10:15 PM - Wow, two posts in two days in a row... that's unheard of! Guess who came at dinner? No, not Sidney Poitier... haha... my lens. The wonderful Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5. It totally replaces my kit lens, by a millimeter in the wide angle and 15 in the telephoto; as well as a wider aperture. The lens is about three and a half inches long at 17mm and a little passed five inches at 70mm, and is only a bit heavier than the kit lens, but feels very comfortable. The lens has a filter of 72mm, which is freaking huge compared to the kit, but the huge front brings it the attention from others that it deserves.

I wasn't able to take very many photos, as I only got to play with it after dark - so this weekend is when I'll whip it out and take some test shots. But from what I have taken today, it is quite amazing. Not only is it a great walk around lens, but it also doubles as a great macro lens. I was able to get really close to my subjects; the only thing that kept me a few inches back was the shadow cast by the lens, haha. With the lens, you should be able to get eight inches at wide and [I got] about two to three inches at telephoto. To have a 17mm that touches f/2.8 and a 70mm that touches at f/4.5, and macro at all ends, is quite amazing, even if you'll only use the macro at the telephoto end of the lens.

Not only did I buy the lens, but I also bought a lens cleaning kit, a necessary accessory that I still was going without; all I had was this lens cleaner for my glasses, haha. I am beyond satisfied with my buy, and I recommend it to anyone looking to upgrade from their kit lens to an inexpensive, yet wonderful, lens. I put together a little batch of photos, here. I hope you enjoy them.

In other interests, it's Adam's birthday, so hat's off to you. And thanks Imadul for helping me spell irk, haha. Take everyone, see u.