You could be chasing your first sideline credential or looking to upgrade the kit you already shoot with – no matter where you’re at, there's no better education than cracking open the bags of photographers who live for the decisive moment. In this roundup, we asked 10 elite sports photographers to show us exactly what they bring to the stadium, the court, the field, the pitch. Scroll through, find your inspiration – and maybe discover the piece of gear that changes how you shoot the game. Explore more favorite lenses for sports in our Best Lenses For Sports Photography In 2026 List.
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The Soccer Photography Kit
Seattle-based photographer, filmmaker and creative director Reza Malayeri specializes in hybrid photo and video storytelling. He regularly covers professional sports, including fast-action soccer competition. The Sony Alpha 1 II is his primary camera body for capturing critical moments, and his Sony Alpha 9 III is his go-to for the fastest sequences. He’ll also use the Sony FX2 for cinematic sideline footage.
He also uses a wide variety of G Master lenses, including the Sony 28-70mm f/2 G Master, Sony 50-150mm f/2 G Master and Sony 300mm f/2.8 G Master. Make sure you check out his Instagram to watch as he covers this summer’s global soccer tournament. Read more in What’s In My Bag: A Sports Photography Kit To Cover The Leagues Cup Final.
The Football Photography Kit
Veteran sports photojournalist and Sony Artisan Patrick Murphy-Racey has more than 25 years of experience capturing sports action at the highest levels. For football photography (and we’re talking American football…for European football, see above), he likes to use the Sony Alpha 1 II and Sony Alpha 9 III. You’ll find him with lenses like the Sony 300mm f/2.8 G Master and Sony 600mm f/4 G Master to get close to the action. Read more in What’s In My Bag: See This Sports Photographer’s Kit For College & Pro Football.
He also recently tested the new Sony 100-400mm f/4.5 G Master for a variety of sports, and he now sees the lens as a cornerstone of a streamlined kit for field sports. You can read more about his experience with the new lens in 4 Days, 4 Sports, 1 Lens: Field Testing The New 100-400mm f/4.5 G Master.
The Basketball Photography Kit
OK, so maybe we only asked 9 sports photographers...but Sony Artisan Patrick Murphy-Racey is an absolute pro at sports-specific kits, so we had to feature another one of his – but this time we're going courtside. He’s used the Sony Alpha 7 V camera for basketball photography, and he says it punches way above its weight. He also packs what he calls, “The holy trinity of lenses for basketball.” The Sony 28-70mm f/2 G Master, Sony 50-150mm f/2 G Master and Sony 300mm f/2.8 G Master. Read more in Gear Up For Basketball – It’s Time For March Photo Madness!
The Baseball Photography Kit
Sony Artisan Jermaine Horton is a huge fan of the Sony Alpha 1 – his go-to camera for sports photography. He photographs everything from the Chicago Bears to his son’s baseball team, and different venues require different gear. For pro sports, he calls the Sony 400mm f/2.8 G Master a must-have. And for his son’s baseball games, he relies on the Sony 50-150mm f/2 G Master and the Sony 300mm f/2.8 G Master. Read more in The Two Lenses You Need For Baseball This Spring.
The Sports & Entertainment Photography Kit
Sports and entertainment photographer and filmmaker Travis Ellison is constantly shooting in high-pressure environments. “I run a three-camera setup on nearly every shoot,” he says. “It's essential for my hybrid workflow. If I'm shooting pro football games, concerts or live events, I'll almost always have two Sony Alpha 1 II bodies and one Sony Alpha 1 on me.” He also doesn’t come unprepared when it comes to lenses. His arsenal consists of the Sony 12-24mm f/2.8 G Master, Sony 16mm f/1.8 G, Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master II, Sony 35mm f/1.4 G Master, Sony 50mm f/1.2 G Master, Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 G Master II, and Sony 400mm f/2.8 G Master. Read more about what he uses each lens for in What's In My Bag: Travis Ellison's Kit For Capturing Sports, Entertainment & More.
