Why 70-200mm f/2.8 is best for Sports Photography

When I started doing sports photography, I was using my Nikon 70-300mm kit lens that came with my very first camera Nikon d5300. I thought it would be a perfect lens for sports photography because it boasts a wide range of zooming which appeared to be perfect in capturing athletes at a distance. But soon enough, I was encountering a lot of problems especially while shooting in low-lighting conditions. That was when I realized it was time for change, and I decided to spend on a Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 lens.

The Struggles with Variable Aperture Zoom Lens

I started out with a 70-300mm lens with a variable aperture of f/4.5-5.6 like most of the beginner photographers. When I first started taking pictures with it, I thought it would be perfect but as I tried to take more sports photos, I realized that this lens had some major problems.

First is, when I was shooting an evening soccer game for Conestoga College in October 2023, the lens could not gather enough light. I was forced to shoot up my ISO which made the photos full of grains as this lens has a higher f-stop. The next problem I faced was that the autofocus would struggle to keep up with fast-moving players. I missed focus on almost half of the photos and then some photos had soft focus. So, the probability of getting a photo in focus was low with that lens. And on top of that, the background was not blurred much which made the players blend in the background. The photos were not bad, but they did not look as sharp as I wanted them to.

I knew something had to change.

Why I Decided to Upgrade

I spent some time researching lenses, talking to other senior photographers and watching tons of YouTube reviews. Every review, video and advice repeated just one lens 70-200 f2.8. It was a favorite among sports photographers and almost every photographer’s first lens for sports photography. After hearing so many positive things about the lens, I decided it was time to make this investment.

The f/2.8 aperture of the lens would allow more light to pass through which will help me capture images in low-lighting situations without worrying about missed focus or grainy images. It also helped me to have better control over depth of field that is necessary to create separation between the athletes and background. I wanted to get those sharp and clear shots where the players pop out of the background.

The Difference It Made

When I finally bought the Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 lens, I could clearly see the difference in the image quality. The first time I took it out to shoot a soccer game, I was so amazed to see how much sharper my photos turned out. The fast and constant f/2.8 aperture made it easier to shoot in indoor arenas and during the evening when the light was not perfect.

Left Image: Nikon d5300 with 70-300mm, Right Image: Sony a7iv with Sigma 70-200 f2.8

One of the best parts was the background blur. I could create a beautiful separation between the athlete and the background which made the subject stand out even more. The autofocus was super fast as well. Whether I was photographing a soccer game or a basketball game, the lens was fast in focusing on the players even when they were sprinting across the field.

Why the 70-200mm f/2.8 Works for Sports Photography

I absolutely adore how versatile this lens is. It has wide zoom range of 70mm to 200mm which provided the flexibility to shoot from different distances without having to move around too much. It was perfect for both close-up action shots and wide shots of the field.

Final Thoughts

I would say that buying the 70-200mm f/2.8 lens was one of the best decisions I made. My images turned much sharper, the colors more vibrant and the overall quality got so much better. It is now my go-to lens for all sports event, and I have personally seen a huge improvement in my work.

If you are just starting out in sports photography and wish to invest in a lens, I would highly recommend the 70-200mm f/2.8. It is a costly investment according to price, but it's worth it for the effect it will place on your pictures.

Let me know your thoughts and feel free to reach out to me on Instagram @vsacaptures if you have any questions about sports photography.