On top of the camera and photo taking techniques ... good photo processing software should also be considered. All cameras that do self focusing or light metering make some assumptions on what they're doing. Good photo processing software (like Photoshop) help you to compensate with some of those compromises. There are good magazines (like PC Photo) that usually feature articles in almost every issue on how to bring out the best in your pictures when the camera hasn't achieved what you want it to. Takes some study and experimentation, but I've already gained lots of ideas for photo processing (I have Photoshop Elements ... a somewhat less robust version of Photoshop). Worth the effort.