Travis also utilizes the Sony PDT-FP1 data transmitter, which he says has revolutionized his workflow by enhancing efficiency and providing him with a competitive edge in the industry. Read more about how he uses it in How The Sony PDT-FP1 Gives This Sports Pro A Competitive Edge.
The Global Games Photography Kit
Nick Didlick is a seasoned photographer who has logged many miles over the years covering major events around the world. He was also at this year’s games in Milan, equipped with three Sony Alpha 1 IIs as his main cameras and three Alpha 9 IIIs to capture the moments in sequences he normally wouldn’t see. For lenses, he brought along the Sony 400mm f/2.8 G Master, Sony 300mm f/2.8 G Master, Sony 28–70mm f/2 G Master, Sony 50-150mm f/2 G Master, Sony 2.0x Teleconverter, Sony 1.0x Teleconverter. He also brought along a very important accessory: the Sony PDT-FP1. Read more about what he brought and why in What’s In My Bag: A Sports Pro’s Kit For The Upcoming Games In Milan.
The Everyone Is Watching Women's Sports Photography Kit
Sports photographer and Sony Artisan Jean Fruth is on a mission to tell the most complete stories in women’s sports. Earlier this year she traveled to Milan to photograph women’s hockey, the Sony Alpha 1 II was her ultimate choice for capturing handheld action. She also used Sony Alpha 1 cameras as remote setups to trigger when the puck crossed the goal.
A wide variety of lenses ensures she doesn’t miss a single second – the Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 G Master II, Sony 50-150mm f/2 G Master, Sony 12-24mm f/4 G, Sony 16-35mm f/2.8 G Master II, Sony 28-70mm f/2 G Master, Sony 300mm f/2.8 G Master, Sony 400mm f/2.8 G Master and Sony 135mm f/1.8 G Master. Read more in See Inside Jean Fruth’s Gear & Shot List For Women's Ice Hockey.
The College Sports Photography Kit
Hamad Alhendi is the Photography Editor for Virginia Tech’s Collegiate Times, so he covers a ton of college sports with his cameras. His go-tos are the Sony Alpha 9 II and Sony Alpha 7R IV, great for covering both fast action and moments from the stands where he can crop in. He has a wide variety of lenses for all of the different sports he covers, including the Sony 35mm f/1.4 G Master, Sony 135mm f/1.8 G Master, Sony 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 G Master, Sony 24-105mm f/4 G and Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 G Master II. Read more about his gear in What’s In My Bag: 2 Cameras & 5 Lenses For Sports & Documentary-Style Travel Photography.
The Extreme Sports Photography Kit
Vladimir Voronin is a professional extreme and adventure sports photographer. He captures sports and action from unique perspectives to create something you haven’t seen before. His go-to camera is the Sony Alpha IV due to its versatility, especially in low light situations. “This camera is an absolute leader in image quality at high ISOs. And if you pair it with fast prime G-Master lenses, the cleanliness of the image – free from noise – is simply phenomenal. As a bonus, its ability to shoot 4K 60fps 10-bit video is a great feature if you use your camera for more than just photography.” He also has a solid core group of G Master lenses to get the job done – the Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 G Master II, Sony 14mm f/1.8 G Master, Sony 85mm f/1.4 G Master II and Sony 24mm f/1.4 G Master. Read more in What's In My Bag: A G Master Kit For Extreme Adventure Sports Photography.
The Surf Photography Kit
It’s sweet summertime and the surfers are out in full force. LA-based photographer Brandon Kirk lives for the ocean’s energy, and his surf photography captures its pulse frame by frame. He relies on high-resolution to get him the best quality, and his current go-to is the Sony Alpha 7R V. He calls the Sony 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G his primary lens of choice, and he also regularly uses the Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 G Master. That’s not all though, check out his complete list of lenses in What’s In My Bag: A Sony Alpha 7R V Kit For Surf Photography.
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