Good Aspects: User-friendly, durable and compact design; compatible with VholdR’s TRailTM Mounts; rechargeable lithium ion battery; capable of capturing video at both 30 FPS in HD mode and 60 FPS in SD mode; compatible with both PC and Mac.
Bad Aspects: 2 hours of battery life; 60 FPS video capturing in SD mode is unsupported on DVDs and YouTube.
Product Review: The ContourHD is the obvious next step in helmet cam technology designed for shooting high quality video for sporting activities. It shoots 720p HD video at 30 FPS which satisfies even the most demanding videographers. An improved video processor and image sensor ensures that colors are as rich and vibrant on video as they are in real life.
The ContourHD is compatible with up to 16GB microSD memory cards and is capable of storing up to 8 hours of HD video. The camera features a single, oversized record button, for easily recording the action during sporting activities. Simply slide the record button forward to begin recording and slide back to stop. A rotating 192-degree lens and two lasers help users accurately align shots. Users simply rotate the lens until the lasers are lined up horizontally. It also features an advanced microphone for eliminating all the wind noise while ambient sounds remain clear.
The ContourHD is compatible with VholdR’s TRailTM Mounts, providing a variety of options, including mounts for helmets, goggles, vehicles, and handlebars. The helmet mount and goggle strap mount are included with the camera. The helmet mount is highly adaptable and can be attached to most hard surfaces and helmets. The goggle strap mount is quite convenient to use and provides a cool point of view. It also comes with VholdR’s Easy EditTM software (PC and Mac compatible) for easy editing, uploading, and sharing of your videos with family, friends, and the world.
The ContourHD is equipped with a 135-degree fisheye lens to record the entire scene without over-distorting the video. The standard definition mode on the ContourHD is actually just cropped from the full frame size so the field of view is 90 degrees. The best part about SD mode is its 60 FPS, which makes for a surprisingly impressive video. The video still has a resolution of 848×480 in widescreen, which exceeds most other helmet cams on the market. While the ability to capture 60 FPS is exciting, it isn’t particularly useful for distributing video because YouTube and DVDs do not support 60 FPS. However, VholdR’s video sharing portal will support 60 FPS, and for those not using VholdR’s portal, a potential solution is to stretch out the video to 30 frames per second.
While the camcorder features a rechargeable lithium ion battery, testing revealed that the ContourHD has a limited battery life of approximately two hours. However, backup batteries can be used to avoid missing a shot. Another attractive upgrade from the VholdR is the car charger which is capable of charging your ContourHD off of any 12 volt power source while recording. Combine this with an 8 or 16GB card and you can record some serious footage!
With all of these features, a delicate or cumbersome camcorder might be expected. However, the advanced Contour HD weighs only 116g (4oz), is compact, and durable. The camcorder’s water-resistant body is made of anodized aluminium and meticulously tested to withstand mud, snow, dirt and dust. Additionally, the ContourHD is shock, vibration, and impact resistant, and the all-in-one design of the Contour HD means that users don’t have to manage multiple wires. Overall, it is one of the best HD camcorders for sport.
