13 Best Video Camera for Shooting Sports in 2023 – Reviewed

Best Video Camera for Shooting Sports

13 Best Video Camera for Shooting Sports in 2023 – Reviewed

If you are into the shooting of fast-paced sports, you would know how difficult it is to frame the perfect shot you want. Here comes the part where the right camera for shooting sports plays a vital role

Sony Alpha A6600 Mirrorless Camera

When it comes to buying the best video camera, we always go for a long term investment.

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In this article, we are reviewing the 13 best video camera for shooting sports. So let’s start:

Buying guide

Nowadays, cameras come with different functionalities and features, which makes it difficult to choose anyone.

To make it easier, we are writing a buying guide that will help you pick up the best camera. There are a lot of sports that require different types of shooting cameras.

The primary key features you should consider are Autofocus (AF) tracking, AF speed, and, most importantly, built-in body stabilization, which is an essential feature to capture fast-moving objects.

You’ll need a higher ISO camera and better performance in low light scenarios to shoot any sports. A good optical zoom is also an essential component to capture the players playing across the field.

If you want to capture more details in your shots, you need a camera that can shoot in a higher bit of depth. These features will allow you to capture more accurate colors and detailed information in your shots.

But to capture the right detailed images, you’ll need to plan the correct color settings and might need to color grade your picture too. In this buying guide, we have mentioned different sports and requirements of every sport according to it.

These are the important things you should consider before going for a camera.

  • Lighting conditions.

Light-matter a lot, so make sure you must consider the lighting conditions of the sports you will shoot. Are the sports you are shooting played indoors or outdoor and also played at night or day? If you are shooting a game at night, you will need a better low light performance camera.

  •  Can you move with the game, or are you stuck in your seat?

Some sports are played with requiring less area so you can move along with the action scene. But some sports are played in large fields where you can capture the details while moving every moment. A lens with a  reasonable zoom rate and built-in body stabilization is always needed in such a situation.

  •  Speed of play.

Sports like basketball, football, hockey, and soccer require you to keeping moving every moment to capture the scene. To shoot the fast-moving game, you’ll need a camera with a fantastic Autofocus system.

  • Your position relative to the action.

Another important aspect while capturing any sports is your position with the scene. If you will be far away from the action scene, then pick up a camera with good Zooming capabilities and also a built-in Optical Steady Shot body stabilization feature. 

  •  Resolution of the footage you want (E.g., 4k, 1080p, video bit depths available).

The resolution of the camera also plays a vital role while capturing almost everything. Different models of the camera come with different resolutions with the frame rates in the camera. Some video cameras can shoot in 60 frames per second in 4K or at 120 Frames per second in 1080p.

At the same time, some other cameras cannot. It’s simple to understand the higher resolution, and the better it will be the result. So, the resolution is an important aspect to keep in mind while buying the best video camera for shooting videos.

  • Finally, your total budget.

There is a wide array of cameras that comes with a different price range. It’s always better to do some calculations and set a budget so that you’ll be mentally prepared to stick to that budget while buying.

Sports and which camera is best for which sports

  • Football 

Football is a game that is being played at bigger fields, which means that you will need a longer lens with a camera that features built-in body stabilization. Usually, it’s played day and night in a bigger stadium with strong light conditions, so the low light performance of a camera isn’t an essential factor here.

  • Soccer

Soccer is a game also played at bigger stadiums, with the same conditions as Football. Still, you may or may not be able to move along with the action scene, so you’ll need a camera with zooming range and built-in body stabilization.

  •  Basketball

Another kind of ball game that is played indoors requiring much lesser area than Football and soccer. As it is played indoors, so it means that a video camera with good low light performance is a major aspect to consider here. To capture the fast-moving game, you’ll also need a fast AF system to capture the ball with the player.

  • Baseball

While capturing baseball, you will be sitting in one position. The camera that will work best for you should be a mirrorless camera with good zoom range and body stabilization that will help you capture the match’s perfect catch.

