Originally posted by Fenwoodian Why can't one have it all?
We can have it all - only if we are prepared to only work within the constraints of controllable parameters. FYI if you really want to embrace pedantry for sharpness: that SLR is going to limit you - that flapping mirror and shutter mechanism just introduces vibrations. You're better off using a mirrorless system with an electronic shutter* coupled with the motion freezing capability of flash. You are going to have to spend
a lot of money on lenses, Cameras, Tripods**...and if you are producing prints their printers had better be calibrated, well maintained with absolutely no clogs in the print heads. And if you are just producing images for display than you have no control on what others see if they view your work on un-calibrated sub 8K resolution screens.
I have seen students spend truly
incredible sums of money in pursuit for sharpness, and see their disappointment at the vanishingly small "improvements" their new Lens/Camera makes to their work..
* OR shoot a leaf shutter system with a high sync speed such as the Rollei HY6, Hasselblad H6D or Leica S2.
** which you should be using
all the time.