10 Best Canon Sports Lenses 2025 in the United States

The Canon RF100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM lens is a solid choice for sports photography, offering a versatile focal length range of 100-500mm. This range is beneficial for capturing distant action shots with great detail. The lens's aperture range of F4.5-7.1 might be a limitation in low-light conditions but is generally adequate for well-lit sports environments. One of the standout features is its optical image stabilization, providing up to 5 stops of shake correction, which is particularly useful when shooting handheld or in dynamic scenarios.

The autofocus system is both fast and quiet, thanks to the dual Nano USM motors, ensuring you don't miss critical moments during fast-paced sports events. With three different image stabilization modes, you have the flexibility to choose the best setting for various shooting conditions, whether it's standard, panning, or during exposure only.

In terms of build quality, this lens is part of Canon's L-series, known for its durability and weather sealing, making it suitable for outdoor sports photography even in challenging weather conditions. However, at 3 pounds, it is relatively heavy, which might be a consideration if you need to carry it around for extended periods. The lens is compatible with Canon's EOS R series mirrorless cameras, ensuring seamless integration and performance. While the minimum focusing distance of 3 feet allows for some close-up shots, its strength lies in capturing distant subjects. This lens offers excellent performance for sports photographers who need a versatile telephoto zoom lens with reliable autofocus and image stabilization, though its weight and aperture range may pose some limitations.

The Canon RF100-400mm F5.6-8 IS USM lens is a versatile telephoto zoom lens suitable for sports photography. It offers a significant zoom range of 100-400mm, allowing you to capture distant action with ease. The lens features an Optical Image Stabilizer providing up to 5.5 stops of shake correction, and this can be extended to up to 6 stops when paired with EOS R series cameras, making it effective in reducing camera shake and producing sharper images.

The autofocus system is enhanced with Canon’s Nano USM technology, ensuring it is fast, smooth, and quiet—ideal for capturing fast-paced sports scenes without distracting noises. A notable strength of this lens is its compact and lightweight design, weighing only 1.8 pounds, which enhances portability and ease of use during extended shoots.

However, the aperture range of F5.6-8 might be a limitation in low-light conditions, as it isn't as wide as some other sports lenses, potentially impacting performance when shooting under poor lighting. Additionally, while the lens offers good build quality, it lacks advanced weather sealing, which may be a concern for shooting in harsh weather conditions. This lens is particularly beneficial for amateur and semi-professional photographers looking for a budget-friendly option to capture sports events without the bulk and weight of more expensive, professional-grade lenses.

The USED Canon 600mm F4 EF IS USM Lens is a strong contender for sports photography, offering a substantial 600mm focal length that allows you to capture distant action with impressive detail. Its f/4 maximum aperture is beneficial in low-light conditions, ensuring you can still get the shot even when lighting isn't perfect. The lens features fluorite and ultra-low dispersion glass, which enhance image quality by reducing chromatic aberration and improving sharpness. The built-in image stabilizer is a key feature that helps to minimize camera shake, making handheld shooting more feasible, which is particularly useful in dynamic sports environments.

Autofocus performance is enhanced by the Micro UltraSonic Motor (USM), providing quick and accurate focusing, which is crucial for capturing fast-moving subjects. Additionally, full-time manual focus gives photographers more control over their shots when needed. Build quality is robust, and the lens comes with weather sealing to protect against dust and moisture, a critical feature for outdoor sports photography.

However, its weight at 3 pounds and large dimensions might make it less portable and more challenging to carry around for extended periods. This lens is also quite dated, first available in 2004, so it may lack some of the modern advancements found in newer models. Nevertheless, the Canon 600mm F4 EF IS USM Lens remains a reliable choice for those serious about sports photography, particularly for capturing distant and fast-paced action.