magxzine: extreme sports reviews & features
Review: ContourHD Helmet Camera by VholdR
Category: General Extreme Sports ReviewsDate Added: 08-Sep-09
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September 2009 – Reviewed by Mike Stoll
This article is broken down into the following sections:
Introduction
Camera Characteristics
Camera Performance
Customer Service
Easy Edit Software
Comments & Conclusion
Sample YouTube Footage
Introduction
About the Author:
I have been using helmet camera systems for over six years. My shooting environments are rather rugged, including caving and whitewater rafting. I have published video related product reviews in VideoMaker, Canoe & Kayak, Paddling Life, and other publications.
VholdR & Competition:
VholdR recently came out with a high definition (HD) helmet camera, which seems to have sold very well over the past couple of months. The ContourHD is only one of two HD helmet cameras available on the market currently. The other is the Sony HXR-MC1, which is intended for the professional videographer with a price tag of over $2,300.00 USD. The ContourHD is intended for the general public, and is priced under $300.00 USD. The primary competitors of the ContourHD are the Hero Go Pro, Oregon Scientific ATC5K, and the Tachyon XC. All of these cameras are less expensive than the ContourHD, BUT none of them are HD.
Camera Characteristics
Basic ContourHD Specifications:
- Uses a 5 Mega-pixel CMOS sensor, which is more energy efficient than a CCD sensor. The camera uses a rolling shutter versus a global shutter. Article that discusses difference between Rolling & Global Shutter
- Records audio in mono, AAC Audio Compression
- Accepts up to a 16GB Micro SD Card for storage. 8GB Cards are reasonably priced where as the 16GB Cards are still a little pricey. There are different Classes of Micro SD Cards (2, 4, 6). The manufacturer says you can use a standard Class 2, but going with a faster Class 4 just in case would not hurt.
- Uses the H.264 video codec. The files are saved on the Micro SD Card in a MOV file format.
- Records at 720p High Definition (1280 x 720, 30 fps), Standard Definition (848 x 480, 60 fps). You can toggle between these two settings using a switch on the back of the camera. If you are going to shoot fast action, the Standard Definition setting at 60 fps may look better. Note: YouTube supports 60 fps video.
- Recording time: HD Quality: 30 minutes per gigabyte, Standard Quality: 60 minutes per gigabyte
Product Packaging:
The packaging is very nice, modern, attractive, and a little quirky to open. The idea behind the packaging is to present the camera as a “high quality” piece of equipment. A good product will speak for itself, and VholdR could save a little money by making the packaging simpler. The product manual is minimal, but adequate thanks to a smart and simple camera design. It would nice to have something a bit more substantial.
Body Construction:
The camera seems reasonably well-built using aluminum and fiberglass components. The sliding rubber cap on the back of the camera protects the key features and controls. It takes a little tinkering to get the cap back into place once the camera has been opened.
Camera Layout:
The camera has a very logical configuration. All of the important features and controls are located in the back of the camera in one central location. Also, there is a status indicator light on the front of the unit (Green: Camera is On, Orange: Camera is Recording).
Back of the Camera:
The orange clip that holds the battery in position works well, but I would be hesitant about loading the battery in and out for charging. Frequent manipulation of the clip may eventually lead to breaking it off. Based on this, I would suggest charging the battery while it is in the camera through the USB cable whenever possible.
Back View without Rubber Cap
Water Resistance:
The specification states the camera is water resistant, but that may have to be qualified. A “possible” weak point of the camera regarding water resistance is the sliding rubber cap on the back. The cap does seal well against the camera body, but it does not utilize a gasket. The seal design seems like it would do a good job keeping out mud, dirt, dust, and a light drizzle, but I have some concerns about a dynamic water environment (rain, jet skiing). There are various levels of water resistance, and it would be nice if VholdR
would include a water resistant IP rating for the product. The IP (Ingress Protection) Rating is a common standard used in various industries. The following is a link to a web page that explains the IP Ratings: http://bluesea.com/viewresource/117.
