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If you don’t have time to read this article, then the best video camera for sports is the Sony A7III.

With such a wide variety of sports, both indoors and outdoors, it can be challenging to find the one best camcorder for sports, that is ideal for your specific needs.

I’ve had plenty of opportunity as a professional photographer to use my cameras and those of my friends and family to make videos of all types of sporting events, so have a good idea of not only the best professional camcorder for sports, but also some of the better budget options.

In this article, we’ll take a look at the various types of cameras and their suitabilities for recording different types of sport, plus I’ll give you some good options of video cameras that are both easy to use and which can satisfy even the most demanding videographer.

The Best Video Camera for Sports Today

The Best Video Camera for Sports on a Budget

Comparison of the Top Sports Video Cameras

What Sports Are You Covering?

One of the primary aspects when it comes to opting for a video camera for sports is the sport that you will be covering. Different kinds of sports have many different rules and speeds while also differing in terms of the number of people present on the field or court, and all of these impact on the requirements for your ideal video camera.

Here are some factors that you will need to consider when it comes to the sport you are covering and recording.

• Weather: Many sports take place outdoors in all kinds of weather conditions. If the sun is too harsh or if there are chances of snow or rain, make sure you have weather protection in place, which favors a choice between professional cameras and action cameras.
• Lens: Your lens should have a good zoom feature with high quality glass so that you can zoom in on certain players and their plays, or simply capture the event if you are recording from a distance. This favors DSLRs or mirrorless cameras, which have a wide range of quality lenses available.
• Low-Light: For indoor sports or those that might be filmed at night, you need a camera that has excellent low light capabilities, like APS-C mirrorless cameras. Many of the cheaper camcorders lack this feature.
• Autofocus: Autofocus that tracks players can be very helpful for fast moving, team sports like football, as it means your video is always sharp.
• Stabilization: Although less needed for sports where you will be filming from a static location, lens and / or in-body stabilization is a very useful feature that prevents camera shake from your hands, and gives you a far more professional-looking recording.
• Size / Weight: Some sports might require you to move and run around to catch up with the player(s), so make sure your video camera is light, secure and manageable on your own.

What Type of Camera Do You Want?

There are various types of cameras that you can use for recording a sporting event. Which one you choose depends on your requirements and the sporting conditions. You can go through some options below.

Phone Cameras

Smartphones can actually be quite ideal as long as they are a more recent model, which almost all have exceptional cameras. As you are likely to already have one in your pocket, using your phone camera is the most economical way to film sports.

They are only lacking on the zoom front, meaning they are really only suitable for closeup sports filming.

Pros

• They are small, portable and easy to handle even if you need to move around.
• You can capture stable and high-quality videos and images.
• Often there are plenty of settings to apply filters, slow-motion, etc.

Cons

• The sensors in phone cameras tend to be quite small, so video quality is often lacking.
• Cheaper phone cameras are generally not suitable, and buying a high-end phone can end up being a bit expensive.

Action Cameras

Action cameras, as the name suggests, can capture all kinds of actions in a convenient manner, allowing you to record a certain sporting event with ease. The most popular brand is GoPro, but there are plenty of action cameras from different brands available for a lower price.

They are ideal for filming if you are taking part in the sport yourself, thanks to their durability, but are less good for filming at a distance.

Pros

• These are small and durable, allowing you to carry them in all kinds of weather conditions and often use them underwater.
• You can use them with various kinds of accessories like selfie sticks or lens add-ons.
• You can adjust the settings through your phone.

Cons

• The battery is unlikely to last for too long.
• The sensor is pretty tiny, so you might not get quality footage, especially as compared to other kinds of cameras.

Mirrorless Cameras

These cameras do not have a reflex mirror and this reduces their size and weight, particularly for APS-C sensor sizes. They are among the best options for hobbyists to record sports videos thanks to large sensors coupled with excellent video performance, in a relatively small package.

Pros

• The sensors are quite big, thus improving the quality of the video even if the light levels are not ideal.
• You can keep interchanging the lens to suit your requirements.
• They are light and compact, making them easier to carry around.

Cons

• They are quite expensive.
• The battery life can be a bit weak.

DSLRs

DSLRs can offer great quality for capturing images and videos, although mirrorless cameras can be a better choice in comparison.

Pros

• The quality of the video is generally high.
• There is a wide range of options available when it comes to interchangeable lenses.
• DSLRs tend to be more rugged than comparable mirrorless cameras, and also available at a lower price point.

Cons

• They are quite large and chunky with too many extra accessories for most videographers.
• The top-end models are pretty expensive.

Camcorders

Camcorders are as professional as they come and are ideal for recording videos, especially sporting events. They are available at a wide range of price points and video capabilities, although for most hobbyists you can usually get better video quality at a lower price from mirrorless cameras.

