This item has been discontinued by the manufacturer and is no longer available.
This item can only be shipped to a US address.
The good folks at Contour bring us a successor to the ContourHD, named the ContourHD 1080p Full HD Helmet Camera. That's right - a full 1920 x 1080p camcorder for recording all your adventures on land, in the air, on the side of a mountain.... pretty much wherever you feel the need to explore. The ContourHD 1080p not only records in 1080p, but also offers up 4 other resolution choices depending on your needs: 1280 x 960p at 30fps, 1280 x 720p at 60fps, 1280 x 720p at 30fps, and standard definition 848 x 480 at 60fps. Record whatever your heart desires with this extremely lightweight and easy to use 5MP camcorder.
All your video is captured to microSD memory cards (2GB card included) up to 16GB for easy flash memory recording and transfer. When using a 16GB card you can record for up to 8 hours! Considering the built-in lithium-ion battery lasts for 4 hours on a single charge, that's pretty awesome. And you'll capture all your adventures with the fixed focus 135° lens that keeps the entire scene in focus without over-distorting things. A built-in microphone rounds out your video by capturing the sounds that go along with every adventure.
Ease of use is another hallmark of this wearable camcorder. Even with gloves on you can start and stop recording with just a touch of the switch. And, because it weighs only 4.3 ounces and is mountable to just about anything, thanks to Contours's patent-pending TRail Mount system, you'll be able to shoot without being distracted or weighed down. In addition, dual lasers, along with the 180° rotating lens ensure that your video lines up each and every time.
Aside from being easy to use, providing excellent video resolution, and flash memory recording, the ContourHD 1080p is water-resistant, along with shock, vibration, and impact resistant. The camera is made from anodized aluminum making it one rugged device that holds its own when you're out doing your thing.
When the day's adventures are over you can share them online with ease thanks to the included Easy Edit software. The software helps you import videos to your Mac or PC, edit the best clips, and share them on social media sites. The software also allows you to select specific camera configurations based on your needs.
| Sensor | 5 Megapixel CMOS |
| Zoom | None |
| Filter Size | None |
| Recording Media |
MicroSD Up To 16GB Video Only
1
Please Note:2GB microSD card included close |
| Recording Time |
MicroSD Full HD - 1080p @ 30fps: 15 minutes per 1GB ContourHD - 720p @ 30fps: 30 minutes per 1GB Fast SD - WVGA @ 60fps: 60 minutes per 1GB |
| Video Format |
High Definition MPEG4 1920 x 1080p, 1280 x 960p (30 fps) 1280 x 720p (25 fps) 1280 x 720p (30 fps) 2 Please Note:WVGA - 848 x 480 @ 60fps close |
| Display Type | None |
| Features | |
|---|---|
| Image Stabilization | None |
| Lux | Not Specified By Manufacturer |
| Built-in Mic | Yes |
| Built-in Speaker | No |
| Built-in Light/Flash |
Light - No Flash - No |
| Input/Output Connectors | |
|---|---|
| Inputs | None |
| Outputs | 1x USB 2.0 |
| Microphone Input | No |
| Headphone Jack | No |
| General | |
|---|---|
| Battery | Not Specified By Manufacturer |
| Power Adapter | Not Specified By Manufacturer |
| Dimensions (WxHxD) | 1.34 x 2.09 x 3.74" / 34 x 53 x 95 mm |
| Weight | 4.3 oz / 121.91 g |
REVIEW SNAPSHOT®
by PowerReviewsPros
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Most Liked Positive Review
Good camera, great customer service
This camera is not without its flaws, but when used as intended there is nothing on the market that can beat it. The sound quality is lacking, and there is no zoom or a...Read complete review
This camera is not without its flaws, but when used as intended there is nothing on the market that can beat it. The sound quality is lacking, and there is no zoom or a screen to replay footage. None of those things are really relevant in a "helmet cam." If those are a concern to you, you should be looking for a full sized camcorder.
The picture quality of this camera amazing for its size. The far edges of the image in widescreen mode are soft, and there is a small amount of "fish eye" effect with objects that are closer to the camera. Both of these are drawbacks from the wide viewing angle. The "other" helmet cam on the market has an even wider viewing angle and the effects are even more pronounced.
The sound quality is pretty typical of devices like this. When using a pinhole microphone it is hard to avoid excessive wind noise. But again, you shouldn't be using this camera to deliver a monologue, It is just fine for capturing the sounds of action sports.