  • Golf

Golf, a gamer that is usually in the daytime, you’ll be walking the course along with the player, so a camera with a good zoom range on the ground is something you should consider here. Low-light is not a big deal here. AF system and good zoom range, and that’s it.

  • Tennis

Sports in which you’ll be closer with the action, you may want an excellent flexible zoom range to capture the perfect serves, but there’s a condition to this too. You should close enough to the scene, or else you’ll need an extra-long zoom in lens along with an excellent AF system.

  • Watersports and extreme sports: Skydiving, Snowboarding, Skiing, and surfing

There is a condition here, too, if you’ll be shooting from the perspective of the first person. The best type of camera you can have is an action camera. On the other hand, if you are a third-person shooter, then a video camera with broad zooming capabilities coupled with built-in body stabilization is your thing.

  • Cricket

A game similar to baseball, and so are the needs. So, in short, you need a camera with a good zoom range, with good body stabilization is the best bet for you.

  • Car Racing

On the fast-moving tracks, the lighting conditions change rapidly, so the key to capture the best shots is to use a video camera with blazingly fast AF tracking, smooth results in low light scenarios with a good range.

  • Table tennis and badminton

Indoor but fast-speed games, which means a camera with good low light performance and blazing fast, accurate AF system, is a go for the type.

List of Best video camera for shooting sports

1.Sony a6600Sony a6600Sony a6600Sony a6600Sony a6600

Best Video Camera for Shooting Sports

Starting this article with mirrorless Sony a6600 that features an APS-C sensor (Advanced Photo System Type-C). Sony a6600 can shoot at Ultra HD 4k at 30 frames per second, 1080p at an impressive 120 fps.

There is no time limit for recording, so it all depends on the capacity of your memory card.

A flip touchscreen that helps shoot in awkward positions and the space for an extra custom button is helpful. A6600 sports a good battery of 2280 mAh battery (an upgrade from the previous model.) The body weather sealed is a plus of this camera, and ergonomics are so balanced that even with a larger lens, the camera feels perfectly balanced.

ISO ranges from 100-32,000 further expandable to 50-102,400 coupled with 5-axis, built-in stabilization gives a smooth performance in low-light scenarios.

The contrast-detection and phase-detection of this camera make it one of the best video cameras. It enables the camera to produce a crisp and accurate image. The lock tracking of the moving subject is a notable feature here.

2.Black magic design Pocket Cinema cameraBlack magic design Pocket Cinema cameraBlack magic design Pocket Cinema cameraBlack magic design Pocket Cinema cameraBlack magic design Pocket Cinema camera

Best Video Camera for Shooting Sports

Right after the release, Black magic caught the market’s attention and became one of the best video cameras. The camera comes with a traditional design and feels heavy and solid.

Talking about the video quality, the camera offers a great AF system that immediately captures the scene and produces a high-quality, crisp image. You need to tap on the screen to turn on the AF system, and the camera will automatically detect the subject with quick speed and accuracy.

The Dual Native ISO had a positive impact on shots. The ISO ranges to a maximum of 3200, so you can do the alteration and get incredible pictures under low light scenarios.

The video shot at 4K portrays an amazingly sharp image with a supreme level of details. This camera’s major highlight is the Micro four-thirds sensor that offers a 1.9x crop factor and produces outstanding shots.

3.Sony a6400Sony a6400Sony a6400Sony a6400Sony a6400

Best Video Camera for Shooting Sports

If you are in love with the specifications of the Sony a6600 or Sony alpha a7III but don’t want to spend much money, then the Sony a6400 is the right alternative for the video camera for shooting sports you have.

Compared to the mentioned models, this camera has two downsides: the shorter battery life, and the other is the no built-in body stabilization feature (basically, a premium feature.)

The battery life of a6400 is still not that bad, and you can shoot at 4k for an hour continuously. If you are ready to handle these drawbacks, then the Sony a6400 is one of the best options you have.

