5 Best Cameras for Badminton in 2025
Badminton is a fast-paced and dynamic sport. From a full-blooded smash to the deftest of drop shots, badminton can leave you breathless just watching. Capturing the action can be a challenge.
The best cameras for badminton help you capture high-quality images. Whether you are a coach looking to improve a player’s technique or a parent wanting to record your kid’s games, the right camera offers better results. AI-powered auto-tracking cameras provide a further hands-free dimension to filming badminton.
However, we appreciate that it can be difficult to find the best option from the range of cameras on the market. We have compiled this list as a guide to help you choose the most suitable camera.
XbotGo Chameleon
Main features:
AI-powered auto-tracking
Follow Me 2.0 player tracking
120-degree wide-angle lens
4k video resolution with up to 60fps
Live scoreboards and real-time updates with ScoreSync
8 hours of battery life
Turn your smartphone into an auto-tracking camera with the XbotGo Chameleon. Smoothly follow all the rallies using its AI-powered auto-tracking technology. This hands-free camera means no more shaky badminton action.
What’s more, the FollowMe 2.0 technology can track an individual badminton player. This is great for coaching and ideal for a show reel. Now you can generate highlights of a player’s best shots and rallies. Coaches and players receive a valuable analytical tool.
The 120-degree wide-angle lens ensures you capture all of the badminton court. The 4k resolution with up to 60 fps provides sharpness to your images.
You can livestream your game for free using the XbotGo app. ScoreSync provides real-time updates for that professional-looking feel. Complimentary cloud storage lets you collect your footage for advanced editing.
With an 8-hour battery life, you won’t miss a moment of all the back and forth of your badminton match.
Sony Alpha 9 III
Main features:
120 fps with AF/AE tracking
24.6MP CMOS image sensor
Global shutter image sensor for flicker-free shooting
Black-out free
AI-processing unit
Flash sync at all shutter speeds
The fast pace of badminton requires a camera that can keep up with the action. Sony has you covered on this front. Cameras don’t come much quicker than the Sony Alpha 9 III. This camera can shoot at bursts of up to 120 fps for blackout-free coverage of badminton rallies.
The AI-processing unit is another noteworthy feature. This technology sees the camera pick up and focus on individuals with impressive precision. Whether recording a singles or doubles match, the Sony Alpha 9 III lets you focus your camera on one target with satisfying reliability.
Lighting can often be an issue when shooting badminton on an indoor court. The Flash sync feature of this camera removes such stresses, as it operates at all shutter speeds.
Amid all these excellent features, the full-frame global shutter sensor provides the icing on the cake. This sensor offers high resolution and speed to eliminate distortions caused by rolling shutter. This means you capture distortion-free fast-moving objects, a very handy feature for a badminton camera.
Canon EOS R10
Main features:
24.2MP CMOS sensor
Up to 15 frames per second
4k video
AF technology
OLED color electronic viewfinder with approx 2.36 million dots resolution
Lightweight
Don’t be fooled by the size of this compact camera. The Canon EOS R10 packs a mighty punch and could be the badminton camera choice for the more budget-conscious.
This is a mid-range mirrorless camera with a 24.2MP CMOS sensor. You may be wondering if it can keep up with a badminton shuttlecock pinged around a court at speed. With a shooting speed of 15 frames per second, the answer is, yes, it most certainly can.
The Canon EOS R10 delivers sharp badminton photos and video. The AI-based auto-focus system provides subject detection to recognize and track an individual. Great for photos to show family and friends, but also great footage to help analyse a player’s badminton form.
You can shoot video with a resolution of 4k, with full HD up to 120 fps. There is no built-in stabilization. However, setting the camera to Movie Digital IS enables image stabilization when shooting.
Weighing 0.8 lbs (13.48oz), this is a lightweight, portable camera that you will find easy to handle while producing dynamic badminton images.
GoPro Hero 12 Black
Main features:
5.3k60 and 4k120 video resolutions
27 megapixel photos
177-degree field of view
HyperSmooth 6.0 video stabilization
Bluetooth audio support
Up to 2.5 hours recording time
Get up close and personal with your badminton footage with the GoPro Hero 12 Black camera. Relive the rallies as if you were still on the court. With video resolutions of 5.3k60, 4K120 or 2.7k240, you can capture high-quality images of this fast-paced sport.
Don't fret about shaky footage from any movement. The GoPro Hero 12 Black camera comes with its award-winning HyperSmooth 6.0 video stabilization technology. You can rest easy knowing that you captured smooth badminton footage, however shaky the conditions may seem.
