The Sigma 17-70mm F2.8-4 DC Macro OS HSM lens is a solid replacement for the 18-55mm that shipped with your camera, but another Sigma zoom is our Editors' Choice.

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  Sharp. 4.1x zoom range. 1:2.9 macro magnification. Optical stabilization. Wide aperture. Compact and light. Available for multiple camera systems. Compatibility with Sigma USB dock and mount conversion service.

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  Some distortion. Edge softness at 70mm.

Sigma's latest 'C' badged 17-70mm F2.8-4 is an excellent upgrade option for SLR shooters who've outgrown their kit zooms, and are looking for better image quality and more creative flexibility. It offers a fine balance of zoom range and maximum aperture, while still being highly portable.

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  Useful combination of zoom range and relatively fast aperture, Very good image quality across most of the range, Compact size, Reasonably fast and near-silent autofocus, Effective image stabilisation

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  Somewhat weak image quality at wideangle (soft corners and chromatic aberration), Macro shooting a little impractical (very short working distance)

This digital-only lens boasts excellent performance, Optical Stabilisation and a rock bottom price tag - so is there anything not to like?

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  Great all-round lens

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  Non-internal focusing

No promises, but I would like to complete a full Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4 DC Macro OS C Lens review in the future. For now, please review the standard test results available for this lens and view the eye candy below.

Gary Wolstenholme takes a look at Sigma's 17-70mm lens with optical stabilisation. Sigma's 17-70mm lenses have been a popular upgrade for people wishing to move up from the standard 18-55mm kit lenses.

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  Excellent optical performance, Decent build quality, Effective optical stabiliser, Close focus ability

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  Focus ring cannot be disengaged during AF

The first of Sigma’s “Contempo-​rary” lenses, this APS-C-format 17–70mm f/2.8–4 DC OS ($499, street) suits a wide range of photo subjects. With image stabilization and 1:2.33 magnification, it is a true utility player.

With the new "Contemporary" 17-70mm Æ’/2.8-4 OS HSM "C", Sigma's created a smart and stylish upgrade to its kit-lens alternative. There's a good recipe for sales here: make it look awesome, and don't jack up the price too much.

The Sigma 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.

Those looking for a high quality general purpose zoom lens for their APS-C format DSLR could do a lot worse than this lens from Sigma. As well as sporting a very useful zoom range, having a maximum aperture slightly faster than normal will help with shooting in low light, as will the optical...

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  Very good sharpness in the centre, Good build quality, Close focusing, Optical stabilisation

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  Drop off in clarity towards edges as lens is zoomed in may concern some people, Barrel distortion at 17mm

„Out of the frying pan into the fire” – this idiom perhaps describes the newest moves of Sigma the best. Firstly I completely don’t understand why they launched a successor of a very well done 17-70 mm OS model. Just to gain those several dozen grams?

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  good build quality,, splendid or at least very good image quality in the frame centre throughout the whole focal range to boot,, good image quality on the edge of the frame for 28-70 mm focal lengths,, negligible longitudinal chromatic aberration,, lateral chromatic aberration corrected well in the...

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  image quality at 17 mm on the edge of the frame below the decency level,, a bit too high chromatic aberration at 17 mm and by f/2.8,, noticeable vignetting,, work against bright light should have been better.

Well made lens, should last for the long haul. This is my only Sigma lens, I own many Nikon's.I used this lens on the D500; Sharpness, color and contrast is fantastic, better than expected. Very surprised that the images are exposed dead on and actually sharper than the wonderful Nikon 24-120.

This lens is spectacular in every way. Optically it is extremely sharp. The 0.3x magnification opens up tons of creative opportunities for close-up photography. The lens is not overly heavy, but it handles very well. The zoom and focus rings are both very smooth. The zoom is well-controlled.

I am on my second Canon APS-C camera, a 60D, and have been using the earlier non-STM version of the EF-S 18-135mm lens. I thought that this camera and lens combo did a pretty good job, and in most bright outdoor travel photo situations compared pretty well against my "better" camera, the 24 MP Sony...

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  Nice range, brighter than most zooms, sharp, compact

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  none

The "walk around" lens discussion is highly debated, and there are a lot of really great lenses in this focal range - both canon and 3rd party. I've used almost all of them, both constant 2.8, and variable aperture.

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  Great range on a crop, Excellent OS, faster than Canon equivelant

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  no FTM, focus problems at 70mm MFD

I bought this lens as a replacement to a Nikon 17-55 F 2.8 damaged irreparably; so consider myself very critical. Features Its a moderately fast 17-70 F2.8 – F4 Variable aperture DX or APS Zoom with Image Stabilisation (OS) and good close focusing ability.

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  Versatile and useful Zoom Range 17-70, Image stabilization, Fast at wide angle, Smooth bokeh, Close focus

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  Annoying Manual Focus switch, A touch soft at wide apertures, No weather sealing.

Versatile, good for travel

Returned this as it was a wrong product for my Nikon D810

beautiful glass, quiet motor.

So far so good. Takes great pictures. Love the low light capability of this lens.

This lens have a very good image quality and sharpness, but focus motor is a little slow to focus some situations with action (i.e. kids party and weddings). For still photography and studio, it is a nice piece of glass.