Camcorders only beat mirrorless on their shape, which is much easier for hand-holding, and the fact that they come with a fixed lens.

Pros

• High zoom level is ideal for recording sports.
• You can more easily get stable videos thanks to the shape of the camera being much easier to hand-hold for long periods of time.
• They have a long battery life.

Cons

• They are extremely expensive and may not be worth it if you are not a professional.
• They are large and not easy to move around and travel with.

Do You Want 4K?

An important consideration here is the requirement of 4K resolution. If you only need to record sports events on a casual and non-professional basis, then you do not require cameras with 4K resolution, especially since this would end up increasing the overall cost of the purchase considerably.

With the increasing availability of 4K in cameras, however, it might be easier for you to make the purchase for future compatibility, especially if you also need to stream or upload your video on a platform.

Once again, however, this is only ideal for professionals who need the equipment and the resolution for their projects.

Reviews of the Best Camcorder for Sports

If you are finding it difficult to find a suitable video camera for yourself or are simply feeling overwhelmed with the number of options that you have, go through the following options that can help you decide on the best video camera for sports.

You can then pick one based on your requirements and start recording. Let’s take a look!

1. Sony a7 III

The Sony A7 III is a mirrorless camera with a full frame sensor, optimal for capturing videos if the lighting is less than ideal. It has a 15 stop dynamic range along with an ISO range of 50 to 204,800.

With a continuous shooting speed of up to 4K and 30 frames per second (fps), this camera can allow you to record sporting events at essentially broadcast quality, with the in-body stabilization also making it ideal for capturing motion better.

The Sony A7 III is an older model, but doesn’t lose out of many features of the more up-to-date models when it comes to videography. In fact, this can be a better option than the Sony A7 IV, as it is significantly cheaper but just as strong for sports recording.

As a mirrorless camera, this features interchangeable lenses, meaning that you are able to change your setup to cover pretty much any sport, and the camera is of course excellent for stills photography.

Sony A7 III Check Latest Price

2. Panasonic LUMIX GX85

The Panasonic LUMIX GX85 is a mirrorless camera that comes with a 12-32 mm and a 45-150 mm lens that you can interchange based on the kind of sports video you want to shoot, although there are other lens options for you to choose from as well.

You can capture videos in great quality with this digital camera through its 4K resolution and 30 fps video mode, resulting in a surprisingly professional-looking output. This can work well for you if you are looking for something for more advanced requirements instead of casual recording.

Moreover, this video camera comes with a 5 axis dual image stabilization that can help you record stable and clear videos even when the natural conditions are tough.

It also has a silent shutter mode in case you want to capture some photos without disturbing the sport.

Panasonic GX85 Check Latest Price

3. Panasonic Camcorder

Panasonic have produced a fine, cheap camcorder that works well for recording pretty much all long-distance sports, provided you have good lighting. This doesn’t handle low-light situations very well, but this is the price you pay for a lower price point.

This only gives a maximum resolution of 1080p, although does shoot this at 60fps, giving smooth, clear footage.

The fixed 50x zoom lens is perfect for making videos in stadiums and from the bleachers, where you might not be too close to the action, giving around 1400mm of optical zoom in full frame equivalent, which is frankly incredible.

If you need something small, light and cheap, and don’t mind too much if you have an older model of camcorder, then this Panasonic model is ideal.

Panasonic Camcorder Check Latest Price

4. Fujifilm X-T4

The Fujifil X-T4 is a mirrorless digital camera that comes with an XF 18-55 mm lens, although you can also opt for some other lens options should you require them to shoot your videos.

This camera has an in-body 5-axis image stabilization function that produces excellent video output, even with constant motion, although bear in mind that no camera can match the Hypersmooth technology that you find in GoPro’s.

Additionally, it can record videos in 4K and 60fps or even full HD at 240p, the latter being ideal for capturing videos in slow motion, which can really make your sports videos look professional.

The external frame of this camera has weather protection seals in place that can let you record videos during sporting events taking place in all kinds of conditions.

Fujifilm X-T4 Check Latest Price

5. Canon EOS R5

The Canon EOS R5 is a mirrorless camera with a phenomenal max video resolution of 8K and 30fps, or 4K and 120fps for slow motion recording. You can either purchase the body of the camera alone or combine the purchase with a 24-105 mm lens, which is ideal for most sports videos.

The sensor of this camera can offer plenty of functionality when it comes to recording sports. With 45 megapixels and a full-frame sensor, you can capture steady videos without losing out on the quality due to low levels of light or haziness.

The camera also comes with dual memory slots to keep your videos backed up within camera.

The Canon R5 isn’t cheap, but it offers the pinnacle of modern camera technology, in a future-proofed package that is unlikely to be beaten for many years.

