9 Best Cameras for Sports Moms (or Sports Dads!) in 2023

The Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV is the ideal sports camera for mothers. It has a compact body, so it won’t take up much space. And it has all the features a sports photography camera needs.

It’s a mirrorless camera with a micro four thirds sensor. This type of sensor is smaller than APS-C and full frame sensors. But you still get fantastic image quality. And Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV has an image resolution of 20.3 MP. You’ll have stunning photos of your kids in action.

The video capabilities are another feature sports moms will love. You get 4K video quality. And it’s recorded at 30 fps, meaning your sports footage will be supersmooth when you watch it back. And the burst mode has a rapid continuous shooting speed of 15 fps. You won’t miss a goal or score again.

The 5-axis image stabilization system is another headline feature for this sports camera. It counteracts camera shake to reduce motion blur, keeping your images sharp. It gives you more freedom with your settings without the risk of blurry sports photos.

Other convenient features include the vari-angle touchscreen. You also have Bluetooth connectivity for easy transfer and sharing. And you can charge the camera with a USB connection. That means you can charge it in the car or with a portable power pack.

If you’re considering this model, we recommend you check out these specs comparisons first:

• Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV vs  E-M5 Mark III
• Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV vs Fujifilm GFX 50S II
• Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV vs Sony ZV-1

The Panasonic Lumix LX10 is the perfect choice for sports parents looking for a compact camera. It’s small enough for a big pocket or small bag, ideal for home games and away days. And it’s a feature-packed compact and one of the best cameras for sports photography.

The camera has a 1-inch sensor. It’s small but packs a punch with a resolution of 20.1 MP. You won’t be disappointed when you see the amazing images this camera produces. And an optical image stabilization system keeps your images crisp even when the action becomes frantic.

The Panasonic Lumix LX10 has a fixed lens. It’s a Leica lens, so there’s no reason to doubt the quality. And it has a 3x zoom for extra magnification. That gets you close to your little sports stars without getting in the way.

The video resolution is fantastic, shooting at 30 fps for smooth footage. You can also record at Full HD with a 120 fps frame rate. There’s a slight decrease in quality, but you can convert these videos into slow motion.

You have a standard continuous shooting mode at 10 fps, which is quick enough for most. But you can also freeze videos and extract individual frames. You can use them as single images, and there’s no dip in image quality.

The autofocus is excellent for a compact camera. It’s quick to find your subject. And it’ll keep them in focus as they move around your frame. And the autofocus works well in video and burst mode.

Have a look the these recent comparisons for extra info:

• Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX100 vs LX100 II
• Panasonic Lumix LX100 II vs Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 VII

The Canon EOS 90D is another fantastic camera and our favourite Canon choice for sports photography. It’s a DSLR camera producing incredible photo and video quality. And the additional features will make snapping the next sports event a breeze.

The Canon EOS 90D has a resolution of 32.5 MP. That’s a lot for a DSLR camera with an APS-C sensor and the photos are magnificent. The 90D isn’t the cheapest DSRL, but it produces some of the best images of any camera in its field.

The autofocus is another feature marking it as the best sports camera for families. It uses 45 cross-type AF points that give good coverage across the frame. It’s fast to lock focus, and it tracks moving subjects. That’s a must-have feature for action and sports photography.

The video features are also impressive. You can shoot 4K at 30 fps. Or you can switch to Full HD at 120 fps for slow-motion footage. DSLR cameras aren’t known for their fast bursts. But the Canon EOS 90D has a continuous shooting speed of 10 fps. That’s plenty for a sports camera at this level.

The Canon EOS 90D is bigger than many mirrorless cameras. But it has a lightweight camera body that’s comfortable to hold. The articulating touchscreen is a helpful feature for shooting sports. And the Wi-Fi connectivity allows you to transfer and share images with very little trouble. The battery life is excellent too.

The Sony a6400 is the best camera for sports if you want a mirrorless camera. Mirrorless cameras are smaller and lighter than their DSLR counterparts. And Sony is a leader in the mirrorless field. The a6400 is the perfect option for sports moms and dads, giving you fabulous results.

The crop size CMOS sensor gives you a resolution of 24.2 MP. The detail and color rendering is stunning. You’ll have no complaints about the quality of the photos, even if there’s no success on the pitch. The low-light performance is also excellent, giving you high-quality images at indoor or night events.

The autofocus is top quality and helps secure the a6400’s place as one of the best sports cameras for parents. It uses 425 contrast-detection points to give you an incredibly responsive AF system. And it has eye-detection and subject tracking, which is ideal for sports photography.

Good sports cameras also need video. And the Sony a6400 gives you excellent motion picture features. The 4K video is as impressive as the photo quality. And you can shoot at Full HD at 120 fps for 5x slow-motion videos. And there’s a mic jack for external microphones.

The rotating screen and Wi-Fi connectivity are features users will appreciate. But the lack of a built-in image stabilizer does let the camera down when the action is super-fast. But the Sony a6400 is still the best mirrorless camera for sports on this list.