The software that comes with the camera is very rudimentary. It isn't designed to be a full editing suite. It pulls your files from the camera, allows you to crop them, and lets you upload them to the companies web site if you wish. Personally, I don't use the software at all. I pull the video files strait from the sd card and edit them in sony vegas. Complaints that the video is choppy are false. The camera shoots smooth 1080p video, unfortunately if your computer is underpowered, you might see choppy playback. That isn't the cameras fault. These are full size HD videos, not the highly compressed stuff you watch on youtube and netflix.
Customer service is where this camera and company really shine. They have a very active community and the company is very involved with them. They are constantly listening to complaints and trying their best to resolve any issue and even make changes to their design based on feedback. I even mentioned that it would be nice if the company offered a certain replacement part for sale and received an email from the vice president of the company, 4 days later I had 3 of them in my mail box for free. You just don't get service like that these days.
VS
Most Liked Negative Review
Not quite the quality I expected
I intend to use this product for action video in a variety of motorsports applications. It's a nice, compact and self-contained unit that produces 1920 x 1080P full HD video files. I just received...Read complete review
I intend to use this product for action video in a variety of motorsports applications. It's a nice, compact and self-contained unit that produces 1920 x 1080P full HD video files. I just received the camera and tested it, however, and I wasn't too pleased with the results. The video quality is pretty poor in low to medium light conditions, but I didn't expect miracles here. In spite of its wide-angle lens, which is most ideal for depth of field, the video shows considerable blurriness in the outer third of the frame. When I contacted customer service to know if this is "normal," I was told that it's just unavoidable becuse of the lens they've chosen. So, plan on having to crop your video to less than full resolution if you desire a sharper image from corner to corner. Additionally, the playback through their included software is terrible. It appears to play only about 1 of every 10 frames, so it's virtually useless. Another inquiry to customer service revealed that the software is incapable of playback at resolutions greater than 720x480 30fps. So, the software provided with the camera is incapable of playback at the resolutions that make the camera appealing. A fix for the software is not expected until late in the first quarter of next year. The only silver lining is, because the video is captured on a Micro SD card, the files can be pulled off the card and viewed via Quicktime or any one of many popular video editing software packages. Last but not least, the camera doesn't include a 1/4-20 tripod mount. The only mount included is an adhesive one-use mount, so if you plan to use it in a variety of locations, you'll need to purchase a separate mounting bracket.
This camera is in price range where it competes with cameras that have zoom lenses, image stabilization, and a host of other features. The one bonus of the Contour is its compact size. But the features and quality that you sacrifice to get the small size may not be worth it for some users. If you have a application were you can strap up a small camcorder instead, I suggest your consider it because the image quality will be considerably better.
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Reviewed by 77 customers
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Comments about ContourHD 1080p Full HD Helmet Camera:
I like the style and smallness of the camera. The goggle mount seems to be pretty loose and shaky. I'm a little scared it is going to fall off. Other than that the camera is great.
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Comments about ContourHD 1080p Full HD Helmet Camera:
Just got this last week. So far so good. My first attempt at filming ended up side ways but upon further investigation you can rotate the lens. The camera is small and more aero dynamic than a go pro. The mounting is very easy and user friendly. My only complaint is the standard card is pretty small and if you intend to do lots of filming you will have to splurge for a bigger card and perhaps several of them.
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Comments about ContourHD 1080p Full HD Helmet Camera:
This portable HD camera is sweet! Very easy to operate right out of the box. When I am at my different operations for field training, the use of the goggle mount in my opinion is really comfortable and easy to adjust on the go, plus it gives you a very in-depth POV. perspective closer to your eye level rather than sticking out farther when wearing a helmet. Charging is simple with the use of a supplied USB cord. You may want to beef up the memory a little bit and go with a Class 10, 8 or 16GB Micro SD. Recording quality is adjustable, and playback clarity is astounding, POV perspective make you feel like you're there. Only downside would be lack of a protective casing to protect the lens, other than that, this camera is perfect for its compact size, and reliability.
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Comments about ContourHD 1080p Full HD Helmet Camera:
So I tried out this product for the first time and I was very disappointed to say the least. The video quality was beyond horrible and while I was not expecting much for such a compact device, it still fell short. Even in bright conditions the camera seemed to be fighting to deliver a dedent video image. I actually went into the settings and tweaked it as best as possible but the results were sub par to say the least. But what can you expect for such a low priced product . You get what you pay for.
