As a professional Sports Photographer, I have a whole lot to share about the best cameras for sports photography. Let's talk Canon cameras, and which Canons are worth your dime.
The Camera Made for Sports Photography | Canon EOS-1D X Mark III
This is a professional-grade DSLR that is specifically designed for sports photography. It has a 20.1 megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor and can shoot at up to 20 frames per second with autofocus. It also has excellent low light performance and can shoot in both RAW and JPEG formats.
Why is the Canon EOS-1D X Mark III great for sports photography?
Fast shooting speed
The EOS-1D X Mark III can shoot at up to 20 frames per second with autofocus, which is important for capturing fast-moving sports action. It's hockey-ready, I promise.
Superb autofocus system
The camera has a 191-point autofocus system that is capable of tracking moving subjects with high accuracy. It also has face and eye detection, which can help keep faces and eyes in focus when shooting portraits.
High-resolution sensor
The EOS-1D X Mark III has a 20.1 megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor, which is capable of producing detailed, sharp images.
Low light performance
The camera has excellent low light performance, with a native ISO range of 100-51200 that can be expanded to ISO 50-819200. This allows it to shoot in dimly-lit sports venues without requiring a flash.
Flexibility
The EOS-1D X Mark III can shoot in both RAW and JPEG formats, giving photographers the flexibility to choose the best format for their needs. It also has a wide range of customization options, allowing photographers to fine-tune the camera's settings to suit their specific needs.
What are the best Canon Sports Photography Lenses? Find out HERE!
Best Budget Canon Sports Photography Camera | Canon EOS 7D Mark II
This is a great little Canon DSLR camera that is well-suited for sports photography. It has a 20.2 megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor and can shoot at up to 10 frames per second with autofocus. It also has excellent low light performance and can shoot in both RAW and JPEG formats.
Frames per second
The EOS 7D Mark II can shoot at up to 10 frames per second with autofocus, which is important for capturing fast-moving sports action.
Autofocus system
The camera has a 65-point all cross-type autofocus system that is capable of tracking moving subjects with high accuracy. It also has face and eye detection, which can help keep faces and eyes in focus when shooting portraits.
Sensor
The EOS 7D Mark II has a 20.2 megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor, which is capable of producing detailed, sharp images.
Low light performance
The camera has excellent low light performance, with a native ISO range of 100-16000 that can be expanded to ISO 25600. This allows it to shoot in dimly-lit sports venues without requiring a flash.
Flexibility
The EOS 7D Mark II can shoot in both RAW and JPEG formats, giving photographers the flexibility to choose the best format for their needs. It also has a wide range of customization options, allowing photographers to fine-tune the camera's settings to suit their specific needs.
Best Camera for Sports Photography Under $1000 | Canon EOS 90D
This is a mid-range Canon DSLR that is a great option for sports photographers on a budget. It comes in right around the $1000 mark and it sure does pack a punch. It has a 32.5 megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor and can shoot at up to 10 frames per second with autofocus. It also has excellent low light performance and can shoot in both RAW and JPEG formats. Just pair it with a great Canon lens and you're ready for Sports Photography!
One of the best features of the Canon EOS 90D is its high-resolution sensor. The camera has a 32.5 megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor, which is capable of producing detailed, sharp images. This high megapixel count allows photographers to capture a lot of detail in their images, which is important for baseball photography when you want to see every stitch on the baseball.
Canon EOS R5 | Professional Sports Photography Camera
I love taking this camera to football games. The Canon EOS R5 is a great camera for football photography. Here's why:
Lightning fast FPS
The EOS R5 can shoot at up to 20 frames per second with autofocus, which is important for capturing fast-moving sports action such as football.
Excellent autofocus system
The camera has a 5,940,000-pixel RGB+IR metering sensor and a Dual Pixel CMOS AF II system that is capable of tracking moving subjects with high accuracy. It also has face and eye detection, which can help keep players' faces and eyes in focus when shooting portraits.
High-res sensor
The EOS R5 has a 45 megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor, which is capable of producing detailed, sharp images.
