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Gear / Technical Help => Photo / Video Recording => Topic started by: fguidry on November 28, 2010, 03:10:49 PM

Title: Zoom Q3HD - decent audio in a pocket cam
Post by: fguidry on November 28, 2010, 03:10:49 PM
The Q3HD has landed in the USA, I got mine the day after Thanksgiving.

Blog post: http://www.homebrewedmusic.com/2010/11/28/a-first-look-at-the-zoom-q3hd/

Comparo video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=env3UPYfhBA

"Look at me" vid: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkLmTYSBLzo

This thing has a "concert" mode that supposedly helps with difficult lighting, but I haven't tried it.

The audio side is pretty cool, simply because it's straight clean audio - no AGC/ALC, good frequency response, low distortion. The built-in mics are in a wide X-Y array and the audio input is a slightly over-sensitive Line In. It will probably still need an attenuator to connect to a normal mixer line level out.

Fran
Title: Re: Zoom Q3HD - decent audio in a pocket cam
Post by: johnny9fingers on December 12, 2010, 08:06:15 PM
Thanks for the brief review of the Q3HD, and I enjoyed the video performances.  The video looked good, and the audio was great.  Have you used it at a concert yet?  I am thinking about getting one to record my sons school concerts and catch video/audio of the family and will keep checking back to see any additional reports from you.
Thanks again,
John
Title: Re: Zoom Q3HD - decent audio in a pocket cam
Post by: fguidry on December 13, 2010, 01:42:25 PM
Thanks for the brief review of the Q3HD, and I enjoyed the video performances.  The video looked good, and the audio was great.  Have you used it at a concert yet?  I am thinking about getting one to record my sons school concerts and catch video/audio of the family and will keep checking back to see any additional reports from you.
Thanks again,
John

Sorry, I don't generally shoot shows, only my little performance videos. I did shoot a little living room singalong using normal room lighting and the result was pretty decent. But for general video use I'd probably choose some other cam, something with zoom, maybe optical image stabilization. I don't really keep up with the camcorder world, but there are lots of nifty cameras out there these days.

One of the comments on my blog includes a link to review of the Q3HD with some concert footage: http://www.gamemecca.net/forums/showthread.php?87585-Zoom-Q3HD-Video-Recorder

Hope this helps,
Fran
Title: Re: Zoom Q3HD - decent audio in a pocket cam
Post by: 12milluz on December 13, 2010, 02:01:06 PM
I watched that and some of your other video comparisons and wow thanks! That's very helpful!
Title: Re: Zoom Q3HD - decent audio in a pocket cam
Post by: NOLAfishwater on December 28, 2010, 09:59:14 AM
Q3 $200
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Q3zoom

Q3HD $299
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Q3HD/