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Comments about ContourHD 1080p Full HD Helmet Camera:
Once I figured out the mounts included I was on my way.
Pros
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Comments about ContourHD 1080p Full HD Helmet Camera:
This was beyond my expectations and was much more functional than what I expected for the money. Great fast shipping and great product. What more can you ask?
Pros
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Comments about ContourHD 1080p Full HD Helmet Camera:
I used my ContourHD on a deer hunt. I was able to attach it to my hat and record my entire hunt. It does not do very well in low light, but the day time video was excellent. I actually recorded a deer kill, but since it was near sunset, the picture was very dark. You can see the muzzle flash and the white of the deer's belly as it does down, but that is about it. Now I know its limitations. You will need a large memory card to record Hi-def for long periods. I recommend the 16 gig card which is the largest one it will accept. I used the 2GB card it came with and had to record on the lowest setting and it only lasted an hour before the memory card was full.
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Comments about ContourHD 1080p Full HD Helmet Camera:
Use biking, skiing, snowboarding. The number of diffent mounts makes the possiblities endless.
Have no current gripes.
Pros
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Comments about ContourHD 1080p Full HD Helmet Camera:
Contour's site doesn't feature this model anymore but I prefer it to the new waterproof version. New version has a built in battery. Once that's used up you need to stop down and recharge the camera. This device takes rechargeable batteries. Just get a few extra and you can shoot all day. :-) Since it seems like this model is being discontinued the price right now is terrific. Get them while you can.
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Comments about ContourHD 1080p Full HD Helmet Camera:
Like the other competitor brands of like cameras there is an inherent flaw in design. You must use proprietary mounting hardware unless you buy an adapter. The cost of these adapters are negligible, but they refuse to adapt the 1/4-20 standard.
The Contour has a pivoting lens to allow 90 degrees of adjustment. You can lay the camera on its side and still have horizontal alignment. However, I discovered the lens on mine seemed to be loose. Checking the support forums on their site it seems it is very common. It should not affect the cameras use. I testing this by shaking the camera vigorously and it did not move. The rep from Contour said they would exchange a user's camera for one with better fitment if they wished.
The instructions supplied with the camera are brief at best. It is a very easy to use camera and there is not much to it, but being detail oriented I found the info lacking. For example, my experience has only been with the use of delicate, highly sensitive cameras. The instructions failed to state that to move the camera mount from one piece of hardware to another it takes a bit of effort. I had to again refer to the support forum on their site.
I had found by mistake the text files used to tweak the settings of the camera. Very important and it is not included in the supplied directions. More info can be found on the site's forums. Yet it still lacks a full description of what each parameter does.
The great thing about the Contour camera system is- as you can guess- the support forum is very adequate. There are plenty of users and moderators who are helpful and knowledgeable. Chances are any question you may have has already been addressed. Do a search and you will find an answer.
As stated, the construction is stout. The specifications say it is durable and it is, but it even FEELS sturdy. It has a great feel to it. The camera and the mounting hardware seem to be able to withstand a lot of abuse.
The quality of the footage is par with all the other similar cameras. The viewing angle is wide, with little distortion. This is also one of the few cameras in this price range that offer numerous resolution choices.
Before you use the camera for a practical production do a lot of testing and tweaking. You must shoot a bit, look at the footage, tweak the settings accordingly and repeat. It seems like a lot, but it is well worth the results.
In sum, the perks far outweigh the drawbacks.
The camera's tweak-ability is more than you'd expect from such an inexpensive camera.
The footage is on par with other like cameras.
The documentation lacks a lot, but their website makes up for it.
Customer Support is impeccable.
You will need to by adapters to work with other standard equipment, but you'd have to do the same with other cameras of its kind.
Video quality is on par with the other cameras too. (Even some of the higher priced ones!)
If you need a camera like this. Get this one! You will be happy with your choice like me!
Pros
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Comments about ContourHD 1080p Full HD Helmet Camera:
Contour is shooter friendly with a functioning record switch. From a professional shooters perspective I recomend contour over go pro. Go pros are for fat little skier kids, aka gapers.
Pros
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Comments about ContourHD 1080p Full HD Helmet Camera:
Video is ok, problem is many of them quit connecting via USB with the computer, so no way to change settings. Mine stop connecting after 2 short videos next day I got it! after reading Contour's forum I find out it is a very very common problem. Too sad...
