Canon EOS 80D

❤️8.4K
Picture of the Canon EOS 80D camera

$531.00

Price Updated from Amazon: 12-06-2024

Type

DSLR

Sensor

APS-C

Lens Mount

Canon EF-S

Features

  • 💡Built-In Flash
  • 🔄Flip Screen
  • 📱Touchscreen
  • Weather-Sealing
  • 🌐Wi-Fi

Canon EOS 80D Pros

  • Reliable Continuous Shooting: The EOS 80D offers up to 7 fps continuous shooting, which is solid for an enthusiast-level DSLR and sufficient for capturing most sports action sequences.
  • Dual Pixel Autofocus System: Canon’s Dual Pixel AF provides fast and accurate focus tracking in live view and video modes — useful for tracking athletes or fast movement with more precision than contrast-detect systems.
  • Good Battery Life: With approximately 960 shots per charge, the 80D offers long battery life that’s valuable during all-day sports events where power outlets may be limited.

Canon EOS 80D Cons

  • Limited Buffer and Frame Rate: While 7 fps is decent, the buffer fills quickly in RAW mode, potentially causing delays during longer action sequences — not ideal for fast-paced sports like basketball or soccer.
  • No 4K Video Support: If you plan to supplement stills with high-quality video coverage, note that the 80D maxes out at 1080p, lacking the 4K video options seen in newer sports-capable cameras.
  • Older Autofocus System Through Viewfinder: The 45-point all cross-type AF system works well, but it lacks advanced subject tracking features found in newer mirrorless models, which can result in missed focus during erratic movement.

Canon EOS R6

❤️8.0K
Picture of the Canon EOS R6 camera

$1,631.79

Price Updated from Amazon: 12-06-2024

Type

Mirrorless

Sensor

Full-Frame

Lens Mount

Canon RF

Features

  • 🎥4K Video
  • 📶Bluetooth
  • 💾Dual Card Slots
  • 🔄Flip Screen
  • 🤳Image Stabilization
  • 📱Touchscreen
  • Weather-Sealing
  • 🌐Wi-Fi

Canon EOS R6 Pros

  • High-Speed Burst Shooting: The EOS R6 offers up to 20 fps with the electronic shutter and 12 fps with the mechanical shutter — ideal for capturing fast-paced action like football, basketball, or racing.
  • Class-Leading Autofocus System: With Canon’s Dual Pixel CMOS AF II, featuring deep learning subject tracking and eye/body detection, the R6 delivers highly accurate focus for fast-moving athletes and unpredictable motion.
  • In-Body Image Stabilization (IBIS): The R6 includes up to 8 stops of IBIS, which helps reduce motion blur during handheld sports shooting — especially useful with telephoto lenses or in low light.

Canon EOS R6 Cons

  • Lower Resolution Sensor: The 20.1MP sensor provides excellent speed and noise performance, but it offers less room for cropping compared to higher-resolution cameras like the R5 or 90D.
  • Dual Card Slots Require UHS-II for Max Speed: To maximize performance, especially for high burst rates, you’ll need UHS-II SD cards — slower or lower-quality cards can bottleneck write speeds during continuous shooting.
  • Shorter Battery Life Compared to DSLRs: As a mirrorless camera, the R6 has less battery longevity than traditional DSLRs like the 5D Mark IV, requiring spare batteries for extended sports shoots.

Canon EOS R

❤️8.0K
Picture of the Canon EOS R camera

$1,499.99

Price Updated from Amazon: 12-06-2024

Type

Mirrorless

Sensor

Full-Frame

Lens Mount

Canon RF

Features

  • 🎥4K Video
  • 📶Bluetooth
  • 🔄Flip Screen
  • 📱Touchscreen
  • Weather-Sealing
  • 🌐Wi-Fi

Canon EOS R Pros

  • Sharp and Detailed Images: The 30.3MP full-frame sensor captures high-resolution images with excellent detail and color, offering flexibility for cropping when subjects are far away.
  • Dual Pixel Autofocus System: Canon’s Dual Pixel CMOS AF provides fast and smooth autofocus in live view and video, with up to 5,655 manually selectable AF points for precise focusing.
  • Comfortable Ergonomics and Build: The EOS R features a sturdy build with weather sealing and a deep grip, making it comfortable to hold during extended handheld sports shoots.

