Which lens has the brighter aperture, the Nikon Nikkor AF-S DX 17-55 mm f/2.8G IF-ED or the Sigma C 17-70 mm f/2.8-4.0 DC Macro OS HSM?

The Nikon Nikkor AF-S DX 17-55 mm f/2.8G IF-ED opens to f/2.8, against f/2.8-4 on the Sigma C 17-70 mm f/2.8-4.0 DC Macro OS HSM.

Which is lighter, the Nikon Nikkor AF-S DX 17-55 mm f/2.8G IF-ED or the Sigma C 17-70 mm f/2.8-4.0 DC Macro OS HSM?

The Sigma C 17-70 mm f/2.8-4.0 DC Macro OS HSM weighs 470 g, 285 g less than the Nikon Nikkor AF-S DX 17-55 mm f/2.8G IF-ED (755 g).

Which focuses closer, the Nikon Nikkor AF-S DX 17-55 mm f/2.8G IF-ED or the Sigma C 17-70 mm f/2.8-4.0 DC Macro OS HSM?

The Sigma C 17-70 mm f/2.8-4.0 DC Macro OS HSM focuses down to 0.22 m, against 0.36 m for the Nikon Nikkor AF-S DX 17-55 mm f/2.8G IF-ED.

Is the Nikon Nikkor AF-S DX 17-55 mm f/2.8G IF-ED or the Sigma C 17-70 mm f/2.8-4.0 DC Macro OS HSM better for landscape photography?

For landscape photography, the Sigma C 17-70 mm f/2.8-4.0 DC Macro OS HSM has the edge: it is 285 g lighter to carry.

Is the Nikon Nikkor AF-S DX 17-55 mm f/2.8G IF-ED or the Sigma C 17-70 mm f/2.8-4.0 DC Macro OS HSM better for architecture?

For architecture, the Sigma C 17-70 mm f/2.8-4.0 DC Macro OS HSM has the edge: it is 285 g lighter to carry.

§ 03 Head to head

Nikon Nikkor AF-S DX 17-55 mm f/2.8G IF-ED vs Sigma C 17-70 mm f/2.8-4.0 DC Macro OS HSM

Nikon 17–55mm f/2.8 has a brighter maximum aperture. Sigma 17–70mm f/2.8-4 has a longer reach.

Both lenses are made for the Nikon F mount: the Nikon Nikkor AF-S DX 17-55 mm f/2.8G IF-ED is a 17–55mm f/2.8 zoom, and the Sigma C 17-70 mm f/2.8-4.0 DC Macro OS HSM is a 17–70mm f/2.8-4 zoom. On paper the Sigma C 17-70 mm f/2.8-4.0 DC Macro OS HSM comes out ahead, 6 advantages to 2, but which one suits you depends on what you shoot.

Add a third lens →

Nikon Nikkor AF-S DX 17-55 mm f/2.8G IF-ED

f/2.8 · 17–55mm · 755 g

Sigma C 17-70 mm f/2.8-4.0 DC Macro OS HSM

f/2.8-4 · 17–70mm · 470 g

Key differences

From manufacturer specifications

Why is the Nikon Nikkor AF-S DX 17-55 mm f/2.8G IF-ED better than the Sigma C 17-70 mm f/2.8-4.0 DC Macro OS HSM?

Brighter maximum aperture (f/2.8 vs f/2.8-4)
More aperture blades (9 vs 7)

Why is the Sigma C 17-70 mm f/2.8-4.0 DC Macro OS HSM better than the Nikon Nikkor AF-S DX 17-55 mm f/2.8G IF-ED?

Longer reach (70mm vs 55mm)
285 g lighter (470 g vs 755 g)
32 mm shorter (79 mm vs 110.5 mm long)
Focuses 14 cm closer (0.22 m vs 0.36 m)
Smaller filter thread (72 mm vs 77 mm)
Newer design (2012 vs 2003)

Which should you buy?

By use

landscape For landscape photography, the Sigma C 17-70 mm f/2.8-4.0 DC Macro OS HSM has the edge: it is 285 g lighter to carry.
architecture For architecture, the Sigma C 17-70 mm f/2.8-4.0 DC Macro OS HSM has the edge: it is 285 g lighter to carry.
macro For macro photography, the Sigma C 17-70 mm f/2.8-4.0 DC Macro OS HSM has the edge: it focuses closer, down to 0.22 m.

Specification

15 rows · better value flagged ◆

Specification	Nikon Nikkor AF-S DX 17-55 mm f/2.8G IF-ED	Sigma C 17-70 mm f/2.8-4.0 DC Macro OS HSM
Focal length	17–55mm	17–70mm
Maximum aperture	f/2.8 ◆	f/2.8-4
Minimum aperture	f/22	f/22
Lens type	Zoom lens	Zoom lens
Format	APS-C	APS-C
Weight	755 g (26.63 oz)	470 g (16.58 oz) ◆
Dimensions	85.5 x 110.5 mm	82 x 79 mm
Minimum focusing distance	0.36 m (14.17 inches)	0.22 m (8.66 inches) ◆
Image stabilization	—	Yes
Aperture ring	—	No
Aperture blades	9 ◆	7
Optical construction	14 elements in 10 groups	16 elements / 14 groups
Filter size	77 mm	72 mm ◆
Lens mount	Nikon F	Nikon F, Sony A, Pentax K, Canon EF-S
Released	2003	2012

Size

Drawn to relative scale

A · Nikon
B · Sigma

110.5 × 85.5 mm
79 × 82 mm

The Nikon Nikkor AF-S DX 17-55 mm f/2.8G IF-ED is 32 mm longer and 285 g heavier than the Sigma C 17-70 mm f/2.8-4.0 DC Macro OS HSM.

Sample frames

Shot on each lens