D800 or D4, zoom

I'm not a professional photojournalist who has to catch a news-worthy moment so I don't need the fast frames per second of the D4)

I think you answered your own question

Here's my thoughts:
- What are you not getting out of your current body/lens setup that makes you want to upgrade?
- If you're used to using primes, do you use them at wide apertures or stopped down? If you like wide aperture lenses, get a wide aperture zoom, don't get a variable wide aperture super-zoom, which is a common mistake when making the transition to zoom lenses
- I've not seen much on video and zoom lenses, but I think that if you can zoom smoothly, you'll be happy - if you jerk around the zoom ring and go from wide to tele quickly you may not be impressed - but you may. You never know...don't let someone else's opinion sway you until you've tried it.

Good Luck with your decision.
RS

I suspect that the D800 is the wiser choice of the two.

As for zoom-with-video: I'm not sure I follow the thinking. Even if we stipulate that it is is awkward to manually pull the zoom while using such a lens in video mode (without buying one of those large rigs that people use for that purpose), well... just don't do that. Meaning, that's no reason not to have the significant versatility of a zoom for general photography. Using primes for video instead doesn't gain you anything that you can't get by simply using the zoom at a single focal length anyway. But the zoom gives you a lot of flexibility in day-to-day use, and lenses like the 24-70/2.8 are true gems, worthy of the D800's ruthless specs.

I agree, the D4 is built very specifically for sports. The D800 is a phenomenal landscape/architecture/studio body with good enough performance for natural portraits and lowlight photography.

You absolutely need a zoom for video, either to keep up with the movement of your subject or to create interest in an otherwise still scene. I highly doubt that the D800 can continuously autofocus while video recording so keep this in mind. The only way to manual focus and zoom with all the two touch lenses out there is to mount the lens on a tripod for two-hands-on-the-lens shooting. I currently use a one-touch Nikon 80-200/2.8 D ED on my Canon 5D II for video for handheld or monopod shooting.

I highly doubt that the D800 can continuously autofocus while video recording

Actually, the D800 provides for both MF and full-time AF during video capture (including a face-detection routine, if you want it, while it's in video AF).

that's no reason not to have the significant versatility of a zoom for general photography

Well, the Nikon zooms are very difficult to focus precisely manually in my experience. Many primes (especially manual focus ones) offer easier and more precise manual focus capability. This can be important for video as it is largely a manual focus affair. But I agree that that's not a good reason specifically avoid a zoom as they can be very useful and versatile for general photography (including landscape and portrait). For those applications a 24-70 would be in my opinion the best choice - while the 14-24 is excellent for interiors and some specific landscape situations it is about as far away from a portrait lens as a lens can be. The 24-70 range is useful for normal looking landscapes as opposed to exaggerated perspectives which IMO are a cheap thrill that can wear out quickly. It's also extremely versatile for whole body portraits, half body shots, groups, etc. I would just use the tele primes for tight head shots which the 24-70 can't really do (on FX).

It's also extremely versatile for whole body portraits, half body shots, groups, etc. I would just use the tele primes for tight head shots which the 24-70 can't really do (on FX).

The 36 MP sensor with its 1.2x cropping option adds even more versatility to this and other lenses. It makes the 24-70 a very nice portraiture lens. I really like the 24-70 zoom but have always wished it had an additional 10-15mm at the longer end for casual portraiture. With the 1.2x crop you still have about 25 MP and 84/2.8.

Is it that D800 is a FX camera?, so there crop factor would be 1.0.
There is a DX mode with crop factor 1.5, I believe.
Perhaps the crop 1.2X Jake talks is the crop done in post processing ? or is there another crop built-in in the camera ?

Actually, in post processing one can make any crop factor that makes sense.

Among newer Nikon FX bodies, starting from the D3S, there are three additional crop modes:

• DX crop, which is available on all Nikon FX bodies
• 5:4 crop for 8x10 type prints (or should I say 10x8). That is available on all FX bodies that has a 100% viewfinder. I.e. all but the D700. On a non-100% viewfinder, the image inside the viewfinder is not quite centered so that any 5:4 crop would not be very accurate in the viewfinder.
• 1.2x crop, which more or less simulates Canon's 1D series' APS-H sensor area (not the full-frame 1Ds). This crop mode is available on the D3S, D4, and D800/D800E.

However, I agree that one is better off capturing as much info as you can and then crop in post processing. That will leave you more options later on. As I always point out, what you throw away during capture time will never be recoverable.

No offense to the OP, but if you are not sure you should get a D4 or D800, it sounds like you are not quite ready for one. Also consider which lenses you may need to add to take full advantage of the new camera.

There is a DX mode with crop factor 1.5, I believe.

I`m not much of a believer. But according to the specs on the Nikon website besides FX the camera has three crop options: 1.2x, DX and 5x4. The latter I will use a lot.