The Panasonic Lumix G80 is a rugged camera for sports photography. It can cope with tough conditions, so you can still snap your little soccer star in the wind and rain. It offers excellent value for money, producing fabulous results with a reasonable price tag.

The camera body is completely weather-sealed, which is ideal for the more determined parents. If they don’t call off the game, you don’t have to call off the photo shoot. It also has a rugged, ergonomic design that’s nice to hold even for long periods.

The micro four thirds sensor has an image resolution of 16 MP. That isn’t record-breaking, but it still yields brilliant sports photos. You’ll see a big jump in quality from smartphone cameras. And the G80 has a 5-axis image stabilization system that maintains image quality in testing conditions.

The Panasonic Lumix G80 is an excellent budget camera if you want top-quality videos. The 4K video quality is fantastic, with a smooth 30 fps frame rate. And there’s the AK Photo mode that allows you to select frames from 30 fps footage. You can then save them as individual images.

The autofocus is good, giving you sharp images from any sporting event. It works well in low light for photos and videos. And there’s an articulating screen, solid battery life, and Wi-Fi connectivity to round out the features.

The Canon PowerShot G5 X Mark II is a fantastic compact camera. It’s an ideal option for sports dads and moms if you’re looking for something small and discreet. It’s pocket-sized but packed with features for sports photographers.

The camera’s CMOS sensor might be small, but it has a powerful resolution of 20.1 MP. It gives you fabulous images that are full of color and detail. And the DIGIC 8 image processor works hard to give you stunning images.

The fixed zoom lens gives you a magnification of 5x, teleporting you to the heart of the action. Camera shake could be a risk at full magnification. But the PowerShot G5 X II uses the optical image stabilization system to counteract the wobble, helping you avoid blurry images.

The burst mode is impressive, giving you a continuous shooting rate of 20 fps. And you can shoot at this speed with all autofocus modes and AF tracking. You won’t miss any of the action. And the 4K video is excellent as well.

There’s a built-in flash for night photography. You have an articulating touch screen for different shooting angles. And you have Wi-Fi connectivity and USB charging. They’re excellent features for a busy parent.

The Nikon D3300 is another fantastic pick for sports moms and dads. It’s a great DSLR for beginners, giving you the full photography experience even if you’re unfamiliar with this type of camera. It’s a reliable camera that’ll produce excellent results at any sporting event. And it’s the best budget camera in Nikon’s DSLR range.

There’s nothing to worry about in the image quality department. The Nikon D3300 has a resolution of 24.2 MP. And the photos have true-to-life detail and brilliant color rendering. The photos will knock your sports socks off. And the ISO range of 100 to 25,600 means you can keep shooting in low-light conditions. There’s no problem with night games or indoor events.

The autofocus might seem primitive at first glance. But it works well, performing to a high standard when your child is in action. It uses a 9-point system that locks on to your subject. And once the focus is locked, it tracks them across the frame.

The mechanical shutter of the digital SLR camera means it doesn’t have the fastest burst speed. But 5 fps is still fast enough to capture the fleeting moments on the court. The lack of 4K video isn’t ideal. But you still have Full HD video (1080p) for terrific sports videos of the little ones.

The Canon EOS M50 Mark II is a brilliant mirrorless camera for sports. It has a compact and lightweight body. The features are ideal for parents and their sports-crazy kids. The photo and video specs make it a good sports camera for pitch-side parents.

The CMOS sensor gives you fantastic photos with a resolution of 24.1 MP. And the DIGIC 8 image processor helps produce stunning images no matter what you’re shooting. And low light photography isn’t a problem because you have an ISO range from 100 to 51,200.

The built-in 5-axis stabilization is another fab feature for a sports photographer. It counteracts camera shake, reducing the risk of blurry images. The autofocus is also excellent and has face and eye detection. It’ll track moving subjects like mini sports starts.

The Canon EOS M50 Mark II has fantastic video features. You can shoot 4K at 24 fps with full autofocus options. And you can shoot at 120 fps for incredible slow-motion sports action. The 10 fps continuous shooting mode is another fun sports camera feature, using the electronic shutter for a faster burst.

The Fujifilm X-T30 II is a fantastic all-around mirrorless camera. With fantastic specs for photos and videos, there’s no reason it can’t be the best sports photography camera for moms and dads. Beginners may struggle with the X-T30 II. But anyone with camera experience will love the results.

The Fujifilm X-T30 II is punching above its weight for photo quality. It has a 26.1 MP sensor that works with the X-Processor 4 image processor to produce stunning images. And the exposure modes give you the level of control you want. It’s easy to switch between auto, shutter priority, and aperture priority modes.

The autofocus was rated as best in class upon release. And it still holds up against newer models. It’s quick and responsive even under the pressure of fast-paced sports photography. And you have a rapid 20 fps burst mode when you switch to the electronic shutter.

The video specs make the X-T30 II another excellent camera for sports photography. The 4K video is shot at 30 fps, giving you super-smooth footage. And you can record at 240 fps for slow-motion videos. The quality is reduced to Full HD, but you get remarkable videos at up to 10x slower than the normal frame rate.