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 #1 New helmet cameras?? Posted 22/08/2010 @ 04:12 |
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Hi guys.
I've booked my snowboard holidays for next February and now I almost can't wait. So I'm currently trying to find some nice gear to bring along. Last time I went boarding, I wanted to buy a GoPro HD, but due to unexpected bad customer service from the online place I ordered the camera from, I didn't receive it in the end.
Now I'm looking at helmet cameras again. Basically there are two options:
GoPro HD or Contour HD.
The two cameras have pretty identical spec but do differ in some ways.
Image quality seems to be somewhat the same... but the audio quality is much better on the GoPro than on the Contour. However the controls are much better on the Contour and it doesn't seem as bulky when attached to a helmet, as the GoPro.
First of all, do any of you have any recommendations of which one I should consider buying? Any experience with either of the two cameras?
And secondly, can I expect the cameras to be upgraded with a new model this year? It seems a bit strange that I can't find any infos about new models, when the ones from last year obviously had some issues that could be improved.
Oh... I just read about a camera called "Drift HD170". Does anyone know anything about that camera?
Cheers |
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| #2 Re: New helmet cameras?? Posted 22/08/2010 @ 11:10 |
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| In reply to post #1
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I used both last year, and my personal preference was for the Contour based on ergonomics: it's easier to attach to your goggle strap and works well there. I've seen excellent results from both however, so I'd just look at the price/ spec and pick the one which you like the look of.
I suppose they'll get better in the coming season, but have no information on that yet. There are places you can rent them from, which may be a sensible option for some. The sort of shots you get with them get tiring quite quickly. |
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| #3 Re: New helmet cameras?? Posted 22/08/2010 @ 12:46 |
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| In reply to post #2
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Thanks, philw.
You bring up an interesting point with the "sort of shots" issue. I hadn't thought about that.
Renting might be a good option to see if the shots get tiresome after a season of filming. I'll try to find out if it's possible the places I'm going.
Looking at the ergonomics the Contour seems to be the best choice to me as well... just too bad the sound it almost useless.
Any experience with the Drift HD170? |
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| #4 Re: New helmet cameras?? Posted 23/08/2010 @ 12:36 |
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| In reply to post #3
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I went for the Contour over the GoPro purely on ergonomics. I think I look (a bit) less of a wally with the Contour attached to my lid. The GoPro just sticks out too much! As for the sound being useless, I guess you're right, but I'm not sure any helmet cam would give you anything but wind noise.
Oh and one other thing. Unless it's a nice sunny day I tend not to bother with the cam any more as the image just looks terrible. |
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| #6 Re: New helmet cameras?? Posted 23/08/2010 @ 17:24 |
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| In reply to post #4
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Hmm... that's very interesting!
That's 2 for Contour. 0 for GoPro.
Has anybody else experienced that footage shot on a cloudy day looks terrible? |
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| #7 Re: New helmet cameras?? Posted 23/08/2010 @ 22:40 |
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Sorry... I just realized that there actually are quite a lot of threads about this topic. I must have looked the wrong place before I posted.
It sounds like the Contour HD 1080p is the one to choose, but has anyone got any experience with the Drift HD170? |
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| Posts: 29 |
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Nottinghamshire |
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| #8 Re: New helmet cameras?? Posted 24/08/2010 @ 08:43 |
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| In reply to post #6
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I agree with the quality of the contour. In sunny days you cannot pick fault but in cloudy days it is poor. |
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All the gear...no idea! |
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| Posts: 378 |
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Gloucestershire |
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| #9 Re: New helmet cameras?? Posted 24/08/2010 @ 09:56 |
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| In reply to post #8
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I dunno kilted79, we've had a Contour HD 720 for a season or two now and we got some cracking footage of descending into and through a total white out with low cloud etc - to give our non-boarding friends a taste of just how evil it can get on a mountain  - in Sauze this season. We did upgrade the firmware on it though to the latest version then you can manually tweak the white balance and a whole load of other stuff too. My OH managed to get it set up pretty good I thought  |
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| #10 Re: New helmet cameras?? Posted 24/08/2010 @ 11:23 |
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| #11 Re: New helmet cameras?? Posted 30/08/2010 @ 11:57 |
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| In reply to post #10
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I went for the GoPro personally.
Love all the different mounts you can get for it and that it's so waterproof.
You can attach it to your board, or chest or use the headstrap and wear it over a beanie, so you don't necessarily have to wear it on top of a helmet, or to the side.
As for the dorky thing, even with the Contour, it's obvious you've got a camera strapped to your head. Personally, I'd be using mine to film powder and maybe some laps of the park, it's not like I'd be riding around the whole day using it. |
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| #12 Re: New helmet cameras?? Posted 22/11/2010 @ 01:20 |
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Had to post this because I'm thinking of getting one. The last "deal of the week" ran out just before midnight and was about £215. This deal a few hrs later is even less 
Maybe they're trying to shift them because of the GPS model.
Should I buy one now or wait until I go on holiday? |
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Just let your sooooul glow!!! |
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| Posts: 378 |
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Gloucestershire |
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| #13 Re: New helmet cameras?? Posted 22/11/2010 @ 10:27 |
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| In reply to post #12
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TBH I don't know as my crystal ball is broken at the moment 
That sounds like a pretty good deal, we have an older Contour 720p HD & paid a lot more than that for it, but then we've had it a couple of years and got it with a bundle of extra mounts and stuff. It takes a bit off fiddling with the settings to get it right - white balance and all that jazz - for filming on snow but we've been very happy with the results. |
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| #14 Re: New helmet cameras?? Posted 22/11/2010 @ 10:40 |
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| Posts: 378 |
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Gloucestershire |
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| #15 Re: New helmet cameras?? Posted 22/11/2010 @ 11:52 |
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| In reply to post #14
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The white balance thing is easy to do it just might take a couple of goes to get it bang on right as you need to make changes then film a bit and see if you're happy; rinse & repeat if not.
Got to admit that it was my OH doing the setup so how I saw it might be somewhat simplified ... for our Contour we had to download a utility to fiddle with the settings (I believe the 1080 camera ships with the utility). Using this utility app there's a bunch of stuff you can fiddle with using your PC/laptop and then send to the camera for next time your out filming. Different settings work better for different filming scenarios and lighting conditions.
My OH set our camera up in our study before we went on holiday by making educated guesses about best settings. We had our notebook on holiday with us for downloading footage to and showing the group in the pub but I don't think he fiddled with the settings much again so he must have guessed pretty much right 
I don't think you'd be disappointed with a Contour, you just need to be prepared to set it up right for snow filming ... but I guess that's gonna be the case whatever you buy. |
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| #16 Re: New helmet cameras?? Posted 22/11/2010 @ 12:38 |
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Revision #1 (Last edited: 22/11/2010 @ 12:39) |
| In reply to post #15
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Ahhhh
I was about to click buy on Amazon, then I noticed that they have this as well :-/ Only thing is that it doesn't do 60 fps or something like that. No good if you want slo mo.
So....
Thanks, I only just saw your pm |
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Just let your sooooul glow!!! |
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