Whether you're a weekend warrior with a new mirrorless camera or a seasoned shooter looking to sharpen your action photography skills, knowing what are the top 10 most common sports in Australia — and how to capture them — is the perfect starting point. From the roar of the MCG on AFL Grand Final day to the crack of leather on willow at the SCG, Australian sport is fast, passionate, and absolutely packed with photographic opportunity. In this guide, we break down Australia's most popular sports and give you the practical camera settings, techniques, and gear recommendations to shoot each one like a professional in 2026.
Photo by Damien Tait on Unsplash
Why Sports Photography Rewards the Prepared Shooter
Sports photography is unforgiving — blink and you miss the decisive moment. For a deeper dive into technique, read our professional sports photography tips and tricks. The good news is that with the right gear and a solid understanding of each sport's rhythm, you'll dramatically improve your hit rate. Modern cameras with AI-powered subject tracking, fast burst rates, and improved low-light performance have made 2026 a brilliant time to get into action photography. Now, let's dive into Australia's favourite sports and what it takes to photograph them brilliantly.
1. Australian Rules Football (AFL)
AFL is arguably Australia's most-watched domestic sport and a gift for photographers — huge arenas, athletic marks, and raw emotion. Shoot with a long telephoto lens (300mm–600mm) from the boundary line or stands. Use continuous autofocus (AF-C) with subject tracking enabled, set your shutter speed to at least 1/1000s, and dial in a wide aperture like f/2.8 to isolate players against the crowd.
Recommended gear: A fast mirrorless camera with a 300mm f/2.8 or 400mm f/2.8 telephoto lens.
2. Cricket
Cricket offers both explosive action (a batsman driving through cover) and quiet tension (a bowler at the top of his mark). The challenge is the variable light across a full day's play. Start with ISO 400–800 in bright daylight and push to ISO 3200 under lights. A 200–600mm zoom gives you flexibility across different field positions.
Pro tip: Anticipate the ball release during bowling and pre-focus on the batting crease for consistent sharp frames.
3. Swimming & Aquatic Sports
Australia's love affair with water makes swimming a staple, particularly around Olympic cycles. Shoot from the pool deck at a low angle using a fast standard zoom (70–200mm f/2.8). A weather-sealed body is essential near water, and polarising filters help cut surface glare in outdoor pools. Aim for 1/1600s to freeze splashing water.
4. Rugby League (NRL)
The NRL is massive in Queensland and New South Wales, and the physicality makes for compelling imagery. Technique is very similar to AFL — prioritise continuous burst mode (aim for 20fps+), use AI subject tracking, and position yourself near the try line for celebration shots and close-contact play.
Recommended gear: Check out our range of high-speed mirrorless cameras ideal for fast team sports.
Photo by Kiros Amin on Unsplash
5. Soccer (Football / A-League)
Soccer's growing popularity through the A-League Men's and Women's competitions has created a new generation of Australian football photographers. The open field means you'll need reach — a 400mm+ lens is ideal. Shoot from the goal line for dramatic wide-angle perspectives during penalty situations, or work the sidelines with a 70–200mm for mid-field action.
6. Tennis
The Australian Open every January in Melbourne is one of the world's premier sporting events. Court-side access is restricted for media, but even from the stands a 300mm lens delivers sharp results. The challenge is tracking a fast-moving ball — let your camera's subject tracking do the heavy lifting and burst through each serve and return sequence.
Pro tip: Shoot in portrait orientation to capture the full extension of a player's serve — one of the sport's most dramatic visual moments.
7. Netball
Netball is the most-played sport by women in Australia, and with Super Netball growing its broadcast profile, photography demand is rising. Indoor arenas present the biggest challenge: mixed artificial lighting requires careful white balance management and higher ISO settings (ISO 3200–6400 on a modern body). A 70–200mm f/2.8 is the workhorse lens in this environment.
Recommended gear: A mirrorless camera with excellent high-ISO performance is your best friend indoors.
