Colleagues:

Thank all of you for the warm welcome to the D800 forum ... and another learning curve. I will post test images as they emerge. I have a 24x36 inch test chart that I printed that includes some one pixel-width lines, that I will use. I also have a number of Intel processor chips with their covers removed. It will be interesting to see just how much detail the D800E can resolve. Stay tuned.

I am going to study the white balance function in the D800 to see how it may have changed from earlier Nikon cameras. My insane pursuit of color theory and management continues unabated.

I am also going to explore dynamic range a bit. As sensor photo cell sizes continue to decrease, the image quality does not appear to degrade as we have expected it to do in the past. I suspect that Nikon and others have discovered new materials for photo cells that can produce high image quality at relatively low noise levels at low light and ISO levels.

Russ, I was one of the original partners in the Foto Forum camera store in Phoenix, and have been purchasing almost all my equipment there since it opened in 1972. The major exception includes L-brackets and other products from Really Right Stuff in California, which are not sold in stores. Foto Forum is one of only two remaining brick and mortar stores in the metropolitan area serving the needs of professional photographers. The recent/ongoing recession took its toll. If you can let me know when you are going to be there some time, I will drop in and say hello if possible.

A year ago, I wanted to take the D3 on a two-week cruise that included a Pacific to Atlantic transit of the Panama Canal, and did not want to drag multiple, heavy lenses along. The 24-120 mm was a good choice and performed very well. I will likely use it as a "walking around" lens.

Regards,

HBB in Phoenix, Arizona
Nikonian Team Member

Photography is a journey with no conceivable destination.