Nikon 17-55mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S DX Nikkor Lens Review

Nikon AF-S DX 17-55mm f/2.8G Sample Photos

Wideangle | 1/1250 sec | f/6.3 | 17.0 mm | ISO 200 High-Res	Telephoto | 1/500 sec | f/6.3 | 55.0 mm | ISO 200 High-Res
Minimum focus is 36cm | 1/1250 sec | f/2.8 | 55.0 mm | ISO 200 High-Res	Sharpness is excellent in the centre for much of the zoom range at f/2.8 | 1/160 sec | f/2.8 | 38.0 mm | ISO 200 High-Res
1/400 sec | f/11.0 | 17.0 mm | ISO 200 High-Res	1/800 sec | f/8.0 | 55.0 mm | ISO 200 High-Res
1/500 sec | f/4.0 | 48.0 mm | ISO 200 High-Res	1/1250 sec | f/6.3 | 55.0 mm | ISO 200 High-Res

Value for Money

The high price tag may be off-putting for many, especially as most third party manufacturers offer lenses covering a similar range, sometimes including optical stabilisation too. None of the third party equivalents offer build quality of the same level found on this lens, which may sway your decision in one way or another, depending on how the lens will be used and what punishment it may have to cope with.

Sigma offer a 17-50mm f/2.8 DC OS HSM lens, which is 5mm shorter at the telephoto end and lack full time manual focus override, but adds optical stabilisation and costs around £490.

Tamron currently offer two lenses covering a 17-50mm range with a constant f/2.8 aperture. Neither lens has a silent focusing motor, or full time manual focus override. They are both significantly cheaper than the Nikon lens though, with the more basic lens of the two costing around £290. A higher priced version is available, which also offer optical stabilisation and costs around £365.

Finally, Tokina offer a 16-50mm f/2.8 lens (now discontinued), which costs around £705. This lens features build quality not that far off that found on the Nikon, and is one millimetre wider. However, it does lack a silent focusing motor and full time manual focus override.

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