This is a great lens -- it rivals the Nikon 17-55 at less than 1/3 the price. It is also lightweight and easy to carry around as a day to day lens. THe image quality is supurb. Compare this to the Sigma 18-50, they are virtually identical. This lens produces a better right-out-of-the-camera image, especially useful if you are a jpg enthusiast. While a bit more pricy than the standard "kit lens" it would replace in your lens collection, the fast 2.8 speed and image quality can not be bettered at this price with these features.