I'm considering dropping some cash on one of the above. The GoPro seems more rugged but is less flexible for mounting as it doesn't have the rotatable lense. Anyone got any experience with either (or the non-HD versions)?
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GoPro HD or ContourHR?
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Posted 2 years ago #
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Been looking at these for a while now
The Contour HR has just been updated over the one which CRC is selling
and be over here soon and matches the new HD GoPro for video quality.The New Contour HR is going to be £ 350.00p approx
Regarding the new GoPro is going to sell for £ 300.00p with all mounts
and for what I read on here when people came off the camera was fine.Myself im going for the new GoPro.
I wouldnt go for the basic GoPro myself being the bad quality of video
on say you tube on full screen
Also they have sorted out the sound noise on the new GoPro.Posted 2 years ago # -
One of these can't be beat for the money.
http://dirtmountainbike.com/news/muvi-helmet-cam-test-number.html
Posted 2 years ago # -
Got a contourHD last week. Only one outing so far but very impressed with the quality of the camera and video captured. More discrete than the Gopro and the built in lasers are great for getting the alignment right. Once I get more footage could post something if you'd like?
Posted 2 years ago # -
I've got the standard Go Pro, the video quality's OK- grantway mentioned full screen on youtube but it's not too bad for that, the main issue with youtube vids is generally compression rather than the source video. Certainly not as good as the Contour but acceptable IMO. But definately not great- also, higher quality video tends to compress better so you lose out twice there.
The mounting options are where the Gopro really win, it's a tiny little thing, well protected and comes with a wide range of mounts, with more available aftermarket. The format- shaped like a traditional camera- isn't ideal but the small size does make up for that, and the chest mount is a really nice option. The Contour may be the better camera but it's bulkier and the mounting hardware isn't as good. Also, if you break the outer case or outer lens for a gopro you can get replacements for either easily, not so with the Contour. This all still applies for the new one.
Only downer for the HD I can see is cost and that it has a proprietary battery rather than AAAs- 2.5 hours isn't very generous and as standard it doesn't come with a charger either, USB only. Spare batteries and a standalone charger will be available though, but it adds to the price. But on the plus side all the old accessories will work.
Have to say I'm not impressed with Vholdr as a company, they launched their first camera way before it was ready, and didn't offer any sort of replacement for the buggy 1st gen ones, so the early innovators got to be beta testers, then got a special limited edition shaft for their troubles. Very poor. But maybe they've upped their game.
Reckon I'll be getting a Gopro HD, anyway, but not yet.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Take a look on this ste for reviews helmetcameracentral.com
unfortunatly you cant buy from these guys
But they have all video testing and best info on these productsPosted 2 years ago # -
I've got family visiting from the States at the end of the month who will buy it there and bring it over for me. Oddly the price seems to be the same for either so I can't even use that as a differentiator.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Atlas there are Two HD versions of the Contour HR
One which is 720P HD and the newer version is 1080P HDPosted 2 years ago # -
Hmm. In that case, there's a 30 quid difference.
Posted 2 years ago # -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gCeJeVDklk
I know this addition comes way after this thread was last used but I've had some experiences that might helpsomeone out.
Northwind - I have to agree with what you said RE VholdR's first cameras being 'testers'. We bought one of those and it did indeed appear to be a work in progress. So much so that very soon after buying it, we opened the back panel only to find the power button had fallen off. This and the rediculous microphone had us returning the camera to the shop feeling like the guinnea pigs we were. To VhodR's defence they did send us out a new model very quickly and we could see several changes in build including a bulkier power button BUT that model, it soon became apparent still had the super (over) sensative microphone AND one of the 2 lazers wasn't working. So we used it for a while and returned it, again, before the guarantee ran out. Just last month, a week after returning number 2 we were sent a brand new contour HD 1080, we've been bumped to the top of the pile for our troubles.
I've got to say this one appears to be a much better unit. The microphone no longer produces ear bursting wind noise as soon as the biker moves. I think the whole thing is much lighter than previous models and it also takes up to 16gig SD, 8 times more than when we started on this journey.So, yeah, the first camera was a bit of a swizz and the cameras appear to evolve monthly so what you get when you buy might be slightly different to someone else BUT if you do have any problems I can't praise VholdR enough. Very quick turn around, they don't repair they replace and now the quality of the 1080 is fantastic. We're very happy(as long as it lasts!?!)
My youtube page has examples of the old camera and one new video of the 1080.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gCeJeVDklkSo if anyone has problems with a camera from vholdr, get it returned and see if you can get upgraded too.
