These are the best Sony lenses for sports photography when you want blistering AF, long reach, clean high-ISO performance, and reliable handling for field, court, rink, pool, track, and arena—and here’s what to look for as you buy: prioritize teles with XD/linear motors that hold lock through erratic motion, strong wide-open sharpness (ƒ2.8–ƒ4 primes; constant ƒ2.8 zooms), dependable OSS with panning modes (Mode 2/3), teleconverter compatibility (1.4× for flexibility, 2.0× for max reach), weather sealing for rain and dust, and tripod collars that balance on monopods; standardize front diameters for a single clear protector and keep hoods on to cut flare. Full-frame prime heroes: FE 400mm ƒ2.8 GM OSS (flagship field sports—elite AF, creamy separation, loves 1.4×/2.0×), FE 600mm ƒ4 GM OSS (distant wildlife/ballparks with stunning isolation), and FE 300mm ƒ2.8 GM OSS (lighter pro prime—pair with 1.4× for 420/4 versatility); sidelines portraits and low-light arenas also shine with FE 135mm ƒ1.8 GM. Zoom workhorses: FE 70–200mm ƒ2.8 GM OSS II (bread-and-butter for courts, ice, and baseline action—elite AF/OSS, TC-ready), FE 100–400mm ƒ4.5–5.6 GM OSS (reach for daylight fields with fast AF and close-focus for pits), and FE 200–600mm ƒ5.6–6.3 G OSS (day games and motorsports with internal zoom and solid sharpness); compact/value standouts: Tamron 70–180mm ƒ2.8 VXD (fast, light for small venues), Sigma 100–400mm ƒ5–6.3 DG DN, and Tamron 50–400mm ƒ4.5–6.3 for versatile travel kits. Indoor/trackside wides and context: FE 24–70mm ƒ2.8 GM II (team huddles, podiums, locker room features), FE 16–35mm ƒ2.8 GM II (arenas, starting grids), and FE 20–70mm ƒ4 G when size rules are strict. APS-C shooters get big “reach” with FE teles (1.5× FoV bonus) and strong native options: E 70–350mm ƒ4.5–6.3 G OSS (compact touchline lens), E 16–55mm ƒ2.8 G (media-mix mid-range), and E 11mm ƒ1.8/E 15mm ƒ1.4 G for cramped benches and venue atmosphere. Practical buyer tips: build a two-lens spine (70–200/2.8 + 100–400 or 300/2.8 + 70–200/2.8) and add a 1.4× TC; for daylight fields, 200–600 is superb value, while night games favor ƒ2.8/ƒ4 glass; choose internal-zoom designs for balance on monopods, add Arca plates, and carry rain covers and a microfiber—lighter glass means longer, steadier bursts. Sports-shooting tips: set AF-C with subject/eye detection and expanded/zone area, start near 1/1600–1/3200s for field sports and birds, ~1/1000–1/2000s for courts/ice, and 1/30–1/60s with OSS Mode 2 for pans; work near wide open (ƒ2.8–ƒ4) for isolation, bump ISO rather than let motion smear, and use Anti-flicker in gyms; pre-focus on lanes/creases, pan from the hips, and burst through peak action; run a monopod for heavy primes, mind heat shimmer with long glass, and assign recall buttons for AF speed limiter/TC combos; for video, hold a 180° shutter with VND, enable breathing compensation, prefer internal zooms, and keep moves deliberate. Whether you’re on the touchline in rain, courtside under LEDs, or trackside with heat haze, the best Sony lenses for sports photography combine fast linear AF, stabilized long reach, and crisp optics—so your frames land sharp at the whistle, on deadline, and ready for print.