Canon EOS R Cons

  • Slower Continuous Shooting Speed: At just 8 fps (and 5 fps with continuous AF), the EOS R may miss critical moments in fast-action sports compared to newer models like the R6 or R5.
  • No In-Body Image Stabilization (IBIS): The EOS R lacks IBIS, which means you'll need RF or EF lenses with optical stabilization to shoot steady sports images handheld.
  • Single Card Slot Limitation: Only one UHS-II SD card slot is available, which could be a concern for professional sports photographers who require redundancy during high-stakes shoots.

Canon EOS 77D

❤️7.1K
Picture of the Canon EOS 77D camera

$522.05

Price Updated from Amazon: 12-06-2024

Type

DSLR

Sensor

APS-C

Lens Mount

Canon EF-S

Features

  • 📶Bluetooth
  • 💡Built-In Flash
  • 🔄Flip Screen
  • 📱Touchscreen
  • 🌐Wi-Fi

Canon EOS 77D Pros

  • Decent Continuous Shooting Speed: With up to 6 fps burst shooting, the 77D can handle some moderate-paced sports like tennis or track events where timing is predictable.
  • Dual Pixel Autofocus in Live View: Canon’s Dual Pixel AF provides smooth and accurate focus tracking in live view and video — a plus when following moving athletes in slower-paced sports.
  • Lightweight and Easy to Handle: Weighing under 20 ounces, the 77D is light and compact, making it comfortable to carry around all day at sports events or practices.

Canon EOS 77D Cons

  • Limited FPS and Buffer Size: The 6 fps rate and small buffer may not be fast enough for capturing fast, continuous action like football or basketball, especially when shooting in RAW.
  • No 4K Video Recording: The 77D is limited to 1080p video, which may be a drawback if you also want to capture sports in high-resolution motion for replays or highlights.
  • No Weather Sealing or IBIS: The body lacks weather sealing and in-body image stabilization, making it less suitable for outdoor sports in unpredictable conditions or for handheld telephoto use.

Canon EOS M6 Mark II

❤️6.2K
Picture of the Canon EOS M6 Mark II camera

$1,488.00

Price Updated from Amazon: 12-06-2024

Type

Mirrorless

Sensor

APS-C

Lens Mount

Canon EF-M

Features

  • 🎥4K Video
  • 📶Bluetooth
  • 💡Built-In Flash
  • 🔄Flip Screen
  • 📱Touchscreen
  • 🌐Wi-Fi

Canon EOS M6 Mark II Pros

  • Impressive 14 fps Burst Shooting: With up to 14 fps and RAW burst mode, the M6 Mark II captures fleeting moments in fast-action sports scenes.
  • High-Resolution 32.5MP APS-C Sensor: The high-res sensor allows for detailed shots and ample cropping room — useful for sports captured from a distance.
  • Lightweight and Travel-Friendly: Compact and easy to carry, it's a strong option for travel sports photography or capturing action on the go.

Canon EOS M6 Mark II Cons

  • No Built-in Viewfinder: The lack of a built-in EVF can be a drawback for sports shooters used to composing through a viewfinder in bright conditions.
  • Discontinued EF-M Mount: With Canon shifting away from EF-M, long-term lens support is limited, reducing upgrade options for sports lenses.
  • No In-Body Stabilization: Image stabilization depends on the lens, which may limit handheld performance with non-IS telephoto lenses.

