VholdR ContourHD 1080p Review: Delicious Full 1080p Wearable Video
VholdR ContourHD 1080p Review: Delicious Full 1080p Wearable Video
Update: The ContourHD1080p series is officially available for Pre-Order over at the Shop - As usual, quantities are limited and we suggest you get in line sooner, rather than later if you want to show off one of these bad boys in the near future.
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Highlights of the ContourHD 1080p: Full HD – 1080p (1920×1080) @ 30 fps Tall HD – 960p (1280×960) @ 30 fps Action HD – 720p (1280×720) @ 60 fps Contour HD – 720p (1280×720) @ 30fps Fast SD – WVGA (848×480) @ 60fps 135-degree wide angle lens 5 Megapixel Sensor Internal microphone (Adjustable) Quicktime H.264 MOV with AAC Audio MicroSD/SDHC up to 16GB (2GB included) – Up to 8 Hours of HD video Rechargable Lithium Ion Battery – Up to 3 hours per charge iPod(USB) Charge Compatible Adjustable Contrast, Light Metering, Exposure and Mic Sensitivity Fits VholdR TRailTM mount system Easy EditTM and Share software Read the full review with sample video after the jump! Table of Contents for Review of the Contour HD 1080p What You Get The ContourHD1080p Pros Cons ContourHD1080p Documentation Codec Settings Sample Video Clips, RAW and Unaltered Sample Video Frame Grabs Recording Capacity Battery Time Warranty and Support Software Summary and Recommendation Pricing About HelmetCameraCentral.com Review Change Log What You Get
Included in the box, you will find the following:
VholdR ContourHD 1080p wearable camcorder MicroSD card (2GB) Goggle mount Flat surface mount Rechargeable battery (up to 3 hrs) USB cable Quick start guide The VholdR ContourHD1080p Wearable CamcorderPros
This was the obvious next step in helmet cam technology and boy does it look nice. The improved 1080p video at a smooth 30 frames per second will please even the most demanding videophiles, as will the amazing color rendition, excellent exposure, and great contrast. The variety of video modes provided allows the consumer to capture video at frame sizes and rates to fit their needs. The 720p (1280 x 720) @ 60 fps is an absolute dream to watch when played back in slow motion! It features four HD settings (1080p, 960p, and two at 720p) with two frame rates (30fps and 60fps) and four configurable settings (metering, contrast, exposure, and microphone sensitivity). But most importantly, the ContourHD software will share your adventures in “Lifelike” 1080p video to VholdR.com.
The all new image censor and video processing chipset focuses on motion and color so that the watcher has a like-like experience during viewing. The resulting HD footage is a true pleasure to watch whether it’s in it’s native video state – or viewed online at VholdR.com. Another new addition to the mix is the abiltity to adjust Contrast levels, Light Metering, Exposure and Microphone Sensitivity. The settings can be easily adjusted when the ContourHD 1080p is connected to your PC or MAC via the USB cable using the included Easy Edit software. In addition to powerful video settings and enhanced color saturation, the ContourHD1080p is also equipped with a 135-degree fisheye lens to record the entire scene without over-distorting the video. The overall video quality in the ContourHD 1080p has AGAIN improved significantly.
So that users have a wealth of video to choose from, the ContourHD has an internal microSD memory card that easily stores up to eight hours of HD footage and is compatible with up to 16GB memory cards. The ContourHD1080p also features an upgraded microphone that records all of the action, without the wind noise due to its ability to adjust the microphone sensitivity.
VholdR not only designed the ContourHD1080p to capture exceptional quality video, they also designed the camcorder for ease of use. The camera features a single, oversized record button, which you can slide 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.
Capture HD video anywhere and from any angle with this versatile camcorder. The ContourHD1080p is compatible with VholdR’s TRailTM Mounts, which provide a variety of options, including mounts for goggles, handlebars, helmets, and vehicles. Included with the camera are the helmet mount and goggle strap mount. The helmet mount is super versatile and can be attached to most helmets and hard surfaces. The goggle strap mount provides cool point of view and is very convienent to use.
With all of these features, users might expect a delicate or cumbersome camcorder. However, the revolutionary Contour HD is light (4oz, 116g), compact, and durable. The camcorder’s water-resistant body is made of anodized aluminum and rigorously tested to withstand dirt, dust, mud, and snow. Additionally, the ContourHD1080p is impact, shock, and vibration resistant, and the all-in-one design of the Contour HD means that users don’t have to fumble with multiple wires.
The audio has also been greatly improved on this model. Wind noise is minimal and you can hear most ambient sounds. For those of you ninjas hoping to record without making a sound, you’re in luck. If you start the camera up with the switch set to record, there will be no beeps confirming power up, recording, stopping etc.
Another cool upgrade from the VholdR is the car charger. This handy little device can charge your ContourHD1080p off of any 12 volt power source while recording. Paired with an 8 or 16 GB card, you could record some serious footage!
The ContourHD1080p makes it as easy to share videos as it does to record them. Thanks to VholdR’s Easy EditTM software (PC and Mac compatible) users can easily edit, upload, and share their videos with friends, family, and the world.
