One of the latest born of the Japanese house, Zoom completes its showcase of cameras based on music recording.
From the size slightly larger than that of a GoPro but with a high-level audio section, this new camera promises to be an interesting product capable of giving a lot of satisfaction to a user with very little physical and even monetary expenditure.
Aesthetic Considerations
La Q2n is part of that series of micro rooms in the style of GoPror, the design is less minimal and more captivating than this counterpart, a choice of more aggressive and more modern lines so as not to make it look like a box with a wide-angle lens, unlike its counterpart the microphone on the top of the chassis , it's not an eyesore, it manages to blend well with the original camera design.
Small but beautiful to look at, it looks good for the market segment in which it is placed.
In addition to the data that relate purely to the recording part, the structural part is really very interesting for a camera of this size, two microphones a 120° and an input for external microphones with mini jack connection considerably increase the possibilities of these camera, in addition to the connections then for a USB (in 2.0 mode even when used as webcam).
The power supply is entrusted to a pair of batteries AA, here I admit to having turned up my nose a lot and I would have preferred a lithium battery, albeit small and perhaps with little range, the house declares 2-3 hours autonomy of use in mode 720p/30 fps, not bad but not too great either.
The audio section in addition to a external mic (which runs up to -39 pcs) has a beautiful accessory which is that ofautogain which I must admit does its job well at least for use in closed and not excessively crowded places, for those who do not want or time to manage incoming earnings it is still a very interesting thing that I would not have disdained to see on a Q8.
Video Section Considerations
The video part is consistent with the rest of the competition (even if we are talking about video recorders not strictly related to music), I was pleasantly surprised by the recovery in format 1080p, gives a sharp and well-defined image and allows many close-up shots (the headstock area or near the handle) but it is better not to try to use the digital zoom in the least, the resulting video noise ruins the whole shot, so I recommend to manage it better the shooting position for good video quality.
even the 720p it's not bad at all, we are almost at the same levels as the Q8, of course the lack of a higher frame rate makes you miss the icing on the cake, but we are always talking about a very small camera so we can do it.
Satisfactory for auxiliary and dynamic shooting, it keeps shooting well even in the most dynamic shooting moments and the image is not affected by any kind of problem, it does the necessary and does it well when compared with a GoPro, so on this side for me it is promoted.
Audio sector considerations
Here we notice the very substantial difference between standard cameras and the Q2n, the microphone capsules work well even in the audio recording only mode, of course the gain must be managed to avoid signal peaks but the quality is good.
Various tests were carried out on the spoken, electric guitar in clean and electric guitar distorted:
As for the speech, the rest was good albeit with some frequency cut, at the beginning I carried out the first test with the camera at a distance of about 70 cm, I approached up to the 20 cm and the recovery has significantly improved by giving more depth to the vocal spectrum of a spoken take, obviously it is not born purely for this let us realize, but it is still something that must be said for those who want to use it to record something spoken.
The clean guitar was not affected by cuts of any kind, it remained faithful however putting the camera at about 15 cm from the amplifier cone and you can get a faithful recovery of your instrument without particular cuts as mentioned above or particular compressions of any kind.
The distorted guitar suffers from a slight compression if you keep the camera at the same distance as you hold it for the clean one, moving it away resolves and manages to give a recovery of a decent level but with some deficiencies in the medium-low register, but still acceptable .
Promoted on clean sounds, a little less for shooting distorted sounds, you can try to get a better shot though and you can get better results.
Economic Considerations
Currently the market price of one of these is around two hundred euros, a reasonable price although not exactly for all budgets, the rich basic equipment makes it attractive and the yield in terms of quality and possibility of use makes it competitive and very exploitable.
All in all it is a fair price compared to the market and the final yield.
Final considerations
Zoom still improves the audio video recorder kit, this Q2n is much, much more performing and less bulky than older cameras like the Q3HD, it is not a definitive camera because however it has a number of obvious limitations which are determined both by its very shape. compact and both from the fact that it is not the top of the Zoom range.
Useful for beginners or for those who need a camera that is truly skimpy in terms of footprint, but with the compromises that these minimum dimensions give you (non-interchangeable capsules, limited auxiliary output and so on)
PRO
- Extremely compact size
- Very performing microphones
- Aux entry
- Many options to be a small camera
AGAINST
- AA batteries last nothing
- The LCD screen is extremely thin
- Only supports micro SD cards
- Digital Zoom absolutely to be avoided
Note from the author
I prefer it more as an auxiliary camera than as a main camera, although it achieves good performance it is obviously not at the same level as the Q8 with which I am used to working, but it is very suitable for the types of shooting that are now very fashionable, namely those on the palette of instruments or very close to the instrumentalist to give a deeper vision of the performance.