I mailed it back to Contour last week and still waiting for any update..e-mail..phone call..or any news on what's next, just hoping one day I will get it back!
Pros
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Comments about ContourHD 1080p Full HD Helmet Camera:
I'm using the Contour HD to record my Mountain bike rides. I'm still playing around with some of the settings, but so far every format is working GREAT. I've got the sound configured just right. It's a super easy device to use, very light and small. I have mine connected to the side of my helmet and the videos are AWESOME. You could easly pay twice the retail price and still have a great deal...
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Comments about ContourHD 1080p Full HD Helmet Camera:
I bought this for my son for his birthday. He liked the ease of taking the videos and especially downloading them. That was the main reason I went with Contour over the GoPro. I read a number of reviews on this product before buying it. He uses it on his helmet when he longboards.
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Comments about ContourHD 1080p Full HD Helmet Camera:
The ContourHD 1080 is very good value compared to the other wearable/outdoor action cams on the market. I chose this over GoPro (the closest competitor) due to 2 reasons:
- much slimmer profile (ideal for mounting on a bike tube or helmet without worrying about awkward looks or increased drag)
- extremely easy operation (simple button slide to record, also has audible feedback => I can keep my hands on the handlebar where they belong)
Additionally, the current price on B&H also makes it the best bang for buck among all Contour models (even at the same price I'd take this over the new "Roam" because the HD 1080 has a replacable battery)
My only complaint is that the various mounts are a bit expensive. But that's the case for all cams out there.
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Comments about ContourHD 1080p Full HD Helmet Camera:
I've had the ContourHD 720p for about 2 yrs and loved it so I decided to sell it and upgrade to this cam for what they are intended (ie action sports like snowboarding, mt biking, cliff jumping, etc) and it has has held up just fine. I prefer it to the GoPro cams because they are more streamline with my helmet/mounts and cost alot less. I ordered the ContourROAM as well. Another satisfied customer! :)
Pros
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Comments about ContourHD 1080p Full HD Helmet Camera:
I use this camera for skydiving , with the low profile mount it only sits an inch past my audible altimeter
Still learning the camera so I cant give the best answers ,
Pro
Size , weight, image quality, seems really durable for its size
Cons
Lens cover is pretty much useless
Story teller software
No ability to playback immediately, unlike the go pro
In general it seems to be a great little camera, it does exactly what want it for.
Just to document my skydives. If I had one thing that would,really help as an accessory would be to have an external record light that can be added to the helmet.
Pros
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Comments about ContourHD 1080p Full HD Helmet Camera:
I bought this camera for a combination of shooting and sky diving.
In both areas it has held up well.
Initially I was concerned about how secure the included mount would be on a smooth surface, such as a helmet. But after multiple jumps without losing the camera from thirteen thousand feet, I'm convinced. ( Though it does wobble on it's proprietary rail mount. )
The quality of the footage is good, and the fish-eye effect is marginal, not nearly as bad as my GoPro HD.
I also bought the picatinny rail mount to attach the camera to the RIS of my M4 carbine. The footage is only so-so, but the camera is still going strong after being subjected to a few thousand rounds worth of recoil.
The camera itself is not supposed to be waterproof, but after using it in a steady rain and flying through some clouds it doesn't seem any worse for wear. Just the same, I'm probably going to order the waterproof case, if only for the extra protection.
My only complaint is the battery life and size of the files. The included 2gb memory card is woefully small, and fills up very quickly. I bought a few 32gb cards to supplement it.
A helpful tip- the battery is interchangeable with the motorola BL-5C battery. These can be found on a popular auction site for under five bucks- I bought a few and all have performed admirably. They're o par with the contour brand batteries which sell for five times as much.
Pros
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Comments about ContourHD 1080p Full HD Helmet Camera:
I've used the camera for cycling and the mount was easy to attach to the top of my helmet.
Great field of view and good quality picture. Sound quality as you'd expect - lots of wind noise!
Pros
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Comments about ContourHD 1080p Full HD Helmet Camera:
I love it...am here in Afghanistan w/Marines and am getting some incredible video of Marines on patrol.
The camera's easy to learn; easy to install program on my laptop.
However be sure to mount your camera with superglue; otherwise the mount won't last beyond the first fall or jostle.
Highly reccomended!
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