Battery:
The ContourHD uses a lithium-ion battery that averages 2.5 hrs of continuous HD recording, and around 3 hrs of continuous SD recording. The battery can be charged while in the camera using a USB cable (included), or it can be removed and charged separately with an AC or Cigarette Lighter Accessory. When you first get the camera, I would recommend charging the camera 3-4 hours before you begin using it. There is an indicator light on the back, top of the camera that shows the remaining battery capacity, which is represented as follows: Green Light 66% or more; Amber: between 33% - 66%; Red: below 33%.
Memory:
There is an indicator light on the back, bottom of the camera that shows the remaining memory capacity on the Micro SD Card, which is represented as follows: Green Light: 66% or more; Amber: between 33% - 66%; Red: below 33%. VholdR states you must power off unit before swapping out the Micro SD Card.
Mounting:
The camera uses an effective “slide and lock” mounting system, which is different compared to other traditional methods. A Universal Mount Adapter is offered as an accessory, which allows you to attach the camera to a tri-pod, Ram-Mount, Panavise Mount, or other conventional mount. The manufacturer includes a Flat Surface Mount and a Goggle Mount with the camera. The Flat Surface Mount works well for helmets with a smooth surface. They also sell a mount for bicycle type helmets that have vent slots.
Laser Alignment:
This feature was new to me. I typically use a traditional helmet camera system with cables and a small DV camcorder. The laser feature is simple and effective for aligning the camera horizontally. The lens rotates a total of 192 degrees providing you with flexibility in mounting your camera (does not have to be “perfect”). I would recommend aligning your camera before you go out on a shoot.
Weight:
The camera weighs only 4 ounces, which is pretty light. Even when mounted to your helmet, you hardly notice it.
Camera Performance
I was more interested in the HD capabilities of the camera, but I did shoot a few video segments in standard definition, and they turned out pretty good. As noted before, the camera shoots at both 30 and 60 fps. It is my opinion that the human eye in most cases cannot readily tell the difference between a video shot at 30 fps versus 60 fps. Where 60 fps comes into play is when you decide to convert a video segment into slow motion. Slow motion video shot at 60 fps will appear more fluid. Some folks say that fast action segments look better at 60 fps. I did not evaluate this feature, but it sounds reasonable.
Camera Operation:
The operational control of the camera is very simple. It has a sliding switch on top to activate recording. Due to the design of the switch, you can activate the recording function while even wearing gloves. The camera also uses audio cues (beeps) to let you know when you activate or deactivate certain camera functions.
Water Resistance:
Since this unit was loaned to me, I did not test the camera’s level of water resistance. If a camera got damaged due to water exposure, I doubt VholdR, or any manufacturer for that matter, would replace the unit under warranty. Based on this, users should fully understand their environment before going out to shoot.
Video Quality (Optics):
First I will mention, you are not going to see the same picture quality as you would from a $800+ HD Camcorder. For the price, though, the picture quality is pretty good. Subjects that were two feet away were in focus, as were those in the distance. I did notice at the far edges of the picture, the image was a little out of focus. The camera specification states the field of view in HD mode is 135 degrees, and in SD mode it is 90 degrees. At 135 degrees (wide angle), there is some picture distortion (fisheye). Whether the fisheye perspective is an issue or not is a personal preference.
Picture Color:
I tested the color capabilities by going over to the local flower store. I shot several pan shots of flower arrangements with a wide variety of colors (purple, red, pink, white, yellow, orange, etc). The color performance of the camera was very good. All of the colors were well saturated.
Low Light Performance:
I conducted my low light test by hiking through a dense forest on a partly cloudy day. The picture was reasonably bright, and you could see the landscape in reasonable detail. Overall, the camera performed well. I also tested the camera’s performance later in the evening. At the time of this review, sunset was at 8:14 p.m. I shot 15 second video segments at 7:15, 7:30, 7:45, 8:00, 8:15, and 8:30. The camera performed a little better than expected. The video shot at 8:15 was still bright enough to consider using, but by 8:30 the footage was too dark. All digital video recorders and cameras need good lighting to produce favorable results. Based on this test and to achieve the best results, I would only use the ContourHD during normal daylight hours (as with all video recorders).
Low Speed Action:
I mounted the camera on my bike helmet, and peddled around the neighborhood on a partly cloudy day. The camera performed well. Colors were bright, and the picture was crisp. I also went up to the local high school on a Saturday afternoon and shot the ladies practicing soccer. Again, the picture turned out pretty good. There was no noticeable ghosting at either the HD or SD settings.
