Sales of alcohol and snacks regularly surge when big sporting events are on, but less familiar is the claim by second-hand camera sales platform MPB that folks are currently being inspired by performances on the pitch to up their photographic game.
At present it’s more about England Captain Harry Kane’s match-saving moments than Cartier-Bresson’s decisive ones, at least when it comes to investing in kit, says the online seller.
A sporting chance
In comparing the lead up to this summer’s footballing tournament, specifically the period from January 1st to June 23rd this year, with the same period in 2025, MPB reports not only a 172% increase in site-wide searches for the Canon EOS R1, but also a 344% rise in sales of this model.
Built to capture the sporting action as it happens, the flagship full frame mirrorless camera offers Action Priority auto focus, with its subject recognition empowered by deep learning plus the ability to capture rapid bursts of images.
In second place for popularity, the online re-seller claims, is the Sony A9 III, with searches up 119% for the dates in question, yet transactions up a more modest (yet still impressive) 63% year-on-year compared with Canon’s behemoth. As AP readers will be all too aware, the A9 III has been specifically tooled for action photography, is the world’s first to feature a full frame global shutter and boasts a continuous shooting speed of up to 120fps.
While MPB notes that the Canon EOS R1 and Sony A9 III are stand out options for sports shooters, it additionally highlights the Nikon Z9 and Sony A1 II as strong contenders for anyone seeking pro grade results when it comes to both photo and video.
Naturally, for sports photographers, features including fast and accurate subject tracking, machine gun-like continuous shooting speeds, buffer depths, overall image quality and low light capability are also important to either greater or lesser extent, depending on the action being covered, plus the lighting conditions at the time.
As photographers we’re always seeking out sources of creative inspiration. And, if many of you are currently doing it from the comfort of the living room couch, beer in one hand, national flag in the other, while the big match plays on the telly, so be it.
Are AP readers truly being inspired by the current sporting season – whether World Cup football or Wimbledon tennis – to invest in high-end cameras with which to better capture the action? Let us know if your interest in photography and sport is converging this summer and what you’re preparing to splash the cash on to up your game.
Related reading:
- What are the best cameras for action and sports photography? Top cameras for speed
- I’m 26, I’ve photographed four Olympic Games, a FIFA World Cup final and just won the top prize in sports photography
- See the best sport photographs from World Sports Photography Awards
via MPB.
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