Anyone have the Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8G (DX)?

Dangerspouse

Senior Member
Just wondering how it stacks up against the kit 18-55mm. I see the specs of course, but I'm curious if anyone has had real world experience with it and can tell a difference in picture quality.
 

desmobob

Senior Member
For what it's worth...

I found a nice used copy of the 18-70mm f/3.4-4.5G DX after reading several very good reviews. I've been very pleased with it. But I've had several folks on another forum assure me that the 17-55mm f/2.8G DX is head-and-shoulders above it and is the lens I should try on my D200 and D500.

A couple of folks who owned both were very adamant about it. I was convinced enough that I'd try one if I wasn't more concerned with weight and size. (I use my D200 as a "glorified point-'n'-shoot" so I prefer a compact lens and my D500 usually wears a telephoto. )
 

Dangerspouse

Senior Member
For what it's worth...

I found a nice used copy of the 18-70mm f/3.4-4.5G DX after reading several very good reviews. I've been very pleased with it. But I've had several folks on another forum assure me that the 17-55mm f/2.8G DX is head-and-shoulders above it and is the lens I should try on my D200 and D500.

A couple of folks who owned both were very adamant about it. I was convinced enough that I'd try one if I wasn't more concerned with weight and size. (I use my D200 as a "glorified point-'n'-shoot" so I prefer a compact lens and my D500 usually wears a telephoto. )

Thanks very much Bob, I appreciate that info :encouragement:
 

hark

Administrator
Staff member
Super Mod
Contributor
I have no experience with it, but looking online for specifics, it is supposed to have a metal mount and is weather sealed. So the construction should be far superior to the kit lens. Plus a constant aperture as opposed to a variable zoom is a great benefit.
 

TwistedThrottle

Senior Member
@Dangerspouse

I've never used it but if possible I'd suggest trying this lens out first before 100% all in, (unless the deal is too good to pass up) or at least buy from a place you can return it if you don't like it. Compared to your kit lens, (I don't know which kit lens you have) its going to be awesome, far superior to your kit lens but also quite a bit more heavy and not as enjoyable on an out-n-about adventure. You will loose VR if your kit lens has VR, but gain the constant fast aperture. This is the lens D500 owners raved about until the 16-80 rolled out and then the 16-80 became the kit lens for D500's. It'd be great to be able to test both. The 16-80 has VR as well as Nano coating and is a little lighter but its variable aperture, f2.8-f4 and extends when zoomed, (if that matters to you). The Nano coating is what seems to set apart the new glass from the old, pro vs armature -and in the case of Mirrorless- S vs non S glass, (there's other newer coatings as well but from what I can tell, S gets Nano, non S doesn't.). The 16-80 received better reviews than the FX equivalent -the 24-120 f4 which I have and is awesome. I've used it both on FX & DX bodies and was very happy except for the lens creep, wish it had a lock like the 16-80 does. I chose door number 3 and went with the Sigma 18-35 f1.8 (get the dock too- its essential). It was faster than the 17-55 and had more to offer since I already had the 24-120. and a nifty 50 f1.8. I don't use it much for out-n-about due to the weight and the lack of weather sealing. Of the 3, I don't think you can make a wrong decision, but keep in mind the weight and what the purpose of the lens would be and how it works in with the other lenses you have in your kit. Good luck and let us know what you decide!
 

Dangerspouse

Senior Member
@TwistedThrottle

Great bundle of info there TT, almost none of which I was aware of. Thanks so much! I'd only recently read about the 17-55, and didn't know it had since been updated to the 16-80. I'll have to check that out too, now. Either one is gonna be a bit in future if it happens though, as I don't currently have the funds. This was more kind of a "if I hit the lottery" thing, lol. Or maybe a "there's one super cheap on KEH, and wifey wants my Christmas list" :D

Lens weight is not an issue with me, unless we're talking more than something like the 200-500. I'm a big lumbering manly-man who only complains about weight when his wife asks him to carry something for her. Then, for some reason I can't explain, it's an issue....
 

Bikerbrent_RIP

Senior Member
The 16-800mm lens has two main issues. 1, it is all plastic and 2, suffers from zoom creep, but only from 28-80mm range. I would stay with the 17-55.
 

TwistedThrottle

Senior Member
@TwistedThrottle

Either one is gonna be a bit in future if it happens though, as I don't currently have the funds. This was more kind of a "if I hit the lottery" thing, lol. Or maybe a "there's one super cheap on KEH, and wifey wants my Christmas list" :D
I'm a big lumbering manly-man who only complains about weight when his wife asks him to carry something for her. Then, for some reason I can't explain, it's an issue....

$499 used at Adorama here and good reviews to read through. They're still selling these puppies at $1500 a pop for a fresh new one, Yowzers!
Seems like a good Christmas list item.

That is, only if you can get yourself off the naughty list and make the good list by grabbing the heavy items for your wife, lol!
 

bluzman

Senior Member
My alternative to the Nikon AF-P DX 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR kit lens has been a SIGMA 17-70mm f/2.8-4 DC Macro OS HSM C lens that I acquired on sale from B&H back in late 2019. It isn't a prime lens and it's heavier than the kit lens but it's faster. I've been very happy with its performance.
 
Top