Pros:
Comes with mounting options that can be customized to work for just about any application
Comes with 2 GB SD card
Very well build, doesn't feel cheap at all
Rotating lens to accommodated angles when mounted
No external recording device needed
Cons:
Near HD video, I wouldn't call it HD quality even though the video dimensions are HD, but outstanding for a small wearable camera
*Update: The sound is pretty bad if you are going very fast. The mic location could be better because there is an electronic sounds that dominates the audio at high speeds.
Review:
I bought this camera to help make videos of my dad's Camero and Ducati for his father's day present, mostly just to get another angle. The price was great on Amazon! With all the discounts I got it for $230 which is seventy dollars cheaper than anywhere else. The shipping was great, I ordered it on a Thursday and I arrived on a Monday day.
I just took the camera for a spin mounted on the rear foot peg on my Triumph street bike. I used the included goggle mount, a strap from an old headlamp and some zip ties to secure the camera. The goggle mount can be used to mount it pretty must anywhere that is vertical and has something you can run a zip tie around. The video looked pretty good but like I said earlier I wouldn't call it HD. On my 24 inch iMac it looks pretty blurry and graining even when I am not moving to be considered HD but for a small camera it looks great. It is also nice not to have to have an external recording device and all the wires required for connecting. In both settings, HD and SD the video looks great! Both are in widescreen with the HD at a little higher resolution.
The sound is also great. I was probably going 60 or 70 a few times and the wind was noticeable but not annoying. The sound quality when used in a still setting is amazing for such a small camera. I tested it around the house a few times and the sound was great.
Overall I would recommend this camera to anyone wanting to record Point of View sports action. The quality of the product and video are well worth the price. I would see what you can do with the included mounting options for you order the other mounts. Great product!
I own both the VIO POV.1 and the ContourHD. I must preface this by saying I use these cameras in a unique application, that being on a military helicopter. Both have their pro's and con's but since we are talking about the ContourHD, I will offer this:
Pro's:
Resolution, it is HD of course. It does fish eye a bit more than I would like.
All-in-one: No separate components..everything is literally right in your hand. (can be a draw back) No wires....
Laser for making sure the camera is mounted properly.
USB Chargeable battery with decent life.
30 minutes of HD per gig..comes with a 2 gig card. A larger card really is needed.
PRICE!! Excellent.
Cons:
Not anything close to Mil-Spec like the POV.1 (That thing was built for the military)
On/Off switch can slide back and you would never know it. Fixed in later serial numbers.
Mounting options are minimal.
No lens cover..really? Fix that.
Packaging looks pretty on a shelf but mine arrived bouncing around in the pretty plastic box.
No included case.
The all-in-one design offers limitations for remote operations. You have to be within arms reach to use this thing. Also, you have no ideal what you are shooting or what you shot until you get back to your computer. (The POV.1 has the handheld unit so you can see, and edit, what you are shooting...but comes at the expense of bulk and wires)
Depending on your application, this could be and is a great camera. For what I need it for, it is too limited...until I modify the mounts! Do your research and know your mission before you pull the trigger.
Buy ContourHD 720p HD Helmet Camera Now
I finally received the camera from VholdR. So far it's lived up to my expectations. The video that I saw coming from it was super clear and the color looks amazing. It came with its own software that also made everything easier. The 135 degree field of view is better than the fish eye look that you get with some other cameras. Good price for a compact HD camera.
Read Best Reviews of ContourHD 720p HD Helmet Camera Here
I have this as well as the VIO POV1. The video quality and especially the colors are much better on the ContourHD at 1/2 the price. With the external mic, the sound quality is better on the VIO (can put it inside your helmet to cut wind noise). Too bad they don't have an external mic option on the ContourHD. Unitl VIO comes out with HD, the ContourHD is the helmet cam to beat.
And the ContourHD video works great in a Mac with IMovie.
Want ContourHD 720p HD Helmet Camera Discount?
I'm going to start with the negatives. Yes, the mic could be better. But when you're haulin', wind noise will almost always be a factor. Battery life? Eh, sure it's not fabulous... but once you pick this thing up, see and feel the size of it, realize that there are NO external parts, and then see the video it produces? You'll forgive the battery life. Buy another battery, which is easy to do when your entire helmet cam costs less than half of anything even remotely in the same league (although nothing actually IS in the same league).
Positives? Where do I begin? This thing is all-inclusive (did I mention NO external wires at ALL?), very lightweight (I hardly notice its presence on my bike helmet), super easy to use, and records unbelievably smooth (I found it almost too smooth, in fact... looks like a cable cam is flying through the trees as opposed to me rolling rocks on my mountain bike) HD video. Yes, the HD isn't as clear as it could be, but if you've read any of the other benefits of this cam, believe me you won't care. The video is still leagues (and I mean LEAGUES) ahead of anything that is out there for this amount of money (and most of the stuff that costs at least twice as much... I'm looking at you, VIO). I've been disappointed in the quality of video of every helmet cam I've used until now.
This device is worth every penny. Make sure your computer can edit HD video though, otherwise everything will look choppy.
Buy this camera as soon as you can. It's a blast.
Floor mats fit reaonably well. I would like to see a little more flexibility. They are very rigid, almost a hard plastic. They are very deep, and I am sure they will hold a lot of water. I'm a little concerned about emptying them once they collect some snow. I'd like a bit of absorbent carpet or a little flexability to allow them to be removed and dumped. As it is, it will require a shop vac or a rag to do the ol' squeeze and dump.
