Tascam DR-10L vs Zoom F2 - Which is BEST for Wedding Filmmakers?

The Tascam DR-10L has been my go-to audio recorder recommendation for wedding filmmakers. But the Zoom F2 is coming for its crown! In this head to head comparison, I will tell you whether the DR-10L or F2 is best for wedding filmmakers.

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0:00 Intro
0:26 Weight & Build Quality
1:25 Battery Life Comparison
2:35 Power & Record Switch (Important for Weddings!)
3:42 Color Options
4:07 Audio Quality Tests
7:26 File Size Comparison (Surprising!)
8:35 Formatting SD Card Issue
9:15 Inputs and Outputs
10:06 Bluetooth Control
10:52 Price - Which Should You Buy?
12:20 Free Guide for Wedding Filmmakers

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[jessenorasinfiniteadventur]

Bro I still can't believe how engaging your videos are without a music track underneath. It's refreshing. If I hear one more lofi hip hop beat in an instructional tech video my head might pop. Also, super informative review here for a wedding filmmaker like myself. Appreciate how you've helped me elevate my wedding videos over the years. Yes!

[showshow]

I have the DR10C and yes i plug it into another wireless transmitter to send the audio to the camera. also i can listen to the audio from the camera to be sure.

[RyanAnthonyDigitalMedia]

I own both. I would definitely recommend the F2 if you don’t have a recorder already. Like Matt said, if you already have the DR-10L you don’t need to upgrade unless you’ve had audio problems in the past with missing moments and want that BT feature to monitor on your phone. I know so many videographers who forget to hit record on their audio recorders for events, and the 32-bit is great for low or peaking audio.

[paulfairchild]

Anyone that has a Zoom F2, install firmware update 1.20 (released Feb 2022) from the Zoom site. It resolves the issue where the unit sometimes fails to record a file despite being in record mode; and the issue when recording the recording will not stop (the file then also fails to record).

[gunnng]

System version 1.2 for the F2 / F2-BT Field Recorder has been released with the following bug fix and function update.

Added a function to enable formatting the SD card inserted in F2-BT using F2 Control app (for iOS/Android).
Fixed a bug that audio files were not created when recording in rare cases

[AlexUtreras]

If there's one thing I love about the Dr-10, it's that both the lavalier clip and the recorder clip are extremely hard, you hook them and they don't come loose with anything! Even much more expensive lavaliers like Sony or Sennheiser don't hold onto clothes as well. I have not tried the zoom but just for that security that the Tascam gives me that it will never fall or drop, I would choose another one like it.

[Detroupe]

You forgot to mention a very important thing. The ZOOM F2 accepts synchronization via Time Code directly with Bluetooth. Can be used with the Atomos X sync or an UltraSync Blue for example. To synchronize sound and video in post production.

[thewriter]

Excellent videos, can you address lav mic placement? I got scratching sounds using lav mic's that severely compromised my audio. One person wearing the lav mic (that I had carefully attached to his shirt pocket) later savagely wrapped up the mic in his shirt and my audio was completely ruined with loud scratching sounds. I was looking for tech in one of your videos about how to mic a person to get good audio. I won't use wireless anymore, either, due to bad experiences with the signal cutting out from time to time, both from a Rode set up and a Sennheiser. I thought I could use the F2-BT on a subject and sync the recording to the video, but my problems with lav negates that for now.

[MeridianMedia]

Thanks for your objectivity as always Matt! We've been using the Tascam DR-10L for years now, and while the ability to start/stop record remotely is very tempting, I really value how reliable the Tascam DR-10L has been over the years. The build quality is great and it's never let me down, so I'm sticking with the Tascam for now. Hopefully Tascam sees this an opportunity to have a Bluetooth version of their lav in future releases.

[MilitaryHistoryVisualized]

thank you! I had 3 Zoom F1s, 2times the flimsy battery door broke. Looking for a replacement, seems the F2 does not fully fix that flaw. Time to switch to Tascam.

[RamaSivamani]

For the sd card formatting if you need to format a card at a wedding wouldn't you just format the card the night before or morning of before you leave for the wedding? Once go to the wedding you should already have a formatted card ready to go. It's not like your going to reformat it mid wedding unless you are also transferring files off of the card mid wedding.

[makatron]

The tascam dr-10cs has the output on top for connecting the wireless TX and cost the same. Just not in the US.

[ianwelsh]

My name is ian welsh I am from Jamaica you inspired me so much I just got a canon 80d with a kit lens because of your teaching I know in the future I'm going to be a great wedding film maker

[EventfilmsUk]

There have been several reports of the zoom F2 freezing, then failing to save the audio track. I can confirm this with my copy. Purchased in Jan 2022. I had to send it back the next day.
I tested it several times, even just turning off without stopping recording first and it was fine. Then after a longer test, record 45 mins, it froze. it wouldn't respond to the record button. I waited for the red record light to go out (about a minute) before turning off, but the file hadn't saved,
I really cannot risk this happening on a paid shoot. I have also had a Rode wireless go 2 shut down on its own, battery issue? but showing nearly full. Now moving to Tascam, I need reliability.

[bikeweeknation]

TI have both lithe DR10s ( I have 2) but the F2 for me, is part of a package I use for documentary production. I can put it on the primary character at start of a day of shooting and leave it on protagonist all day. The ability to use time code with F2 is huge for me in terms of being able to toggle the body pack recording on and off and then sync clips with the Ultra Syc One the my A Cam and the audio from my Zoom f3 which is recording my Boom. The entire package has great value from a time code perspective. Great stuff, enjoy your work.

[olledahlquist]

No matter what version of Zoom F2 you buy - you will need the USB-C cable as you can't format the memory card via BT.
In the version sold in USA you can't use the headphone output to connect to a transmitter like Rode, but the European models allows it.
Editing 32-bit float is not available on all audio software programs. As for now you will need a program that can handle 32-bit float.

[JasmineApple]

Great comparison! I bought the DR10L about 3 years ago based on your recommendation, and I've loved it ... EXCEPT turning it off, as you mentioned. The on/off switch has worn down so much, that I can no longer turn it off at all with my finger or fingernail -- I have to use something else (usually, the end of a usbc cable). It's frustrating enough to make me look for something else, but after this review, I think I'll just stick with the DR10L -- I love, love, love it, until it's time to turn it off.

[AlanHouser]

Fantastic video. Great audio too! Where do I get one of those dead cats for mine?
Oh— that's a beard.

[Internat_mektep]

Hello!
What kind of charger
and rechargeable
batteries
You use it for nutrition
Zoom F2?

[natasha_glenn]

Great video, how about the picomic 2 pro and its statement "An ultra-fast DSP algorithm constantly monitors the audio level and adjusts the microphone gain sample-per-sample when the microphone may saturate - with no audible artifacts!
It will save your recording when loud sounds saturate the microphone!"