The best camera for capturing stunning action shots is one that will produce images that are sharp, high resolution, and have good color balance. In terms of megapixel count, you don’t necessarily need the highest megapixel number, but you should look for a camera with a very large sensor size. This will provide a higher quality image without needing a longer exposure time.
When comparing the different models, check out how many megapixels the camera has, as well as its sensor size. Most action cameras use a 2/3” (16mm) sensor; however, larger sensors are available. A camera with a 1.5” (35mm) sensor is a great choice for action shots, as it will give you a wider field of view, but keep in mind that you will be sacrificing some quality.
Top Picks
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Best Overall – Sony Alpha a9 II
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Best Value – Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III
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Best purchased product – Fujifilm X-T4
- Best value product: Panasonic LUMIX GH6
Reviews
1. Sony Alpha 9 II
Product’s Specifications
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Model Name: Alpha 9 II
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Form Factor: Mirrorless
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Effective Still Resolution: 24.2 MP
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Special Feature: Live View
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Color: Black
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Connectivity Technology: Wi-Fi, USB
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Product’s Highlights
The a9 II is a high-end mirrorless camera, as seen by its durable magnesium alloy body and excellent ergonomics. You can stay close to the action for detailed photos because the camera is dust- and weather-sealed. Four dedicated buttons and the eight-way focus joystick's ability to be customized allow you to personalize the a9 II. Adjusting exposure rates and focus behavior is simple thanks to the a9 II's top-mounted mode, drive, and command knobs.
With the help of the a9 II's superb LCD and electronic viewfinder, framing shots is simple and straightforward. The tiltable screen reacts quickly to touch inputs. It is clearly visible in sunlight and offers a variety of brightness settings. The EVF is one of the better ones available. It boasts a 0.76x magnification and 3.68 million dots of resolution.
Reasons to buy
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Exceptional autofocus performance
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Without blackouts, fantastic burst speed
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A large picture buffer
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A clear and detailed viewfinder
Reasons to avoid
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Expensive
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Menu navigation is not supported on touchscreens
Product Summary
Even better than the more expensive and bigger DSLRs of the competition, Sony's Alpha a9 mirrorless in its second incarnation is the greatest camera in the world for action photographs. In both JPEG and RAW modes, its electronic shutter provides blackout-free performance at a lightning-quick 20 fps burst.
2. OLYMPUS OM-D E-M1 Mark III
Product’s Specifications
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Model Name: OM-D E-M1 Mark III Black Camera Body
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Form Factor: Compact
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Effective Still Resolution: 20.1 MP
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Special Feature: Lightweight
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Optical Zoom: 1
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Product’s Highlights
With an OM-D E-M1 Mark III, you'll never miss the perfect photo moment because it can take 60 shots in a row. You can program the camera to shoot a few pictures when you half-press the shutter and more as you fully press it. In this manner, even if you arrive at the draw a split second too late, you won't lose out.
The autofocus on the OM-D E-M1 Mark II also amazed us. On its own, it is accurate and quick, quickly recognizing erratically moving people and keeping them from becoming fuzzy. You can benefit from a unique method of concentrating your attention. Custom focus shapes are possible with the OM-D E-M1 Mark III; they don't have to be square.
Reasons to buy
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Price-to-value is excellent
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Excellent image stabilization
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Zone-adjustable autofocus that is precise
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Small but tough and weatherproof
Reasons to avoid
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One memory card only is UHS-II supported
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High ISO photographs have noise
Product Summary
The most adaptable Micro Four Thirds camera on review comes from Olympus. With its focus locked, it can shoot at insane burst speeds, features seven stops of native image stabilization, and an advanced autofocus that pays closer attention to people.
Thanks to Pixel Shift, its sophisticated CPU can simulate many ND filters and provide highly realistic 80MP stills. The OM-D E-M1 Mark III compares favorably with cameras that cost more than twice as much.
