sigma 17-70 f2.8-4.5 DC macro zoom??

[nikmolson]

any one used this? im looking at it mostly for a macro but one i could still use instead of my kit lens all the time for day to day shots, i have read reviews on line and they vary, mostly to the positive side though
right now i just have the D60 kit lens, a nikkor 18-55 vr

[Tee Why]

I think photozone.de and maybe popphoto.com have reviewed the lens. Over at a Canon forum, most feel that it's a great lens for the dollar.

Here is a comparison of it against the Canon 17-85, sorry I use Canon so I'm more familiar with reviews of the lens on a Canon mount, but it should give you very similar images on a Nikon.
http://www.pbase.com/lightrules/17701785

[ziggy53]

any one used this? im looking at it mostly for a macro but one i could still use instead of my kit lens all the time for day to day shots, i have read reviews on line and they vary, mostly to the positive side though
right now i just have the D60 kit lens, a nikkor 18-55 vr

As Tee Why said, this is a very good "value" zoom and much better than most "kit" lenses, for instance. It is a variable aperture lens and f4.5 is not very fast for 70mm.

This is not a "macro" lens in the true sense of the word, so if you are "looking at it mostly for a macro" I'm afraid you would be disappointed. It is a "close focus" capable lens the the manufacturer has labelled as "macro", but it cannot do 1:1 (lifesize) images that a true macro lens can do.

For Canon cameras, the following are the macro lenses I would both consider and recommend:

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM macro
http://www.photozone.de/canon-eos/16...report--review (http://www.photozone.de/canon-eos/167-canon-ef-100mm-f28-usm-macro-test-report--review)

Sigma AF 105mm f/2.8 EX macro DG
http://www.photozone.de/canon-eos/30...report--review (http://www.photozone.de/canon-eos/301-sigma-af-105mm-f28-ex-macro-dg-lab-test-report--review)

Tokina AF 100mm f/2.8 AT-X Pro D macro
http://www.photozone.de/canon-eos/27...w--test-report (http://www.photozone.de/canon-eos/270-tokina-af-100mm-f28-at-x-pro-d-macro-canon-review--test-report)

Tamron AF 90mm f/2.8 Di SP macro
http://www.photozone.de/canon-eos/28...report--review (http://www.photozone.de/canon-eos/282-tamron-af-90mm-f28-di-sp-macro-test-report--review)

Of these I will be purchasing the Tamron in my near future.

[anonymouscuban]

I have this lens for my Nikon D300. Picked it up used for only $225. The lens was mint so it was a great value. It's pretty sharp. Works well as a good walk-about lens. Fast on the short end at f/2.8 but slows down very quick as you zoom in. Focuses very close; within an inch of the front of the lens, altough I haven't used it much for that.

Would definitely recommend it.

Here are a few sample pics I've taken recently with it:

http://sotelo.smugmug.com/photos/426737152_oZiKM-L.jpg

http://sotelo.smugmug.com/photos/425861091_26wt2-L.jpg

http://sotelo.smugmug.com/photos/427828893_HgJa8-L.jpg

http://sotelo.smugmug.com/photos/427854588_sEgcr-L.jpg

If you want to pixel peep, 100% crop of image above:
http://sotelo.smugmug.com/photos/430791978_8Etfu-O.jpg

[swintonphoto]

slrgear.com (my favorite lens review site) has a review on it:
http://www.slrgear.com/reviews/showproduct.php/product/349/cat/31

It looks like a real winner to me. Looks very sharp across the field. I'd say go for it! This would be a better lens than your kit one. Here is SLR gears review of your current lens:
http://www.slrgear.com/reviews/showproduct.php/product/1154/cat/13

The sigma looks better on most counts. I would pick it up and sell your kit lens to help pay for it.

[PixNW]

I still have one that I've had for about four years. I haven't used it since buying some L lenses, but it's a pretty good lens. I used it as my walk around lens carried on my motorcyle on trips through Canada, Alaska and Mexico. I was always very pleased with the images and thought it was a great value. Now that I'm thinking about it, I'll probably sell it.