Tamron's latest addition to its range of fast standard zooms bears the "SP" designation which stands for "Super Performance". Reviewers have found that it is astonishingly sharp, even wide open, even in the corners. Other aspects of its performance (distortion, CA, focus speed and accuracy, etc.) are more in line with what you'd expect from a lens in this price bracket, as is the build quality. Overall it's not as good as the Nikon AF-S DX 17-55mm f/2.8, but then it doesn't have the same price tag. It's a solid everyday lens at a reasonable price.

COMPATIBILITY NOTE: This lens carries Tamron's "Di-II" designation. It will not deliver a full-frame image on a D3 or D700 camera.