Best Lenses For Basketball Photography in 2024
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Basketball is a fast-paced game, and you need the best lens for basketball photography to capture amazing shots because it gives you great functionality and results right away.
Countless basketball photographers are using the below-listed lenses. Your only job is to find out the best lens which suits your needs.
With a compatible lens, all of your gameplay photos would be spot-on. Plus, the images will have fewer errors, and you only get the top result.
It’s a win-win situation as you get seamless workflow and fantastic gameplay images simultaneously. Let’s get in.
Our 3 Top Picks
Below are the most suitable lenses for basketball photography. These lenses would be one of the best for taking basketball action shots. Go through these lenses one after another, and you will find out the perfect ones.
At no. 2 comes the Nikon AF-P DX NIKKOR 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3G ED. It’s one of the great lenses which features a high range of compatibility. Hence, you could use the following lens on a wider range of DSLR cameras.
The best part of the following lens is that it’s a lot lightweight. As in the basketball game, you may need to move quickly to get into the action. You will feel seamless taking these action-packed basketball games with lighter camera gear.
Plus, you are getting an amazing VR(Vibration Reduction) feature. Your basketball photographs would come crisp and clear right away.
When it comes to the quality, the image is colorful and vibrant. The movement of the basketball players will be a lot visible, and the audience would feel the moment right away.
Pros
- Sharper photos
- Lighter weight lens
- Higher compatibility
- Provides vibrant color
Cons
- A bit expensive kit to go on
2. Nikon AF-P DX NIKKOR 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3G ED
Basketball photography needs a better low light performance, and the following lens is great. We are talking about the Sony E 55-210mm F4.5-6.3. It has a better performance record in indoor lighting systems.
When taking key moments of a basketball match, stability becomes a crucial factor. Thanks to the lens’s stabilization, you could get absolute vibration-free capturing. Hence, the anti-vibration feature works for both still image and video capturing.
In fact, the following lens is a great piece for sports photography capturing. Because it features a wide focal range lens, you could capture a wider picture on a basketball court. No doubt, getting a better image would be a game-changer.
Plus, the ED glass of the lens is great for avoiding any sort of over-exposure and other things as well. And all of these make the following lens a great piece for basketball photography.
Pros
- Wider Focal Length
- Better image stabilization
- Smoother Focusing
- Avoids noise and exposure
Cons
- Only compatible with Sony cameras
3. Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS III
Want to pursue full-time basketball photography? Why not look at the following Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS III. It’s a full-fledged lens which is a great kit to have on the hand. Let’s elaborate on it.
One of its best features is the robust build of the lens. Hence, you could use the lens in any sort of harsh conditions. No matter how dirty or messy the basketball court is, the following lens can withstand it all.
Moreover, almost all of the lens images would come out glare-free. As the indoor basketball setting features huge lights, the following lens is a great option to avoid making any noise in the image.
Overall, it’s a great lens kit that any basketball photographer would love to have in their bag.
Pros
- Stronger Fluorine Coating
- Avoids Noises
- Withstands dust
- Has professional images
Cons
- Focusing is a bit tricky to master
4. Sigma 150-600mm 5-6.3
We found the Sigma 150-600mm 5-6.3 has a great range of f stops providing you with the perfect setting for sports photography. Basketball, to be specific, is a great subject to capture using the following lens.
Like, it has an aperture count of f/3.5 to f/6.3. As a result, you get the most crystal clear image with the right amount of light on the frame.
In cases where you are concerned about faster photo capturing, the following lens would certainly please you. Because it features a Hyper Sonic Motor, which is super smooth and faster. As a result, you will not miss any key action in a basketball match.
Though, the lens kit is a big unit to work with. But you get a quality image, and it compensates for the drawback of being a heavy kit.
All in all, it’s a great lens kit for capturing real-time basketball game action.
Pros
- Protective lens coating
- Minimize vibration
- Comes with a built-in lens cap
- Works with Sigma USB dock
Cons
- Heavy lens kit
5. Rokinon 135mm F2.0 ED
When looking for the most advanced lens for basketball photographs, check on the following ones: the Rokinon 135mm F2.0 ED, one of the best you could have for your sports photography projects.
