Sporting superstars

Extend your reach and get closer to the action with super-telephoto zooms for shooting sport

Spectator sports are back on track, and with actual spectators in tow. It’s time to rediscover the joy of nailing the action and capturing definitive moments – or maybe trying something completely new if you’ve never been into sport photography before. Pretty much any DSLR or mirrorless body will suffice – but when it comes to a suitable lens, it pays to choose wisely.

One thing that practically always holds true is that, if you’re not fortunate enough to have a media pass, you’ll be shooting sport from a spectators’ enclosure, and probably won’t be able to get as close to the action as you might like. To cover the distance, super-telephoto lenses are the order of the day. They’re typically big, heavy and expensive lenses, but they don’t have to be that way: you can kick off with a lens like the Sigma 150-600mm Contemporary, which won’t weigh you down or give too much of a knock to your finances. Let’s see what’s on offer.