VHoldR ContourHD 1080p Video Helmet Camera Review
I've been in the market for a helmet camera for a while now.
I knew I wanted to get a high-quality cam (HD), but didn't know nearly how many features a helmet camera has or could have.
I have done a lot of research on them because I want the best possible one without digging too far into my pocket, and the one that kept coming back was the VHoldR ContourHD 1080p Full HD Helmet Camera.
I Want HD! The ContourHD helmet camera records in high-definition.
It ranges from 720p to a full 1080p.
A 1080p camera is the highest definition for any helmet cam, and VholdR's ContourHD is the first to do it.
It also records in 960p, which is good for taller HD video.
It's basic 30fps (frames per second) is pretty good, but the 720p at 60fps is twice as good! It's great for action and high-speed sports.
Camera Sensor? The VholdR cam features a 5 megapixel CMOS sensor.
More mega-pixels is better, and with many helmet cams using around 2-3mp, 5 is a big step up.
Complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (aka CMOS) has low static power consumption, and high noise immunity.
This means that it produces less heat, uses less energy, and allows a high density of logic functions on a chip.
It Has A Mic? An internal microphone is used on the Contour helmet camera.
It saves weight, allows the camera to be smaller, and has low wind noise on feedback.
Helmet camera companies still haven't figured out how to get great sound quality because wind is a big issue.
One common complaint about VHoldR's ContourHD helmet cam is that the sound quality is low and muffled.
They use a screen or a plastic part of the camera body to cover up the mic so that the wind noise is low, but this makes for fairly poor sound quality.
On the flip-side, every other helmet camera company has yet to solve this problem, so if you're looking for one with perfect sound then you're wasting your time...
for now.
Batteries Can Make It or Break It Do you want a helmet camera that only lasts 20 minutes before needing a charge? Neither do I.
That's why the Contour HD has a lithium-ion removable battery pack.
This allows up to 4 hours of recording time, which should be plenty if you're going for a day-long trail ride.
Lithium-ion batteries have better energy-to-weight ratio than most other batteries.
Another feature is that there is no memory when using this battery, as well as a slow loss of charge when not in use.
Is It Durable? A very important question for those of you that will be using it for extreme sports, high-speed activities, and various climates.
VholdR's ContourHD helmet cam is known for its compact and light-weight design.
It has an Aluminum and Fiberglass Water Resistant Body, so it will hold up to the abuse that a dirt biker, skier, or race-car driver will throw at it.
You can use it in pretty much any weather conditions, and even go in water down to about ten feet deep.
Its patent TRail mounts "slide and lock" onto mounts that fit on goggles, helmet, handlebars, vehicle, or anything you can fit it on.
-Tom Stark Pro Circuit Exhaust
I knew I wanted to get a high-quality cam (HD), but didn't know nearly how many features a helmet camera has or could have.
I have done a lot of research on them because I want the best possible one without digging too far into my pocket, and the one that kept coming back was the VHoldR ContourHD 1080p Full HD Helmet Camera.
I Want HD! The ContourHD helmet camera records in high-definition.
It ranges from 720p to a full 1080p.
A 1080p camera is the highest definition for any helmet cam, and VholdR's ContourHD is the first to do it.
It also records in 960p, which is good for taller HD video.
It's basic 30fps (frames per second) is pretty good, but the 720p at 60fps is twice as good! It's great for action and high-speed sports.
Camera Sensor? The VholdR cam features a 5 megapixel CMOS sensor.
More mega-pixels is better, and with many helmet cams using around 2-3mp, 5 is a big step up.
Complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (aka CMOS) has low static power consumption, and high noise immunity.
This means that it produces less heat, uses less energy, and allows a high density of logic functions on a chip.
It Has A Mic? An internal microphone is used on the Contour helmet camera.
It saves weight, allows the camera to be smaller, and has low wind noise on feedback.
Helmet camera companies still haven't figured out how to get great sound quality because wind is a big issue.
One common complaint about VHoldR's ContourHD helmet cam is that the sound quality is low and muffled.
They use a screen or a plastic part of the camera body to cover up the mic so that the wind noise is low, but this makes for fairly poor sound quality.
On the flip-side, every other helmet camera company has yet to solve this problem, so if you're looking for one with perfect sound then you're wasting your time...
for now.
Batteries Can Make It or Break It Do you want a helmet camera that only lasts 20 minutes before needing a charge? Neither do I.
That's why the Contour HD has a lithium-ion removable battery pack.
This allows up to 4 hours of recording time, which should be plenty if you're going for a day-long trail ride.
Lithium-ion batteries have better energy-to-weight ratio than most other batteries.
Another feature is that there is no memory when using this battery, as well as a slow loss of charge when not in use.
Is It Durable? A very important question for those of you that will be using it for extreme sports, high-speed activities, and various climates.
VholdR's ContourHD helmet cam is known for its compact and light-weight design.
It has an Aluminum and Fiberglass Water Resistant Body, so it will hold up to the abuse that a dirt biker, skier, or race-car driver will throw at it.
You can use it in pretty much any weather conditions, and even go in water down to about ten feet deep.
Its patent TRail mounts "slide and lock" onto mounts that fit on goggles, helmet, handlebars, vehicle, or anything you can fit it on.
-Tom Stark Pro Circuit Exhaust