Perhaps, it has a built-in Nikon AE chip which is super efficient for auto-exposure correction. In turn, you don’t have to adjust the exposure independently. You could be in the flow of the basketball game.
With advanced diaphragm blades, you get more than an average number of blades. The best part is that it creates a smoother and rounder lens opening than the straight blades.
But one point you should note, the lens doesn’t have an auto chip. Instead, it features a cheap manual, which means you have to set the focus on your own.
Pros
- Has Ultra Multi-Coated
- Ideal fast aperture lens
- 9 diaphragm blade
- Has both front and back rear cap
- full-frame telephoto lens
Cons
- Has manual chip
6. Tamron 150-500mm f/5-6.7
Thinking about the moisture your lens has to face in a basketball stadium? The following lens is the answer to it. The following lens is a Tamron 150-500mm f/5-6.7, which can withstand humid situations best.
It has a great Fluorine coating on the lens surface as well. It avoids any sort of buildup on your lens, making your lens clean and smoother. As a result, you get to capture the best possible image.
As the lens is a complete 500mm ultra-telephoto zoom lens, you could capture the basketball actions even from far away. The range is great when you are at a professional basketball court trying to capture images from a specific distance.
The linear motor focus mechanism makes zooming into any specific subject more seamless than ever. Plus, we found out that the image comes out spot-on even with mild vibration.
But, the only drawback for us is it’s an E mount lens and does not support all A-mount lenses.
Pros
- Features ultra-telephoto zoom
- Includes Arco-Swiss foot
- Seamless zooming
- Compact sizing
Cons
- Won’t work with A mount lenses
7. Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III
Do you want faster movement during a basketball match? Take a look at the Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III. It’s one of the lightest lenses among our listed lenses. Plus, it’s an affordable lens for shooting indoor basketball games.
The following lens uses lightweight glass material to make the zooming seamless. As a result, the operational load becomes less than any ordinary sports lens.
The best part about the lens is its exterior. It’s slim, smooth, and easy to have on hand. As a result, you could get the most out of your basketball photography even while sanding.
On the following lens, you get f/4 – 5.6 of maximum aperture. These would be great when capturing fast-paced movement in low light conditions.
But, when creating bokeh effects, the lens falls a bit short. The lens doesn’t blur the background right away. You need to work a bit further to blur crowds behind the players.
Pros
- Has Canon EF mounting
- Slim exterior
- Lightweight glass materials
- Affordable Unit
Cons
- Getting bokeh effects is tougher.
Buying Guide on Best Lens For Basketball Photography
Let’s talk about what you may need to watch out for while buying the lenses. These would be critical for you when deciding which one to choose.
Lightweight
When working on a basketball court, you may need to move most often, so you may need to have a lightweight lens. If you need to shoot images while the lens is on hand, use a lighter weight lens.
Hence, the lightweight is not a mandatory aspect of sports photography; having one is a plus. With lighter lenses and camera gear, you could move faster. As a result, you get right into the moment and capture your dream shots.
Lens Coating
As a sports photographer, you may need to work in a jam-packed in-door stadium. With a higher audience comes humidity. Moreover, your lens must have a protective coating. Layers such as ED saves your lens surface from buildup.
Plus, this protective coating avoids unwanted light noise and glares. Hence, these shiny spotlights in the indoor stadium would not pollute your basketball images. Perhaps, you must check out if your lens has a protective coating or not. It’s a must to get better images and performance on your lens.
Auto Focus
When moving so fast along the gameplay, you want to capture the gameplay super fast. That’s where the autofocus comes into play. With the autofocus feature, you could get the spot-on focus on the players without spending much time at all.
Before deciding on any of the lenses, check whether the lens features any sort of autofocus at all. Not to mention, some of the lenses feature manual focus systems. You must check these out and decide which direction you should go into.
Camera Compatibility
You won’t get to use incompatible lenses on your DSLR camera. The safest way to go is to check out your camera brand. Afterwards, search for the lens which suits your DSLR camera. You could use the chart provided with the lens; it would help you find the compatibility status of the lens.
For example, you could check for Nikon lenses when you have a Nikon camera unit, so you don’t rush when checking out the lens compatibility. It would serve you in the long term.
