Dragging up this semi-old thread to say that anyone researching this issue should get the Olympus LS-20M instead. Got the Zoom first, found it cheap feeling, minimal features and mostly useless mic settings and had to send it back. The Olympus is far more flexible, better built, better video, stereo mics with full manual adjustment capabilities, rechargeable lithium ion, etc, etc. You can even get a wireless remote for it for $40. Neither is going to be audio snob hi-fi but I made an acoustic recording with it last night and it's quite acceptable. The Olympus is what I hoped I'd be receiving when I ordered the Zoom.