Well, I bit the bullet over Christmas, Christmas Day actually. And bought a Contour +2 Helmet cam for a few Hungy. This camera still commands over $500 RRP in stores (and online). I had also layby'd the new entry level GoPro Hero on the 23rd (Big W had them on special, plus I get a discount being an employee). Great Camera the Contour. It records 30/60 FPS at 720 p with a 170deg angle of view, and 30 FPS at 1080p with 135deg view, also has a GPS unit with speed, distance and elevation tracking. It uses a rail system to mount to the helmet (Or whatever else), and this for me was a big factor in its choosing, I dont want this big box hanging off the side of my lid. You could mount it on the front, but I didn't want that, so i went the contour. So I fitted it up as recorded some footage. Most of it isn't usable due to wind noise above 40 kmh. I have a custom made external mic on the way which will solve this problem. The other reason for this is I'm looking to get into Motovlogging. Which if I'm honest was the primary reason to get a camera. But it had a dual purpose of recording my road exploits should something go wrong. I've had two people pull out infront of me since I got it. The first I didn't get because I had depleted that battery, the second, the woman didn't see me till she was about to pull out. And it's times like these that you can simply present this as evidence in court to prove your case. However it can work the other way if your at fault or get caught by officer plod, they can confiscate (in QLD) the camera as evidence to prove you were speeding. So pros and cons there. I'm still buying the GoPro and another Contour for track day exploits and the rest. Anyway, enough talk. The camera mounted. From the looks of it the camera is mounted upwards, but leaning forward it levels out. So what helmet cams have you got or are looking to get, and why?
I have/had first contour gps used for trails but fell off and got dust in it no big deal undid lense and cleaned here comes the **** bit near impossible to put lense and oring in properly and they use a tiny little screw just filled into plastic which will strip if u use more pressure than a fleas grip lol if u gonna use it out of normal conditions get a waterproof case I did after but mine buggered other than the above mentioned it is a great cam
I have a go pro mount stuck onto my lid, not visible in the pictures I have. It sticks out about, so it's good at making idiots on the road pay attention. The go pro I use is a Hero 3 White. 1080p/30 or 720p/60 For high speed stuff, I'll use the 60fps mode as youtube now supports 60fps
im with you mate... i was lucky my girlfriend got 2 hero3 whites for the price of 1... i really like how clear the high rez is.. my only issue with go pro is the mounting system.. its all plastic.. so it gets a lot of flex and vibrations in them.. but when mounted to your body no issues cause you body absorbs the shaking and impacts... i was looking at the contour cameras but the water proof case is extra for them and the gopro was a better price at the time...
The contour +2 comes with a case as standard. The Roam 2 & 3 are waterproof out if the box. Roam 3 is up to 10m. IMHO, I think GoPros are over-rated. Don't get me wrong, they are a great camera, but thier main reason for being so popular is thier marketing. Everyone knows GP. It's like bobcat, or jacuzzi. Both brands that are referred to as a product, rather than just a brand when talking in conversation. Because if that marketing, they have a legion of loyal followers that look down on anything that isn't GP. But their are brands out there that that match or are even better like Drift and contour. Drift especially with their remote that has leds in the remote that gives you a visual indicaton of recording and battery life, without needing to look at the camera itself, or hook up the Bluetooth to your phone and check that way. @Tim_ check these out.
I mostly agree you.. But I will always say what different type of camera it is not just generically call all action cameras GP.. I watched the doco on the GP and the marketing was very smart.. I mean why else do you start a business? to make money and they succeeded... I'm pretty sure the remote you can buy(also comes standard with black editions) does the battery life and all the rest... The one thing i did like about the contour cam(grated its the older version) is its one big button that can easily be used with gloves.. Things I didn't like is that fact that you needed to plug it into a computer to change all the settings and view your recordings.. And I was shown a lens that had cracked from a fall off a bike.. So it was shown to me as a not so durable camera that you needed a laptop handy to do anything with it if you didn't like the settings... BUT in saying that the Aus and U.S military use them so that should in its self be a big advertising point that these cameras and withstand a battle field.. I am rambling on now.. pretty much it comes down what you prefer just like bikes.... think of the Kawasaki vs very other bike debate... or the BMW GS some people love them some people hate them... there is that many camera's to choose from on the market these days you just need to find one that suits you and your needs...
The contour your were using must have been an older one, I can change my settings completely via the app on my phone, albiet I do need to view the video files on the computer. See, the GP controller is separate with everything bar the blacks. (which is almost $600) The drift is a standard unit supplied with all cameras that can be mounted anywhere. But your right about the contour's ease of use with gloves. Just 'flick' and its all good. The thing is with the Action cam debate, I liken it to the Playstation V Xbox debate. There will always be loyalists, & people that will have both. Its all about preference. And like I said, Im getting a GP anyway. Albeit entry level. Id like a 3, but I've got more important things to spend money on!
the entry level ones are hero3 white(maybe hero4 white now).. i have those.. thats why i got 2 so cheap... the hero3 black, hero3+ and the new hero4 have an insane amount of features... but i dont see my self using all of them so i went with a entry level camera as i was a beginner with them, it work perfectly for what my needs are...
Nah, theres a bare bones Go Pro "hero" now, around $180. Pretty bare bones: http://shop.gopro.com/APAC/cameras
