Ef 18-55 vs ef 50m

[Rgauden]

I am planning on getting into photography and I was wondering if the canon ef 18-55 or the ef 50mm is better to purchase first. I’m getting the canon eos 70d camera. I will be using it for sports photography 

[rs-eos]

The 18-55mm would give you more flexibility.  However, for sports, you'll want to look at a lens that could provide more reach.  At 55mm, on a crop-sensor body, that's an equivalent of only 88mm on full frame.  Depending upon where you'll be sitting, subjects would be quite small in the frame.

Consider the EF-S 18-135mm instead.

[normadel]

For a modestly-priced lens, an EF-S 18-135 would be more useful.....more reach and versatility.  A 50mm would not be very useful at all, especially since the crop factor of 1.6 gives the equivalence of an 80mm lens.Too limiting.

[ebiggs1]

Never buy a fixed FL or prime lens as your first and only lens. (unless you know of a specific requirement for it)

"Depending upon where you'll be sitting, subjects would be quite small in the frame."

Absolutely and probably more important what sport.? However, I doubt seriously that the 18-135mm vs the 18-55mm would make a significant difference in whatever sport you are desiring to shoot again depending on the sport. If you need a telephoto you need a telephoto and the 135mm is not that. Without knowing the sport a flat great all around choice is a 70-200mm zoom and would make more sense. But once again too many unknowns to give worthwhile suggestions.