I'm considering buying a 17mm lens and wondered if any had a preference on manufactures? I'd love to buy the Nikkor 17-55, but the pocketbook just won't allow that at this point.

Hi Sherri,

Welcome to Nikonians!
The Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8G ED IF AF-S DX is a DX lens and will vignette severely (Black corners) on your D700 at 17mm.
Your choices of Nikkors is limited to:
17-35mm f/2.8D ED IF AF-S ($1765.00)
14-24mm f/2.8G ED IF AF-S ($1830.00)
AF 18-35mm f/3.5-4.5D ED IF ($610.00)
AF 18mm f/2.8D
Sigmas:
Sigma 12-24mm f/4.5-5.6 EX DG HSM ($859.00)
Good Luck and Enjoy your Nikons!

Best Regards,
Marty

Tokina also makes an AF and MF 17mm f/2.8.

Samples on film I have seen look good, don't know about the D700 though.

--
Sampson

Visit my gallery.

You might consider a used edition of any of the above lenses.

I'm not sure what purpose you will set this lens, but a good inexpensive alternative is the Voightlander 20/f3.5 Color Skopar, about $500. Not 17mm, but 20mm and not anywhere near the price of the Nikkor 17-35/f2.8. It's a manual focus lens, but if you're going to do landscapes or similar with it, that's unlikely to be much of an obstacle. It has a CPU in it, so other than the focusing, it works just like any other Nikon lens. If you don't recognize the Voightlander name, this lens is made by Cosina in the same factory that builds the legendary Zeiss ZF lenses. The Voightlanders have a good reputation for being outright good lenses, well built and are excellent values.

_____
Brian... a bicoastal Nikonian and Team Member

My gallery is online. Comments and critique welcomed any time!

Though not as wide as the 17mm you are looking for, the Nikkor 20-35mm f2.8D AF is a lovely, sharp lens with very little distortion at full wide.

I bought mine on ebay when my orginal was stolen four years ago.

Cheers,
Frederic in Montréal

Nothing ventured... nothing gained!
http://www.RemarkableImages.ca