Zoom Q2n-4K Handy Video Recorder, 4K/30P Ultra High Definition Video, Compact Size, Stereo Microphones, Wide Angle Lens, for Recording Music, Video, YouTube Videos, Livestreaming

Build Quality:So far the device is made quite well. It has a heavier feel then the original Q2n and the buttons even feel better in comparison. It’s hard to explain but it makes the Q2n feel cheap because this seems more solidly built even though they share a very similar design.Accessories:The Windscreen from the previous model can also be fitted on the 4K as well. Just make sure you install the lens hood (included) before the windscreen this way it helps keep the fur out of the lens itself. Mind you, doing this outside on a windy day will almost guarantee the windscreen getting in the lens fov. It does help, especially if you like to keep a ceiling fan on high in the same room you may be doing a video in while using this camera. The lens hood and lens cap from the older Q2n is not compatible with the 4K model. The Mic stand adapter is though.Audio:I just want to touch on this for a sec as when you set it at the highest quality, windows computers may have an issue with it and not play any sound at all. Not sure if this is a driver/codec issue but Mac users won’t have this problem. iPad and iPhone users won’t have this problem either. Any other audio setting below the highest will work for Windows users just fine. Zoom has the best audio on a small camera I’ve ever heard before.File type:It’s .MOV and they will airdrop for you Apple users and work in iMovie without a problem. The Q2n is the same if you wanted to know.Audio Line out:It doesn’t mention the headphone jack doubling as a line out but I was successful in doing so. It doesn’t say on either model but the Q2n and the Q2n-4K both work, as long as I turned off “plug in power” in the settings and it was just as clear as my Zoom H2n Recorder which I normally use for this. [I’m referring to using the cameras as a Mic for gaming capture where the audio is direct line into my capture device]. You can use the headphone jack normally for headphones just fine and it has a volume adjustment. The Plug In Power is for external Mics that require power to operate them as you can input those into either model Q2n which will bypass the XY mics built in. There’s a separate Mic In 3.5mm jack for that on the cameras just below the headphone jack.SD Card and Recording Times:(with Max Audio) This camera will take up to a 256gb Micro SDXC card and when using an XC, it will record in a seamless recording. Only to stop when the card is full or you stop it yourself. If you use a SDHC (these are up to 32gb capacity), the files will be broken every 4gb.128gb Card:4K30/24fps=3hr 31min1080p60fps=5hr 9min1080p30/24fps=9hr 51min720p30fps=20hr 50minCamera Off 96k24bit WAV Audio=61hr 42min (highest quality)I formatted my own card in the device to get those numbers. Video bitrate up to 76Mbps which is likely 4K mode and I can’t test whether it’s a constant or variable.Lens:A fixed focus 150 degree fisheye wide angle lens. f2.8/15.2mm. I did see a comment where they (Zoom) replied saying it’s 16mp, though I don’t see this anywhere on the website.More:Runs off 2AA batteries and it’s recommended you use Lithium as they will last much longer. Record times with various battery types are listed on Zooms website. You can power the device with a usb power supply and avoid AA batteries altogether.Lens is a 150 degree wide lens and the older Q2n is a 160. The Q2n Lens can easily be replaced but I’m not so sure about this one yet.The Q2n-4K isn’t compatible with Gimbals and doesn’t offer any kind of image stabilization.There isn’t any kind of optical zoom as it’s all digital and on 5 presets.No still photos option. Of course you can always take a screen shot but this could easily be added in a FW update. Mind you, they never added this to the previous model.Same small screen. I wish they gave an option to turn off the selected settings displayed on screen to make the image fill the viewing space. The camera view is just so small with the current settings in the way.Thanks for reading! Even if you already have the Q2n then this is definitely worth the upgrade. A camera that does 4K, Digital Recorder and Microphone! Plug in another Mic, listen live with headphones and even HDMI out to a tv/portable monitor while recording... Why not? You can’t go wrong with this at the current $199 price point.A full video review will be on my YT channel at Para-holiX hopefully soon.Questions then just ask. I may have left some out as it can be found on the Zoom website.*EditA 55min file at 1080p/60fps will be 25gb with the highest audio as well.*UpdateIf your video is blurry, it may be the device you’re playing back on. If it’s not the device then YT/Para-holiX and I have a video showing you how to replace the lens and focus it back if that’s your issue. We’ve done a video on the previous Q2n model as well.