Canon R5 Check Latest Price

6. Panasonic LUMIX GH6

The Panasonic LUMIX GH6 is a mirrorless camera that comes with a 4/3 sensor size that can record high quality videos even in difficult conditions. As one of the most modern cameras around, it comes with a hefty price tag, but this is more than made up for with the 5.7K recording capabilities at 60fps, at 1903Mbps bitrate when using a CF Express card. This gives probably the highest quality video you are going to get outside of dedicated broadcast cameras.

The camera comes with a 5-axis dual image stabilization feature which can add to the stability of the video, which can prove to be quite useful in motion-heavy sports.

You can also record videos at 4K and 120p with an unlimited time limit thanks to the inclusion of a fan, in addition to slow motion videos at full HD and 300 fps. If you’re wanting to invest in a system that covers all of your videography bases, then the Lumix GH6 is the model for you.

Panasonic LUMIX GH6 Check Latest Price

7. Canon VIXIA HF G50

As the best 4K camcorder for sports, the Canon G50 offers a relatively large sensor for camcorders and a fixed 20x zoom that gives you a 600mm full frame equivalent focal length, suitable for taking videos even from quite a distance away.

Camcorders are not for everyone, and they certainly can lack in quality of video output when compared to modern mirrorless cameras, but they are easier to hold for longer periods of time.

You do lose out in low light performance, but if you prefer the camcorder interface over that of more traditional cameras, then it’s hard to find better than the Canon G50.

Canon G50 Check Latest Price

8. Sony Alpha a6400

The Sony Alpha a6400 mirrorless camera comes with a 16-50 mm lens with multiple other lens options that you can also choose from. The APS-C sensor includes a 20-megapixel resolution for high video quality, despite the age of this model. You can shoot videos at 4K 30fps, which is impressive given the small size of the camera.

There are numerous video recording settings in this camera that you can opt for. Examples include time-lapse, slow motion, quick motion and more.

You can tilt the LCD screen to various angles and customize it for the kind of video you are shooting.

If you can find this available used for a good price, it can make an excellent entry into Sony’s mirrorless ecosystem, and suitable for creating quality sports videos in its own right.

Sony a6400 Check Latest Price

9. GoPro HERO10

The GoPro HERO10 is a waterproof action camera that lets you take 5.3K videos at 60 fps along with slow motion video recording options as well. You can transfer the videos that you record wirelessly through the Quik app or through a USB connection while also being able to back your videos up through Wi-Fi.

It comes with a HyperSmooth 4.0 image stabilization function that is unique to GoPro, allowing you to capture stable videos even in high and rapid action settings and low light conditions.

This GoPro additionally has a GP2 processor that can lead to a faster and more efficient performance, not to mention that you can carry this around anywhere you go and use it for all kinds of sports.

The GoPro Hero is the best camera for live streaming sports thanks to GoPro’s support for streaming, and the best camera for action sports due to its rugged design and waterproof case.

Although aimed at those in the heart of the action, the Hero can be used by those on the sidelines, provided that you are willing to get close-up.

GoPro HERO10 Check Latest Price

Best Video Camera to Record Soccer Games

Soccer games require a long lens and first-rate subject-tracking autofocus, and often need a camera able to record videos in low light. This means that mirrorless camers are the best choice to record soccer games, with models like the Sony a7III an ideal choice.

Best Camera for Indoor Sports

Indoor sports like basketball, volleyball and hockey tend to feature low levels of light along with a generally rapid pace while playing, which is where bigger sensors and accurate and quick autofocus features can come in handy.

You can consider using mirrorless cameras for this. The Sony a7 III and Panasonic GX85 can work well here.

Best Camera for Outdoor Sports

Since outdoor sports like football and baseball are often played in stadiums, you can rely on their bright lights or natural light for amateur games to help you capture good videos. Here, look for the autofocus, in-body stabilization and zoom functions.

Good options for the best video camera for football games includes the Sony a7 III, Panasonic GX85, Fujifilm X-T4 or Panasonic GH6.

Best Camera for Filming Skateboarding

The best camera for filming skateboarding is the GoPro Hero 10, as you are able to get right in the heart of the action with the GoPro, with its ruggedness meaning that it is much harder to break if you misjudge your shot and get too close to the action.

Alternatively, small mirrorless cameras can also be good, or even phone cameras.

Best Camera for Golf and Tennis

Golf might require you to walk long distances and shoot the ball from a distance when it is down the other end of the fairway or other side of the court. Both golf and tennis might mean that you are not that far from the player though, meaning that you need a large focal length range to get the best from your camera.

Options include Sony a7 III or Fujifilm X-T4, or camcorders like the Canon G50. Make sure the camera is light enough for golfing purposes.

Best Camera for Water Sports

Water sports like swimming and water polo naturally require waterproof cameras, light weight and POV shooting, making the GoPro HERO10 your best bet.

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