When you look at the 1:1 pixels, are you disappointed by lack of sharp details? If yes, what are you doing about it? Most every day here at UHH, some aspect of the solution is presented. I've had success with the following tips:

1. Place a single AF point (or group / zone) specifically over the subject of the image. Do not focus someplace else in the frame and expect the exact subject to be in focus by repositioning the camera after focusing someplace else in the frame.

2. Use the camera's AI Servo (Canon) / Continuous-servo AF (Nikon) focus setting always, without regard to whether the subject is moving or stationary. See BBF (Back Button Focus) below.

3. Shoot in short bursts of 2- to 5-images.

Some commentary before continuing. Idea 1 rejects focus and recompose via the center AF point. Idea 2 leverages the advanced capabilities of your advanced camera body and the system's electronic auto focus. Idea 3 is clearly spray and pray to most. If you care more about old school technique over new school results, fine. It's your camera producing your results.

Now for the rest of us, consider these additional ideas for sharply focused images:

4. Investigate the sharpest apertures for each of your lenses.

5. Keep IS / VR active 100% on your lenses, except if / when this technology is known to be an issue with your specific lens model.

6. Hold your camera properly and / or shoot from a tripod.

7. Configure your camera for Back Button Focus (BBF) to enhance the idea #2 for using AI Servo / Continuous-servo configuration.

8. When you can, shoot at your camera's base ISO, or at the lowest ISO possible for the situation.

Each example image, below provided as attached files in the replies below, shows the original crop from the camera, with a 1:1 crop of the details. The images all follow / demonstrate most (or all) 8 of the ideas above.

Regarding Spray and Pray

You might ask, "what do I need 5 images for?" You're right, you don't. You need only 1 sharp image, pick that 1 and delete the rest: they're digital, they're free except for the time needed to consider the individuals within the group and discard those unneeded.

Remember, we measure the results in photography, not the effort. So, if you go 0 for 1 in sharp focus, you are what your records says you are. When you present only your sharply focused images, it doesn't matter if these results are 1 for 10, 3 in 100, etc. Your record is undefeated at 1 for 1 or 3 for 3, and so forth. We all know: 1 is better than none when it comes to sharply focus images.

Investigate the sharpest apertures for each of your lenses

If you've read any lens reviews, you've probably seen some form of "sharpness improves in the corners at f/x". Different lenses and different reviewers have slightly different forms of this comment. Some lenses need to be stepped down just 1-stop. Some lenses are as sharp wide open as any smaller aperture. Many zoom lenses are significantly different at different apertures across the entire zoom range.

If you go through a testing exercise 'looking at the corners', the technique I want to mention is shooting your subject at a 45-degree angle. The example below takes a crop of the corner of an earlier image to show the difference as compared to where the lens was specifically focused. As a manual focus lens, the digital Sony didn't receive the aperture value from the lens. The lens was probably f/5.6, maybe f/8. The lens was not set to f/11 that is likely to produce 'sharp in the corners' result. The composition wasn't intended for 'sharp in the corners'. Rather, this composition was a more natural view where the image is sharp where your eyes are meant to fall in the frame and a natural softening away from that sharp point of interest.

As you test / consider your own equipment, consider this 45-degree framing to give yourself details in the corners of the image to consider, whether testing with building or landscapes. Your 'kit lens' is likely everywhere as sharp as any of the examples presented in the replies in this thread, your lens just has to be shot at an aperture that best demonstrates that sharpness. Use a tripod (or handheld with the VR / IS active) and create a series of test images to confirm which aperture(s) to use. View those images at the 100% zoom on your computer. Look at the details and make notes. Then, investigate and utilize the 7 other ideas presented above.

Regarding Back Button Focus (BBF)

For the BBF, you have to reprogram a button on the camera. On more advanced models, almost every button on the camera body can be set to something else via the camera's menu options. For the entry-level models, such as the EOS Rebel line, the options to change the functionality of the external buttons are limited to “custom functions”. Consult your camera model or u-tube for your specific model for the reconfiguration / customization process. If you have the focus ‘beep’ active on your camera, you’ll likely need to disable this feature.

After configuring your camera for BBF, you'll grab the camera and use your thumb to enable focus by pressing and holding the a button on the back the camera with AI Servo. You release the shutter with your index finder as normal.

This is BBF. You begin to use your camera as follows:

a. Grab camera.
b. As you raise the camera your eye, enable focusing with your thumb pressing the BBF button.
c. Frame / zoom and release the shutter with your index finger. Keep pressing the BBF button the entire time.
d. Release your thumb when you lower the camera from your eye.

Keep in mind your eyes operate in continuous (AI Servo) focus, whether you're following a moving subject or look at a static subject. You're updating your camera to operate in the same manner so where the AF point / zone is positioned, the camera is continuously focusing there.

No one needs to update to BBF. The key point is updating the camera to the 'continuous' focus mode, whether you use your thumb or index finger to focus.

Will these techniques rundown my battery?

In a word: No

Your camera, specifically the DSRL, and camera battery are optimized for shooting. The main drain on your camera's battery beyond the basic operation of capturing and storing images is the display playback and / or shooting in live view. Running the AF and IS has no material difference on battery life. Chimping your images, culling in the field and / or shooting in Live View is what burns your battery life.