You are getting the same high-quality image quality with crisp and accurate colors and an incredible AF system that uses an excellent Sony Combination with 425 contrast-detection points and 425 phase detection.

A6400 also features real-time AF tracking that focuses on the player with great precision. It has the same 4K and a 1080p frame rate. You can shoot at 120 fps in 1080p and 4k at up to 30 frames per second.

4.Canon EOS 7D Mark II Digital SLRCanon EOS 7D Mark II Digital SLRCanon EOS 7D Mark II Digital SLRCanon EOS 7D Mark II Digital SLRCanon EOS 7D Mark II Digital SLR

Best Video Camera for Shooting Sports

EOS 7D Mark II Digital SLR is number one in our list of best DSLR APS-C cameras. The camera features a solid body that is both water and dust-resistant, in short weather sealed.

The AF system of this camera is fast, accurate, precise, and performs smoothly under all light conditions. It has a 7 focus point selection mode that might be confusing but once acknowledged adequately, and then it’s no less than a wonder.

Moreover, this camera sports a Dual DIGIC 6 processing engine, which produces a continuous shot at the speed of 10fps. Another surprising feature of this camera is its ability to collect data from 150,000p RGB and infrared sensors.

The 20.2mp camera makes each pixel hold details, which results in excellent images with hardly any noise. 

With just a bit of customization like Picture Style filters and effects, no one can stop you from making the best shots of any sports.

5.Nikon D3300Nikon D3300Nikon D3300Nikon D3300Nikon D3300

Best Video Camera for Shooting Sports

Here is another DSLR that makes it to the list of the best video cameras. Nikon D3300 has an excellent feature of adapting environments no matter you are shooting indoor or outdoor. It films the scene in 1080p High definition with a 24.2 megapixel DX-format CMOS image sensor.

If you are good at handling the camera or holding the tripod, then Nikon D3300 is the right camera for you that can capture the action scene with stunning detail and accurate colors. The camera comes with a good AF system with quite good precision.

The ISO ranges from 100 to 12,800 (further expandable to 25,600.) the zooming range of the camera is also good for those who love to capture the small ball in bigger areas like (excellent choice for golf, hockey.)

The 11 point AF system locks onto an object that enters the frames and keeps the subject locked until you capture the shot.

The ISO is the win of this camera.

6.Sony a7IIISony a7IIISony a7IIISony a7IIISony a7III

Best Video Camera for Shooting Sports

A full-frame mirrorless from the Sony side that sports an impressive set of features. The camera, in comparison, is an updated version of the Sony a6600 and a6400.

With the better low light performance and a fantastic depth of field coverage, Sony a7III deserves the title of the best video camera for shooting sports.

The camera features a fantastic range of ISO from 100 to 51,200. Highlighting the improvement of phase detection and contrast detection Autofocus to 425/693 points across the sensor covers the frame 93%.

The Sony a7III also comes fitted with 5-Axis Built-in body stabilizations, which helps shoot fast action and shoot with longer focal lengths.

Out of all, the biggest drawback of this camera is the 30-minute recording limit. This might disappoint you if you want to shoot continuously any sports event.

Another thing that may disappoint you but is not related to a camera is that an external battery doesn’t come with a camera.

7.Olympus OM-D E-M10Olympus OM-D E-M10Olympus OM-D E-M10Olympus OM-D E-M10Olympus OM-D E-M10

Best Video Camera for Shooting Sports

Another mirrorless alternative you have when it comes to shooting fast-paced action sports. Olympus E-M10 sports a professional M-grade Zuiko lens that features an outstanding resolution and image quality. It comes with a 16MP live MOS sensor that provides accurate and vibrant colors.

The doesn’t have 5-axis, but 3-axis image stabilization outcomes to sharp images and videos.

The body of the camera is an elegant and compact design made up of metal. The camera is all of what you want to be in a camera for sport shooting.