Unfortunately I find the very tight battery life inconceivable, of course it is possible to solve it with an external lithium battery, but at this point it would not have been better in the design phase to already equip it with a lithium battery rather than run it on batteries?
All-purpose camera?
Yes and no, in this case it depends on the type of shooting you want to do, it can be very useful as a recording in the rehearsal room or as a fast camera that you can put in your pocket and use it whenever you want, you can get good results , would be the best for the teacher who has to make a video for his pupil and must have a camera to use immediately and effortlessly and with the audio quality suitable for a musical performance.
Possibility to register live?
Very difficult in my opinion, but not impossible, for the group that wants to record a performance can manage the microphone gain (or try with the autogain function to obtain an acceptable result) to try a recovery of this type, provided that it is positioned in a an area that is not too close to the stage that otherwise the gain should be set to very low levels and not get decent audio.
Still camera?
Honestly no, it is a camera manageable by hand, I would use it for dynamic shooting rather than just putting it on a tripod, for static shooting you can use something else.
Trade show camera?
On this side it is great, because you can start a shoot right away without having to edit anything, if you need an audio-video shoot on the fly at the fair for an article that interests you particularly, it does not take anything to make a good quality shoot.
Technical Considerations
So let's go see the video equipment:
| Section | Description |
| Storage format | Micro SD class 10 up to 128 Gigabytes |
| Optical sensor | 3 megapixel 1/3 inch CMOS |
| Spring | F 2.0,160 ° FOV, Fixed Focus
Focal Distance 16,6mm (35mm equivalent) |
| Video Resolution | HD 1080/30 fps
HD 1080/24fps HD 720/30 fps HD 720/24 fps |
| Video format | Mpeg4 H264 |
| Video Options | FOV (Field of View) stages: 0.75, 0.85,1.00,1.30,1.50
Selectable scenes at variable ISO. |
While for the audio part:
| Section | Description |
| Audio formats | Wav (24bit / 96 kHz, 24bit / 48 kHz, 16bit / 44.1 kHz) |
| Audio Options | Low Cut Filter (80,120,160), Autogain |
Useful Information
Model: ZOOM Q2n
Recommended retail price: EURO 270
Italian distributor: Mogar Music SpA
Official website: www.zoom.co.jp/it
One of the latest creations of the Japanese house, Zoom goes to complete the escapes of the cameras that are directed to the musical recording. This new camera, with the cable a little higher than that of a GoPro but with a high level audio section, promises to be very interesting and capable of giving a lot of satisfaction to a user with little financial and physical savings.
Consideraciones Estéticuas
The Q2n forms part of the series of GoPro-style micro cameras, the design is minimalist and more attractive compared to this counterpart a selection of more aggressive and modern lines in the way of not making it look like a cajita with a large angular lens, unlike its counterpart the microphone On the upper part of the chassis, it is not a blow to the eye, it can be perfectly blended with the original design of the camera.
Small but very neat to look at, it looks good on the market wherever it is placed.
Besides the data that refers to the recording part, the structural part is really very interesting for a camera of this size, two 120° microphones and an input for external microphones with mini jack connection increase the possibility of these cameras, as well as the connections via a USB (in 2.0 mode also when used as a webcam).
The power supply relies on a pair of AA batteries, so I admit that I am worn out and rather much prefer a non-lithium battery if it is very small and sometimes limited, the company claims 2 – 3 hours of battery life in 720p/30 fps mode, it's not bad but it's not that special.
The audio section in addition to an external mic (which manages up to -39 db) has a neat accessory for autogain, which I have to admit, makes it very easy to work with at least for use in closed places and not many people, so that there is no time to manage the inputs and, in all ways, a very interesting thing that no one was disappointed to see on a Q8.
Consideraciones Sector Video
The video part is consistent with the rest of the skill (the same as we talk about video recorders which are not inherent to music), I was pleasantly surprised by the use in 1080p format, by a clear and well-defined image that allows many relatively short films, however, it is better not to use the digital zoom, the noisy video that goes up It can ruin the whole filming, so I advise you to better manage the filming position to keep a good quality video.
Also the 720p is not bad, we are at the same level as the Q8, it is clear that the failure of a higher frame rate makes you lose track of the camera, but we always talk about a very small camera, therefore, we can comply with this.
