Track and trace
When using Storyteller, the GPS tracking comes into its own to show your route, complete with map overlay, speed and altitude. Furthermore, you can link through to Contour’s on-line web community to view and post your own ‘stories’. All very immediate and a great way to share the adventures.
Pricey, but built to last
So the live viewfinder function is a work in progress – it’s had several firmware updates lately, but Bluetooth connectivity still has a few wrinkles that need ironing out. Still, it’s a wonderful idea that, in time, could be a neat and worthwhile feature.
Verdict
If Contour gets the app up to scratch, and maybe knocks a few quid off the price, it would be onto a stunning product. As it stands, the Contour GPS camera is only really worth the investment if you’re likely to give it frequent and varied use. ®
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Contour GPS Bluetooth camcorder
COMMENTS
Quite expensive
Although image quality is OK.
CPU/Encoder/decode chip $15, camera sensor $15, GPS $10, PCB $5. Case $50 (?), optics, hmm, dunno. Software development, well not enough it sounds like.
End user cost $450
Still, all prices come down fairly swiftly nowadays.
Umm...
> And with a waterproof case at less than £30...
Why do you need a waterproof case for a waterproof camera?
I agree about the impressive stabilisation. It's up there with what I get out of SteadyHand, and that's slower than real-time on an i7.
About the resolution, if I read it right 1280x960 gives you the fish-eye effect, 1280x720 doesn't.
Tempting, but a bit expensive for me. Have a look at the Looxcie - same sort of thing, not ruggedised but allows full control over Bluetooth.
Not quite so expensive...
Quick bit of checking on Amazon, the camera's going for about £228 (use your conversion rate here), so about £100 below RRP. Me tempted, me very tempted. And with a waterproof case at less than £30...
Not quite
There is some very good stabilization at play here.
Definitely way out of your usual "granny's shaking hands holding a camcorder" league.
That alone is in excess of $100.
Want one...
Have had the standard 1080p version without GPS for a number of years for snowboarding and mountainbiking and love it. The problem has always been checking that the camera angle is what you were expecting before throwing yourself off the mountain for a one-off run. That's why they've included bluetooth, not watching clips back in their entirety - you're supposed to do that back at the pub afterwards on a laptop with your mates. Knowing for sure that the footage will be good is worth the upgrade cost on its own for me.
The chunky start/stop slider is one of the best features compared to something like a GoPro hero as you can actually operate the Contour using gloves and without needing to take your helmet off to check if it's on.
