I don't believe in spending money where it is unnecessary...especially on Barbie Doll items like the L-brackets I use on my camera bodies. I decided to use my handy grinding tools to modify my D300 L-bracket to fit the D800. It took me about 10 minutes to make the changes required. The L-bracket now fits snuggly on the bottom of the D800 and the wrap-around opening at the connector door allows the door to open (it is still a pain in the butt to open, but it was before).

If any of you are handy with grinding tools or files and you want to save yourself $150 on yet another gadget, the mod is easy to do. I will upload a photo of the old D300 L-bracket that I modified if you want to see where you need to grind it.

The same should work on a D700 bracket since it is almost identical to the D300 bracket.

My wife now says I can take her to dinner with the $150 I saved. Right on.

Larry Jordan

D800E, 14-24, 50, 24-70, 70-180 Micro, 70-200, 80-400mm AF-S

Website:
http://larryjordan.smugmug.com/

Glad you were able to make this work. I wouldn't have tried this since I still own D300s and will probably sell the L-bracket with the camera. Generally my approach would be to sell the L-bracket to partially fund the new one. I've found the depreciation is minimal.

Larry - a Bay Area Nikonian
My Nikonians gallery

www.tempered-light.com

Neither of the two people who bought my D300 bodies wanted the L-brackets because they are Swiss-Arca. Both buyers had Manfrotto tripods/heads that were not compatible.

Larry Jordan

D800E, 14-24, 50, 24-70, 70-180 Micro, 70-200, 80-400mm AF-S

Website:
http://larryjordan.smugmug.com/

Great Larry! Keeping an eye out for your photo and instructions for the L-bracket...

Visit my Nikonians gallery.

Visit my Nikonians gallery.

This is my modified RRS D300 L-bracket for my D800E. The front feet are ground/filed down flush with the bottom of the plate. The inside edge of the back bars are ground/filed down to create a bevel.

I had a RRS D800 L-bracket to use as a guide. If you don't have one, keep trying the bracket as you grind and/or file it to see how well it fits. When mine is installed, I cannot tell any difference from the L-bracket on the other D800E body except the front edge of the old feet are visible. I hit those with a few file strokes to take the burs off.(I am not a product photographer, so I hope these work for you.)

Larry Jordan

D800E, 14-24, 50, 24-70, 70-180 Micro, 70-200, 80-400mm AF-S

Website:
http://larryjordan.smugmug.com/

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