Previewed: The new Contour HD Helmet Camera

Words: Chris Lesser
4/30/09

There’s been another volley in the compact point-of-view camera wars—this latest round coming from VholdR (formerly known as Twenty20), which is staking claim as the first company to offer HD capability in a helmet camera.

The new design uses the same basics chassis as Vholdr’s previous design but adds high-definition capability and a wide-angle lens option—a very usable 135-degree field of view. The $300 unit uses a rechargeable cell-phone-style lithium ion battery and records to an up-to 16GB Micro SD card. The entire unit is self contained, and setup is aided by two positioning lasers mounted to a rotating bezel on the front of the camera.

Simply affix the camera to your helmet or handlebar, square up the two reference lasers level with the horizon, and flip a big easy-to-use magnetic switch and listen for the one-beep or two-beep audio cue that indicates whether recording is starting, or stopping, respectively.

In HD mode, the camera records to a 16:9 aspect ratio at 30 frames a second, spitting out 1280x720 pixel footage. In an optional “High Action” mode, the camera records at a blisteringly fast 60 frames a second, but not in HD.

The camera comes standard with a sticky-mount and a goggle strap mount, but most riders will want to look into purchasing the vented helmet mount and the handlebar/seatpost mount (pictured below), both of which are aftermarket accessories available through the company’s web site, and not included in the $300 base price.

One of the very first Contour HD cameras found its way onto Lars Sternberg's helmet, as he followed GT rider Bryn Atikinson down the DH course at Sea Otter this month. You know the camera is good when it makes a practice run at Laguna Seca look good.

Click the image above to see the video.

Bike magazine is currently pitting a new ContourHD camera against VIO Sport’s standout OPV 1.5 and the HERO Wide, the budget performer from GoPro. Look for a comprehensive test of all three in a future issue of Bike.

For more on the ContourHD, got to vholdr.com

Reader Comments

Posted Thu Apr30, 2009, 9:09 PM — By Travis

It looked good but I don't think I'd buy it, given the fact I do not have an HDTV nor did the video look that impressive over any other footage I've seen from movies/youtube and what have you. What's more $300.00 and you do not even get the mounts you want to use unless you spend more money.

Posted Fri May 1, 2009, 5:54 PM — By Marc

haha, nice comments. HD is a big difference so no it won't look like anything you've seen on youtube because there isn't any HD helmet camera footage on youtube unless people ductaped an HD camcorder to their head, which is a scary experience in its own right. HD you can now watch on line so you don't need an HD TV. Your choices are Vio at $650 for DVD quality with a camera, cable, and recorder or GoPro at $200 for standard definition.

Posted Sun May 3, 2009, 11:03 AM — By Sedrik

True HD is really 1920 x 1080.

Posted Mon May 4, 2009, 4:20 AM — By Benny

Yes, 720 is low grade HD, but widely accepted as HD so that part is fine. Sadly, I think the video looks fairly poor. Color saturation and accuracy are nice, but the compression they're using is really high. There really is very little detail considering it's HD. Yea the image itself is large, but a freeze frame yields a painted looking image (no detail in the dirt, etc). This is because they're getting saving the video at 2GB/Hour. The bit rate they're using to get that length of recording is pretty low. I wish they would use a higher bit rate (Canon's HV20 save 7GB of data per hour at 720) and less compression... maybe yielding 6GB per hour of recording. A 16GB memory card could still do 2.5 hours of video. Plenty.

Posted Fri May 8, 2009, 7:34 PM — By Sinjin

They have some pretty excellent footage over on their website. looks like a good buy to me i'm certainly considering!

Posted Wed May13, 2009, 4:31 PM — By Jayson

Found more demo videos of this camera online here at: www.stuntcams.com/shop/contourhd-high-definition-helmet-cam-1024x768-res-p-123.html enjoy!

Posted Mon Jun 1, 2009, 1:41 PM — By Bob

Be sure to check out the ContourHD videos at http://www.youtube.com/user/vholdr There is some great footage!

Posted Wed Jun17, 2009, 6:48 PM — By Birr Crinton

OH SNAFFOLA!! This thing is the time zong of a life time. It'll zip by at least forty calibers as long as one ultra zupic lens has been tri-fatched. I've never experience such an incredible frame-to-collateral rate ever since the caberro cams decided to finally add the multiplicity function. Although I have to admit that some of the hundred-def videos I've seen posted are merely a fifth of the fepsi saturation that they are capable of while on SRD (self ran display) and therefore can't even go full percentage at the climate they're kept at. Furthermore, even holding the upright limiter slightly (less than 18 degrees) angled incorrectly can intensify glare but will definitely reduce the PCS (pervaiable claft sharpness). Well, good luck.

Posted Wed Jun24, 2009, 11:48 PM — By Adrian

I will pick Tachyon XC (www.tachyoninc.com). it is water proof up to 8.5M and shock proof. It also able to use 32GB SDHC card.

Posted Sat Aug22, 2009, 4:17 PM — By Jojo

@ Birr Crinton i have absolutely no idea what you are on about but it made me laugh. Your obviously on some form of HARD drug, good luck with that mate

Posted Sat Nov14, 2009, 5:21 AM — By Lee Tracey

Not quite sure what all the fuss is about, The write-uo says 720 but the adverts say 1080p but the maths do not equate. Real 1920 X 1080p at 30 IPS and 12 Mbs will record for 10 minutes per GB. There is no LCD display. I have a miniature 1920 X 1080p at 30 IPS which has an LCD screen, HMDI output, USB output and input for external DC, built-in 2.5 hour battery etc. etc. Comes in a fitted aluminium case with 14 accessories including cycle clamp, car windscreen clamp, weatherproof housing etc. etc and only cost 220 pounds sterling for the whole kit. It can read a car numberplate at 20 meters. It has a UK Police jacket mount and supplies a counter mount to fit to your clothing. Also records to a 32 GB SD card - quick change and quick change battery. Looks like a small mobile phone

Posted Sat Nov14, 2009, 6:30 AM — By Lee Tracey

My previous comments shot off before I had completed so here it is again -Not sure what all the fuss is about the Contour unit. It claims to be 1920 X 1080p at 30 IPs and to record for 15 minutes per GB. The write-up says it is 720. The maths support the write-up and not the claim for at 1920 X 1080p at 30 IPS and 12 MBs the recording time in H.264 would be 10 minutes per GB. I have a better unit which is shaped like a small mobile phone and is a true 1920 X 1080p at 30 IPS. Records to a removable 32 GB SD card, has a removable 2.5 hr battery, LCD screen and comes in a fitted case with 14 accessories for 220 pounds sterling ex-UK factory. The accessories include cycle mount, car windscreen mount, HDMI cable, USB cable, charger, spare battery, weatherproof housing etc, plus a fitting for the UK Police Klick Fast system and matching connector for customers to attach to their own clothing. Anybody interested email me at dvr@dsl.pipex.com for details of where to buy

Posted Sat Dec 5, 2009, 4:33 PM — By David

the regular conrourHD is only 720p, or 60 FPS in standard def. You have to spend $329 to get the 1080p HD resolution found on the Contour1080p, which isn't out yet. The GoPro is a much better camera at $299, and it offers 5 different resolutions, including 1080p, and many features of a still camera, not to mention its much clearer than this. No comparison in my book.

Posted Sat Jan 2, 2010, 8:32 AM — By Biker2010

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