Evaluation:  
Conclusion: Does its job, and does it well.
Review: I'm not a professional photographer, just an enthusiast with ambitions and using a D50. I got this lens to replace the 18-55mm kit lens that came with the camera. While that lens' image quality was admittedly pretty good, I wanted something beefier, and something that could go up to 70mm to close the gap with my 70-210 telephoto. This lens has the best set of features in this particular zoom range out of all the shopping around I did. Wide aperture, at least at the wide-angle end, and macro capabilities really made it for me.
It's a good deal heavier than the Nikon kit lens, and it also feels more solid. The zoom and focus rings feel firm without being too slow. The front element is quite large, which I'm okay with. It might just be my imagination but the extra 1mm at the wide-angle end seems noticeable. Though I wouldn't say it's a perfect lens to use for dedicated macro work, it can certainly perform in a pinch.
Only a couple quarrels with it. The shorter focal lengths are sort of bunched up at one end of the zoom ring, so you need to use a fine touch to get the framing right at times. I don't find it to be especially problematic, but it is a bit strange. The zoom ring itself turns counterclockwise rather than clockwise like I'm used to, so that requires a bit of adaptation. The way I hold a camera, it's a bit awkward to twist the ring to my left and then reposition my grip on it.
My biggest gripe is that it doesn't quite autofocus properly at night or in low light situations (such as a dim room). I like to play around with night photography, and on more than one occasion the lens would hunt through its entire focal length, from 0.2m out to infinity and back again, cruising straight past where it needed to be. I found myself frequently flipping to manual focus, and finding out when I got home that what looked in focus through the tiny viewfinder (with my glasses pressed up against it) was in fact a little bit off. It can get a bit exasperating at times, when the lens simply refuses to focus on the subject you're pointing it right at.
Otherwise, everything else is great. One star off for the various little gripes, but if you can find it used for under $350, as I did, it's a really good lens for the money.
Evaluation:
Conclusion: Fast, sharp, and simply amazing
Review: This lens is simply amazing. From wide-angle interior shots, to portraits, or macro type work, it does it all with exceptional results. It's a fast lens, as fast as you'll get outside of a prime lens, which makes it great for low-light work. The wide angle at 17mm means you can get a ton of stuff in the frame, which is especially useful in crowded or tight environments when you can't step back ten feet from what you're shooting. The out of focus areas produces beautiful bokeh (japanese word for 'out of focus area' heh). A close-up shot of a flower at 70mm @ f/4 displays the flower itself very sharply, with all of the background blurring out, which looks incredibly beautiful.
If you could only get one lens, this would be the best one to choose. I've had it for about a year now, and out of all my lenses, it's the most useful and versatile and if I have any doubts about the conditions I'll be shooting under, I put this one on the camera.
Evaluation:
Conclusion: Indespensable
Review: I was quite surprised by this lens after I first got it. It is quite sharp (not scalpel sharp at 2.8, but good nonetheless), it focuses very close to your subject (2 inches?) and equally important: it covers a really good range, 17-70mm. It's wide enough for landscapes and close enough for portraits and performs very well in both situations. And it does makro. I use this lense as a walk around lens, seeing it covers basically all my everyday shooting needs.
One little caveat, however, is, that it is a wee bit noisy when focusing and dosen't focus as fast as Nikons own lenses, but it is a small price to pay for the good qualities of this lens.
A very good piece of glass for the money. Highly recommendable.
Evaluation:
Conclusion: Great lens at a great price
Review: I was suprised at how sharp this lens is at 2.8 and all other stops. It can focus inches away and while not a dedicated macro lens has good macro ability at 1:2.3. Auto focus is quick and accurate on my D40 and D300. The only catch is that you must switch the switch from AF to MF if you wish to use manual focus.
Probably the best bang for the buck of all the lenses I own.
PL
Evaluation:
Conclusion: Sharper than the Nikon
Review: I have tested this lens in wide landscape and portrait situations and have found it to be sharper than the Nikon 18-135mm.
I am not here to bash the Nikon, but I can see a difference between the two, but note that in order to have this Sigma at it's best, your camera should be set to +1 contrast at least (D40), and this lens is definitely sharper at f/4 and above. It is a bit soft at f/2.8, but when you increase your contrast and sharpening (in camera), it's not that significant, and is easily tolerable.
For portraits, it is brilliant. I am glad I made the switch from the Nikon. You'll be amazed at it's landscape quality as well.
Two thumbs up for Sigma!
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