Some nice choices with helmet cams! - Snowboarding Forum

Rob94hawk · 02-19-2010, 09:06 AM

Just came back from snowboarding and I'm looking into helmet cams for my next outing with the guys. So far I've found these two:

GoPro Official Store: Wearable Digital Cameras for Sports

ContourHD - HD Helmet Cam and 1080p HD Helmet Camera by VholdR

Anyone own either of these or have reviews on either?

Enigmatic · 02-19-2010, 10:48 AM

Theres a couple other threads on this so look for it through the search bar.

Personally, I just bought a GoPro off ebay but the bastards said the item was removed after I paid for it, so we'll see if it ships out or not. Ebays been pissing me off lately...

Anyway, based on the different youtube videos I've seen and comparisons and things I've read heres how it breaks down for me:

GoPro: better video, more attachment options, more bang for your buck, possibly future modular accessories, looks pretty ugly, but very waterproof and can be stuck to just about anything

ContourHD: Looks alot cooler with that cylindrical shape but seems to have less picture quality and poorer image stabilization. Can't be submerged under water like the GoPro can and appears to be more fragile as well. Nice goggle strap attachment though.

I think I'll personally be having more fun with the GoPro because it comes with way more stuff in the box to play with and allows me to film a lot of interesting things, whereas the contourHD seems to be pretty much a strictly helmet camera.

Other cams include the POV which is wired but has a screen that allows you to see what the cam sees...I think some members of the forum use this cam and really like it...but for me the wires don't sound fun and its pretty expensive.

So yeah, I'll post some vids/reviews once my cam finally gets here.

Rob94hawk · 02-19-2010, 11:20 AM

Awesome stability on the GoPro. Wonder if it'll hold up after a wipeout....

02-21-2010, 12:09 AM

I have the GoPro and its a decent little camera. It has pretty decent quality for the size and price. If you want sound then its not for you. You may be able to tell what people are saying and sometimes not. It has a solid mounting system if you wear a helmet. All the other mounting options are a joke. I've never been boarding with it but i've ridden my dirtbike with it and it did ok. The biggest problem you'll face is getting the angle of the camera right for the perfect view down the mountain. Its hard to determine what the camera is looking at and if you set it slightly off, you'll never know until you get to the computer and figure out that your footage is pretty worthless. I guess all cameras are kinda like that. Its the only camera i have experience with so I can comment on the other options.

I looked at that ContourHD you posted and it looks pretty sweet. You may want to look at that option instead.

Note: after looking at the videos on ContourHD's site, i would go with that camera without a doubt!

Technine Icon · 02-21-2010, 12:21 AM

I dont have either, but I have seen videos shot by GoPro and it looks really amazing and have heard great things about it

myschims · 02-21-2010, 12:28 AM

Hero HD?
YouTube - GoPro HD HERO camera: The Ski Movie
looks so nice in HD

02-21-2010, 12:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by myschims

Hero HD?
YouTube - GoPro HD HERO camera: The Ski Movie
looks so nice in HD

wow that is sick! i haven't seen the HD videos until now. it has excellent quality video!

Enigmatic · 02-23-2010, 07:16 PM

My gopro just came in last night...pretty stoked...I got the motorsports one because it comes with a suction cup which I read was really stable and useful (probably will be sticking that on my boat/wakeboard this summer)

Unfortunately it looks like its going to be stormy up in Bear this weekend so I probably won't be able to really test it out until next weekend. But maybe I'll throw it on my sk8 or something and post my thoughts. (I want to stick it to the bottom, do a kickflip and slow-mo it, I feel like that would be a cool shot)

But anyway, if you do go GoPro, DEFINITELY get the HD one NOT the gopro wide (non-hd) or the other regular ones. The difference is well worth the tiny bit extra.

oh and, this is the sort of video I'm shooting for and this video is actually one of the reasons I even got interested in these cams in the first place: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wQcasngrSc (thats at the mountain I ride at too) So yeah hopefully my vids will be like that, except I'm hoping to stop and actually use it less as a POV and more of to capture my friends doing stuff and vice versa...we'll see about that though

cmb · 02-24-2010, 12:34 PM

i have the go pro and use it for motocross and it is good for what i need. i do wish i had the high def one but that can wait for a while.

Cavman · 03-01-2010, 02:09 AM

I have the ContourHD 720p version. The camera can take a beating and is well suitable for the snow. There is a waterproof case (good to a depth of 33ft) available.

Here is a video I shot last month in Japan. Crappy weather, overcast and generally flat light.

Hakuba - Last Day

I highly recommend this camera.

