Sports photography demands quick reflexes, keen awareness and, most importantly, the right gear to capture those split-second moments. Being prepared with the right lenses to capture everything from high-speed action from afar on an outdoor field to the close-up intensity taking place on an indoor court can make all the difference. Sony offers a range of high-performing lenses tailored to the needs of sports photographers. When paired with cameras like the Sony Alpha 1 and Sony Alpha 9 III, these six Sony lenses will help you nail that perfect shot every time.

Sony offers a range of high-performing lenses tailored to the needs of sports photographers. Check out these options to help you capture split-second moments.

Sony 300mm f/2.8 G Master

Sony 300mm f/2.8 G Master

Why It’s Great For Sports Photography:

The Sony 300mm f/2.8 G Master lens is a prime choice for sports photographers who need to capture the action from a distance. The wide f/2.8 aperture allows for exceptional low-light performance, making it ideal for evening games and indoor sports where lighting can be a challenge. The f/2.8 aperture allows you to isolate your subject to create a beautifully blurred background that highlights the athlete in sharp focus. All of this combined with its fast and accurate autofocus and G Master quality makes it a powerful tool for capturing the intensity of sports.

What Sports Photographers Have Said About It:

“The Sony 300mm f/2.8 G Master is super sharp and it achieves focus with the same lightning speed I’m used to with Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 G Master II, Sony 400mm f/2.8 G Master and Sony 600mm f/4 G Master. I expect anything with the G Master logo on the side to blow my mind in terms of sharpness and contrast, but to have it weigh just 51 ounces? That’s just crazy. I carried this lens three nights in a row shooting three football games and used a strap on my shoulder the whole time. I would never have done that with any 300mm f/2.8 from my past as it would just wear you out. It was the first time I shot football without a monopod in probably 30 years.” – Patrick Murphy-Racey, Pro Sports Photographer Takes The New Sony 300mm f/2.8 G Master Out In The Field

Sony 400mm f/2.8 G Master

Sony 400mm f/2.8 G Master

Why It’s Great For Sports Photography:

For those sports photographers who need a prime telephoto, the Sony 400mm f/2.8 G Master is a must-have. The 400mm focal length is essential for capturing distant subjects with incredible detail, making it perfect for field sports like baseball, soccer, rugby and football. Its wide f/2.8 aperture excels in low-light and the depth of field control allows you to isolate your subject to create stunning sports images. The lens also has built-in stabilization to help keep your images sharp, even at long distances. Add in its G Master quality featuring unrivaled sharpness, contrast and image quality, and you get another must-have lens for professional sports photographers.

What Sports Photographers Have Said About It:

“The Sony 400mm f/2.8 G Master is of course just the standard to be able to capture action quickly – there’s nothing faster. The combination of the Sony Alpha 1 and this Sony 400mm f/2.8 G Master, I mean this is the epitome of sports photography. You just never miss. When you have 30 frames per second, and you have this lens, the autofocus is so fast you do not miss. So you just capture the action every time and that’s what it’s about every time with sports photography – it’s capturing the athlete at his or her peak action.” – Jean Fruth, Take A Look Inside This Professional Sports Photographer's Bag

Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 G Master II

Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 G Master II

Why It’s Great For Sports Photography:

The Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 G Master II lens is a powerhouse for sports photography, offering the perfect balance of versatility, speed, and image quality. Its versatile focal range of 70-200mm allows photographers to capture a variety of shots, from wide-angle action scenes to tight, focused compositions of athletes, making it ideal for sports like football, basketball and tennis. The constant f/2.8 aperture ensures outstanding performance in low-light conditions and creates beautiful background bokeh while isolating subjects with clarity. Its fast and precise autofocus system ensures you never miss a fleeting moment, while the built-in Optical SteadyShot (OSS) stabilization aids in achieving sharp images, even during rapid movement. It really is an indispensable tool for capturing dynamic sports action.

What Sports Photographers Have Said About It:

“I cannot speak to how versatile this lens is. The Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 G Master II is not only my wedding lens, but it's truly the second most important lens in my bag for sports at the pro level. But what’s even better is that I can take this lightweight lens to my son's games (I’m his coach too) and get him some professional shots! This lens is great for weddings, portraits, details and sports – it truly is the ALL around zoom lens.” – Jermaine Horton, What’s In My Bag: A Complete Photo Kit For Capturing Weddings, Portraits & Sports

Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master II

Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master II

Why It’s Great For Sports Photography:

The honest truth is that the Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master II lens isn’t just great for sports photography, it’s great for everything. It is an excellent all-in-one option for sports photographers who need to switch quickly between different types of shots. The 24-70mm focal range is perfect for capturing everything from wide-angle stadium shots to close-up action on the sidelines, and its constant f/2.8 aperture provides consistent performance in various lighting conditions and allows for beautiful background blur. It’s also a second-generation G Master, so superior image quality across the entire zoom range is a given. If you’re a sports photographer, or really a photographer of any kind, this is the lens to immediately add to cart.

