I originally thought my Tamron 17-50mm F/2.8 VC, which everyone claims is 95% as good as the 17-55 , could get me through whatever I encountered. Didn't happen. I purchased a Nikon 80-200mm F/2.8 two ring right before a wedding, and was blown away by the quality.

Super Sharp, great color and contrast; No contest vs Tamron 17-50 F/2.8 VC

Some people may be put off by the size/weight of a pro lens (not me :D

Good quality. Fast focus.

Handling and features Performance Verdict Specification This professional grade optic for Nikon DX format digital SLRs provides an angle of view equivalent to a 25.5-82.5mm lens on a 35mm camera.

Very good sharpness in the centre at f/2.8; Excellent across the frame when stopped down; Tank-like build quality; Fast autofocus; Low falloff for a f/2.8 zoom

High CA levels; Not as sharp towards the edges of the frame at f/2.8; Expensive

"This is the primary lens that i use on my D300 body. It is a fantastic lens with excellent image quality and fast focusing. This lens is well built and will endure the most toughest environments. The only down side to this lens is that it is of course a Dx lens and it is quite big and heavy.

Funny how reviews on this site are much lower than other sites. I don't think it's the lens, there's a way to get the best out of this lens, stabilize, compose, focus and shoot. It's easy to get a blurry shot if you are not careful but I don't think a lot of these bad reviews are warranted.

Sharp; contrasty; quick focus and amazing

Expensive; heavy

This lens has changed everything for me!! I sold off my former variable lenses and primes in favor of this 17-55 f2.8. No regrets!!! It's a game changer!!!

This is excellent lens i ever had,take very good picture,alway goes around with my d7000.Lens builds very good quality,nice balance,bulk feel like a tank

This lens was a wise investment for my D80. Takes great pictures both inside and outside. Pictures quality elevated even further with a greater understanding of my camera's manual controls and a controlled lighting system.

Versatile; Quick focus; Sharp; Durable

As a DX lens; compatibility with FX cameras

I suppose if you're looking at this lens, you already know it's expensive. I got it used, so I didn't pay full price, but it still cost almost as much as my D7100. I won't go too into the details on this lens, but it is very sharp, very clear, contrasty, etc.

This is my 3rd lens since getting my Nikon D40 six years ago (!!!) I started with the 18-135mm zoom, but I later learned that the aperture was too limiting at 3.5-5.6 for the indoor or low/natural light photography that I'm inclined to.