Originally posted by Mbaez Maybe, but I'll never know because it was replaced by the PLM that is perfect.
Yeah, I've had both!
I think you should test every lens you purchase during their return period (don't discard the packaging!), and only buy from vendors who offer returns.
A focus calibration with your body and a decentreing test should be compulsory when you first take it home, because the longer you go without doing them, the more the seller will argue something must've happened after shipping.
FWIW, other DA55-300 owners rated the lens 8.2 out of 10 on this site.
And this site's official review said:
"Overall, sharpness was very good ... As can be seen from the pictures; images at 55mm, 100mm, and even 200mm are a little soft on the edges when the aperture is wide open. However, as you begin to stop down, they sharpen up nicely. Compare any of these focal lengths and see how the edges and corners sharpen up as the lens is stopped down.
Surprisingly, the images at 300mm, wide open are incredibly sharp. Granted, 300mm wide open is f5.8. But the images are tack sharp, corner to corner. Examine the mortar on the edges in the f5.8 image taken at 300mm. Check out those individual sand grains! WOW!"