When word hit the streets that the folks at VholdR where about to release the world's first HD helmet cam the action sports blogs where buzzing with anticipation of these great new product. When word of the ContourHD hit the internet early this year the action sports forums and blogs were buzzing with excitement. What is all the stir about you ask? This is the first helmet cam to offer true HD 1280x720 resolution which is comes in a small self contained unit that can be mounted to just about anything. When we received our first ContourHD demo the presentation in its new packaging was amazing and was diffidently a step up from its VholdR predecessor. When you open the box if comes stacked with an ample amount of accessories including a 2 GB MicroSD (16 GB Maximum) , a goggle mount, a flat surface mount, rechargeable battery (up to 3-4 hrs) , a USB cable and a comprehensive Quick start guide. I was slightly taken aback as the unit is so small I didn't think they could cram all of the needed features into such a small device. The aluminum boy is smooth and very good looking.
I gave the ContourHD Helmet Cam quick start guide a quick run through just to get a sense of where this helmet cam differed from its predecessor the VholdR. I was happy to find that the ContourHD helmet cam still has all of the same easy to use features as the VholdR. The unit has once simple on / off button and the recording capability is controlled by a large slider so there is never any doubt that the camera is actually on. One of the best features on the contourHD helmet cam is that this record function can also be controlled with thick gloves on which makes it ideal for winter sport applications. One of the other industry leading features of the CountourHD is that it give you two lasers to assist you with lining up the Hemet cam after you mount it so you will never find out that your had a bad angle at the end of the day. You can also mount this helmet cam either horizontally or vertically.
The manual recommends that you charge the battery of a new camera for 3 hours before first use. It is interesting that the battery supports 3 to 4 hours of recording even though with the capacity 16 gig card installed you can capture 8 hours of video so it might make sense for you to pick up an extra battery. I charged the battery with the included USP cable and I had no issues. If you are traveling without a laptop you might want to splurge on the independently powered battery charger.
If my opinion the ContourHD Helmet Cam is a great buy. It is well priced in the market place and delivers a ton of bang for your buck. If you are into action sports and want a way to share your adventures with friends and family then this is your ticked. If you find one of these for sale snap it up quick as demand has been so high most dealers are sold out.
