| Pro: | fast
optical performance
range
build quality
AF-S |
| Con: | strong field curvature at 17mm
flare
heavy
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| Review: | The Nikkor 17-55 f/2.8 DX is a versatile lens suitable for a wide range of possibilities, such as (indoor) architecture, sports, landscape and portrait photography. DX means it can only be used on APS-C format camera's giving it the (imo) very comfortable range of 25-80 mm.
It delivers a constant aperture of f/2.8 throughout the whole zoom range making it a fast lens which is usable in lowlight conditions. Even wide open it produces sharp, contrasty and colourful pictures which are free of chromatic aberrations and contain a nice and smooth bokeh.
Optically speaking it has two small drawbacks. At 17mm the field curvature is rather high, which can result in softer areas at the edge of the photograph. It's also a bit sensitive to flaring so shooting directly into the sun should be avoided.
The AF-S makes focusing fast, precise and silent. When is comes to zooming, the designers have apparently found the perfect balance between smooth and not too smooth.
The built quality is well beyond perfect, maybe even a bit overdone. Off-shore quality would be the right term to describe the built and if someone tells you he just used his lens as a nutcracker, hammer or murder weapon, you better believe him (especially in case of the murder weapon).
It has a steel casing and is equipped with broad and sturdy zoom and focus rings. Although it is not documented as being weatherproof, it does contain rubber sealings at the front element as well as a rubber gasket at the mount to prevent moisture from getting into the camera. Of course, all these things make the lens quite heavy and bulky.
Its price is rather high. Overpriced some might say, but I think that all in all you definitely get what you paid for. If you can and are willing to afford it, there’s no reason not to buy it. I purchased mine in December 2005 and it has been my most used lens ever since.
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