8. Basketball (NBL)
NBL Basketball shares the same indoor lighting challenges as netball but adds incredible verticality — dunks, blocks, and alley-oops reward photographers who time their shots to peak action. Shoot from baseline corners for dramatic perspectives, and use a 24–70mm f/2.8 for environmental images that include the crowd and arena atmosphere.
9. Surfing
With some of the world's best waves in our backyard — from Bells Beach to Snapper Rocks — surfing photography is a uniquely Australian pursuit. From the beach, you'll need a 600mm+ super-telephoto. For water housing shots, specialised underwater rigs with wide-angle lenses (like a 15mm fisheye) produce dramatic barrel and lip shots. A waterproof housing is a worthy investment for serious surf photographers. Our dedicated surf photography guide goes further, covering positioning, timing, and the best gear for shooting Australian breaks.
Recommended gear: Explore our super-telephoto lenses for shore-based surfing photography.
10. Athletics & Running Events
From the City2Surf in Sydney to community fun runs and elite track meets, athletics photography rewards patience and positioning. Identify a single spot — the finish line, a hurdle, or a long-jump pit — and own it. Pre-focus on that point and use burst mode as athletes approach. Golden hour light at outdoor meets produces stunning, warm-toned images that pop on social media. If high-speed motorsport appeals to you, our car racing photography guide for the 2026 Australian F1 Grand Prix covers the same fast-action principles in a motorsport context.
Essential Camera Settings for Sports Photography in 2026
- Shutter Speed: Minimum 1/1000s for most sports; 1/2000s+ for fast ball sports
- Autofocus Mode: Continuous AF (AF-C) with AI subject/eye tracking enabled
- Drive Mode: High-speed burst (20fps+ on modern mirrorless bodies)
- Aperture: f/2.8–f/4 for subject isolation and fast shutter speeds
- ISO: Auto ISO with a maximum ceiling of ISO 12800 on current-generation sensors
- File Format: RAW for maximum post-processing flexibility Not sure why RAW matters? Our RAW vs JPEG guide explains the difference and helps you decide which is right for your workflow.
Get the Right Gear for Every Sport
Understanding what are the top 10 most common sports in Australia is only half the equation — having equipment that keeps up with the action is the other. Whether you're shooting AFL at Marvel Stadium or surf at Margaret River, Ted's Cameras has the cameras, lenses, and accessories to help you nail every shot. Browse our full range of mirrorless cameras and telephoto lenses online, or visit your nearest Ted's Cameras store for personalised advice from our team of photography experts.
Photo by Todd Quackenbush on Unsplash
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top 10 most common sports in Australia?
Australia's most popular sports include Australian Rules Football (AFL), cricket, swimming, rugby league (NRL), soccer (A-League), tennis, netball, basketball (NBL), surfing, and athletics. Participation and viewership data consistently place these sports at the top across all age groups and regions.
What camera is best for sports photography in Australia?
In 2026, a high-speed mirrorless camera with AI subject tracking and a burst rate of 20fps or more is the gold standard. Sony Alpha, Canon EOS R, and Nikon Z series bodies are all excellent choices available through Ted's Cameras in Australia.
What lens do I need to photograph AFL or cricket?
For large stadiums and oval sports, a 300mm f/2.8, 400mm f/2.8, or a versatile 100–400mm or 200–600mm zoom lens gives you the reach needed to fill the frame with players from the stands or boundary line.
How do I photograph sports in low indoor light like basketball or netball?
Use a wide-aperture lens (f/2.8 is ideal), push your ISO to 3200–6400 (modern sensors handle this well), and set a shutter speed of at least 1/800s to freeze motion. Enable Auto ISO so your camera adapts as arena lighting changes.
Is mirrorless or DSLR better for sports photography?
Mirrorless cameras are now the clear choice for sports photography in 2026. Their faster burst rates, superior subject tracking, and electronic viewfinder advantages make them better suited to fast action than traditional DSLRs.