I like this little camera, but I have to get used to the controls. I've been using it on Auto, just to see how it works. It can take good pictures almost in the dark - with ISO going to 12,500. Of course, my LR 6 can't process its raw files, but I'm not going to pay $120 a year for that. NX Studio works fine, and it's an acceptable substitute for LR. I like being able to switch back and forth between LCD and viewfinder with the press of a button. It came with 1.10 firmware, and I updated it to 1.20. The first picture I took was #22, which is in line with other refurb cameras I've bought. I downloaded the Owner's Manual, 64 pages, and also the Reference Manual, 624 pages. No, that isn't a typo. It has 624 pages - perfect for making a quick reference to get the info I want. I can understand Nikon has us download them.

The 16-50mm lens focuses very quickly and sharply, and I can focus manually by just turning the ring - no switches involved. I'll try the 50-250 after I get used to this lens. I haven't shot video with it, but I'll get around to that.

I don't like the center-pinch type of lens cap (or lens caps in general) so I'm going to put a clear filter on it. I'm getting a nice leather strap for it. That seem more appropriate than a wide black strap. I don't know about new versions, but this refurb body came without a strap. I also ordered a couple of Watson batteries with a dual-battery charger. That $35 Amazon Basics camera bag is perfect for it. There's lots of room and padding.

I have to manually open and close - extend and retract - the lens when I turn it on and off. It's the same with the 50-250mm. That's odd. I miss the easy-open Nikon SD card door found on the traditional DSLRs. This door is on the bottom, with the card inside the battery compartment. Of course, I can also use a cable to get the pictures into the computer. Unlike other cameras with moveable LCDs, this one snaps closed, so it takes just a bit more effort to swing it open, but it's not going to open accidentally.

One nice thing about getting a new camera is not only learning about its operation, but also setting it up the way you like. I'll be doing that gradually as time goes by. The Menu is typical Nikon, so I already know how to use it. The dials and buttons seem to be well thought-out, and I'm looking forward to learning what they do and how they work.

I have a lot to do around the house today, so the camera will have to spend the day with its relatives and get to know them. : )

UHH has been very good at telling me what I have to buy. Thanks!

I like this little camera, but I have to get used to the controls. I've been using it on Auto, just to see how it works. It can take good pictures almost in the dark - with ISO going to 12,500. Of course, my LR 6 can't process its raw files, but I'm not going to pay $120 a year for that. NX Studio works fine, and it's an acceptable substitute for LR. I like being able to switch back and forth between LCD and viewfinder with the press of a button. It came with 1.10 firmware, and I updated it to 1.20. The first picture I took was #22, which is in line with other refurb cameras I've bought. I downloaded the Owner's Manual, 64 pages, and also the Reference Manual, 624 pages. No, that isn't a typo. It has 624 pages - perfect for making a quick reference to get the info I want. I can understand Nikon has us download them.

The 16-50mm lens focuses very quickly and sharply, and I can focus manually by just turning the ring - no switches involved. I'll try the 50-250 after I get used to this lens. I haven't shot video with it, but I'll get around to that.

I don't like the center-pinch type of lens cap (or lens caps in general) so I'm going to put a clear filter on it. I'm getting a nice leather strap for it. That seem more appropriate than a wide black strap. I don't know about new versions, but this refurb body came without a strap. I also ordered a couple of Watson batteries with a dual-battery charger. That $35 Amazon Basics camera bag is perfect for it. There's lots of room and padding.

I have to manually open and close - extend and retract - the lens when I turn it on and off. It's the same with the 50-250mm. That's odd. I miss the easy-open Nikon SD card door found on the traditional DSLRs. This door is on the bottom, with the card inside the battery compartment. Of course, I can also use a cable to get the pictures into the computer. Unlike other cameras with moveable LCDs, this one snaps closed, so it takes just a bit more effort to swing it open, but it's not going to open accidentally.

One nice thing about getting a new camera is not only learning about its operation, but also setting it up the way you like. I'll be doing that gradually as time goes by. The Menu is typical Nikon, so I already know how to use it. The dials and buttons seem to be well thought-out, and I'm looking forward to learning what they do and how they work.

I have a lot to do around the house today, so the camera will have to spend the day with its relatives and get to know them. : )

UHH has been very good at telling me what I have to buy. Thanks!

Believe it or not, you can get a good laptop for that price, assuming you don't want to use it to process feature-length movies. I got a nice Aspire from Amazon in 2020 for $561, including tax.

https://www.laptopmag.com/articles/best-laptops-under-500
https://www.tomsguide.com/best-picks/best-laptops-under-500
https://www.rtings.com/laptop/reviews/best/by-price/under-500
https://www.digitaltrends.com/dtdeals/best-laptops-under-500/

YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=best+%24500+laptops

General computer recommendations -
Memory -
https://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/how-much-ram-does-your-pc-need-probably-less-than-you-think/
http://www.zdnet.com/article/how-much-ram-does-your-pc-need/

Processor -
http://gizmodo.com/dont-waste-money-on-intels-top-processor-1791426602
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2404674,00.asp
https://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/intel-core-i5-vs-i7/
http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/intel-core-i9-vs-i7-vs-i5-cpu/
https://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/intel-core-i5-vs-i7/
http://www.laptopmag.com/articles/core-i5-vs-i7
https://www.extremetech.com/computing/210703-intel-core-i5-vs-core-i7-which-processor-should-you-buy