Nikon AF-S 17-55mm f/2.8G IF-ED DX Reviews

Rating
Reviewed by: Mike Maione
(Intermediate)

Review Date
July 26, 2007

Overall Rating
5 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
2.00 of 5,
2 votes

Review 1 of 14

Price Paid: $1500.00 from buydig.com

Summary:

I like this lens. It is sharp at all f-stops and focuses fast. When I want a quality image I don't hesitate to put this lens on my camera. My only complaints are weight and zoom range. It's a 2.8 so it is a big (read heavy) lens. You won't want to use is as a knock around lens. It just a little too big and heavy. My other complaint is the 55mm length is just a little too short for my liking. I wish it went to 70mm.

Strengths:

Excellent quality, fast, sharp, solid and sturdy. Good feel in hand.

Weaknesses:

Heavy

Similar Products Used:

70-200 mm vr
nikon kit lens

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Rating
Reviewed by:

Dave Perkes
( Professional)

Review Date
July 25, 2007

Overall Rating
5 of 5

Value Rating
4 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Review 2 of 14

Price Paid: $1450.00 from Miami Photo, Kuala L

Summary:

I bought this lens after several months of using the do it all Nikon 18-200VR which I found useful but quite disappointing for critical use.

I wished that I had bought this fine lens a long time ago. With its fast aperture, sharpness and tough build quality it is a perfect picture taking tool. There is only minimal wide anglle distortion. Colour, contrast and sharpness is the best.

Its costly for sure: but with the solid metal body and weather sealing it will last forever.

Strengths:

• Build quality
• Image quality
• Sharpness
• Fast aperture at all focal lengths
• No significant distortion
• Its heavy and stable to hold

Weaknesses:

• None

Similar Products Used:

Nikon 18-200 VR
Nikon 18-35
Nikon 80-200 F2.8 VR
Sigma 12-24

Customer Service:

none

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Rating
Reviewed by: H.a.d
(Intermediate)

Review Date
October 14, 2006

Overall Rating
5 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
4.38 of 5,
13 votes

Review 3 of 14

Price Paid: $1300.00 from Nikon shop in Israel

Summary:

I love this Lens...I use it daily. It's a great lens never let me down. I'm a photojournalist that mean that i use my equipment alot and the 17-55 always work great. i love this lens for the colors,sharpmess and contrast!!! IT's a perfect len,one of the best Nikons today.

Strengths:

heavy(i love it this way),very very sharp..Great colors and contrast

Weaknesses:

No Weaknesses (maybe just the price- but iven if the lens was selling for $2000 a would of buy it because 17-55 is Perfect

Similar Products Used:

Nikon 70-200 f/2.8 VR AF-s...Nikon 300 F/2.8...Nikon 85 f/1.4

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Rating
Reviewed by:

Ilia Yefimovich
( Intermediate)

Review Date
August 19, 2006

Overall Rating
5 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Used product for
1 to 3 months

Visitors rate this review
2.82 of 5,
11 votes

Review 4 of 14

Price Paid: $1300.00 from Nikon shop in Israel

Summary:

The lens is Great. One of my favorite lenses. It very very very sharp and fast.
I love the weight of the lens. It better than Nikon 28-70 f/2.8 that i used alot on film:)
And it's alot sharper that nikon 20-35 f/2.8,it almost as sharp as Nikon 85mm f/1.4

I lOVE IT SO MUSH:)

Strengths:

IT's sharp sharp sharp
IT's fest fest fest
I love weight of the lens:):)

Weaknesses:

THE price i think

Similar Products Used:

Similar in sharpness-Nikon 85 f/1.4

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Rating
Reviewed by: Vince
(Intermediate)

Review Date
July 4, 2006

Overall Rating
4 of 5

Value Rating
3 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Visitors rate this review
4.18 of 5,
17 votes

Review 5 of 14

Price Paid: $1040.00 from Ebay

Summary:

For a digital Nikon this is probably the best standard zoom around but not the best value for money and it's heavier than the competition. For me a wide constant maximum aperture is a big consideration. I had the Sigma 18-50 2.8 and was very happy but the focusing was just a little sluggish and noisy sometimes. Since this was the lens range I used most often I treated myself to the Nikon. It is very sharp and focusing is definitely quicker and the slight extra range is more apparent than I thought it would be. However it's bukier and heavier and much more expensive. Even with this short focal length and a 2.8 apeture VR would be nice.

I can't tell any difference in picture quality but they are both very good, I imagine a test chart would reveal something.

So in summary if you must have the best and woieght isn't a huge factor then get this one, otherwise save a good few hundred pounds and get the lighter cheaper Sigma. If the Sigma had the HSM focusing of the 10-20 I'd switch back.

Strengths:

Sharp, fast focusing and build quality.

Weaknesses:

Weigh,t price and no VR

Similar Products Used:

Sigma 18-50 2.8 EX

Customer Service:

Not tested on this lens, in the past Nikon have been good

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