11 Best Nikon lens for sports: (2024 Guide & Reviews)

Last Updated on December 5, 2023 by Sharon Advik

You don’t want anything to slow you down when you’re in the zone, capturing that one heart-pounding moment when they caught that line drive.

But that usually happens when you’re not equipped with the right gear.

Sports photography is one of the most challenging types to take, and we know that, so we have you covered.

Capture the essence of tennis, football, baseball – all sports- with stunning shots worthy of Sports Illustrated.

This camera lens will give you an excellent close-up shot to wow audiences and keep them hanging on your every word.

No matter what sport it is, these superfast lenses will get close up to your athletes so they can live out their dreams on page six.

Which is the best Nikon lens for sports?

Here are my recommended top 11 best Nikon lens for sports:-

Nikon 24-120mm f/4: (Best Nikon lens for sports video)

This is one of the best lenses for sports videography, as it provides a stable video, which is an excellent thing while shooting sports.

Sports enthusiasts now have a perfect companion for capturing those thrilling moments as they play out.

This lens makes the best of every fast-moving action, bringing your shots up close and personal with vivid colors.

As you witness each goal or touchdown, you’ll be able to relive it all over again in brilliant detail, thanks to this innovative invention.

The Nikon 24-120mm f/4.0G ED VR II is the perfect addition to any photography go-to list.

With incredible versatility and the ability to shoot nearly any genre, you’ll be pleasantly surprised at the number of situations this lens covers.

This lens is ergonomically designed and engineered specifically for DSLR camera users who use a high volume of zoom during the day, designed to capture the best sports photography.

The design features an optical layout that effectively corrects all aberrations, delivering impressive performance from wide-angle and normal-range telephoto shots.

This product will make sports videos more creative by capturing stunning panoramic images at sunrise or sunset with clear, vibrant colors on the football field.

This 24-120mm f/4G lens is perfect for a Nikon DX DSLR for live sports photography.

No need to crop in post-production.

Portraits are tack sharp with large aperture openings, giving the best depth of field control.

The lightweight body weighs just 1.1 pounds and has an easy, convenient fingertip focus ring that can be pushed to infinity while shooting long exposures.

Professional photographers may also want to use this lightweight professional-grade tool for sports video–one of its best benefits!

This 5x zoom is the perfect lens for beginners in photography.

With a maximum reproduction ratio of 0.24x, this lens easily captures the perfect shot from an extreme distance, providing true zoom power.

The Nikon 24-120mm f/4G lens illustrates sophistication at its best.

It is compact, versatile, and lightweight—ideal for carrying around all day.

From ultra-wide-angle landscapes, environmental portraits, sporting events, and tightly framed close-ups to fast telephoto compression.

If you’re someone like me searching for a fantastic sports lens, excellent for sports videography and photography, you ought to get your hands on this beautiful lens that provides vibrant and crisp photos and videos.

Pros
  • Stellar lens
  • Extremely sharp
  • Image stabilization.
  • Standard zoom lens
  • Good value for the money.
Cons
  • Some distortion.
  • Dim corners at wider angles.

Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8: (Best Nikon lens for indoor sports photography)

Indoor sports photography is one arena that I’ve struggled with.

Either the light wasn’t bright enough, the colors showed up too dull, or the environment felt… dead.

But with this lens, even in indoor sports events, I’ve managed to get picture-perfect video captures. Swish, swoosh!

Make even the most outrageous dunks and touchdown passes memorable with sports lenses that ensure you’ll never miss the action.

Capture crystal-clear close-ups of your favorite players’ moves within seconds.

Fear not if you want to take great pictures on your next game day, dish, or school project but don’t know the first thing about photography!

The Nikon 70-200mm, f/2.8G AF-S Zoom-NIKKOR lens with built-in CPU is the best Nikon lens for indoor sports photography because it gives you both fast, quiet autofocus and exceptional optical performance throughout its focal length range.

It’s perfect for shooting portraits of kids playing hockey at night because it can capture them in action without backlighting or shooting through glass windows!

Plus, it costs less than competing lenses designed primarily as sports optics.

