Thanks everyone!
I think I'm slowly-but-surely starting to figure out how to make the wide field DSO images pop...
Troy - the Canon 135 mm f/2L lens happens to be one of my favourites.
Rick - thanks! I hope you had some success yourself?
David - I'm looking forward to seeing what magic the D800 can do!
Roger - Yep, it's a stock unmodified camera. Here's one of the Rho Ophiuchi subs completely unedited except for resizing - the dark nebulosity and colours were easily visible on the back of the camera.