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Best Lenses for Sports Photography Nikon Produces
The best lenses for sports photography Nikon produces are the following:
Best Overall Lens: Nikon 180-400mm f/4E TC1.4 FL ED VR
Best Mirrorless Lens: Nikon Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S
The Nikon 180-400mm F/4 is easily one of the best sports photography lenses on the market, regardless of brand. However, it comes at a premium price.
The Nikon Z 70-200mm F/2.8 is excellent for sports photography as well as other genres, which makes it even more attractive for Nikon shooters.
If you want to check out reviews and recommendations about some of the other best lenses for sports photography Nikon produces, then read on!
Table of Contents
Best Lenses for Sports Photography Nikon Produces
The best lenses for sports photography Nikon produces all have 2 things in common:
- A very tight focal length so you can be far away from your subject
- The ability to capture extremely sharp photos since the subjects will likely be constantly in motion
Keep in mind that when it comes to the best lenses for sports photography, they will come at a premium price. Tighter focal lengths, upwards of 200mm to 400mm, mean more glass and more lens. Simply put, that means higher prices.
All the best lenses for sports photography Nikon produces are going to be long, heavy, and extremely capable lenses. If you are worried about price, then try to think about other ways that you’ll be able to use this lens as well.
Many of the best lenses for sports photography are going to be the best lenses for wildlife, engagement, or wedding photography as well. Any genre where you need to have a good amount of space between you and your subject is going to work for these lenses.
These lenses will pay for themselves overtime if you continue to get sports photography work and they will put you a step ahead of the competition. Like most lens purchases, it’s always best to buy a high quality lens now, rather than buying a cheaper lens that you’ll need to upgrade later.
With all that in mind, here are the best lenses for sports photography Nikon produces.
Best Lenses for Sports Photography Nikon Produces Overall
Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II
One of the best zoom lenses that Nikon produces, this lens is beloved by Nikon photographers across all genres.
It’s sharp and gives you the ability to be further away from the subject, which is obviously extremely helpful for sports photography.
Pros:
- One of the best Nikon lenses on the market
- Affordable
- Sharp
- Excellent build quality
Cons:
- Tighter zoom would be ideal
Nikon 120-300mm f/2.8E FL ED SR VR
This Nikon 120-300mm F/2.8 isn’t the most expensive on the list, but it’s still quite expensive. For many though, the cost is justified due to the incredible image quality and capabilities.
If your budget can handle it, this lens is amazing for sports photography and several other genres. It will capture great portraits, wildlife, and landscape photos in addition to sports.
Pros:
- One of the sharpest lenses produced by Nikon
- Very good focal lengths for sports photography
- Used by professional Nikon sport photographers
- Excellent build quality
Cons:
- Very expensive
Nikon 180-400mm f/4E TC1.4 FL ED VR
Now, this lens is really for those where budget does not matter. It’s definitely expensive, but it also will capture incredible photos of any sport. It has literally everything you could want in a sports photography lens.
This truly is the best lens for sports photography from Nikon, and likely from any lens maker out there.
Pros:
- One of the best lenses produced for sports photography, regardless of brand
- Perfect focal lengths for sports photography
- Used by professional Nikon sport photographers
- Excellent build quality
- Superior image quality
Cons:
- Most expensive on list
Best Budget Lens for Sports Photography Nikon Produces
Nikon 24-120mm f/4G ED VR
This 24-120mm f4 lens is one that you can consider a budget friendly, all-in-one type sports photography lens.
Although it won’t produce the sharpest images and it’s not the best in low light, it’s focal lengths and overall quality make it a worthy budget option.
Pros:
- Inexpensive
- Solid image quality
- All-in-one answer for sports photography
- Decent value for price
Cons:
- Ideally, 200mm is wanted for a focal length
- Will probably want to upgrade eventually
- Can be considered a “starter” lens
Nikon 70-200mm f/4G ED VR
Similar to the 70-200mm listed above, but with an aperture of f4 rather than f2.8. While this definitely helps to drive the price down, it’s also going to be less capable in low light situations.
If your subject isn’t well lit, this could be an issue depending on which camera you’re using.
Pros:
- Affordable option
- Solid image quality
- Serviceable focal lengths for sports photography
Cons:
- Not great in low light situations
- Tighter zoom would be ideal
Best Lenses For Sports Photography Nikon: Mirrorless Options
Nikon Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S
This Z series 70-200mm F/2,8 is very similar to the non-mirrorless version that is listed above.
It’s sharp and gives you the ability to be further away from the subject, which is obviously extremely helpful for sports photography.
Pros:
- One of the best Nikon lenses on the market
- Affordable
- Produces sharp photos
- Excellent build quality
Cons:
- Tighter zoom would be ideal
Nikon Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S
This Z 100-400mm offers up the ideal focal lengths for sports photography, making it a very attractive purchase.
For some, having an aperture of F/4.5 may not be a big deal, but many sports photographers prefer an aperture of F/4 or even F/2.8.
Pros:
- Perfect focal lengths for sports photography
- Produces sharp images
- Great build quality
Cons:
- Aperture not ideal
Recommendations on the Best Lenses for Sports Photography Nikon Produces
If you simply want the best Nikon lens for sports photography, then the Nikon 180-400mm f/4E TC1.4 FL ED VR is the clear choice. Unfortunately, it comes at a very high cost. If you can stretch your budget that far, then congratulations! You’ll be getting one of the best lenses ever made.
However, if you can’t stretch the budget that far, then the Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II is an excellent and much more affordable choice.
For anyone looking for a mirrorless lens, the Nikon Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S is an excellent choice since it has the perfect focal lengths.
Finally, check out our Gear page to read more articles just like this with up-to-date product reviews for gear across all photography genres.
Frequently Asked Questions
What focal length of lens is best for sports photography?
Anywhere from around 150mm to 400mm is ideal for sports photography. 200mm lenses are some of the most commonly used lenses amongst professional sports photographers.
What lens do I need for sports photography?
You’ll need a decently sharp lens with tight focal lengths. An ideal lens would be anywhere from 150mm to 400mm with an aperture of F/2.8 ideally.
What is the best Nikon lens to use for sports photography?
The best Nikon lens for sports photography is easily the Nikon 180-400mm f/4E TC1.4 FL ED VR