Zoom F1-LP Field Recorder and Lavalier Microphone Reviews
The Zoom F1 Field Recorder + Lavalier Mic is the ideal solution for videographers and independent filmmakers who need to clearly capture every word with professional audio quality. The F1-LP package includes Zoom’s LMF-1 lavalier mic, which is designed to capture every sonic nuance. Together with the F1, you can record high-resolution audio up to 24 bit/96kHz. The Zoom F1 Field Recorder + Lavalier Mic is a value-packed bundle that's perfect for wedding and event videography, interviews, and more.
Earn $9 back in Bonus Bucks† OR pay $8/month with 24 month financing*
$9 Earn $9.00 back in Bonus Bucks† on this purchase when you use your Sweetwater Credit Card without financing. Select your offer in checkout. Terms
As low as $8/month
with 24 month financing*
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Highest Rated Reviews
So far so good
I found my experience with Sweetwater to be outstanding. Very knowledgeable staff very courteous and helpful easy to deal with. So we completely irrational is really putting
I love this recorder (F1-LP)
I've been using this recorder for about a year now. I am very happy with the sound quality and ease of operation. I don't have anything negative to say about it. Well worth the money in my opinion.
Great combination
Very convenient and economical way to mike talent
"Super Zoom F1-LP"
This recorder/lav unit is fabulous. Great build quality and recording quality.
Excellent for exactly what you're buying it for
First, I'll begin with what I didn't know about it because I was dumb enough to not read all the specifications...don't put in a micro SD card larger than 32Gb because it won't work! Stay within that and you'll be good. Aside from that, this thing is awesome. Does exactly what it's supposed to do and does it extremely well. The sound is so clear and crisp even with multiple people in the same room talking. The ease of use is great; learned it in a few minutes just by messing around with it; I'm sure instructions and YouTube videos will help me further. I've had other lapel mic recorders and this is a keeper. Definitely what you'd want if you are doing interviews or shooting anything where you need clear sound from the one subject you are recording. Go ahead and buy it.
One Great Compact Digital Recorder
This Zoom product is superb! I already own the Zoom H2 Handy Recorder which is lso a great product. I bought the smaller recorder with the lavalier mike for recording during church choir rehearsals and services discreetly, recording my cello lessons and practice sessions, and to use it in video recording with my iphone 7, for improved sound.
Zoom makes great products, and Sweetwater chstomwr service cannot be beat. I love dealing with them.
Great product! Great Service! Five star transaction!
Great Little Recorder
This a great, little recorder! Little being the optimal word. Coupled with the stereo shotgun and 2 input XLR adaptor, you can handle interviews or stereo capture across 2 channels, and be the lightest packer on the crew. Also great when you can't stay with the talent as they move or drive out of range. Zoom continues to provide high quality, useful products, while keeping the price affordable.
Easy to use, powerful, and small, but some structural downsides
I bought this recorder solely for the purpose of having a lapel mic that locks into the unit. I do wedding videos and have to fully rely on the lapel mic to record all the audio during the vows and so forth. I like how the unit is small and the interface is easy to use. It has a limiter which is very helpful and multiple MP3 and WAV formats. There are a few downsides. The HOLD feature is very necessary. The microSD is hard to remove because it is so small and close to the grip bars for a shock mount. The grip bars are very much in the way and they can't be removed without altering the entire device and probably voiding any warranty. Also, the battery cover is difficulty to open and close. It feels very flimsy. Again, the grip bars really get in the way for this. Other than that, the recorder works fine, is easy to use, and will do what I need it to do.
Decent recorder
Sorry I can't give this recorder a glowing review though overall it's a good recorder. Just so you know I'm a huge Zoom fan - I own, or have owned, the H6, H5, H4, H1 and the F1. I plan the buy the F5 when it comes out. I also own two Tascam DR10L's so that's a good part of my comparison. PROS: Good sound, rugged, solid buttons, nice big display, decent menu system, good battery life. CONS: Ridiculous, awkward belt clip, bulky and heavy, no dual-record capability, LOW GAIN with non zoom mic, low gain with X/Y mic attached, battery door flimsy, clip is lost if power dies while recording (common to most Zoom recorders). I had high hopes for this recorder but it disappointed me -
Zoom has no cutomer support.
These recorders work great until the battery door breaks. It's a terrible design. It happens a lot apparantly as there are tons of Youtube videos about it. I tried reaching out to Zoom twice and never even got the first reply. It's a shame because the recording quality is really good and it's very easy to use.
Pick some other Zoom model
Great Zoom audio but same issue as others with the battery cover. Broke within a year of very light use.
I hold the cover closed by wrapping a 3/8" of double sided hook and loop wrap.
Major Design Flaw and kind of amazed that they still sell this thing.
Poor Design/ Cutomer Support
I've owned one of these recorders for just over a year. It records well however the battery compartment door latch snapped off during normal use. I have tried reaching out to zoom to see if they offer a replacement and they won't respond to my emails. I have since learned that this is a very common problem. There are multiple YouTube videos of people trying to fix their broken latches. I am so disappointed with this purchase.
Buyer beware - shoddy battery door
Do not get close to buying this. The battery door broke twice during a shoot and lost all audio. Horrible engineering design with a very flimsy battery door.
