Zoom has announced an new version of its "handy video recorder": the Zoom - Q3HD. I have the Zoom Q3 and it is a nice device. Although, I have to say that I haven't used it a lot. Video is more intrusive and one has to worry about more things that could go wrong than with a audio-only recording. So when in doubt, I still prefer a good audio recording over a somewhat failed video recording. However, the Q3 is a really good device for language documentation and much better suited for this task than most camcorders – definitely in this price range. However, the video quality is very limited. This is not a huge limitation for linguistic purposes, yet it would be nice to get the best record possible – both audio and video.
In the Q3HD, Zoom upgraded the video camera, so that it now produces an H.264 encoded 1080p video. That's a decent format for documentation.
Relevant data points are:
- Built-in stereo condenser microphones with 120° X/Y configuration for true stereo imaging
- 1920 x 1080 full high-definition video
- Video format: MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 (MOV)
- Audio formats: 44.1/48/96kHz 16/24-bit WAV (PCM) or AAC up to 320kbps
According to Sound Service it will be available before Christmas. Nothing on the price though yet.
