CHOOSING THE BEST SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHY EQUIPMENT
17.02.2023 | Reading time: 5 minutes
Author: Lowepro
Key Players in Sports Photography Gear
Sports photographers can be considered unsung heroes in sports. While the athletes give their blood, sweat, and tears for the victory and love of the game, sports photographers and filmmakers immortalise these moments to show the world the glory and the pain in sports. This is why in the same way that athletes know the game by heart, sports photographers anticipate the game and master their own equipment in comparable importance. Choosing the right camera bag for your equipment plays a key role in being a successful sports photographer.
Best for All-Around Sports Shooters
Sports are a celebration of healthy competition that can happen in a multitude of venues and locations. A sports photographer must be ready for any situation whether it’s outdoors or indoors. For general-purpose shooting, the best camera bag for sports photography is one that can adapt to your carrying needs. The Lowepro and can carry your professional full-frame DSLR or mirrorless camera with an attached 70-200mm telephoto lens plus additional lenses. Its front panel is protected with moulded EVA bumpers to secure your gear with securely fastened full rear access. This also carries up to a 15” laptop and is equipped with an all-weather AW cover for extra protection from the elements with enough space for extra camera accessories, including but not limited to additional camera lenses, memory cardholders and tripods.
Best for Outdoor Sports
Whether it's football photography, Formula one or running photography, outdoor sports often push you out of your comfort zone. There are instances when getting to the location or the vantage point requires a lot of leg work. The Lowepro
is a 55-litre lightweight backpack that lets you carry camera gear, essential equipment, and personal items in one pack. This can carry a standard DSLR camera body or professional mirrorless camera and 3-4 lenses for outdoor action sports photography as well as personal items that you might need for long-haul shoots, including extra layers, snacks and first aid kits. The exterior is equipped with multiple attachment straps that can allow you to carry large equipment such as skis or snowboards if necessary, and an all-weather AW cover for dealing with rough environments.Best for Extreme Winter Sports
For even harsher environments especially shooting winter sports, the Lowepro
and are made with the most resilient and toughest 4-season ultra-resistant fabrics you can find on a camera bag. This bag can carry a professional full-frame camera with an attached telephoto lens, plus additional camera bodies, lenses and accessories. The top access door can be used for quick access gear or other personal items in addition to the embedded 15-inch CradleFit laptop compartment on the anterior. The front pocket is an expandable space for personal items or extra equipment, and the exterior is lined by bilateral side straps and two larger front straps for carrying larger equipment.Best for Super Telephoto Shooters
Sports photographers are definitely no strangers to larger super-telephoto prime lenses. It is safe to say the key to the best sports photos is being up close to the action. That is why for many sports photographers, bags with larger compartments are important. The Lowepro
For even larger lenses, the
is a specialised camera bag perfect for carrying a professional DSLR or Mirrorless camera with an attached super-telephoto lens. This can carry the typical size of a 600mm or 800mm telephoto prime along with a heavy-duty monopod on the side. This backpack is equipped with an ActivLift harness system for comfortable carrying, adjustable and removable chest straps, and an all-weather AW rain cover for long-range shooting in harsh environments.
Best for Versatile Sports Photographers
If you were to have just one bag for different kinds of photography, it would have to be adaptable to the needs of your location and purpose with adjustable protective padding and the option to expand the bag’s capacity and offer versatile utility. The Lowepro ProTactic utility system is the camera bag line that can do well with indoor and outdoor sports photography, grass, snow, mud and much more. The
Sports photography requires agility, versatility, and tactical planning much like athletes planning their game strategies. The key to overcoming any challenge as you are out shooting in the field is to have the right gear for the right shot, in the right creative and adaptive state of mind. The protection and comfort that your camera bags and carrying solutions offer directly contribute to your performance as a sports photographer and ensure you can overcome any challenge.