Canon EOS-1D X Mark II

❤️5.9K
Picture of the Canon EOS-1D X Mark II camera

$1,949.95

Price Updated from Amazon: 12-06-2024

Type

DSLR

Sensor

Full-Frame

Lens Mount

Canon EF

Features

  • 🎥4K Video
  • 💾Dual Card Slots
  • 📱Touchscreen
  • Weather-Sealing
  • 🌐Wi-Fi

Canon EOS-1D X Mark II Pros

  • Built for Speed and Durability: Shoots up to 16 fps (mechanical) with a weather-sealed body — designed to perform in demanding sports environments.
  • Exceptional Autofocus System: 61-point AF with intelligent tracking and face detection ensures accurate focus, even with erratic motion.
  • Dual CF Card Slots: Ideal for sports pros — write redundancy and fast data offload keep your workflow smooth and secure during events.

Canon EOS-1D X Mark II Cons

  • Heavy and Bulky Design: The DSLR body with built-in grip is large and heavy, which may fatigue users during long handheld sessions.
  • Older Technology: While still powerful, it lacks newer mirrorless features like Eye AF or high-resolution EVF for tracking subjects.
  • No Articulating Screen: The fixed rear LCD limits flexibility when shooting from low or high angles — less ideal for dynamic sports compositions.

Canon EOS R8

❤️5.7K
Picture of the Canon EOS R8 camera

$1,199.00

Price Updated from Amazon: 12-06-2024

Type

Mirrorless

Sensor

Full-Frame

Lens Mount

Canon RF

Features

  • 🎥4K Video
  • 📶Bluetooth
  • 🔄Flip Screen
  • 📱Touchscreen
  • 🌐Wi-Fi

Canon EOS R8 Pros

  • Full-Frame Sensor at a Mid-Range Price: With a 24.2MP full-frame sensor and fast DIGIC X processor, the R8 delivers great image quality and speed for sports at a lower cost.
  • 40 fps Electronic Shutter: The R8’s ultra-fast burst rate using the electronic shutter makes it capable of freezing even the fastest sports moments.
  • Lightweight and Compact: At just 461g, the R8 is ideal for long handheld shooting sessions at sports events.

Canon EOS R8 Cons

  • No In-Body Image Stabilization: Lacks IBIS, so you’ll need stabilized lenses to reduce shake during handheld action shots.
  • Single Card Slot: Professional sports shooters may find the lack of dual card slots limiting for backup and overflow needs.
  • Rolling Shutter at High Speeds: While it offers 40 fps, the electronic shutter can introduce distortion when panning or capturing very fast movement.

Canon PowerShot SX70 HS

❤️3.9K
Picture of the Canon PowerShot SX70 HS camera

$649.00

Price Updated from Amazon: 12-06-2024

Type

Point-and-Shoot

Sensor

Lens Mount

Fixed Lens

Features

  • 🎥4K Video
  • 📶Bluetooth
  • 💡Built-In Flash
  • 🔄Flip Screen
  • 🤳Image Stabilization
  • 🌐Wi-Fi

Canon PowerShot SX70 HS Pros

  • 65x Optical Zoom: Covers an ultra-wide to extreme telephoto range (21–1365mm equivalent) — ideal for capturing distant action in sports arenas.
  • Affordable and All-in-One: Great entry-level option with a built-in lens, making it easy for casual sports shooters to start capturing without investing in gear.
  • Decent 10 fps Burst Rate: Capable of decent continuous shooting speeds for casual sports like school games or outdoor recreational events.

Canon PowerShot SX70 HS Cons

  • Limited Low-Light Performance: The 1/2.3” sensor struggles in poor lighting conditions, leading to noise and lack of detail in indoor or evening sports.
  • Slow Autofocus: Struggles to keep up with fast-moving subjects compared to mirrorless or DSLR options.
  • No RAW Shooting Support: Limited to JPEG only, restricting post-processing flexibility for sports shooters who like to fine-tune their images.

