can get any of the choices we listed here, as they all excel in performance and quality. There will be no opportunity for disappointment whatsoever. Create your dream setup, with one of these lenses and start your sport photography journey with a bang.