Pro tip: throw in some batteries, but plug into a portable charger when using.Musicians prioritize audio over video. The video is serviceable. It’s not near as good as an iPhone or Galaxy camera. But it gets the job done.We used a couple of phone cameras to record different angles, and having video of any kind made it super easy to sync the audio from the Zoom to the video of the phones.I love this thing. I watched reviews. I knew what I was buying. And it does the job fantastically.Sure better video would be great, but this device is super affordable and easy to use. And the audio really is fantastic.For fun, I used this as a mic on Teams meetings. It sounds incredible. Called my gf from a different room so I could hear what she sounded like between the MacBook mic and this. The Zoom sounds pro. Pretty close to a Shure SM7b.If you can’t tell, I’m in love.My only true grievance: it’s 2024. Just update the charging port to usb C. Don’t have to change anything else. But man I really do have micro USB. It’s structurally inferior and antiquated.

First of all, wow! is this thing tiny! We are talking so small its somewhat awkward in my hand (I have somewhat larger hands than your average bro).This Q2 unit would be perfect for covert recordings except for the fact that the batteries last about 2 minutes (Lithium batteries and the external battery case are a MUST!).That's sad because the external battery case and USB wire to connect the two make the presence of the Q2 known because these things take up more space. The wire protrudes in an arc about 2 inches to the side of the Q2 unit and the battery case props the Q2 unit up about 2 1/2 - 3 inches . NOT SO COVERT! :( :( :(Man, other than that they had everything figured out into a super compact unit that runs on AA batteries...Sad because this thing takes INCREDIBLY sharp video for its size/price point. I recorded some video of myself and the picture was so sharp it was scary! Ever see ENEMY OF THE STATE! Holy cow! If this thing can record like that for $200 imagine what capabilities the CIA/NSA/NASA have in their arsenal.Otherwise, the Q2 4k is an engineering marvel. Repeat E N G I N E E R I N G MARVEL!Zoom knows what is needed by their customers/audience: Small profile/Black Stealth/covert presence, High Quality recording, and affordability.It's just a shame about what. could. have. been. a. miracle.I'll be honest, I haven't tried Lithium batteries (I've only used Energizer Alkaline batteries) but because of the short battery life, I would not trust this thing to record an entire set with it, unless I was sure it would record and save everything if the recording ended prematurely due to dead batteries.So...what I mean by that is that it would be cool if Zoom could GUARANTEE that whatever was recorded would be saved, even if the recording ended prematurely due to batteries running out. As it is now, I don't believe that the recording will be saved if the juice runs out early.This thing would be great for recon recordings. If you want to scout a band, fire this baby up for 5-10 minutes (IDK can Lithium batteries squeeze out 20 minutes of juice without the external battery case?).I would also use this thing for recording a SINGLE SONG, or maybe 2 songs if I didn't have the battery case.You just cannot rely on it for extended recording length, but KUDOS TO ZOOM. Truly this is a remarkable piece of gear that I hope could be remedied with Lithium AA's or maybe there will be some kind of SUPER BATTERY in the future...OR....one way to remedy this problem would have been to include a Wall-Wart adapter to plug into an outlet.THAT would have been MAGNIFICENT! Imagine the small profile, black color Q2 camera built for stealth and superior recording able to plug into an outlet.DO IT ZOOM! YOU HAVE THE POWER! For now, I'll stick with my Zoom H2 that records audio. For my purposes, recording the audio of the entire set is more important than video. The H2 is also an engineering marvel that has served me well for many years. I am actually about to upgrade and get the H2n for its black color also because mine has seen its days.One more time to praise Zoom because they thought of just about everything that a musician could want in a handheld, portable, superior recording machine...that SHOULD PLUG INTO THE WALL!!! Holy crap is that a great idea or what?!-Steve