Satisfactory for auxiliary and dynamic filming, it keeps the filming well in the most dynamic moments of filming and the image is not affected by any kind of problem, it does what is necessary and it does well if compared with a GoPro, so for me it is a promise.
Consideraciones Sector Audio
Here you can see the differences between the standard cameras and the Q2n, the microphone capsules also work well in the form of audio recording, only if you have to manage the gain to avoid signal peaks, but the quality is very good.
The different tests have been made on the table, clear shape electric guitar and distorted electric guitar:
In relation to the phone, it was good even with some short frequency, at the beginning I carried out the first test with the camera at a distance of 70 cm, I made sure it was at 20 cm and the filming improved giving greater thickness of vocal sounds of a vocal film, so hopefully it doesn't arise for This, however, is still useful for anyone who wants to record something written.
The clean-shaped electric guitar is filled with wire, however, by placing the chamber at least 15 cm from the cone of the amplifier and you can obtain a response from the instrument without particular needs.
The distorted-shaped electric guitar requires light understanding and is placed at the same distance as the clean guitar, playing it at a higher level, however, with a low and medium range, but still it is acceptable.
It's good for clear sounds, a little worse for filming than distorted sounds, but with inventiveness you can improve the filming and obtain better results.
Economic Considerations
At this moment the market price of one of these is 200 euros, it is a decent price but not for everyone, the rich basic equipment makes it more attractive and the quality performance and possibility of use make it more competitive and much more usable.
In general it is a correct price.
Final Considerations
The Zoom goes to improve the audio video recorder, this Q2n is much more competitive and less bulky than larger cameras like the Q3HD, it is not a definitive camera because it has some limitations that are due to its compact form and therefore it is not the top of the range in the Zoom house.
It is convenient for those who need or for those who need a small camera like the galibo, but we are committed to these minimal gauges that they give you (non-interchangeable caps).
PRO
Extremely compact dimensions
Micrófonos muy eficaces
Many options seem to be a small camera
Aux Input
CONS
AA batteries don't last long
The LCD panel is extremely small
Only supports micro SD cards
Avoid Digital Zoom
Author's Notes
I prefer it much more as an auxiliary camera than as a main camera, even if you have good performances it is clearly not at the same level as the Q8 with what I'm used to working with, but it's good for the types of filming that are in fashion, whether the blades on the instruments or very similar to instrumentalist to give a deeper vision of the performance.
Regrettably, I believe that the battery life is inconceivable, of course it can be resolved with an external lithium battery, but wouldn't it be much better to create it with a lithium battery from the beginning?
Cámara para todos los usos?
Depending on the types of film you want to make, it can be useful as recording in the recording room or as a quick film camera that you can put in the bag and use when you want, you can get good results, it would be best for the teacher who has to make a video for his student and it has a film camera that can be used ready and without energy and with audio quality suitable for a musical type performance.
Possibilidad de grabar live?
For me it is very difficult, but not impossible, for those who want to get a performance can manipulate the gain of the microphone (or you can use the autogain function to obtain an acceptable result) to test a film of this type, provided that you place it in an area that is not suitable for the scenario, because the gain will be programmed to minimum levels and you will not get good audio.
Camera for static films?
Honestly no, it's a camera that can be controlled by hand, I'd prefer to use it for dynamic filming before placing it on a tripod, otherwise you can use it for static filming.
Cámara de feria?
In this way it is great, because you can start a video immediately without having to install anything, if you need an audio-video video on the weekend for an article that may particularly interest you, it will not take time to make a good quality video.
Consideraciones Tecnicas
Let's go to the video equipment:
| Section
|
Description |
| storage format
|
Micro SD class 10 has 128 Gigabyte |
| optical sensors
|
Megapixel 1/3 of a pulgada CMOS |
| Spring | F 2.0,160 ° FOV, Fixed Focus
Focal distance 16,6 mm (equivalent to 35mm)
|
| Video resolution | HD 1080/30 fps
HD 1080/24fps
HD 720/30 fps
HD 720/24 fps
|
| Video format | Mpeg4 H264
|
| Video options | FOV (Field of View) phases: 0.75, 0.85,1.00,1.30,1.50
Scenes selectable to ISO variables
|
Meanwhile the audio part
| Section | Description
|
| Audio formats | Wav (24bit / 96 kHz, 24bit / 48 kHz, 16bit / 44.1 kHz)
|
| Audio options | Filter Recortes Bajos (80,120,160), Autogain
|
Informaciónes útiles
Model: ZOOM Q2n
Price of recommended sale: 270 Euros
Official page: www.zoom.co.jp/esp
Translation Ciro Del Prete