The best lens for indoor sports photography is here.

We’ve discovered this kitschy camera to help you win at homecoming and get into any college you choose.

This lens is ideal for basketball, soccer, and indoor sports photography because it offers wide coverage at 200mm.

It’s perfect for situations with little room to move around or if you want angular perspectives instead of round ones.

You also get Nikon’s leading AF performance for sharpness when shooting still shots or video sequences.

This Nikon pro-grade lens provides extraordinary clarity with beautifully rendered bokeh that will make your high school senior happy. It’s even better than the night they scored their first goal after practice!

Your quarterback won’t be able to react in time with this lightweight wonder under his arm, so wait until he throws off his stiff neck before strutting out these sweet 180.

One quality lens is perfect for professional and beginner photographers who want to take stunning pictures at indoor sports events, stadiums, arenas, and other venues.

This new best indoor sports photography lens will ensure your shots always come out crisp and clear!

I’ve had one of the best indoor photography experiences with this piece.

As I said, anyone will love this masterpiece if they’ve struggled with interior leisure photography.

Pros
  • Solid build quality.
  • Extremely sharp.
  • Maintains f/2.8 aperture through the zoom range.
  • Outstanding image quality.
  • Optical stabilization.
  • They are rotating tripod collars.
Cons
  • Some distortion.
  • Dimmed corners at f/2.8.

Tamron 70-200mm F/2.8: (Best Nikon lens for outdoor sports photography)

Question me, and I’ll tell you, outdoor sports photographers love it.

This lens is excellent to get in close.

Make catching every detail of the game your goal.

Travel shooters find this lens essential for capturing exotic animals.

Tamron’s Super Performance 70-200 mm F/2.8 features a teleconverter that mirrors the image of your subject on your camera for easy sports photography from far distances.

This super-sharp lens is equipped with vibration compensation.

With a max magnification ratio of 1:6.1, dependent on whether you’re shooting with a full-frame or an APS-C model camera–and flattering professional photographers.

Who move around quickly while trying to get close-up shots of their subjects in high-speed situations like outdoor sports event coverage.

This lens offers beautiful images and is designed with a protective coating that repels water and oils.

When working at your subject’s shooting range, you should use VC mode 3 to capture five light stops for crisp, clear photos at any time.

It can be used as a great outdoor lens with an excellent angle of view (diagonal).

This lens’s remarkably lightweight design matches its easy use, making it the perfect choice for outdoor pursuits!

This lens ensures you have everything you need no matter what adventure awaits.

Tamron’s most advanced lens for photographing people in motion provides unbeatable optical performance that captures impressive images with improved speed.

The new SP 70-200mm F/2.8 VC G2 delivers extraordinary photos regardless of location or light conditions, from expansive football field landscapes to intimate portraits of your favorite players.

This lens has ensured I have everything I need, no matter what adventure awaits.

This is one member I’m sure to carry around with me everywhere I go!

Pros
  • Excellent, bright f/2.8 aperture.
  • Excellent resolution.
  • Solid build quality.
  • Image stabilization.
  • Affordable in price.
Cons
  • Weak flare resistance.
  • Dimmed corners.
  • Sharpness drops off at 200mm.
  • Toggle switches are prone to inadvertent changes.

Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8: (Best Nikon Dslr lens for sports)

This one has allowed me to capture every one of my athlete’s sweet moves with this fantastic lens that can shoot crisp and beautiful pictures, and so will it to you! It doesn’t bias its users!

This lens allows you to capture the moment, no matter how far reporters are from the action happening on the field.

The Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 is the best Nikon DSLR lens for sports and action photography, designed to be used with DX SLRs, FX cameras, or traditional 35mm Nikon SLRs.

It features an auto and manual focus system to shoot everything from your landscape scenes to your sports shots in good time without losing precious moments of action.

You can’t find a better lens to capture the speed and beauty of your favorite sporting event.

With all the colors, movement, and action-packed into every shot, your camera will deliver photos so unique people will have trouble believing they weren’t taken by one of the professional photographers out there.