You can click and share the images conveniently with the help of built-in Wi-Fi. EM-10 also has a built-in flash with several creative tools, i.e., 9 art effects and 12 art filters. Another prominent feature of this camera that needs to be highlighted is the articulating touch screen LCD.

You won’t miss any action scene while shooting with this camera due to the improved AF system.

8.Sony FDRAX53/B 4K CamcorderSony FDRAX53/B 4K CamcorderSony FDRAX53/B 4K CamcorderSony FDRAX53/B 4K CamcorderSony FDRAX53/B 4K Camcorder

Best Video Camera for Shooting Sports

Everyone loves to shoot at 4K. Many 4k camera manufacturing companies are coming up with a wide range of 4K cameras that feature an excellent stunning video quality. And Sony FDRAX53 is one of the same kind with an affordable price tag.

Tough competition to rivals but with a smaller sensor. It features a fresh ZEISS Vario Sonnar T lens, enabling the users to shoot videos at a 26.8mm wide-angle.

You are also getting a 20x optical zoom for both resolutions HD[1080p] and 4K, so you can shoot videos from a distant position without worrying about the quality.

The camcorder utilizes an Exmor R CMOS Sensor along with 1.6x larger pixels than its predecessors, resulting in better low light performance. The camera will quickly capture anything that enters the frame with its improved AF system.

Another quite impressive thing is the Optical Steady Shot image stabilization along with 5-axis intelligent mode. Sony offers different shooting modes, including shooting 120-100 fps at the slow-motion shot and 4K time-lapse video.

9.Canon EOS M6 Mark IICanon EOS M6 Mark IICanon EOS M6 Mark IICanon EOS M6 Mark IICanon EOS M6 Mark II

Best Video Camera for Shooting Sports

Also known as mini Canon EOS 90D because both share similar features and the same smooth performance. Some bold changes make Canon EOS M6 Mark II one of the best choices for sports shooting.

A small body packs a lot of features and specs. The grip is ideal for secure handling.

The LCD is tilt-able with 104 million-dots makes it convenient to shoots impressive shots from different angles. Coming to other features, it sports 5481 points for an accurate focus. The camera can record in 14 fps shooting speed at full resolution. The resolution might drop down to 18MP to click RAW images at 30 frames per second.

From the sensor, you are getting images portrayed with incredibly unique details and high resolution. Unfortunately, it doesn’t feature built-in stabilization, which means that images should be captured at higher ISO with fast shutter speed, which isn’t a big deal.

Mark II features a wide array of picture style option that results in beautifully aesthetics captures.

10.Panasonic GH5Panasonic GH5Panasonic GH5Panasonic GH5Panasonic GH5

Best Video Camera for Shooting Sports

If you like Sony Alpha a7III but want another camera with similar specifications, then the other best choice could be Panasonic GH5.

GH5 comes with the capability to shoot 4k videos at up to 60 FPS and 180 fps with 1080p, which stands out compared to Sony a7 III. You can also record at 4K shot in 10-bit with a screen ratio of 4:2:2 either internally and externally.

The Touchscreen is flappable and easy to handle so that you’ll always have a look at what you are shooting. You can shoot at any conditions, and you get a crisp image with accurate colors.

Compared with Sony a7III, the low light and AF system isn’t that much good as the phase-detection and contrast-detection capabilities we get to see in Sony a7III.

The best part of this camera is the articulating screen, which makes it possible to shoot at an awkward angle.

11.Canon EOS RCanon EOS RCanon EOS RCanon EOS RCanon EOS R

Best Video Camera for Shooting Sports

Next is the first-ever mirrorless camera from Canon’s side. Canon EOS R packs a surprising color science, making it one of the best video cameras. EOS R sports a new RF lens mount system with a high-resolution 30.3megapixel sensor.

Unfortunately, the camera doesn’t feature a built-in stabilization and has a crop factor rate of 1.8x when shooting at 4K. If you use a 24mm lens with this camera, the equivalent focal length will be more like 43mm.