What Sports Photographers Have Said About It:

“My Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master II is my base lens. I can make so many different types of pictures with it. I love to make action images as if I were in the action; meaning making shots super close to the athlete. The Ultra-wide angle lenses have too many distortions for my taste so I prefer to start at 24mm and make pictures similar to what my eye can see. And compared the the original version of this lens, the II is incredibly light! That is critical to me. This lens basically never leaves my camera body.” – Ben Becker, What’s In My Bag: A Double Sony Alpha 9 II Kit For Outdoors & Sports

Sony 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 G Master

Sony 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 G Master

Why It’s Great For Sports Photography:

The Sony 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 G Master is a popular option for sports photographers because its extended reach is great for photographing sports from a distance, such as baseball or motorsports. It features Optical SteadyShot (OSS) to help maintain image sharpness, which is especially important when shooting from those longer focal lengths. The lens provides that quick and accurate autofocus that a sports photographer needs to capture the critical moments during a game, and the high-resolution provided by the G Master quality makes it a top choice for sports photographers looking to capture every nuance of the action.

What Sports Photographers Have Said About It:

“When I have an outdoor sport to photograph, the Sony 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 G Master becomes the workhorse for that day. It's a versatile focal range, making up 90% of what I capture on for the entire event. On the rare occasion, I take this lens when I travel when I need its focal range for the specific shots I planned.” – Hamad Alhendi, What’s In My Bag: 2 Cameras & 5 Lenses For Sports & Documentary-Style Travel Photography

Sony 135mm f/1.8 G Master

Sony 135mm f/1.8 G Master

Why It’s Great For Sports Photography:

The Sony 135mm f/1.8 G Master is an ideal choice for indoor sports. The 135mm focal length is perfect for indoor sports like basketball, volleyball and gymnastics, where you’re closer to the action. Its wide f/1.8 aperture provides excellent low-light performance that allows you to isolate your subject with that creamy background bokeh to make a dynamic sports shot. It also has that quick and precise autofocus Sony is known for, so you can easily capture fast-moving subjects. The high-resolution and detailed images this lens produces makes it a favorite among sports photographers who need a versatile, high-quality prime in their kit.

What Sports Photographers Have Said About It:

“The Sony 135mm f/1.8 G Master lens is special. It produces a look that even the Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 G Master II cannot duplicate. It is long and very fast and this combo makes it create striking images. I use this all the time for shooting night football on goal, and when I sit out beyond the three point line on the baseline in hoops. For portraits and shooting all senior photos, it’s simply stunning. It is one of the sharpest lenses I have ever used in all my career. It can “clean up” the cluttered backgrounds at karate tournaments and is fast enough to keep up with K9’s running full tilt right at you. I love this lens!” – Patrick Murphy-Racey, What’s In My Bag: Sports Pro's Double Alpha 1 Kit To Catch The Essence Of Competition

Sony 600mm f/4 G Master

Sony 600mm f/4 G Master

Why It’s Great For Sports Photography:

The Sony 600mm f/4 G Master lens is an exceptional tool for sports photography. It offers unparalleled reach and stunning image quality that are essential for capturing distant action with precision. Its 600mm focal length allows photographers to fill the frame with athletes who are far away, making it ideal for field sports like soccer, football and track events. The wide f/4 aperture provides excellent performance in low-light situations and ensures a shallow depth of field, beautifully separating the subject from the background with smooth, creamy bokeh. The advanced autofocus system and built-in Optical SteadyShot (OSS) stabilization helps achieve razor-sharp images, even when handholding this powerful lens. The Sony 600mm f/4 G Master a must-have for any serious sports photographer.

What Sports Photographers Have Said About It:

"The Sony 600mm f/4 G Master is my magic machine. Ever since I bought my first 600mm f/4 back in 1989, it has become by biggest performer. Everything you see through this lens looks amazing, even if you have nasty cluttered backgrounds. The 600mm focal length is the longest and fastest lens that is easy to carry around all day and it is a go-to for golf, football, and all field sports. I use it indoors occasionally if I am featuring a basketball coach or one player on a team. The 600mm focal length is not easy to learn how to make great pictures with right away—it takes practice and time to really make it sing for you. The 600mm is my favorite lens for shooting certain sports." Patrick Murphy-Racey, What’s In My Bag: Sports Pro's Double Alpha 1 Kit To Catch The Essence Of Competition

Sony 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G

Sony 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G

Why It’s Great For Sports Photography:

The Sony 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G covers both mid and extreme telephoto needs, so it's a great versatile for capturing various sports. This wide focal range allows photographers to quickly adapt to different scenes, from close-up action to distant field events, without the need to switch lenses. While the aperture of f/5.6-6.3 might not be as wide as some prime lenses, the lens compensates with its built-in Optical SteadyShot (OSS) stabilization, ensuring sharp images even in challenging lighting conditions and when tracking fast-moving subjects. The high-speed and precise autofocus system in this lens is particularly beneficial for capturing split-second moments, ensuring you never miss a critical shot. It's definitely a reliable and powerful tool for any sports photographer aiming to cover a broad range of action-packed scenes.

What Sports Photographers Have Said About It:

The Sony 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G lens for me makes a perfect lens for field sports. If you are shooting six soccer games on a Saturday, this is the one you want. It doesn’t have the massive size of the Sony 400mm f/2.8 G Master or Sony 600mm f/4 G Master, or the price tag either. Because the Sony 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G is a sealed lens with internal focus and zoom, it won’t fill up with dust in three months like all the other competitor lenses. It is really sharp at all focal lengths but you must remember to increase your shutter speed as you zoom in." – Patrick Murphy-Racey, What’s In My Bag: Sports Pro's Double Alpha 1 Kit To Catch The Essence Of Competition