Whether you’re shooting an amateur track meet or a major tennis tournament, this lens will work in any light conditions – from bright, sunny arenas to dim indoor stadiums.

The Hyper-sonic motor enables quick and quiet autofocus to ensure a clear subject even when shooting fast-moving events with long lenses on moving subjects.

If you’re looking for the perfect lens for shooting your child’s soccer game or want to sell photos of the lightning storm over the lake, this is it.

This telephoto zoom offers a 12 times zoom ratio, allowing you to capture distant views and make memories last elegantly forever quickly.

The wide focal length range makes it an excellent choice for low-light shooting by ensuring a more comprehensive field depth, providing more sharpness throughout frames.

Sneak up to action like never before with the Sigma 70-200mm F2.8 lens.

Built for extreme versatility, this insanely fast production has exciting features to help you get that one shot.

Whether shooting outdoors or indoors, at night or during daylight hours, this versatile Nikkor DSLR zoom lens and long focal length (telephoto) expertise will help you get out of harm’s way quickly!

The Sigma 70-200mm has made my dreams come true as a sports enthusiast and photographer.

One passion of mine is shooting race cars; this lens does that flawlessly, capturing every hue of those wonderfully colored cars.

Pros
  • Amazing build quality.
  • Weatherproofing & dust resistance.
  • Excellent image quality.
  • The optical performance is terrific.
  • Sharpness.
  • Blur bokeh.
  • Quite a low distortion.
  • Great autofocus.
  • Great image stabilization.
  • Good value for money.
Cons
  • Heavy.

Nikon 300mm f/4: (Best Nikon prime lens for sports photography)

The Nikon 300mm f/4 AF-D is an excellent lens for sports photography.

Built tough, the best thing I love about this lens is the traveling light with high performance.

The feel of a true professional is in your hands with this lens!

If you’re looking for something like that, a solid lens to take on your next safari, then look no further!

This lens is tough and durable and will never let you down.

The metal construction makes it perfect for any season, and the retractable front filter holder allows easy access.

Don’t let a professional sports photographer miss a crucial shot because he couldn’t track the action.

Give him this Nikon version of the world’s fastest AF camera lens at 321mm.

Thanks to an internal focusing system and fast speed, it provides instant focus from infinity to 8′ (.2m) with fixed-focus lenses.

This DSLR lens is perfect for travel, low-light shooting, and action photography.

Created with the new Nikkor NIKKOR Super Integrated Coating (SIC), this long-range zoom has an f/2.8 maximum aperture that helps you get outstanding shots in all settings.

This professional sports lens will satisfy any photographer or videographer with discriminating image quality and ISO performance.

Professional photographers and videographers purchase this as their high-quality workhorse for documenting feats of athletic prowess, such as the Indianapolis 500.

The world’s best-renowned event photographers trust it to document their moments forever; you can, too.

The Nikon 300mm f/4 AF-D creates vividly impressed images with color, detail, and clarity.

This iconic telephoto lens offers excellent user contrast when working in low light conditions or capturing fleeting moments at high speed with solid metal construction.

The versatile design of this fast-aperture long focal-length lens is highly valued by professionals who demand excellence from their equipment.

This is a fantastic lens for photographers who want a reliable, well-built lens.

It’s made almost entirely of metal and could be the most challenging compact 300mm, AF Nikon.

I wanted something to last long term, and with its architecture and design, this has been my best bet.

Get your right now to be as content as I am with my sports photography.

Pros
  • Lightweight & compact.
  • Extremely sharp.
  • It is optically stabilized.
  • 1:4 magnification.
Cons
  • Not compatible with some older cameras.

Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3: (Best affordable Nikon lens for sports)

I was looking to capture my favorite moments on the ice or the sports field, and this lens will make capturing that perfect photo a breeze.

I’d recommend it to anyone finding a budget-friendly alternative to a costly sports lens.

Plus, with this lens, you won’t have to worry about blurry footage anymore!

If you’re more of the sports fan type than the serious videographer, this camera is for you – who doesn’t want living memories of finally catching that moment they’ve been waiting for?

The Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM is the best affordable Nikon lens for sports, concerts, wildlife documentary filmmakers needing to get close to big animals, athletes playing far away in a stadium or field, and orchestra members at one end of the stage and conductors at the other.

The 150-600mm focal length has become the longest range in today’s lenses. This range covers many popular fields of photography, particularly wildlife and sports events.

And even though the light it gathers over such an extended range is stunning, this lens balances out with its compact design, weighing only 3 lbs!

No more desperate measures are needed to bring it up high enough on your tripod or to carry a rig to make tracking athletes easier.

350 crisp rice images captured without interruption will convince you that less gear equals higher performance.

This Contemporary edition features a dust-proof front element, so you won’t have to worry about dust getting on your sensor while shooting active pictures.

These lenses are specialized for sports videos.

The design is specifically created to meet the needs of photographers who like documenting fast-paced, exciting moments during a game.

During these tense moments, it can be easy to lose track of time, and you’ll miss all of the action if your camera’s lens isn’t up to par.

With the Sigma 150-600mm, I did have to worry about whether or not this product would work in every situation without having an extra lens on hand!

It has made my life 10 times easier.

Pros
  • Excellent telephoto reach.
  • Extremely sharp.
  • Quick autofocus
  • Image stabilization.
  • Affordable in price.
Cons
  • Some chromatic aberration.
  • Some pincushion distortion.
  • Heavy.
  • No dust- and splash-proof.

Tamron 150-600mm F/5-6.3: (Best budget lens for sports photography Nikon)

I was a photographer who had gained excellent perspective, catching all of my memorable moments in the best photographic form possible with this lens.

The pros use it when taking photos at sporting events or getting up close and personal with wildlife.

The Tamron SP 150-600mm F/5-6.3 lens is designed for an affordable price for those who need a high-quality large zoom range.

As one of the only optically stabilized lenses suitable for action photography, this lens brings all your shots to life, no matter how lively or still.

You can’t find comparable performance from any other brand at this low price point!

You’ll love the Fluorine coating that repels water and fingerprints while eliminating dirt build-up on the front element.

The improved moisture-resistant construction will protect your investment in harsh weather conditions.

It makes pairing with a tripod mount compatible with Arce-Swiss-style quick-release plates easier.

After capturing still photos or video clips, remove your camera from the tripod when you’re ready to reshoot the handheld.

Taking sports event photos without the right lenses is tough, but knowing what lens will work best for your needs can be challenging.

The Tamron SP 150-600mm F/5-6.3 is today’s best budget lens for sports photography.

A versatile zoom range of 152-784mm makes it perfect for taking photos and video.

Zoom in on a bee up close or zoom out to capture the entire field during an important game.

With this new Lens for Sports Photography, you’re ready for anything!

What’s so neat about my new lens?

Now, you can take almost any image without shrinking back in fear!

Get into the game with this budget-friendly lens that gives clear and vibrant images for any sporting event.

Join heroes on the field, and grab a shot of your favorite player scoring another goal – it’s all within your line of sight.

This lens is suitable for family photos, vacations, and everything in between as long as the focus is on what makes you happy.

Keep those moments alive like never before with the Tamron SP 150-600mm.

This product is specifically designed for sports photographers, allowing me to document my favorite game vividly.

Pros
  • Extremely sharp.
  • Excellent image stabilization.
  • Fast & reliable autofocus.
  • Lockable zoom mechanism.
  • Integrated Arca-Swiss foot.
  • Weather-sealed design.
Cons
  • Weak edge performance at wide and telephoto extremes.
  • Teleconverter use limits autofocus operation.

Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8: (Best Nikon lens for low light sports photography)

Prepare to take your sports photography game to the next level with this recommendation I’ve brought for you.

This lens is made for low-light situations and is perfect for sporting events indoors, outdoors at night, or even in cloudy weather conditions.

Find a great Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8E lens.

This is a must-have for any photography buff who takes photos in low-light or sports environments because of its fast aperture and Vibration Reduction.

It is available in black or silver.

