Rate and Review This Product
For better or for worse, many electronics consumers are foregoing professional-grade quality and a slew of features and instead choosing simple, affordable devices that are easy to use. The success of the Flip video camera is a case in point. It won't get you 3-chip HD quality and you probably won't be pulling focuses or tracking shots on a dolly, but you can get decent video and (maybe more important) get it up on Facebook right now with a Flip.
But enough about the Flip. This review is about the Q3 Handy Video Recorder from Zoom. It, too, is an easy-to-use handheld video recorder that lets you shoot decent quality video and easily upload it to your video sharing website of choice. But, it has something the Flip can't touch: namely, the same stereo condenser microphones found on Zoom's ultra-popular H4n audio recorder. You get all the upside of quick and easy digital video, plus the added benefit of pristine sound.
Manual? We don't need no steenking manual. Here's all you need to know to get started shooting video:
That's it. You're recording. An LED in the record button and a little red light below the camera lens stay lit up to let you know you're in record mode, whether you're the director, or the talent. When you're done shooting, plug the Q3 into your computer via the onboard USB 2.0 jack, and use the included tools to publish your latest masterpiece to YouTube. You can go from unboxing the Q3 to Internet Superstar in about a half hour.
The Q3 comes with a pair of AA batteries and 2GB SD card so you don't have to wait to play with your new toy. The SD card is pre-loaded with Zoom's (Mac/Windows compatible) HandyShare software, which offers basic editing tools and has shortcuts for immediate upload to Facebook, YouTube, and MySpace. You also get a foam windscreen for location shooting, a cloth bag for toting your Q3 to the location, a Quick Start Guide (I think we went over that already), and an A/V cable (1/8-inch miniplug to RCA L/R/V) for TV connection.
Zoom makes a few optional add-ons as well, such as the AD14 power adapter. This comes in handy for longer sessions or when you're fresh out of batteries. You can also get a padded, water-resistant Tourtek case if you need a little extra protection than the included pouch will afford.
The Q3's video settings are not adjustable. It shoots 640 x 480 MPEG-4's at 30 frames per second. Similarly, the field of view through the camera lens is fixed, though you do have a 2x digital zoom. You can, however, adjust the audio quality. Choose from 16- or 24-bit uncompressed PCM/WAV files at CD-quality 44.1 kHz, or higher-than-CD-quality 48 kHz, or higher-than-higher-than-CD-quality 96 kHz. (Keep in mind, the 96 kHz WAV setting is for recording audio only; you can't shoot video on that setting.) If ultra-high-quality audio isn't crucial to the project, you can also set the Q3 to record MP3 audio, with twelve resolution settings (from 48 to 320 kbps).
The stereo condenser microphone capsules are mounted in a cage on the top of the Q3, aimed perpendicular to each other (X/Y pattern). The microphone gain is switchable from Low to High sensitivity if your audio source is relatively constant, with an Auto setting for sources with a wider dynamic range. Use the switchable low-cut filter to tighten up the bottom end and remove unwanted rumble from passing traffic, wind, etc. Audio playback can be monitored using the onboard mono speaker, or through a pair of headphones if you need to be covert about it.
Video playback can be monitored from the 2.4-inch (320 x 240 resolution) LCD screen on the back of the Q3. The display is overlayed with other helpful information, including stereo audio-level meters, a recording time counter, and icons for battery life, audio resolution, and more.
The storage capability is adequate, holding about 50 minutes of video with 16-bit/44.1 kHz uncompressed audio on the included 2GB card. Dropping down to the highest quality MP3 audio setting will bump the record time up to an hour or more. If that's not enough, the Q3 will accommodate SDHC cards up to 32GB, but keep in mind the max size of any individual video file is 4GB (2GB in audio-only mode).
Most of the adjustable settings are accessible via the Menu button, located just under the display screen. Here you can set the date and time, sound quality, activate the low-cut filter, and more. Removing a recorded file is just as easy. Just highlight the file with the navigation buttons, and press the Trash button. Gone, baby, gone.
I wanted to get a feel for how the Q3 would respond in a variety of situations, so I demoed it in a few different locations. First, I just goofed off around the house with it. I didn't set up any special lighting; I just roamed from room to room to see how it performed. Obviously, the video isn't going to stack up with a pro-quality camera, but overall I was happy with the output. I will say it performed better when there was plenty of light. I noticed a loss of detail in the dimmer areas of my house, and the colors were a bit darker and less vibrant. Even in what I would consider "normal lighting conditions" the colors were a bit washy, but not unbearably so. Apparently, I'm not the only one who feels this way, as Zoom has released a firmware update that is supposed to improve low-light performance.
Next, I popped the Q3 into my gig bag and headed off to band practice. The whole point of this thing is video with good audio, so I wanted to use it in a setting where the sound plays a significant role. We get pretty loud at rehearsal, so I set the gain switch to Low and activated the low-cut filter to keep the Q3 from clipping. I was really impressed with the audio quality, both in WAV and MP3 modes. It was better by far than the internal mics on other video cameras I've used. Does the Q3 sound as good as the other audio-only recorders Zoom makes? Yes, I'd say so. It may not have all of the frequency response at the extreme ends of the Bass and Treble, or quite the same detail in the sonic image as some of the super-expensive recorders available, but I would have no problem calling this thing a pro-quality piece.
If you're in the market for a portable, Internet-ready video recorder, you could do a lot worse than the Q3. For my money, it beats other options like the Flip in that you can store/offload videos to convenient SD media, and the sound quality blows those other cameras out of the water. And, the price is right, too.
zZounds is an authorized dealer of Zoom products.
4 out of 5
(21 ratings)
Rate and Review This Product
zZounds has verified that this customer bought this product from us.
"An all-in-one recording marvel at an amazing price!"
Thank you. Your vote has been counted. Could you briefly tell us why the review was or was not helpful?
zZounds has verified that this customer bought this product from us.
"Zoom Q3 Protable Video Audio Recorder"
Thank you. Your vote has been counted. Could you briefly tell us why the review was or was not helpful?
Customize Search Results for Your Location
Learn about great gear deals with our All Access Pass newsletter!
Need it now but short of cash? All we need is the first payment up front and the rest in easy monthly payments!
We'll wait on your money so you don't have to wait for your gear!
When you checkout, just click the Play as you Pay checkbox to indicate which installment plan you wish to use.
Need it now but short of cash? All we need is the first payment up front and the rest in easy monthly payments!
We'll wait on your money so you don't have to wait for your gear!
When you checkout, just click the Play as you Pay checkbox to indicate which installment plan you wish to use.
You don't have to trade service for savings when you shop at zZounds!
With zZounds you'll never have to worry that you paid too much.
Why fight traffic and pushy salesmen when we'll bring your gear straight to your home, free of charge?
Need it now but short of cash? All we need is the first payment up front and the rest in easy monthly payments!
We'll wait on your money so you don't have to wait for your gear!
When you checkout, just click the Play as you Pay checkbox to indicate which installment plan you wish to use.
Why fight traffic and pushy salesmen when we'll bring your gear straight to your home, free of charge?
A guarantee so solid, you never have to worry about price when shopping at zZounds
You'll still get the trustworthy service you've come to expect from zZounds, without paying more for your gear!