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127 of 144 people found the following review helpful
Don't believe the marketing hype...,
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This review is from: ContourROAM Hands-free HD Camcorder (Camera)
I've only used the camera a couple of times so far... the first of which was during a consistent light rain while mountain biking out on the trails here in the Pacific Northwest. In the product description you'll find a whole paragraph describing how this unit is "super tough" and how the "ContourROAM is made to withstand encounters with everything from eating mud puddles", etc. After one outing in not super tough conditions I wound up with the front glass (or plastic, not sure what it's made of) having scratches in it from me wiping it clear while riding down the trail so that I could film.This is not a huge deal for me as most surfaces will scratch when rubbed with wet dirt, fine, I get that. So, I contacted Contour describing what happened and asked if I could order some replacement glass for the front or if the existing lens refresh kits would work. Here's the reply from Contour: There are currently no replacement lenses available. I'm told that opening the ROAM camera will lose it's waterproof rating and thus void the warranty. The ROAM does however come with a protective lens cap for when the camera is not in use. We do hope to have a different scratched lens solution for the ROAM that does not void the warranty in the near future. Thank you for being patient. A different scratched lens solution? Sounds like there is no lens scratch solution so buyer beware. I am pleased with the video quality but think the HD model with the 60fps mode would have been a better choice specially when you can find them for 40% cheaper than this non-serviceable model. There's a reason why the GoPro's are so successful. Comments
Tracked by 7 customers
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Showing 1-10 of 18 posts in this discussion
Initial post:
Sep 29, 2011 10:34:55 AM PDT
B. MACERA says:
yeah I got the same felling. its pretty good but its not a gopro. I have actually contacted them several times with no luck.
Posted on
Oct 2, 2011 7:28:23 PM PDT
Keith Clements says:
Hi Daniel,
Indeed, what Contour Tech Support told was true, but it is only part of the story. We are expecting replacements lens protectors for the Contour ROAM to be available later this month (more towards the end of the month). The lens protectors are customer replaceable. If you replace the lens protector on your own, it does not void the overall warranty on the camera - just the part of the warranty pertaining to the waterproof rating of the camera. However, if installed properly, you should not have an issue with the "waterproofness" of the ROAM. We are also considering offering a service where you can send the camera to us in Seattle and we will do the replacement ourselves (and thus maintain the waterproof portion of the warranty). This, of course, would be a paid service. If you want to check back with me after the middle of October (keith@contour.com), I'd be more than happy to see what we can do to get you the replacement lens protector. Thanks for choosing Contour! Keith Clements VP Operations Contour, Inc.
In reply to an earlier post on
Oct 27, 2011 9:38:34 AM PDT
Last edited by the author on Oct 27, 2011 9:42:17 AM PDT
Usman Asif says:
Sorry Keith, but that is hardly a desirable option. What you're telling us is:
- Although the camera is marketed as being tough, it isn't tough enough to withstand its lens being wiped/cleaned in the "tough conditions" it is supposedly designed to be used in. If that's the case, it wouldn't be difficult to fathom that it scratches under "normal" use as well (wind and dust abrasion when mounted to a helmet of a bicycle or motorcycle). That's hardly an attribute of a tough outdoor product. - Not only can the lens thus be scratched, but replacing it voids the warranty unless we pay you guys for the new lens, the shipping, and the replacement service. The above two would be deal-breakers for most serious buyers. When we spend this much on a product that we want to use outdoors, we expect it to work as advertised, not turn into a veritable annuity for the manufacturer in the form of regular maintenance costs.
In reply to an earlier post on
Oct 28, 2011 10:07:22 AM PDT
Boulderite says:
why not just add a filter thread for a standard camera filter? It is cheap to replace and no water proof warranty issue.
In reply to an earlier post on
Nov 2, 2011 2:41:51 PM PDT
F. Szczepanski says:
I hate to contribute a comment but ... What a joke. I don't know what it is about Contour. Their warranty and helpfulness is some of the worst I've ever seen. They always come up with excuses for weaknesses/problems, such as pointing a camera meant to be used outdoors at the sun... or have the camera at the sun in any corner. Sun is evil, got it. Consumers who want to try to fix their own stuff voids the warranty because Contour decided to start making fixes after it came out, got it. Such a joke... If there was a competitor that was similar in terms of the size/convenience of your device, I would have moved away from Contour already. But from what I am seeing (along with my own interactions with Contour), everything can ultimately be blamed on what the consumer is doing wrong.
Posted on
Nov 9, 2011 3:51:40 AM PST
Steve Shavkin says:
There are some excellent scratch removing kits for plastic available at a reasonable price.
In reply to an earlier post on
Dec 4, 2011 9:10:25 PM PST
Rattler says:
WOW - an inferior product "built to withstand any environment" with a lens that scratches so easily when you wipe it off? and to have it fixed by the company that manufactures it that makes the claims of how "TOUGH" it is says " This, of course, would be a paid service." ?
Sorry but you just lost my purchaseS, customer service and satisfaction should be your FIRST concern in business not milking the owners of your products for every penny you can get .
Posted on
Dec 9, 2011 11:54:51 AM PST
SZap says:
Seriously ? To scratch the lens you would have had to literally rub dirt or rocks across it. You want to blame the camera manufacturer for your lack of foresight ? This isn't made to withstand bullets. It doesn't take a rocket surgeon to think that maybe you should flush the crap off the lens with some compressed air, or even with a splash of water before wiping it.
It is a camera, not a humvee. It is built much tougher than your average camera. Just because you took their ad to mean that you could clean the lens with sandpaper and razor blades doesn't mean they are in the wrong. No optics are scratch proof, and the sort of optics that could resist dirt being rubbed across them would cost more than this entire camera does. Be thankful they offer replacement lens protectors. Most manufacturers would have just made a fixed lens with no serviceable parts. You refer to the fact that GoPro doesn't have this issue ? No ? Their plastic case doesn't scratch ?
Posted on
Dec 9, 2011 1:14:21 PM PST
Dustin J. Cassidy says:
I have to agree with SZap. Why would even think about touching the lens? Everyone knows you just don't do that... with any camera. I have the original ContourHD mounted to my motorcycle helmet and could not be happier with it. Much more versatile and discrete than the GoPro, in my opinion.
Posted on
Dec 9, 2011 1:40:24 PM PST
Last edited by the author on Dec 9, 2011 2:08:30 PM PST
Vasvan says:
Thanks Daniel ,
Your review and the comments before mine were invaluable . Was going to pull the trigger on this as a " Lightning Deal (at a) Deal Price of $119.00 (40% off) " but after reading your review , NOT. The saddest comment of all was the " response " from the VP Operations , Keith Clements-Contour, Inc. " Thanks for choosing Contour! " , with no followup in over two months time . Rattler hit it dead on , " Sorry but you just lost my purchases , customer service and satisfaction should be your FIRST concern in business not milking the owners of your products for every penny you can get . " Thanks again guys ! |
Review Details |
ContourROAM Hands-free HD Camcorder
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