ContourHD 720p HD Helmet Camera

by Contour

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 3.7 x 1.3 x 2.1 inches ; 4.2 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B0026P4H6K
• Item model number: 1200
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (41 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,700 in Camera & Photo (See Top 100 in Camera & Photo)
  • #2 in Automotive > Motorcycle & ATV > Protective Gear > Helmet Accessories > Camera & Photography Products
• Date first available at Amazon.com: April 15, 2009

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

From the Manufacturer

ContourHD is the world’s first High Definition wearable camcorder that combines amazing video clarity (choose between High Definition or High Action), a wide-angle lens (135 degrees), single-button simplicity, and a click to share online experience.

Perfected for outdoor use, ContourHD can switch between crisp HD quality video (captured at 30 frames per second) or SD quality video (captured at 60 frames per second). This camera is the ideal complement to your outdoor gear with its all-in-one design ContourHD has no wires or separate recorder. Instead it records up to 8 hours of HD video to its own internal memory card (compatible with up to a 16 GB microSD card). Its light (4 ounces) but armored aluminum body enables you to capture video in any weather conditions. ContourHD's TRail Mounts seamlessly attach the camera to your body, helmet, goggles, or vehicle for hands-free recording.

Amazing Video Clarity

2 Video Settings
High Definition: Fill your screen with vivid, widescreen (16;9) action video. With a full 1280x720 (pixels) window and 30 frames per second, your videos will be just how you remember them, big and awesome!

High Action: Ideal for making the fastest adventure sports appear as smooth as butter. Recording standard definition video at 60 frames per second (twice as many frames as TV quality video) you won’t miss any of the action.

Beautiful Outdoor Colors
The image sensor and video processor in this tiny camera were fine-tuned for the changing colors and lighting conditions you’ll experience when recording outdoors. The snow will have definition, the lighting will transition when you go through the trees, and the color clarity has been adjusted so that colors will appear as rich as you remember them.

Capture the Whole Scene
The wider the angle of your lens the more of the scene you capture. At 135 degrees, the new ContourHD lens strikes the perfect balance in capturing the entire scene without over-distorting the video.

Record over 8 Hours of Action Video
As an all-in-one wearable camcorder, ContourHD records to an internal MicroSD memory card to capture up to 8 hours of HD quality video (compatible up to a 16 GB Memory Card). Powered by a removable, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, this robust camera recharges through a USB cable connected directly to your computer. Now you can throw away your camcorder tapes, wires, and AA batteries.

With Full Audio
Capturing the sounds you hear (other than the wind) is a difficult proposition, which is why we upgraded the microphone from the previous VholdR model. We’ve done our best to help you cut out the wind noise and record the sounds of the action.

Easy to Use

One Button Record
ContourHD’s operation couldn’t be simpler, as it features a single oversized record switch that you can use even when you’re wearing a pair of gloves. Slide the switch forward to record and slide it back to stop--congratulations, you just made a video! Now you can capture the best scenes right before they happen.

Easy to Align
Have you ever seen a camera with lasers? ContourHD uses two of them and a 192o rotating lens to ensure you line up the shot every time. Turn on the lasers and rotate the front lens until the two laser points are horizontally aligned. Congratulations, you just lined up your video.

Wearable Anywhere
As the most versatile wearable camcorder we take "wearable" seriously. ContourHD uses our patent-pending TRailTM Mounts to "slide and lock" onto a series of different mounts for your goggles, helmet, handlebars, vehicle, or anywhere else you want to mount it. Wear HD video on more than just your head.

Armored Body
A water-resistant camera for all seasons, its light (4 ounces/116 grams) anodized aluminum body withstands dust, dirt, mud, and snow--elements that destroy most electronic gear. It’s also shock, vibration and impact resistant.

Click to Share Online with a Mac and a PC
As simple as we made recording with ContourHD, we made it even easier to share your HD videos online. Our Easy Edit software (Mac and PC compatible) makes it automatic to import your videos from the camera, clip out the best parts, and post them to VholdR.com. Join the community of thousands of adventure-sports enthusiasts sharing their videos on VholdR.com.

New Firmware Available
VholdR has introduced optional new firmware to enable you to configure your ContourHD Wearable Camcorder as well as to improve camera performance in really cold conditions. By making ContourHD configurable, you can use the provided Easy Edit software to adjust the video, audio, and lighting configurations of the camera. The new firmware will also improve camera performance in under -5 degrees celsius conditions. Available to be downloaded only, this new firmware does not come stock on the camera. To review the directions and download the new firmware, visit: http://vholdr.com/support/firmware.

Product Description

ContourHD is the world's first High Definition wearable camcorder that combines amazing video clarity (choose between High Definition or High Action), a wide-angle lens (135 degrees), single-button simplicity, and a click to share online experience.Perfected for outdoor use, ContourHD can switch between crisp HD quality video (captured at 30 frames per second) or SD quality video (captured at 60 frames per second). This camera is the ideal complement to your outdoor gear with its all-in-one design ContourHD has no wires or separate recorder. Instead it records up to 8 hours of HD video to its own internal memory card (compatible with up to a 16GB microSD card). It's light (4 ounces) but armored aluminum body enables you to capture video in any weather conditions. ContourHD's Trail Mounts seamlessly attach the camera to your body, helmet, goggles, or vehicle for hands-free recording.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

52 of 52 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great camera, great price, near HD video., June 23, 2009

By 

Skyler M. Kincaid (Billings, MT USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: ContourHD 720p HD Helmet Camera (Electronics)

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!

31 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Contour HD, April 27, 2009

By 

J. Z. Clark (Las Colinas, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: ContourHD 720p HD Helmet Camera (Electronics)

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.

68 of 76 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Nice with limitations..., July 21, 2009

By 

T. Gagnon "TG" (Tucson AZ) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: ContourHD 720p HD Helmet Camera (Electronics)

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.