Low light performance
The camera has excellent low light performance, with a native ISO range of 100-51200 that can be expanded to ISO 204800. This allows it to shoot in dimly-lit sports venues without requiring a flash. I've also written tips for setting up your camera for shooting in low light conditions - check it out!
RAW/JPEG
The EOS R5 can shoot in both RAW and JPEG formats, giving photographers the flexibility to choose the best format for their needs. It also has a wide range of customization options, allowing photographers to fine-tune the camera's settings to suit their specific needs.
Canon EOS R6 | Affordable Mirrorless Sports Photography Camera
Here's what you need to know about this high-end mirrorless Canon camera:
Sensor
The Canon EOS R6 has a 20 megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor, which is capable of producing detailed, sharp images. This high megapixel count allows photographers to capture a lot of detail in their images, which is important for sports photography where every detail can be crucial.
Speed
The EOS R6 can shoot at up to 20 frames per second with autofocus, which is important for capturing fast-moving sports action.
Autofocus
The camera has a 5,940,000-pixel RGB+IR metering sensor and a Dual Pixel CMOS AF II system that is capable of tracking moving subjects with high accuracy. It also has face and eye detection, which can help keep players' faces and eyes in focus when shooting portraits.
Low light shooting
The EOS R6 has excellent low light performance, with a native ISO range of 100-102400 that can be expanded to ISO 204800. This allows it to shoot in dimly-lit sports venues without requiring a flash.
Raw vs. JPEG
The camera can shoot in both RAW and JPEG formats, giving photographers the flexibility to choose the best format for their needs. It also has a wide range of customization options, allowing photographers to fine-tune the camera's settings to suit their specific needs.
Canon EOS-1D X Mark III vs. EOS 7D Mark II vs. Canon EOS 90D vs. Canon EOS R5 vs. Canon EOS R6
All five of the cameras I've mentioned are Canon cameras that are perfectly-suited for sports photography. Here is a comparison of their similarities and differences in specs:
Similarities of these Canon cameras:
All five cameras have fast shooting speeds and excellent autofocus systems, which are important for capturing fast-moving sports action.
They all have high-resolution sensors, which is important for getting detailed, sharp images.
They all have excellent low light performance, which is useful for shooting in dimly-lit sports venues.
They all have the ability to shoot in both RAW and JPEG formats, giving photographers the flexibility to choose the best format for their needs.
Differences between these Canon cameras:
The EOS-1D X Mark III, EOS 7D Mark II, and EOS 90D are DSLR cameras, while the EOS R5 and EOS R6 are mirrorless cameras. DSLR cameras have a mirror inside the body that reflects light from the lens up to the viewfinder, while mirrorless cameras use an electronic viewfinder or rear LCD screen to preview the image.
The EOS-1D X Mark III, EOS 7D Mark II, and EOS R5 are professional-grade cameras, while the EOS 90D and EOS R6 are mid-range and high-end cameras, respectively. Professional-grade cameras generally have more advanced features and are built to withstand more wear and tear, while mid-range and high-end cameras may be more suitable for amateur or enthusiast photographers.
The EOS-1D X Mark III and EOS R5 have full-frame sensors, while the EOS 7D Mark II, EOS 90D, and EOS R6 have APS-C sensors. Full-frame sensors are larger and generally produce higher-quality images, but may be more expensive and require larger lenses. APS-C sensors are smaller and may be more affordable, but may produce slightly lower-quality images.
The EOS-1D X Mark III and EOS 7D Mark II have 20.1 and 20.2 megapixel sensors, respectively, while the EOS 90D has a 32.5 megapixel sensor, the EOS R5 has a 45 megapixel sensor, and the EOS R6 has a 20 megapixel sensor. Higher megapixel counts generally mean more detailed images, but may also result in larger file sizes and slower processing speeds.
Best Canon Camera for Sports
Overall, I can positively say that these five cameras are all excellent options for sports photography due to their fast shooting speeds, excellent autofocus systems, and ability to shoot in low light conditions. They also all have high-resolution sensors and the ability to shoot in RAW format, which is important for getting the best image quality possible.