Stabilization
As a sports photographer, you may need to take the action pictures on hand, which is why stabilization of the lens is super important. Check out the features like VR. These features minimize the vibration providing you with the best possible image.
Perhaps, make sure you get lenses which provide you with stable images right away. It’s a lot of time-saving for someone who has been working in the sports photography industry. Avoiding blurriness and camera shaking effects would result in better results on your basketball photo catalog.
Tips On Photographing a Basketball Game
When photographing a basketball game with your lenses, follow the tips below. It would let you improve the photos without any further hassle. In short, it is the rule that most photographers follow.
Use Wider Aperture
Taking out close shots will become a lot easier when you are using a wider aperture. Because, with a wider aperture, more lights will pass through the lens. As a result, it offers you brighter and sharper images by taking closer images.
Go for Slow Shutter Speed
Slow shutter speed will help you to create a motion blur. For example, the motion blur effect will help you create a better capture of the players on the move on the basketball court. In addition, it will blur out the audience in the background. These sorts of effects are not achievable without a slow shutter speed.
Raw Mode is Better
Setting up your camera in a RAW file mood will allow you to capture the greatest detail. Raw file format lets you adjust and compress the image without damaging the image quality. Even if the file size might get a bit higher, it offers you complete flexibility.
Photoshoot Ideas on a Basketball Game
Well, even if you are doing basketball game photography for a while, ideas might end up. So, to give your creativity a flow, we have listed some photoshoot ideas. These are one of the popular shorts to take while on the basketball court.
Passing Shots
In basketball, players pass their ball from one player to another while tackling the opposition. It offers you a better chance to shoot a dynamic photo. In addition, it captures the competitive vibe into the image within one picture. In sports magazines, passing shorts are one of the popular shoots as well.
1 v 1 Battles
Players from two sides, one battling for the ball and the other to make a shot, can illustrate one v 1. These types of photos are intense and often a bit hard to shoot. But when you keep an eye on the game, you can instantly predict the 1v1 basketball battle and click the photo.
Shoot Photos of The Coach
We often forget that coaches play an important role in basketball. You could watch the coaches roam around and give expressions as the game progressed, which is why to move your lens and focus on the coaches in crucial moments. Believe it or not, you will get dramatic shoots that might get viral in a short time of publication.
Let’s put some of the questions for the basketball photography lenses.
Even though different photographers use different lenses, most of them do have one thing in common. Most NBA photographers use a 300mm lens. These lenses provide you with the best possible shot, which looks good on the frame.
Most basket photographers would like to have 1/500s as the shutter speed. It’s the ideal shutter speed to have for basketball photographs. As a result, you get a flawless image with appropriate lighting. Be sure to use the shutter speed in your project.
No doubt, 50mm works great for capturing basketball photographs. As a result, you get better images of the basketball gameplay without any issues. On the other hand, 85 mm would not work as expected.
What Should Be The Budget for Lens for Basketball Photography?
At a bare minimum, you must spend at least $350 to $400 to get a decent sports photography lens. Other lenses might cost you more depending upon the brands. At the same time, the lenses are expensive gear to have, so you must buy one with proper time and patience.
How To Avoid Backs Of The Referee Ruining Your Photos?
Shoot at the left to avoid the referee running your photographs. Because, as per the basketball rules, coaches stand on the right side of the ball. When you are on the left side of the court, you capture images without any issues.
Can I Achieve A Professional Image From An iPhone?
Although, you could take professional photos out of your iPhone. But you might lag, not getting sharper images, stability, and raw file format. You might tune in to get better images as a beginner, but having a proper sports photography lens is necessary.
Conclusion
The basketball game is exciting and dynamic; you have to be prepared to get spot-on images. It becomes easier when you have the best lens for basketball photography.
Hence, check out the in-depth guideline and roundup list and choose the best one for you. It would let you get the best image of the basketball court right away. It’s worth the effort you put into it.
Along with the best lenses, having a better photographic style is also essential. Combining these two would lead you to a great set of basketball images that stuns everyone.
Pick the lens and get the best basketball image right now.
Bordie Capron
Author
“Bordie Capron is a Sr. Content Maker who is working in The Clipping Path Service an US-based image and video post-production company for over 7+ years. She completed her degree in graphic designing and worked as a graphic designing expert for several years. She always loved writing”
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