Entry Level Field Recorders (sub-$200)

[Necrox]

I like recording people and sounds, and after getting up to the gigabytes in samples on my phone, I think I might want to get a field recorder. My phone is obviously not the best choice quality-wise and I don't have much space to work with either. 

 

Any recommendations?

[lazygecko]

Zoom H4N

[Nabeel Ansari]

Zoom H4N

 

yep

 

EDIT: The Zoom is a model of choice for many production audio people. Not to knock the Tascam at all, since I know nothing about it; just that the industry professionals I've been taught by at school always recommend Zoom.

 

The H6N is cooler, because it comes with interchangeable mic capsules; you can switch between shotgun, XY stereo image, etc. If you're doing field recording for sound design/effect purposes, you'll want to get additional mics too; that comes later, but since the Zoom models have mic in jacks for additional mics, you won't need to carry around a big audio interface backpack.

[Skrypnyk]

I picked up a Tascam DR-07 MKII a while back that I rather like, forgot how much I paid for it though

[Flexstyle]

I use a Tascam DR-40 for all my field recording needs. Zero complaints thus far.