Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4 DC Macro OS HSM Lens for Nikon Mount Digital SLR Cameras

by Sigma

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 3.5 x 3.5 x 3.1 inches ; 1.2 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B002ZNJB2S
• Item model number: 17-70mm f/2.8-4 Nikon
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: December 4, 2009

Product Description

Sigma's 17-70mm F2.8-4 DC Macro OS HSM is the practical zoom! A large-aperture, standard zoom lens for digital cameras with an open-aperture value of F2.8 (at 17mm) and covers the most frequently used focal lengths. With an aperture fast enough to be used in many light situations, its close focusing for use with very small object and its outstanding optical performance make this an ideal all-around lens for landscapes, portraits, still life studies, group shots and just about any everyday photo situation. The OS, Sigma's anti shake feature, offers the use of shutter speeds approximately 4 stops slower than would otherwise be possible. The OS feature allows Sony and Pentax users the option of viewing a stabilized image in the viewfinder, a feature offered only by Sigma. HSM ensures quiet and high speed AF capability. With a faster aperture than the typical camera "kit lens" it is an excellent choice for the photographer who has higher expectations for their photo equipment.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

43 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful, Responsive & Tack Sharp, January 27, 2010

By 

R. A Gibson (San Antonio, TX USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4 DC Macro OS HSM Lens for Nikon Mount Digital SLR Cameras (Electronics)

I own a great deal of glass... lenses litter my office. Most of the lenses I'm glad I purchased and a few, well, those go to the Land of Ebay. This one, however, will never be far from my camera(s). I owned the predecessor, the 17-70 f/2.8-4.5 HSM, an excellent lens and a supreme value. Effectively, a 25-105mm, perfect walkabout lens with Macro capability - equally adept at the candid portrait as well as the quick nature shot. Images post process quite well. So, it was a bit of trepidation that I purchased the updated lens... would it perform as well? Would the OS (Image stabilization built into the lens) be effective? Is it still a great value Nikon lens? Fortunately, the answer to all three questions is a resounding yes. If anything, images are a bit sharper out of camera. OS is effective from 2-3 stops. And absolutely, this lens is a phenomenal value especially compared to the fantastic 17-55mm f/2.8 NIKON lens priced at a healthy four figures. So unless you're loaded and/or totally convinced that only Nikon glass can work effectively on Nikon bodies, consider this lens for your arsenal. It's a strong step up from the kit lenses and a healthy competitor to the venerable 17-55mm.

30 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sigma 17-70 OS review, March 16, 2010

By 

Cheryl A. Kaskey - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4 DC Macro OS HSM Lens for Nikon Mount Digital SLR Cameras (Electronics)

I recently bought this lens to be used on a D80 Nikon body. It is a replacement for a Nikon 18-70 lens. In the time that I have had this lens I have been real pleased with the performance of the lens. I have had no problems with the auto-focus system. It is fast and locks solidly. I have had no problems even in low light conditions.
The os works good but it doesn't always release right away. If I shut off the camera it releases right away but if left on it takes approx.30 seconds to turn off.
This lens is quite sharp when stopped down to F5.6 and destroys the Nikon 18-70 lens across the entire focal range. It has a fair amount of distortion at wide angle but not as much as the 18-70.
One thing that I'm going to have to get used to is the focus ring rotates when zooming in or out and I tend to have my hand touching the focus ring accidentally. Hopefully I can adjust to this.
I think for this price range lens it is built very solidly.
Unless the durability is less than I expect I will be quite happy with my purchase. I would have given this lens a 4.5 stars if it had been offered but I think there are other lenses that are faster and better so I couldn't give it a 5 star rating.
Since this lens was bought as a replacement for my Nikon 18-70 I am happy with the results. It has less distortion,a little more wide angle, a stabilized lens, and better picture quality. Life is good!!!

April 1, 2010
After spending a lot more time with this lens I have upgraded my rating from a 4 to a 5 star. This lens is able to take some incredible images. I am really impressed with the sharp images from this lens. It appears to me to be a real gem!!

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not a bad lens, but I am disappointed., December 15, 2010

By 

M. Mann - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4 DC Macro OS HSM Lens for Nikon Mount Digital SLR Cameras (Electronics)

I have no brand loyalty so after spending many hours debating and comparing the sigma 17-70, nikon 16-85, and the tamron 18-50 2.8 I settled on this one due to the features and my past experience with some great sigma lenses. After selling my 18-55 kit lens from my old d5000, I wanted a good all around lens for my d7000.

I am comparing it to my $200 35mm prime, a 10-20mm sigma HSM, and the 18-55 kit vr lens. The first thing I noticed after a day of shooting in overcast skies is how bad the purple fringing/chromatic aberration is. While I did expect some as per the reviews, particularly at wide open at 17mm, this was quite significant. Even after lightroom adjustments it was still noticeable. Then there is the sharpness. The center is good, but the corner sharpness is not. I'm not talking about just the distant corners, but about 40% of the actual image. Basically anything not on center. The sigma 10-20mm is far better. The 35mm nikon f1.8 trumps both. I could not find it acceptable to have this degradation of quality on a $1200 camera.

The fit and finish are a bit of a let down as well. The Sigma 10-20 EX HSM that I use feels much better. So does the Sigma EX 150mm APO f 2.8 macro (EXCELLENT). This non-ex 17-70 feels flimsier and more plastic. The fact that the focus ring does not override would not be such a big deal, except that it is so big that there's not much else solid to grab onto on this lens. For this price range I would think it ought to be more inline with the EX line of lenses.

I suppose if you must have the big aperture at 17mm its a good buy, but if it was my only lens I would spend more or buy used (which I did). I really tried to like it because it seemed just so perfect with the zoom range, OS, semi-macro capability...but if its not sharp what's the point?

Maybe I just have a bad copy who knows...I regret taking the chance though, now I'm out $25 for shipping. Nikon 16-85 it is...I'll just stick to my 35mm f/1.8 when I need low light.

UPDATE: My Nikon 16-85 came in and I had a chance to compare the test shots. The 16-85 is significantly sharper then the sigma copy I tested. The nikon is 98% as sharp as my 35mm prime, and the sigma would rate maybe 80% as sharp. (Tested at 35mm f/5 for all in same indoor light) I'm not sure if you would notice this on a less megapixel camera such as the d40 or maybe even the d90/d5000/d300. But on the d7000 at 16mgpx you can clearly see the difference. The chromatic aberration is also better with the 16-85, though still not perfect. While wide open it does have it, lightroom was able to eliminated nearly entirely whereas on the sigma wide open it could not be eliminated due to the higher amount of purple fringing.

UPDATE 2: I went ahead and gave the sigma 17-50 f/2.8 OS HSM a shot. WOW what a nice lens. Give that one a shot if you want the f/2.8. Even sharper than the nikon!