It’s small enough to take on trips but powerful enough to take high-quality shots with sharp images no matter the lighting situation, and it’s affordable.

The fast f/2.8 constant aperture lens has an electromagnetic diaphragm and stunning image quality that is sharp and distortion-free for various photos, from low-light sports to portraits.

An actual one-lens solution also has a focal length range of 24 to 70 millimeters and a minimum focus distance of 35 to 50 millimeters, depending on the focal length selected, giving you plenty of opportunities for beautiful shots.

A Best Nikon lens for low-light sports photography can capture crisp, clear images in any condition.

The key to a perfect shot is weather protection and the right features.

But you don’t need to spend a fortune to get what you need.

A longtime champion of sporting moments, this beast of a lens will make even terrible lighting seem better.

This new Nikon lens is said to gift photographers with versatile focal lengths, high-quality lenses, and an electromagnetic hard stop.

Despite what you’re photographing, it’s perfect for low-light sports photos because it allows photographers to shoot four stops of vibration reduction for a flattering blur-less shot without shaking too much.

And from my personal experience, this lens is not just for sports.

I’ve used it for many other events as well.

This lens is perfect for low light weddings, concerts, film sets — all of life’s great moments, so get your hands now on the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8E.

Pros
  • Very wide aperture.
  • Good focal length.
  • The lens is sharp.
  • Good contrast.
  • Excellent image quality.
  • Image stabilization.
  • The focus ring is very smooth.
  • Quick focusing motor.
  • Significant in a low-light situation.
Cons
  • Heavyweight.
  • Some distortion.

Nikon 80-200mm f/2.8: (Best Nikon lens for sports action shots)

This is one of the perfect lenses I’ve used for capturing the drama of motorsport, high school sports, and soccer games.

If that’s one of your fortes, you must look at this.

Designed to handle the slopes in winter or catch the action at an indoor soccer game, this lens is up to the task.

The AF FX NIKKOR 80-200mm f/2.8 is perfect for fast-action photography like sports, children, and wildlife.

With a constant aperture of 2.8 through the entire focal range, this super sharp AF telephoto zoom will not disappoint!

You no longer need to change lenses or miss that one last shot.

This lens is a favorite among professional photographers for its versatility.

It perfectly complements your Nikon camera when shooting sports action, portraits, or nature photography.

If you like to get close to pictures of sporting events, this is the lens for you.

This zoom lens will let photographers get close without interfering with the event and still take clear photos from a distance.

Remember that any action shot can be taken using a camera with an auto-focus function, so there isn’t usually a need to invest in all of the features offered by high-end equipment.

Nikon AF FX NIKKOR 80-200mm f/2.8 has new features like ED glass light capture elements that help to produce high-resolution images with rich colors at any aperture.

The Nikon AF FX NIKKOR 80-200mm f/2.8 is a 2.5x telephoto zoom for sports, portraits, and nature photography with a fast ƒ2.8 maximum aperture through the entire focal range minimizes distortion and maximizes detail, making it perfect for action shots.

In addition, this lens features ED glass elements to produce high-resolution images even at ƒ2.8 and high contrast from its 9-blade diaphragm, which ensures sharp photos with minimal flare, making an extraordinary amount of background blur, too!

It also has a rotational zoom ring that allows you to focus precisely on your subject during zooming in or out and comes equipped with Nikon Super Integrated Coating.

I was looking for telephoto power in an exotic lens for sports action shots or award-winning portraiture and have found no better choice than the Nikon AF FX NIKKOR 80-200mm f/2.8.

Faster, lighter, more durable—it’s everything I wanted, and anyone else would want in a telephoto zoom!

Pros
  • Extremely sharp.
  • Excellent quality images
  • Great lens!
  • Excellent pro-quality Zoom.
  • Affordable in price.
Cons
  • Heavy.
  • No hood included.

Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8: (Best Nikon lens for night sports photography)

From what I’ve experienced with this breathtakingly sharp lens, it is designed to get pictures right where they belong under any condition.

This new Nikon lens will take your night sports photography to the next level.

Night games are hard enough to photograph, but now you can do it in style.