3. FUJIFILM X-T4
Product’s Specifications
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Model Name: X Trans
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Form Factor: Mirrorless
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Special Feature: Image Stabilization
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Color: Silver
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Connectivity Technology: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi
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Screen Size: 3 Inches
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Product’s Highlights
The main visual differences between the X-T4 and its predecessor are a deeper grip and slight control layout changes. Large-handed folks can use the X-T4 without feeling crowded because of the X-enough T4's spacing. The majority of the buttons are modifiable, and there is a switch that switches between photo and movie mode, each with its own set of settings.
The screen of the X-T3 could only be tilted up or down. When not in use, the LCD now fully articulates and flips in the direction of the camera. Despite being crowded, Fujifilm's menus are divided into manageable parts that can be opened to expose a wide range of options. By personalizing the My and Q menus, you may reduce the clutter even further. The 3.69 million dot OLED display used for the EVF has vibrant colors and no tearing.
Reasons to buy
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Good detail preservation and image quality
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Customizable menus and controls
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Autofocus instantly separates different persons
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Rapid fire shooting
Reasons to avoid
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RAW file buffer is limited
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Inadequate eye AF
Product Summary
The newest camera in the review is the X.T4 from Fujifilm. As a result of new picture stabilization, it is equally skilled at taking action photos and filming videos. Since the white balance is natural, the image quality is outstanding, and details are kept properly if HDR is enabled. When you add 20 fps burst shooting, you have a camera that can handle any unforeseen situation.
4. Panasonic LUMIX GH6
Product’s Specifications
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Model Name: LUMIX GH6
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Form Factor: Mirrorless
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Special Feature: Image Stabilization
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Video Capture Resolution: 2160p
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Maximum Aperture: 1.7 f
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Product’s Highlights
If you're new to action photography or don't want to fuss around with the focus too much, this is a great camera to buy. It makes an intelligent decision about whatever area of the frame you want to concentrate on and is generally accurate. Whenever it isn't, you can manually adjust focus with the joystick. Photographers who want to use their hands more can always use single-point detection, tracking, or area selection.
The EVF on the G6 pleasantly impressed us. It has a brilliant OLED panel and a fast refresh rate, which allows for fluid live video even while panning. Its 0.84x magnification allows you to see more information than viewfinders on cameras from rival brands. The LCD is also quite capable; it is touch-sensitive and articulates to allow for challenging shooting situations.
Reasons to buy
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Excellent burst speeds, both locked and continuous
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Reliable autofocus with a large amount of user input
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Overall excellent image quality
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Simple to use with with one hand
Reasons to avoid
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It is impossible to disable touch sensitivity
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AF joystick with lag
Product Summary
The MFT system was jointly developed by Panasonic and Olympus, so it's not surprising that the more affordable G6 and our value selection share many characteristics. If you lock focus, it can shoot at 60fps in addition to 20 fps in continuous mode. With an incredible 6.5 stops of image stabilization and a wide range.
How to choose the best camera for action shots
A good burst mode is one of an action shots camera's most crucial components. This is the rate at which your camera can take pictures. You have a better chance of getting that prize-winning mid-action shot the faster it moves. Mirrorless cameras typically perform better in this regard because there is no actual shutter to move. However, many DSLRs also come with very fine bursts.
Without a good buffer depth to go along with it, a great burst mode is not very useful. This relates to how many continuous photos a camera can take without pausing. As compared to shooting in RAW, there will be a larger buffer if you choose to shoot in JPEG. Professional cameras, however, ought to be able to handle RAW files with respectable buffer depths.
The finest camera for action shots photography also has a quick and effective autofocus system. You'll probably get a lot of out-of-focus pictures that will make you want to rip out your hair if your autofocus system can't keep up with the activity! You should look for an adequate amount of autofocus points, and if the camera has an advanced AF tracking system, you're on the right track.
Final Thought
In conclusion, to achieve the highest-quality results, the photographer needs to take a good set of test shots to see what settings they will need to use to ensure that all parts of the subject are recorded properly. By following this simple rule, photographers can produce high-quality results, even when shooting in challenging conditions such as low light or when capturing fast action.
If you want to be the best photographer around, then you need a full-frame DSLR camera.