I just got my RRS tripod and ballhead and emailed my thanks to RRS expert Jim Wiese, who patiently walked me through the ordering process:

"Locked down on the RRS 24L tripod & BH-40LR ballhead, my Nikon D800E, 70-200mm VRII & TC 2.0 III takes truly incredible images. I handheld it successfully for my initial test shots but locked down the D800E delivers a whole 'nother level of sharpness. IMHO, the D800E was born to be a tripod camera. I'll now definitely keep my D700 & 28-300mm as an excellent walk-around rig."

Gator Bob Santa Fe New Mexico
*D800E *D700 *SB800 *RRS TVC-24L
Nikkors: *14-24 *70-200 VRII *T-20E III *50 f/1.8 *PC-E 85 *28-300
Tamron: * 90mm Macro *

If you're not planning to Loctite your D800e to your tripod head, why not use it as your walk-around body? WHen you downsize its images to the same 12mp of your D700, you will achieve the same sharpness that you are accustomed to with the D700. But you'll get the increased dynamic range and all those pixels…

Jon Kandel
A New York City Nikonian and Team Member
Please visit my website and critique the images!

Yeah, I know. I'm really looking for an excuse to keep the D700 - 28-300 combo as a #2.
Loktite- - I don't think so.


Gator Bob Santa Fe New Mexico
*D800E *D700 *SB800 *RRS TVC-24L
Nikkors: *14-24 *70-200 VRII *T-20E III *50 f/1.8 *PC-E 85 *28-300
Tamron: * 90mm Macro *

I kept my D3s. It gets used 20% of the time.

Jon Kandel
A New York City Nikonian and Team Member
Please visit my website and critique the images!

>I kept my D3s. It gets used 20% of the time.
>
>Jon Kandel
>A New York City Nikonian and Team Member
>Please visit my website and critique the
>images!

I came around to yur logic and posted my d700 for sale.
Gator Bob Santa Fe New Mexico
*D800E *D700 *SB800 *RRS TVC-24L
Nikkors: *14-24 *70-200 VRII *T-20E III *50 f/1.8 *PC-E 85 *28-300
Tamron: * 90mm Macro *

"D800E was born to be a tripod camera"
Bob you're absolutely right the D800e really shines on a tripod. I've been using it for the last two weeks doing an ad series for an agency and can't believe the exceptional resolution and quality of these files. I've also found that hand holding the camera can be disastrous if it's not done right. The old formula of at least the same shutter speed as focal length does not apply to the D800e. I have been using three times the focal length with auto ISO and finding the results very very good. With my 35mm 1.4 I've been using at least 125th of second as my minimum handheld shutter speed. The ISO capabilities are so good that it makes very little difference in the final files. I learned my lesson the first time I used it shooting people with the 85mm at 125th of second and came out incredibly bad files and the same goes for 35mm at a 50th of the second. Most the time when images really count I'm using a monopod or a tripod for advertising work.

I found right away that higher shutter speeds than habit made all the difference in handheld shots. Those who are having a problem with focus hand held are probably using shutter speeds they got used to as acceptable for their 12mpx cameras. A wedding 2 weeks ago confirmed that to me, I could guess the SS from looking at the perceived sharpness. My 85mm shots at 1/320 were all better than those at 1/125 regardless of other scene factors, lighting etc. I was using a D7000 and the mental checklist after a short period of use included increasing shutter speed over what I would have used with film or a D90. My hand hold lower limit for sharp images from the D7000 was 1/250 for 200mm and 1/125 on a D90. With the D800, the same scene and lens would be 1/320 or 1/400.
Shooting at 1/FC when viewed at the same distance and size actually is not any worse with a D800 versus a lower res camera but we tend not to restrict out viewing to normal distances and print sizes when evaluating sharpness. The true resolution capability is masked by slower speeds but are still decent when not viewed magnified if shoot at low speeds.
Stan
St Petersburg Russia

Visit my Nikonians gallery.

Km6xz I agree, it amazes me how long it takes some people to figure the SS out on the D800 to get sharper photos. The great ISO and good lenses for sure help on the D800 !

" ... it amazes me how long it takes some people to figure the SS out on the D800 to get sharper photos. "

Thank you but I get excellent handheld images becuse I fully grasp how to use shutter speeds and focus release. However, for serious work with this exceptional camera only a fool would fail to use a tripod. I also suggest you read Nikon's tech pub on the subject.