CM
Australia

02-19-2010, 09:06 AM	#1 (permalink)
Rob94hawk Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 52	Some nice choices with helmet cams! Just came back from snowboarding and I'm looking into helmet cams for my next outing with the guys. So far I've found these two: GoPro Official Store: Wearable Digital Cameras for Sports ContourHD - HD Helmet Cam and 1080p HD Helmet Camera by VholdR Anyone own either of these or have reviews on either? __________________ Board: Salomon Answer Bindings: K2 Auto Evers Boots: Burton Moto's (replaced my Burton Rulers)

02-19-2010, 11:20 AM	#3 (permalink)
Rob94hawk Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 52	Awesome stability on the GoPro. Wonder if it'll hold up after a wipeout.... __________________ Board: Salomon Answer Bindings: K2 Auto Evers Boots: Burton Moto's (replaced my Burton Rulers)

02-21-2010, 12:09 AM	#4 (permalink)
TRH93 Guest Posts: n/a	I have the GoPro and its a decent little camera. It has pretty decent quality for the size and price. If you want sound then its not for you. You may be able to tell what people are saying and sometimes not. It has a solid mounting system if you wear a helmet. All the other mounting options are a joke. I've never been boarding with it but i've ridden my dirtbike with it and it did ok. The biggest problem you'll face is getting the angle of the camera right for the perfect view down the mountain. Its hard to determine what the camera is looking at and if you set it slightly off, you'll never know until you get to the computer and figure out that your footage is pretty worthless. I guess all cameras are kinda like that. Its the only camera i have experience with so I can comment on the other options. I looked at that ContourHD you posted and it looks pretty sweet. You may want to look at that option instead. Note: after looking at the videos on ContourHD's site, i would go with that camera without a doubt! Last edited by TRH93; 02-21-2010 at 12:15 AM.

02-23-2010, 07:16 PM	#8 (permalink)
Enigmatic Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: So Cal - Bear Mountain Posts: 484	My gopro just came in last night...pretty stoked...I got the motorsports one because it comes with a suction cup which I read was really stable and useful (probably will be sticking that on my boat/wakeboard this summer) Unfortunately it looks like its going to be stormy up in Bear this weekend so I probably won't be able to really test it out until next weekend. But maybe I'll throw it on my sk8 or something and post my thoughts. (I want to stick it to the bottom, do a kickflip and slow-mo it, I feel like that would be a cool shot) But anyway, if you do go GoPro, DEFINITELY get the HD one NOT the gopro wide (non-hd) or the other regular ones. The difference is well worth the tiny bit extra. oh and, this is the sort of video I'm shooting for and this video is actually one of the reasons I even got interested in these cams in the first place: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wQcasngrSc (thats at the mountain I ride at too) So yeah hopefully my vids will be like that, except I'm hoping to stop and actually use it less as a POV and more of to capture my friends doing stuff and vice versa...we'll see about that though Last edited by Enigmatic; 02-23-2010 at 07:23 PM.

03-01-2010, 02:09 AM	#10 (permalink)
Cavman Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Australia Posts: 281	Contour HD I have the ContourHD 720p version. The camera can take a beating and is well suitable for the snow. There is a waterproof case (good to a depth of 33ft) available. Here is a video I shot last month in Japan. Crappy weather, overcast and generally flat light. Hakuba - Last Day I highly recommend this camera. CM Australia

02-19-2010, 10:48 AM	#2 (permalink)
Enigmatic Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: So Cal - Bear Mountain Posts: 484	Theres a couple other threads on this so look for it through the search bar. Personally, I just bought a GoPro off ebay but the bastards said the item was removed after I paid for it, so we'll see if it ships out or not. Ebays been pissing me off lately... Anyway, based on the different youtube videos I've seen and comparisons and things I've read heres how it breaks down for me: GoPro: better video, more attachment options, more bang for your buck, possibly future modular accessories, looks pretty ugly, but very waterproof and can be stuck to just about anything ContourHD: Looks alot cooler with that cylindrical shape but seems to have less picture quality and poorer image stabilization. Can't be submerged under water like the GoPro can and appears to be more fragile as well. Nice goggle strap attachment though. I think I'll personally be having more fun with the GoPro because it comes with way more stuff in the box to play with and allows me to film a lot of interesting things, whereas the contourHD seems to be pretty much a strictly helmet camera. Other cams include the POV which is wired but has a screen that allows you to see what the cam sees...I think some members of the forum use this cam and really like it...but for me the wires don't sound fun and its pretty expensive. So yeah, I'll post some vids/reviews once my cam finally gets here.

02-21-2010, 12:21 AM	#5 (permalink)
Technine Icon Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: CT Posts: 1,252	I dont have either, but I have seen videos shot by GoPro and it looks really amazing and have heard great things about it

02-21-2010, 12:28 AM	#6 (permalink)
myschims Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 258	Hero HD? YouTube - GoPro HD HERO camera: The Ski Movie looks so nice in HD

02-24-2010, 12:34 PM	#9 (permalink)
cmb Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Omaha NE Posts: 12	i have the go pro and use it for motocross and it is good for what i need. i do wish i had the high def one but that can wait for a while.

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