One more thought from experience..I have a D70 Nikon and the standard package lens came with it. There was a $200 US rebate(takes about a month or so to get the check) which helped a lot. Since then, I have purchased Sigma lenses for the camera. I chose the better ones, generally a bunch higher priced than the consumer market level Sigmas. Still, these are less than the better Nikon lenses. Nikon has consumer level lens and much higher priced better lenses. For me, not having the means to afford a $2000 telezoom I went with a "better grade Sigma", not comparing it directly to Nikon but to other Sigma lenses. This was not an inexpensive lens but affordable. Consider the lens...Digital optimized or 35mm size. The zoom is the heavier 35mm lens. Works well on the smaller sensor of the D70 and IF I ever go to a full frame digital this lens will work just fine. The others I got were made for digital size for the Nikon D70. In the future I would go for the full frame 35mm lens simply because even at my age an upgrade is possible. This is something to consider. Thanks for reading my long post. TomDart.