I appreciate your COMMENT, believe me. So far, it is indeed a losing battle, which I now beginning to become weary from... part of my frustration is having had, IMO, a combo which did work while using MY same techniques... that being a Canon 5DmkIII + Canon 500mm F4LI + TC1.4ii... at this moment, I think the camera tech did NOT FT this with the TC on board... so today AGAIN, I am going out without TC, using Crop Mode setting inside D800e and see IF I can get anybetter results... yesterday, I took 3x images, but the light was not great [ they were NOT sharp] ... IF I can't get this combo sharp trying to Fine tune it MYSELF... I think the least expensive way to see IF any of this is going to work is to get a D500. IF that doesn't work, I am selling it all and must decide whether I have the patience or FUNDS to do this anymore. IT is quite frustrating at my age of 75. Attached is ONE image taken using the old Canon System I just sold OFF due to the weight. THIS is the kind of clarity I am used to ... zoom lenses can never produce what Primes can do... although the newer Z lenses may be a lot better, IF one can afford the ridiculous prices NOT being a pro.