When people ask me what gear is needed for sports photography, they usually expect a very expensive list. The truth is - you don’t need the most expensive setup. You need the right setup for the sport and the lighting conditions.

Over the years, covering cricket, tennis, polo and other sporting events across India, I’ve realized that a practical setup matters more than a flashy one.

Let’s break it down.

1. Camera Body - DSLR or Mirrorless?

Both DSLR and mirrorless cameras work perfectly fine for sports photography.

Even a crop body or a full-frame body can do the job well.

However, where full-frame cameras become advantageous is in low light conditions - like late-night cricket matches or indoor stadiums. Full-frame sensors handle high ISO better, which means less noise and better image quality when the light drops.

That said, I still carry my old Nikon D3500 as a backup body. It has been extremely reliable for outdoor sports, and I often use it for secondary angles or quick portraits between action shots.

The takeaway?
Don’t overthink the body. Focus on speed, autofocus performance, and reliability.

2. Lenses – The Real Game Changer

If there’s one place you should invest properly, it’s lenses.

Telephoto Lens – A Must

You definitely need a telephoto lens.

I personally rely heavily on the 200–500mm f/5.6. It works beautifully for most outdoor sports, especially cricket and polo. The only time it struggles a bit is during night cricket matches because of the f/5.6 aperture.

The Most Versatile Lens – 70–200mm f/2.8

If I had to suggest one lens that covers maximum situations, it would be the 70–200mm f/2.8.

Why?

• Great for low light

• Sharp and fast

• Flexible focal range

• Perfect for medium-distance action

• Excellent for player portraits

The 200mm reach works for most sports. Cricket/Polo/Football (basically wherever there is a long field) is where you might feel limited. But if you use it on a crop body/crop mode, you effectively get around 300mm - which is quite workable.

With these two lensses you can cover almost 80% of sports situations.

3. Wide Lenses for Podium & Award Shots

Sports photography isn’t just about action.

You’ll also be shooting:

• Chief guests

• Award ceremonies

• Podium celebrations

• Team group photos

For this, you need something wider.

A 35mm prime works well for close portraits.
But an 18–50mm or 18–70mm type zoom is more flexible for wider coverage.

These lenses help you capture the atmosphere — not just the athlete.

4. Flash – Use It Smartly

Flash becomes important in low light situations, especially during award ceremonies though its a strict no to use a flas when the play is going on.

A portable flash works perfectly.

But flash needs to be used intelligently.

Indoor Stadium:

• Bounce the flash off the roof or walls

• Avoid direct harsh light

• Diffuse the flash when necessary
  
  

Outdoor Events:

You can’t bounce light off anything.

In this case:

• Use a diffuser

• Avoid harsh direct flash

• Be careful of overexposed highlights
  
  

Personally, I’ve found diffusers far more effective than reflectors in most real situations. Reflectors can sometimes create harsh light and blown highlights.

5. Stabilizing Devices – Tripod, Monopod or Beanbag?

Most sports photographers rely on tripods or monopods.

But for my style of shooting, especially in dynamic sports like polo, I prefer a beanbag.

Why?

• Faster repositioning

• More flexibility

• Easy to adjust composition quickly

• Lighter and less restrictive

Tripods and monopods are excellent for fixed-position sports like tennis or cricket where you’re not moving much.

But if your sport demands flexibility, don’t ignore the humble beanbag.

6. Memory Cards – Speed Matters

Sports photography means high burst shooting.

You need fast memory cards.

Today, XQD, CFexpress Type A or B are much faster than standard SD cards.

At the very least, you should use a V30-rated card for burst shooting.

Slow cards can bottleneck your camera performance.

7. Backups – Non-Negotiable

Always carry backups.

• Extra batteries

• Extra memory cards

• Backup camera body

• Backup lens
  
  

You never know when something might fail.

I always carry my secondary body during assignments. It gives me peace of mind — and sometimes even creative flexibility.

8. On-Site Editing & Sharing

A tab is an underrated accessory. A laptop will provide even more flexibility (in terms of softwares it can handle)

Many clients want images immediately:

• For social media

• For press releases

• For live updates

Being able to process and deliver images directly from the venue increases your professionalism significantly.

9. Cleaning Kit – Small But Important

Dust is everywhere, especially during outdoor sports.

Always carry:

• Cleaning cloth

• Blower

• Basic cleaning kit
  
  

Regular cleaning improves long-term performance of your gear.

Final Thoughts

Sports photography is not about owning the most expensive equipment.

It’s about understanding:

• The sport

• The lighting

• The movement

• And being prepared
  
  

With a solid telephoto lens, a versatile 70–200mm, proper backups, and smart flash usage — you can confidently handle most sports assignments.

The rest comes down to timing, anticipation, and experience.