Corlan,
I suppose we get what we pay for, and this is a question of improper QC. The Tamron is still great value for money, at least the version without optical stabilisation. Here in Thailand, it's around a fifth of the price of the Nikkor, and since it's much lighter and smaller, it's very suitable for travelling. I think the version with stabilisation has a different optical formula, but it's also much more expensive.
To get small size
and a reasonable price, I'm tempted by the Pentax K-x with the Pentax/Tokina 16-50/2.8, a combo that costs more or less the same as the Nikkor alone, but I'm tempted by so many things
Another possibility would be the Tamron 28-75 f/2.8 plus the Tokina 11-16 f/2.8. To me, the longer/wider perspectives would be more useful than the lacking 16-28mm.
I think my last answer lead to confusion, what i initially meant was:
"whether you hadn't need heavy PC with the 17mm on this shot, i'd get the lens instantly".
If not for your remark based on the original file, the sharpness discrepancy is not readily noticeable on web sized files like above.
That said, and talking avout choices, yeah the Tamron zoom stabilised version you talked about before seem attractive. As you know I wanted to try it with a S5, unfortunately luck was not on my side getting a good S5 so i eventually let the idea go. Then other requirements such as higher pixel count got in the way, so the next step for me in DSLR will be... a D3X
(after studying and trying extensively the Canon and Sony solutions as described a couple of weeks ago in a Sony vs. Nikon topic here).
Resolution is here, so is the terrific LV for products shots, ergonomy and operation are natural to me, using Nikon for so long, and i simply keep my favorite lenses. And the VF is a large improvement which is important since i mostly shoot manual focusing.
Sure, it might be less of a novelty soon, but i could care for less. Sure, it's big but after all equivalent to the D3 family or the D700 with the grip, which stays anyhow on the body most of the time (like it, plus i shoot a lot of vertical oriented stuff).
All in all my intention was to get the D700 replacement when available from Nikon but i got tired of waiting and moreover
some of the features simply won't be there.
Video is not relevant to me, nor even wished for. I want a specialized photo camera, and dread any menu or ergonomics complications inevitably associated with a multitask piece of equipment. If one day i want video i'll get a used 5DMkII or even 7D (for video the huge crop is a plus) and a pair of well beaten MF lens, that should do the trick. Canon is
really strong in the video field, not sure Nikon or Sony will be able to fill the gap and seriously compete with them for some time.
Well when all is said and done, opportunity knocked at the door so the D3X in the mail.
Of course your travel photography has totally different needs and requirements. Pentax looks interesting from what you tell us for some time. The Tamron+Tokina combo seems quite suited to your expectations, too. ANd of course maybe Fuji will come up with something cool, either in the F-mount or (more probably) in the m4/3 range. But maybe you're getting tired of waiting there, too.