Nikon 17-55/2.8

[Yulia]

Hello all :)

I am so happy i have found this forum :)

I just got my new lens -Nikon 17-55/2.8

So photo quality is superb, but two things bother me - It's very loud and the focus in auto is VERY slow. Anybody has this lens?

I can't go to the store to try it out and had to order it online...so i now wonder if i should exchange it or not?

Any thoughts? Thanks!

ps
i have nikon d80

[coffee]

I don't use Nikon, but I looked up your lens, and it looks like a good lens.

If you have good lighting, and are at f2.8 and the focus is still slow I would say there may be an issue. I would assume that lens should be fast at focusing. Jerry is one of our members and uses Nikon I believe. He will pipe in at some point and give you a hand.

[jerryph]

Hrmm... I have some info about that lens, but I do not know if it will please you. Yes the focus motor is loud and slow, there is nothing you can do about it, they are all known to do it (though they are a high quality lens, no doubt).

The part that you may not enjoy hearing is that last summer, 3 independant photography magazines tested out the Nikkor 17-55, Sigma 18-50 and the Tamron 17-50 and in all 3 shootouts, the Sigma beat them all. Not only that, but it was 1/3rd the price of the Nikkor, and it has a 3:1 macro tossed in for free. Also becuase it is a HSM, it has it's own focus motor, and it is a little faster focusing than the Nikkor (but ALL lenses focus slower in lower light, just to let you know).

Based on this info, I ordered the Sigma 18-50 F/2.8 DC EX HSM Macro and am *thrilled* with it's results every time I use it.

[coffee]

If you just bought your Nikon 17-55/2.8 and are not happy with it, you should return it and get one you like. As expensive as it is, you don't want to always be thinking you may have made a wrong choice. It will always be in the back of your mind.

I used a lens a few years ago that was slow, and I missed a lot of shots I wanted. I can't fault the lens, it was cheap and slow, and I couldn't depend on it when I needed it.

Don't settle for something less than "thrilled" as Jerry put it. You have to be happy with your equipement Yulie regardless of what you use.

[eyevan]

i shoot Nikon D300 and also use the sigma 18-50 HSM lens and its one of the best ive used .

[Yulia]

Thank you all for your replies!
I spent the whole evening talking to my friend, who is a pro, she told me she had the same issues with 17-55 when she had D70 (long time ago i guess). She got D200 after that and lens works like a charm!
So it got me thinking...i have a budget that i was going to use on 85/1.4... but maybe i should upgrade my camera first. I've been using d80 for 3 years now i think and maybe it's time :)
What do you think?

ps I've read so many mixed reviews about sigma...I am brandiac (is it even a word??), i prefer nikon lens for nikon camera :) i know its silly and expensive but that's just the way i am...