Gator Bob Santa Fe New Mexico
*D800E *D700 *SB800 *RRS TVC-24L
Nikkors: *14-24 *70-200 VRII *T-20E III *50 f/1.8 *PC-E 85 *28-300
Tamron: * 90mm Macro *

"However, for serious work with this exceptional camera only a fool would fail to use a tripod"

Whatever you want to believe, I guess I should have used a tripod for this shot because this was shot hand held with a D800E for a national magazine and is in the running for photo of the year for USA Beach volleyball.
But what do I know, I just get paid to take photos for a living. Come on now let's be realistic "Gator bob" =)

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great shot! i never take sports photos and was lockd into thinking about landscapes. excuse my dumb remark ... it was late and i was slightly pissed over the tone of your remark.

Gator Bob Santa Fe New Mexico
*D800E *D700 *SB800 *RRS TVC-24L
Nikkors: *14-24 *70-200 VRII *T-20E III *50 f/1.8 *PC-E 85 *28-300
Tamron: * 90mm Macro *

Thank you, and no big deal. Thats the thing about the internet.
Sometimes when we say things on here they get interpreted the wrong way...Hope you have great fun with your D800 good times =)

True enough .... but i made a very good living with words. I should know better,

Gator Bob Santa Fe New Mexico
*D800E *D700 *SB800 *RRS TVC-24L
Nikkors: *14-24 *70-200 VRII *T-20E III *50 f/1.8 *PC-E 85 *28-300
Tamron: * 90mm Macro *

Hi Bob,

Here's a image taken with a D800E, hand-held (grab shot), 1/320 sec, AP, f4, AF-C, 85mm f/1.8G. My in-camera sharpening setting is set to zero...post-development sharpening has been applied.

Just want to share that sharp, hand-held images are possible assuming decent technique, high quality lens and a fast enough shutter speed to compensate for lack of tripod.

When I shoot this way, most of the images are keepers.

Good luck with your new camera!

Nick (Roxbury, Connecticut Nikonian)

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Hawk Eyes--Wow, this shot is amazing! Wonderful job and congrats on the award.

As a sports shooter who just purchased a D800E to play with, I would love to know the specs on this image if you don't mind sharing.

www.triciabookerphotography.com

Hi Paris thank you, all my action beach V-ball shots are always...70 200 2.8 II / Manual mode F4 / Auto ISO / between 1/2000 and 1/5000. All depending on how much light is available. this shot was 1/5000.
Thanks Pete

Thanks for sharing, Pete. Much appreciated. I just love this shot!

www.triciabookerphotography.com

Here's one that's nowhere near as fantastic as Pete's, but it shows the kind of tack sharpness you can get handheld if you keep the shutter speed up. Street photography at f/5.6 and 1/500th. Unfortunately a lot of sharpness is lost when you compress to less than 300kb.

Russ Lewis
www.FineArtSnaps.com

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Outstanding!

Gator Bob Santa Fe New Mexico
*D800E *D700 *SB800 *RRS TVC-24L
Nikkors: *14-24 *70-200 VRII *T-20E III *50 f/1.8 *PC-E 85 *28-300
Tamron: * 90mm Macro *

Looks fantastic to me, great shot..... sharpness, subject and composition !

I recently bought a Feisol tripod in order to reduce my gear weight and to make traveling by air easier. I used it for a week in Maine a few weeks ago. Even though the tripod is much lighter than my big Gitzo, I found every image to be tack sharp. I was shooting with a 14-24 and 24-70 and mostly in low wind conditions.

I did have one landscape series of images that I could not use because I focused to close and used too low an aperture. I did not have my cellphone with me for those shots and could not look up the hyperfocal distance...so I guessed at it. Never again! Using the hyperfocal distance is critical when trying to get maximum details at low apertures.

Larry Jordan

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

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

I have a similar setup...RRS TVC-24 and BH-40. Hand holding the D800 with an appropriate shutter speed amazes me...securing it on a tripod produces drool inducing sharpness for those shots that require a slightly slower shutter (for one reason or another). That's one of the addictive characteristics of the D800s...that you can just keep squeezing more and more out of it by refining/perfecting technique at all levels.

Enjoy your new tripod and ballhead!

-Shawn

Do you ever miss not having the heavier, smoother bh-55 ballhead?

