>RRRoger,
>Exactly which settings did you have to dial in to make you
>happy with the D800?
>Quote<<<

First off "Disclaimer" these will not work best for everyone
and I do adjust these for special circumstances.

1. I will start with the shutter button =
take photos in picture mode
start movies in movie mode
2. Mode button = Aperture priority
3. EV = 0 most of the time
4. Release mode dial = CL
5. Focus mode selector = AF
6. AF mode button = AF-C & d9
Shooting menu
7. File naming changed to my initials
8. Primary Slot = (SD 64GB 95s card) for stills
9. Secondary slot, Video and overflow (CF 32GB 1000x)
10. Image Quality = Fine
11. Image area = DX crop off and FX
12. JPEG compression = Optimal quality
13. I only shoot NEF as a backup at Weddings
14. White balance = Auto 1 Normal
15. Picture Control = SD Standard with sharpening increased to near 0.
16. Color space = sRGB
17. Active D lighting = Auto
18. HDR, Vignette control, Auto distortion control, long exposure NR,
High ISO NR, Multiple exposure, internal timer, time lapse = off
19. ISO sensitivity settings = 100, ON, Max 6400, Min shutter 1/640
20. Movie settings = 1080P @ 30fps, High quality, Auto mic.

Custom settings menu
a1 AF-C Priority = Release
a2 AF-S priority = Focus
a3 Focus tracking with lock on = 1 short
a4 AF activation = off (AF-ON only)
a5 AF point illumination = on
a6 Focus point wrap = off
a7 Number of focus points = 11
a8 AF assist = off
b1 Sensitivity step value = 1/3
b2 Exposure control 1/3
b3 Exposure/flash compensation = 1/3
b4 Easy exposure = off
b5 Center weight = 8
b6 Fine tune exposure = none
c1 Shutter release AE-L = off
c2 Auto meter off = 6s
c3 Self timer = 10s
c4 Monitor off = 10s
d1 Beep = off
d2 CL mode shooting speed = 5fps
d3 Max continuous release = 100
d4 Exposure delay = off
d5 File number sequence = on
d6 Viewfinder grid disp0lay = off
d7 ISO display = on
d8 screen tips = off
d9 Information display = B manual dark on light
d19 LCD illumination = on
e1 Flash sync = 1/250
e2 Flash shutter speed = 1/60
e3 Flash control = TTL
e4 Model flash = on
f1 switch = on
f2 Multi selector button
Shooting = highlight active focus point
Playback = magnify medium
Live view = zoom medium
f3 Multi selector = do nothing
f4 Assign Fn button = access top item my menu
f5 Assign preview button = virtual horizon
f6 Assign AE-L/AF-L button = AE/AF lock
f7 Shutter spd & aperture lock = off
f8 Assign BKT button = BKT
f9 Customize command dials = Aperture setting on the rest off
f10 Release button to use dial = off
f11 Slot empty release lock = enable release
f12 Revers indicators = + on right
f13 Assign MB-D12 = AF-ON

Movie mode
g1 Assign function button = view shooting info
g2 Assign preview button = view shooting info
g3 Assign AE-L/AF-L button = AE/AF lock
g4 Assign Shutter button = take photos
Setup menu
Monitor brightness = auto
HDMI output = auto
Flicker reduction = 60 Hz
Auto image rotation = on
Image comment = off
Copyright = on

I am interested in other settings that D800 owners are using for different serenades.
For instance, I shoot Video in manual but still use AF-ON when I refocus.

Visit my Nikonians gallery.