Cons
The VholdR Contour HD wearable camcorder is equipped with numerous features and upgrades to ensure that outdoor enthusiasts and adventure-seekers capture the best footage in HD. However, there are some limitations. As with most camcorders, battery life is an issue; the ContourHD1080p is no exception. The largercamcorder features a rechargeable lithium ion battery and testing revealed that the Contour HD only had approximately two hours of battery life. To avoid missing any shot, backup batteries are a great idea.
While the ability to capture 60 frames per second is exciting, it isn’t particularly useful for distributing video footage because YouTube and DVDs do not support 60 frames per second. VholdR’s video sharing portal will support 60 frames per second. For those not using of VholdR’s sharing portal, a potential solution is to stretch out sections of the video to 30 frames per second resulting in super smooth slow mo.
VholdR ContourHD1080p DocumentationA quick start guide is included with the ContourHD1080p.
Download a PDF Version of the guide (COMING SOON).
The ContourHD 1080p uses a highly used codec called H.264 – also referred to as MP4, MPEG-4, or iPod Video. The audio codec is AAC. Both of these “codecs” are very portable and can be easily edited in any of todays off the shelf (or free) video editing tools.
The basic codec settings for the VholdR ContourHD 1080p are as follows:
Full HD – 1080p (1920×1080) @ 30 fps @ 15min/GB @ 110 deg FOV Tall HD – 960p (1280×960) @ 30 fps @ 15min/GB @ 135 deg FOV Action HD – 720p (1280×720) @ 60 fps @ 15min/GB@ 135 deg FOV Contour HD – 720p (1280×720) @ 30fps @ 30min/GB@ 135 deg FOV Fast SD – WVGA (848×480) @ 60fps @ 60min/GB @ 110 deg FOV
Coming Soon
The VholdR ContourHD 1080p is microSD/SDHC compatible (includes 2GB) and supports up to 16gb capacity cards. You can expect the following recording times:
Full HD – 1080p @ 30 fps = 4 Hours Tall HD – 960p @ 30 fps = 4 Hours on 16GB microSDHC Action HD – 720p @ 60 fps = 4 Hours on 16GB microSDHC Contour HD – 720p @ 30fps = 8 Hours on 16GB microSDHC Fast SD – WVGA @ 60fps = 16 Hours on 16GB microSDHC Battery TimeThe VholdR ContourHD1080p runs on a rechargeable lithium ion battery and can record up to 3 hours.
Twenty20 offers a 180-day warranty, ensuring that the CountourHD 1080p is free from workmanship and materials defects. Helmet Camera Central is here to assist with any issues that may arise with any products that have been purchased from us.
SoftwareThe VholdR ContourHD1080p comes with Easy Edit software, which allows you to easily edit their footage and upload it to the Web with a single click. It also allows configuration of a variety of camera settings as well. Although not required, the included Easy Edit software takes the work out of publishing your high definition adventures online. Use the USB cable to connect your ContourHD, select “Import,” and you can have your videos downloaded to your computer, added to the folder of your choice, and ready to be played on your computer in a matter of minutes. Using the Easy Edit software, your videos play in a widescreen or full screen format with controls to stop, start, and fast-forward to find your favorite parts. To clip out unwanted segments, find the best part of your video, select the “Set Start” button at the beginning of the clip, the “Set Stop” button at the end, and wrap it up with the “Finish” button. When you have clipped your videos, you can enter the title, date, tags, description, and epic location of your video. Publishing your videos to the web is free and easy using the Easy Edit software. It publishes your videos to the free VholdR.com website using a single click…”Share.” Even if you drop your internet connection in the middle of the upload, the Easy Edit software will remember where you left off and continue from the same spot. Now your videos will play on VholdR.com next to a beautiful map and be searchable by fellow enthusiasts.
*Note: HD Video requires a quality graphics card to play smoothly
The VholdR ContourHD1080p is a very nice piece of technology. It looks good, and so does the resulting video footage. The level of video quality coming from this device puts the Flip and many camcorders to shame! As the world’s first wearable all-in-one 1080p HD camcorder that allows you to film and share on the web, the ContourHD1080p is again breaking new ground. It is lightweight, yet rugged enough to withstand the elements while capturing exceptional quality video, regardless of the angle. The included Easy Edit software makes editing and sharing videos easier than ever. The ContourHD1080p is recommended for outdoor enthusiasts interested in capturing adventures in HD and sharing them with the world.
Helmet Camera Central Price: $329.99 ( Pre-Order – Limited Quantities Available through end of 2009! )
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Helmet Camera Central was born as a result of our helmet cam experiences from our video consulting business, Two Brothers Video. Helmet Camera Central is a resource designed to help people find objective and pertinent information about helmet camera systems. Since 2005, we have reviewed numerous helmet camera systems with an unbiased and objective point of view. Our reviews focus on the functional and usability aspects of helmet camera systems. Since we use helmet camera systems in addition to selling them, our reviews result from actual day-to-day experiences with the products. Ease of use, reliability, and quality are our top priority. Rest assured, the helmet camera systems that we recommend and sell at HelmetCameraCentral.com were chosen for good reason: they rock! There are many systems out there, but the ones we recommend provide exceptional quality and services for the best return on your investment.
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