Gator Bob Santa Fe New Mexico
*D800E *D700 *SB800 *RRS TVC-24L
Nikkors: *14-24 *70-200 VRII *T-20E III *50 f/1.8 *PC-E 85 *28-300
Tamron: * 90mm Macro *

I have never used the BH-55 so I cannot compare the two...but I must admit that there are times when I wonder if it would be a little smoother for adjusting the camera in some macro situations (out in the field).

I have read of "techniques" in which people will apply different substances to the ball head to induce a smoother feel, but I prefer to stay away from some of these remedies and let repeated use break it in (mine is still relatively new).

Nevertheless, I am extremely pleased with the BH-40 and its sturdiness.

-Shawn

This is all about personal choice. I ordered both a BH-40 and BH-55 and have been researching both in depth and working with both (while handling them very gently). I told RRS in advance I would select a keeper and return the other one and they are OK with that. They have a remarkably liberal return & exchange policy.

I'm keeping the BH-55. I find the BH-55 provides a big improvement over the BH-40 for a 25% price premium and a 12 ounce weight penalty.

The BH-55 is a serious piece of industrial art coupled with superb performance. The BH-40 is very well made and a very good performer and I love that it weighs only one pound ... but in every way I find myself instantly gravitating to the BH-55.


Gator Bob Santa Fe New Mexico
*D800E *D700 *SB800 *RRS TVC-24L
Nikkors: *14-24 *70-200 VRII *T-20E III *50 f/1.8 *PC-E 85 *28-300
Tamron: * 90mm Macro *

Over 12K photos none on tripod.
Taken with 24-120mm, not even the sharpest lens. All sharpening removed.


And a 100% crop.

Monopod & TC 2.0III

This reply is more about limits, mine, and abilities, the D800. I got the D800 (my 2nd digital the first being a D300) about two weeks before a trip to the northern coast of BC to take photos of wildlife and misty landscapes in the Great Bear Rainforest. The reason I needed (ok, wanted) the resolution of the D800 was to try to get images of the “feel” of mist. Shutter speed at 2-3 times lens length is not always possible – cloudy and misty mornings and a tripod in a rubber boat is not going to happen. All of that is to let you know that the images below are limited by experience and conditions but I am happy with what I got.

With both photos I was using a 300mm f/2.8 plus a TC 20III and aperture priority with the auto ISO set to max. 1600 and Minimum Shutter Speed set to Auto at one step faster. The eagle was taken hand held from a zodiac with 6 people slowly moving up river though the mist. The bears were taken with the help of a RRS Monopod. In PS I enlarged the view to about 100% and cropped a portion, I then resized both the full frame view and the 100% crop to 1200px. I used the Save to Web command to produce the JPGs at the highest quality that remained below the 300kb limit. Noise is clearly seen. I do wish the bears were tack sharp but maybe later on my learning curve.



1/1500s f/5.6 ISO 500 300mm f/2.8 + TC 20III
Full Frame, PS Image Resize to 1200px, Save to Web @ Quality 75%


about 100% crop, PS Image Resize to 1200px, Save to Web @ Quality 60%


1/90s f/5.6 ISO 1600 300mm f/2.8 + TC 20III
Full Frame, PS Image Resize to 1200px, Save to Web @ Quality 60%


about 100% crop, PS Image Resize to 1200px, Save to Web @ Quality 50%

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I would disagree that 800 was 'born for a tripod'.
While I am sure it will shine on a tripod, it would be a shame
to not to work on / practicing techniques / adjusting settings so
we get get fantastic images from this camera being just hand-held.

I agree. My bad. I withdrew my dumb overstatement a while back.


Gator Bob Santa Fe New Mexico
*D800E *D700 *SB800 *RRS TVC-24L
Nikkors: *14-24 *70-200 VRII *T-20E III *50 f/1.8 *PC-E 85 *28-300
Tamron: * 90mm Macro *

Ming Thein in his latest blog said he continues to intermittently experience unpredictable auto focus problems with his D800E but it remains his camera of choice for the most demanding professsional assignments. He recommends using the 800E on a tripod. He says even his experienced pro handholding technique frequently fails to produce sharp images.

Gator Bob Santa Fe New Mexico
*D800E *D700 *SB800 *RRS TVC-24L
Nikkors: *14-24 *70-200 VRII *T-20E III *50 f/1.8 *PC-E 85 *28-300
Tamron: * 90mm Macro *