This newest addition has all the perks of the original, plus an extra-cold iced-out coating for better visibility at nighttime events.

On your perfect game day, you’ll be able to focus on having fun instead of being frustrated!

Move in for the perfect wide-angle or zoom portrait.

Catch action photos at sporting events, nature scenes, and concerts.

The Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8 is an excellent lens that captures every detail beautifully with fast, sharp shots over a huge power range.

You can even shoot sports clear to infinity without worrying about focus fall-off!

Portraits are crisp and detailed, making you an artist’s favorite photographer friend!

Create the perfect photo. Create the perfect moment.

Thanks to this Nikkor lens, you capture anything you can see with one touch of a button!

This lens is for those who want to create memorable shots that will last forever.

This gear is easy to use and produces more extraordinary photos than ever imagined!

The Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8 is one of the best lenses for night sports photography!

Shoot like a pro in the dark with a powerful zoom, 180° shift, and F2.8 brightness to get crisp shots while others struggle around corners with high noise levels.

Follow your heart; you’ll never lose sight of it when you wear this bad boy to the next game or party!

The Nikon 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5G ED is a fantastic lens for night sports photography.

It’s one of the sharper and well-thought-out glasses on the market, and it’ll be up your alley if you like to prowl at night for that perfect shot without compromising too much on quality.

Do you look for something like that?

That gives you a perfect shot before the light fades.

Well, I’ve found it for you, and get it while there’s still time with the ideal Nikon lens.

Pros
  • Solid build quality.
  • Extremely sharp.
  • Maintains f/2.8 aperture through the zoom range.
  • Outstanding image quality.
  • Optical stabilization.
  • They are rotating tripod collars.
Cons
  • Some distortion.
  • Dimmed corners at f/2.8.

Sigma 100-400mm f/5-6.3: (Best telephoto lens for action sports)

As an action photographer, I needed the most precise and crisp shots possible.

Then, I decided to invest in this sports lens to capture the athlete’s movements with sharp detail, even from afar.

The Sigma 100-400mm f/5-6.3 Aspherical Lens is a compact, lightweight ideal for travel photography and wildlife action shots, among other things.

For example, at 420mm (1,000 mm in 35mm equivalent), the lens captures sharp photos of fast-moving subjects like soccer balls or pelicans in flight by blurring out the background and letting their form stand out in detail.

With its APS-C compatibility, you can get up close with even more room to work with when shooting indoors or when the photo opportunity presents itself from an awkward distance away without switching lenses!

And remember—it’s not just about capturing great pics; it’s also about taking care of your gear!

The Sigma 100-400mm F5-6.3 DG telephoto lens is an excellent choice for advanced photographers who want to capture crisp, clear shots of sports and wildlife up close or across the horizon!

The world is marvelous when you’re in the middle of it.

Our DSLR lenses are designed to enhance your sports photography, whether you’re shooting football, rugby, or soccer.

This sports lens is designed for situations where you need to keep up with the action, like hiking or skiing.

It’s waterproof and sealed against the weather, making it perfect for all sporting events.

The low-profile design will fit all types of electronic mounts.

This versatile product is great for sports photography and landscape or cityscape photos.

You might have been a budding photojournalist or sports photographer before, but wait until you see the results from close range.

When I was on the go and wanted to bring one lens for all my needs, this was my best choice.

I captured sporting events and crisp, detailed images of players at high-level competitions with this Sigma 150-600mm telephoto zoom lens, compatible with Nikon D3400 DSLR cameras.

Pros
  • Solid build quality
  • Lightweight & compact
  • High image quality
  • Dust and splash-resistant
  • Autofocus is quick & reliable
  • Handles chromatic aberration well.
Cons
  • Struggles with high-resolution sensors.

CONCLUSION:

Alright, guys, that concludes all the lenses we will discuss today in this article.

Do you guys have any experience with these lenses? What are your thoughts on them?

Which is your best Nikon lens for sports?

Is there a lens I didn’t mention in this article that you love using for sports photography?

Would you please leave your thoughts and comments below?

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