This can be a problem for you if you are shooting wide-angle shots of a game played in the field. But to compensate, you can use a wider angle lens. The camera records 720p resolution at 120 fps.

As it’s a canon camera, you are getting Canon’s color science, which means that there will be no problem capturing gorgeous footage. Moreover, the camera features surprising high bitrates when recording at 4k, 1080p, and 720p resolution. Just for a hint, the EOS R captures at 4K resolution at a bitrate of 480mbps and 1080p at a bitrate of 180mbps.

12.Go Pro Hero9Go Pro Hero9Go Pro Hero9Go Pro Hero9Go Pro Hero9

Best Video Camera for Shooting Sports

Undoubtedly, it is one of the best portable video camera you have in the list. In short, Go pro Hero9 is an action camera that is best at shooting underwater and if you are into the first-person shooting of fast-paced action sports like snowboarding and mountain biking.

Go pro hero 9 comes with enhanced body stabilization and longer battery life. Another highlighting feature of this camera is that it can shoot at the maximum resolution of 5K at up to 30 frames per second. For body stabilization, the camera uses Hyper smooth 3.0 to stabilize and levels your horizon during an action scene.

The newer Hero9 camera features 30% more battery life. Another cool feature of this camera is that the lens is replaceable. If the lens caught any scratches or any other damage, you could easily change the lens.

You can capture the live-action at 5K at 30fps, 4k at 60 fps, 2.7k at 120fps, and 1080p at 240 fps. With that said, if you are looking for the best cheapest video camera for shooting sports, then clearly it’s your best call.

13.AKASO V50 Elite 4K Action cameraAKASO V50 Elite 4K Action cameraAKASO V50 Elite 4K Action cameraAKASO V50 Elite 4K Action cameraAKASO V50 Elite 4K Action camera

Best Video Camera for Shooting Sports

One of the best budget video cameras. AKASO V50 can hit 30 and 60 fps on 4k resolution, on 2K resolution at 60 fps, and if talking about 1080p HD can shoot in 120 fps.

The camera also features many additional components that include different mounts, a waterproof case, and a couple of batteries.

If money isn’t the issue for you, we would recommend going for Hero9, but if you are under a tight budget and just looking for a side camera to shoot fast-paced action, then AKASO V50 is just right for you.

You can’t do additional zoom and not a good option under low light conditions, and battery life is comparatively shorter.

In short, you can save a lot of amounts and get similar features as Hero9 by buying AKASO V50 Elite 4K Action camera.

Recommendation

If you are looking for the best video for shooting sports in a hurry, we recommend you go for Sony a7III or Sony a6400. Both of these cameras have all that it takes to be the best video cameras.

Both of the cameras have improved AF Systems with stunning 4K resolutions. Both have a reasonable rate of phase-detection and contrast detection. In short, you can pick any of both to shoot any sports.

FAQs

Q. Do I need a 4K camera to shoot sports?

Not really. If you have the right skills to shoot, you can still get the best shots at 2k, 3K resolution. But for enhanced performance, you need a 4K resolution camera.

Q. Which is a better camcorder or a DSLR camera to shoot sports?

Both types of cameras offer a decent feature of shooting in 4K resolution. In comparison, the DSLR features an excellent performance than a camcorder as it comes with a bigger sensor and provides better zooming capabilities without compromising on video quality.

Q. What is the type of video camera?

Here is a different type of video cameras:

  • Mirrorless Video Cameras.
  • DSLR Video Cameras.
  • Point and Shoot Video Cameras.
  • Digital Camcorders.
  • Sport and Action Video Cameras.
  • Professional Grade Cameras.

Conclusion

Capturing any action sports isn’t a challenging task to do. All you need is the right set of equipment, and you are done. When it comes to buying a video camera, there is a lot to consider.

It’s a long-term investment and an expensive one too, so it’s always a good idea to research before buying a camera for sports shooting.

Still, you don’t need to do that because we have researched for you. Make sure to read the buying guide as it will help you make the right decision.