MLB: Arizona Diamondbacks at San Francisco GiantsMay 25, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Gabriel Moreno (14) high fives the on deck batter after hitting a solo home run against the San Francisco Giants during the third inning at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-Imagn Images

After being pleased with the OM System 50-200mm f/2.8 at NWSL, I decided to take it out again for some baseball. A nice day game between the San Francisco Giants and Arizona Diamondbacks. This is almost a proof of concept that a game can be used for a paid editorial assignment of professional sports. This time, everything in this gallery is taken with the 50-200mm f/2.8.

MLB: Arizona Diamondbacks at San Francisco GiantsMay 25, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks players high five after the game against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-Imagn Images

If you are a photographer covering sports and you don't need to live send directly from the camera via FTP, this is the system you want, yeah you!

MLB: Arizona Diamondbacks at San Francisco GiantsMay 25, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte (4) gestures as he scores a run against the San Francisco Giants during the fifth inning at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-Imagn Images
 

The benefits: reach, weight, weather sealing far outweigh the drawback of the smaller sensor.

With 50-200mm being the full frame equivalent of 100-400mm, that means you can easily get full body of the batter - and also go to the outfield wall (with a crop)

MLB: Arizona Diamondbacks at San Francisco GiantsMay 25, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks shortstop Geraldo Perdomo (2) hits an RBI single against the San Francisco Giants during the fifth inning at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-Imagn Images MLB: Arizona Diamondbacks at San Francisco GiantsMay 25, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks left fielder Tommy Troy (9) goes into the outfield wall as he unsuccessfully tries to catch the ball against the San Francisco Giants during the sixth inning at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-Imagn Images And everything in between

MLB: Arizona Diamondbacks at San Francisco GiantsMay 25, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; San Francisco Giants left fielder Casey Schmitt (10) gestures after hitting a double against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the sixth inning at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-Imagn Images

Let's look at pricing

OM System OM-1 Mk II $1,999.99

OM System 50-200mm f/2.8 $3,399.99

Total: $5,399.98

Compare that to the closest thing to an equivalent, budgeting for the R6 instead of the R1, R3 or R5 because you might want the APS-C cropped sensor given that the reach is only 300mm

Canon R6 Mk II $1,998

Canon 100-300mm f/2.8 $10,599

Total $12,597

If you take pictures of sports (or anything that requires long zoom lenses) as a hobby, OM System, in my opinion, is still the best system.

Oh - and on this Memorial Day - thanks to our Veterans!

MLB: Arizona Diamondbacks at San Francisco GiantsMay 25, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; A Memorial day logo before the game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-Imagn Images

MLB: Arizona Diamondbacks at San Francisco GiantsMay 25, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; Senior airman John Merlitz performs taps before the game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-Imagn Images MLB: Arizona Diamondbacks at San Francisco GiantsMay 25, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; The colors are presented by the US Navy color guard before the game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-Imagn Images MLB: Arizona Diamondbacks at San Francisco GiantsMay 25, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; Marine corps veterans salute before the game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-Imagn Images
 

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