10-bit color brings enhanced depth to your images. In tandem with an ultra-wide 177-degree field of view, the GoPro Hero 12 Black camera brings your badminton images to life..
Wi-fi and Bluetooth connectivity let you automatically upload your badminton images to the cloud with a GoPro subscription. Here you can use the Quik app to edit the highlights to show family and friends, or to use as a coaching tool.
Fujifilm X-T4
Main features:
26MP CMOS
Burst shooting mode of up to 15 fps
AF speed of up to 0.02 seconds
Full HD 240p high-speed video recording
Tracking AF
Built-in stabilization
This camera is designed to deliver professional-grade photos and video. A rapid and accurate autofocus, combined with a 15 fps burst shooting speed, makes it ideal as a camera for badminton.
There is no suffering in quality to compensate for the shooting speed. The 26MP CMOS sensor delivers professional-quality photos. If badminton video footage is high on your agenda, the Fujifilm X-T4 delivers full HD 240p high-speed recording.
The camera’s built-in stabilization is a stand-out feature. Not only do you have digital video stabilization, but a boost mode option, too. This provides even greater stabilization. It removes the worry of shaky footage as you move around the badminton court to film from different angles.
The camera also offers tracking AF and face/eye AF. This gives you subject tracking that allows you to quickly hone in on a single badminton player as they dart around the court. With a speed of up to 0.02 seconds, this is rapid auto focus, which is always good when filming a dynamic sport like badminton.
Buying Guide of Badminton Cameras
1. Resolution and Frame Rate
The higher the resolution, the better the image quality. The higher the frame rate, the smoother your badminton footage. However, higher resolutions and frame rates often come at a higher cost. This can be an important consideration when working on a tighter budget.
Modern cameras offer resolutions of up to 8k. This provides professional-quality video recording, which can be ideal as an analysis tool. If you are looking to record badminton for more social reasons, then a resolution of 1080p may be sufficient.
A similar thinking applies to the frame rate. That said, with a dynamic sport like badminton, a frame rate of at least 60 fps helps provide smoother footage.
Higher resolution and frame rates also mean larger files to upload and store.
2. AI-powered Auto-tracking.
Gone are the days when you had to hold a camera to ensure you could follow a badminton rally. AI-powered auto-tracking cameras such as the XbotGo Chameleon have changed the game.
They turn your smartphone into a camera capable of producing professional-quality badminton footage. All hands-free. You can just play your badminton game.
Not only can these cameras track the whole court, but they can track a single player too. This is a great tool for coaches and players to analyse the game and perfect their badminton skills. It’s fun too if you just want to share your badminton games with friends and family.
AI-powered auto-tracking cameras are connected to a smartphone via Bluetooth for livestreaming games. Match highlights can be edited by a tool like the XbotGo app.
There is another important feature with auto-tracking:
Zoom capabilities: an AI-powered auto-tracking camera needs to have the capacity to auto zoom to keep up with the action. This is also key when tracking a single player to ensure no detail is missed in a close-up shot.
3. Battery Life
When considering all the technical features of potential badminton cameras, it can be easy to overlook the battery life. However, having the most up-to-date camera features won’t stand for anything if the camera cuts out just before a vital rally or match point.
Look for a camera with a battery that will comfortably cover the length of your shoot when fully charged. Are you just recording the badminton match? Or are you planning to film and take photos before and after, too?
Modern cameras can offer good battery life. For example, the XbotGo can record for up to 8 hours. Cameras can also come with AC adapters or an external power bank. While this may mean an extra item to transport, it can provide additional peace of mind. After all, nobody wants to miss the winning shot because the camera was not powered up enough.
4. Storage and Connectivity
You should consider how you want to store your badminton footage. You may prefer to store your photos on a camera’s SD card before transferring them to your computer. Or you may wish to upload photos and videos to the cloud for safe storage.
If you choose to upload your badminton images to the cloud, you will want a camera with Wi-Fi connectivity. Having Bluetooth connectivity also lets you livestream badminton matches to friends and family who aren’t present.
Cloud storage for Chameleon: the XbotGo Chameleon offers complimentary cloud storage as well as free live streaming. The XbotGo app provides advanced editing tools. These help turn your saved badminton footage into a useful highlights package.
Final Thoughts
Finding the right camera makes capturing great badminton action easier and more accessible. Consider the style of camera you require, and how you intend to use it. How do you want to store your badminton footage? What is your budget?
Whether you are a badminton coach, player, spectator, or parent, the right camera is out there for you. Modern AI-powered auto-tracking cameras like the XbotGo Chameleon are hands-free and can do all the heavy lifting for you.
We hope this guide helps you choose the right camera to create fantastic badminton footage.