Posted 2 years ago # -
they were reviewed on the gadget show last night. the gopro one came out on top but the contour one scored highly too
Posted 2 years ago # -
they were reviewed on the gadget show last night. the gopro one came out on top but the contour one scored highly too
Yeah, the gopro one looked amazing! For £20 extra it looked like a no-brainer to me
Posted 2 years ago # -
I recently made this decision and went for the Go Pro HD. Bought it from Pinkbike.com - saved about 100 quid on UK prices and they mark it up nicely to avoid Mr Customs
The main reasons for my decision:
Price
More mounting options (particularly the chest option)So far I'm very impressed. Easy to use and quality is excellent. You can see some of my early test footage here: http://www.mountainbikerides.co.uk/blog/
Posted 2 years ago # -
I'm thinking about getting a GoProHD so am reading this with interest. How do you set it up / align it? Is there any sort of screen on it or a view finder or anything?
Posted 2 years ago # -
MAd Pierre, nice footage. Looks like a chilled day out. It was a well chosen tune too.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Contour for the win
Posted 2 years ago # -
Guy I rode with on Sunday did some videos on his GoProHD. Waiting to see his results but the cash went into a Macbook fund
Posted 2 years ago # -
I'm thinking about getting a GoProHD so am reading this with interest. How do you set it up / align it? Is there any sort of screen on it or a view finder or anything?
No viewfinder - that was my main worry when I first got it but it hasn't been an issue. I've used the "ask a mate if it looks like its pointing in about the right direction" technique and it seems to have worked every time! It being such a wide angle lense helps.
Posted 2 years ago # -
MAd Pierre, nice footage. Looks like a chilled day out. It was a well chosen tune too.
Cheers. Don't forget to scroll down there are (currently) three vids on there all containing Go Pro HD footage.....
Posted 2 years ago # -
the Contour has lazers so you know where its looking
Posted 2 years ago # -
Mad Pierre, nice vid's, that's pretty much what I want it for... some head/chest footage and some static filming. Cool.
The lasers sound cool but I could just tape a cheap laser pen onto a go pro couldn't I Posted 2 years ago # -
The lazers on the contour are more useful, in my experience, for rotating the lense so that the footage is level rather than checking if the camera is pointing hi/low enough.
If you try to aim the camera down a trail and use the lazers to see if its aimed ok, you'll have a job spotting the tiny red dots amongst the trees.
A simple ask of a friend has always sorted us out ok and once it's straight it stays there, no matter how many times you take the camera on and off the mount. The helemt mount is ratcheted so it's simply a case of one or two clicks up or down to get it facing down the trail. The new lenses are also 50% wider than previous models so it's pretty easy to get what you want from the view.
(I swear I don't work for VholdR, just know how useful these forums can be when making £300 plus choices.)Posted 2 years ago # -
just know how useful these forums can be when making £300 plus choices.)
I got mine for £200 .... ain't google great
Posted 2 years ago # -
Goog, you got the 1080 too? Got any footage we can have a look at?
Posted 2 years ago # -
Mad Pierre, nice vid's, that's pretty much what I want it for... some head/chest footage and some static filming. Cool.
Cheers. Note: while some of the static footage is from the Go Pro I've got a HD Sony Handycam that I use for most of those shots so that I can pan and zoom etc. With that combined with the Go Pro it's pretty easy to make the vids you've seen.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Oh and be aware whichever of the two you buy you will need a beefy PC to edit the footage...
Posted 2 years ago # -
I wish I had a HD Sony Handycam to make make my camera look as good as a Contour
Posted 2 years ago # -
I wish I had a HD Sony Handycam to make make my camera look as good as a Contour
I wish we had some of your footage for comparison?
Trouble is we'd need to record the same run on two cams and then encode in exactly the same way for a direct comparison.
Maybe you and I can do this when next we meet?
Posted 2 years ago # -
Mad Pierre, what handycam is it that you've got, or any recommendations?
Posted 2 years ago # -
Mines a Sony HDRCX105E
Small, simple and good quality. Cost me 300 quid ish
Posted 2 years ago # -
Cool, cheers!
Posted 2 years ago # -
Another video added today - some XC with Go Pro chest and helmet mounted footage in very poor light conditions - foggy, cloudy and damp: http://www.mountainbikerides.co.uk/blog/?p=406
Posted 2 years ago # -
what happened to Jamie ?
did he spot a £1 coin on the road or summink
Posted 2 years ago # -
what happened to Jamie ?
did he spot a £1 coin on the road or summink
Think he realised he was in danger of getting to the bar first?
Posted 2 years ago # -
I bought the Contour HD 1080 a couple of weeks ago. I bought it mostly for skiing but it's been on the bike a few times so far. Some observations:
The lens on the 1080 does give a pronounced fish eye effect. Can't say I'm a fan particularly - I'd prefer it with a narrower angle.
On a bar mount there's lots of vibration in the footage. I've yet to try the helmet mount or rig up a nount for the frame using the goggle mount.
Battery life is about 3 hours or so - and it's not a propriatory battery as someone suggested above - it's a pretty common cell.I'm still sussing out the encoding options but the footage is pretty impressive (the riding less so). I've currently got it on 60 FPS 720p mode and yet to try full 1080.
The lasers do help level the lens - but there are two notches anyway that do a pretty good job of alignment
Posted 2 years ago #
Topic Closed
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