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Thoughts on Zoom Q4

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spacelunch
Posts: 67 - Karma: 145
So i cam acroos the zoom q4 on the internet, it seems like a really good camera for skiing because it is light and can be used with gopro attachements. Would this camera be an alternative to gopros because it has better sound and zoom? Does anyone have experience using it? The only drawback I can think of is that it would look strange for pov shots and it isn't waterproof.
Dec 13 2016 6:35PM
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dan_swagner
Posts: 351 - Karma: 680
its not going to be as durable as a gopro at all.
its image quality will not be close to gopro
its bit rate for video is 24Mbps compared to gopro at 60Mbps
it does not have a zoom like you mentioned above, it has a fixed lens at 16.6mm f2 and 160 degree field of view.
it only has 30 frames per second 1080 HD so youll have to go to 720 for 60 frames per second. the gopro has better high frame rates in HD (slow motion)
Zoom is also mainly an audio company that makes compact field recorders for audio and is new to the video side so im not sure how well it will work with the menus and functions.


The sound will be 1000x better than gopros

I would say go with a gopro hero 4 ($350) or hero 5 ($399), or action cam fdr-x3000 ($349) or action cam hdr-as300 ($249)

they will all be more durable and have better image quality.

the zoom q4 is $150-$130 and the $100 to $250 dollars you save don't make up for the lower quality you get
Dec 13 2016 8:01PM
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spacelunch
Posts: 67 - Karma: 145
You're probably right, but the fisheye on a gopro kind of bugs me, I would prefer a wide angle
Dec 13 2016 9:29PM
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dan_swagner
Posts: 351 - Karma: 680
you can change the field of view on the gopro. it has three settings ultra wide, medium and narrow while shooting 1080p HD. It can only shoot wide in 4k and 2.7k

you can also remove the fisheye distortion on your computer when you edit.

the zoom q4 says it has 130 degrees and the gopro has 170 degress.
I wouldn't base your purchase off this one factor.
Dec 13 2016 9:44PM
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dan_swagner
Posts: 351 - Karma: 680
nvm I guess the hero 5 field of view is 133
Dec 13 2016 9:46PM
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bait
Posts: 1226 - Karma: 3,580
I wouldnt buy a zoom q4 when you can use it for free from school.
Mar 14 2017 12:09PM
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