Canon PowerShot SX740 HS

❤️3.6K
Picture of the Canon PowerShot SX740 HS camera

$658.00

Price Updated from Amazon: 12-06-2024

Type

Point-and-Shoot

Sensor

Lens Mount

Fixed Lens

Features

  • 🎥4K Video
  • 📶Bluetooth
  • 🔄Flip Screen
  • 📱Touchscreen
  • Weather-Sealing
  • 🌐Wi-Fi

Canon PowerShot SX740 HS Pros

  • 40x Optical Zoom in a Pocket Body: Covers a versatile focal range (24–960mm equivalent), useful for casual spectators wanting to zoom into the action.
  • Compact and Lightweight: Fits in a pocket or small bag — great for travel sports photography or capturing events from the stands.
  • Affordable and Simple to Use: Perfect for beginners who want to shoot sports casually without worrying about interchangeable lenses or manual settings.

Canon PowerShot SX740 HS Cons

  • Slow Continuous Shooting: Only offers around 7.4 fps — may not be fast enough to reliably catch peak action moments.
  • No EVF or RAW Format: Composing on the rear screen in bright light is difficult, and lack of RAW limits editing potential.
  • Poor Low-Light Performance: The small sensor combined with a slow lens makes indoor or evening sports shooting a challenge.

Best Canon Cameras for Sports Photography in 2025

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These are the best Canon cameras for sports photography, offering fast burst shooting, precise autofocus, and excellent low-light performance to capture high-speed action with sharpness and clarity. Whether you're a professional sports photographer covering major events, a freelancer shooting local games, or an enthusiast capturing fast-moving athletes, the right camera must provide quick response times, reliable subject tracking, and strong dynamic range to ensure crisp, well-exposed images of athletes in motion. Canon’s lineup includes full-frame, APS-C, and mirrorless cameras that excel in high-speed action, low-light environments, and professional sports coverage, making them ideal for indoor arenas, outdoor stadiums, and extreme sports photography. One of the best options is the Canon EOS R3, a 24.1MP full-frame mirrorless camera featuring 30fps electronic burst shooting, advanced subject tracking, eye-controlled autofocus, and a rugged, weather-sealed body, making it the ultimate choice for professional sports photographers who need speed, accuracy, and durability in any environment. For those looking for a high-resolution full-frame option, the Canon EOS R5 offers a 45MP sensor, 20fps electronic shutter, IBIS, and 8K video, making it perfect for capturing high-detail action shots and hybrid photo-video sports coverage. If you prefer a DSLR with proven performance in sports photography, the Canon EOS 1D X Mark III remains a top choice, featuring a 20.1MP sensor, 16fps mechanical burst shooting, Dual Pixel AF, and unmatched battery life, making it a staple for professional sports and wildlife photographers needing reliability and endurance. Another excellent DSLR option is the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, featuring a 30.4MP sensor, strong low-light performance, and high-speed autofocus, making it a trusted workhorse for sports and action photography. For APS-C users, the Canon EOS R7 is an excellent mirrorless option, featuring a 32.5MP sensor, 30fps electronic burst shooting, IBIS, and advanced autofocus tracking, making it ideal for capturing fast-moving subjects with high detail and accuracy. The Canon EOS 90D, featuring a 32.5MP APS-C sensor, 10fps burst shooting, and great dynamic range, is another strong choice for sports photographers looking for a budget-friendly DSLR with professional-quality imaging. If you're looking for a lightweight, travel-friendly camera for sports photography, the Canon EOS R50 offers a 24.2MP sensor, fast autofocus, and 4K video recording, making it a solid choice for capturing action-packed moments in social media content or casual sports coverage. When choosing a Canon camera for sports photography, you can expect high-speed burst shooting for capturing split-second moments, advanced autofocus with subject tracking for moving athletes, excellent dynamic range for balancing bright and shadowed areas, strong low-light performance for nighttime games and indoor arenas, and compatibility with telephoto lenses like the Canon RF 70-200mm f/2.8L or RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L for capturing distant action with clarity. While full-frame cameras provide the best image quality and subject tracking for professional sports photography, APS-C models offer a lightweight and cost-effective alternative with extended reach for action-packed shots. If you're looking for the best Canon camera for sports photography, explore these top models and find the perfect fit for your fast-action and professional sports imaging needs.

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