Audio:
VholdR has placed a label on the bottom of the camera, which covers up the mic. The reason behind this is to reduce the level of wind noise. Most users of this camera record in environments where wind noise is prevalent (racing, skiing, etc). I tested the audio quality outside my home with "normal" neighborhood ambient noise. I mounted the camera on a tri-pod and laid a tape measurer along the ground. Reciting my ABC's in a normal conversational tone, I started my test one foot from the camera, and began walking backward stopping at twenty feet. Based on my results, if you want to pick up a conversation or dialog on your video, your subjects need to be within 4' of the camera. After eight feet, you cannot easily understand what is being said. One obvious way to improve the audio performance is to remove the manufacturer's label that covers the mic. You can always cover it back up with a piece tape. The overall audio quality was decent for this camera. Note: The Universal Mount Adapter does not cover the mic.
Customer Service
Many companies today outsource their customer service to foreign countries. In many cases, the customer service agents are difficult to understand, and only provide scripted answers to technical questions. Besides testing the functionality of the product, I also wanted to evaluate VholdR’s customer service. I contacted VholdR on several occasions, and asked a variety of technical questions. In all cases, their customer service agent was well spoken, professional, courteous, and very knowledgeable about the product.
Easy Edit Software
The software came on the camera’s Micro SD Card, and was simple to install. The software helps with downloading video files from the camera, organizing the files, watching video, clipping video segments, and uploading clips to VholdR’s website. I did notice the video playback was a little choppy. VholdR said it was a problem in their software, which they are working to correct. Another option is to move the video files from the camera to your desktop using the file management software on your computer. Video files can then be viewed using Quicktime. The Easy Edit Software is not a video editing program. You’ll need to purchase video editing software if you want to “work” with the footage. There are many video editing packages under $90, which handle HD content such as Pinnacle Studio, Adobe Premiere Elements, Sony Vegas, and others. Note: HD video is different than SD video. To get the best results when editing HD footage you may have to upgrade your computer.
Comments & Conclusion
What I liked about the camera:
- HD Picture - Definitely better than standard definition
- Optics - Good quality lens. Objects in focus at various distances
- Simple operation. Easy to use Record Switch
- Laser Alignment.
- Well laid out design.
- Portability, size, weight
- No Wires
- Indicator Status Lights for Battery Capacity, Memory Capacity, Standby(On)/Record
- Audio Cues for Power On/Power Off, Record On/Record Off
- Customer Service
Possible recommendations for the future:
- Add IP specification regarding water resistance
- Consider making the camera waterproof
- Consider slightly reducing the 135 field of view to remove the fisheye perspective
- Tweak the optics to eliminate the out of focus issue at the far outside edges
- Offer a lens cap to protect the optics
- Offer a sleeve or case to protect the camera
- Offer a lens hood for shooting in bright light conditions – eliminate sun glare
- Offer a Micro SD Card/USB Adapter. This would provide customers with another option for transferring video files to a computer
- Modify the camera base to include a universal mount, and eliminate the need to purchase an accessory.
- Provide a more detailed manual with the camera (store on the Micro SD Card - PDF format).
- Simplify the packaging to reduce costs and make it easier for customers to open.
Conclusion:
The ContourHD is a good product (value) for the price, which retails from $275 – 300.00 USD. The design team really put in a lot of thought regarding this product. Besides the HD video quality, the other nice camera features are: simple operation, no wires, visual and audio cues, well built, and intelligent layout. There are a lot of ContourHD reviews posted on the Internet, most of which have been very positive about its introduction. For those interested in this camera, I would recommend reading other reviews and watching some sample video footage.
Acknowledgements:
I would like to thank Helmet Camera Central (HCC) for loaning me the ContourHD camera for this product review. HCC seems to stay current regarding the latest helmet camera technology, and I have always had a positive experience working with them. You can purchase the ContourHD through their website.
Sample Video Footage
All of my test footage was functional for testing purposes, but was in no way entertaining. For this reason, below are my favorite YouTube videos that highlight the ContourHD’s performance. You can also view examples of HD footage on VholdR's website, and on Helmet Camera Central.
