Contour+2 review: the best consumer helmet camera on the market

Posted on 05/09/2012 by Tim Stevens

More Info

Contour+ helmet cam goes official, bringing 1080p video with wider viewing angle
Contour+ vs. GoPro HD Hero2: through the desert and into the skies
Contour's new mount, watersports kits help bring its cameras with you in the water, snow or dirt

It's been a little while since the two major players in the helmet cam industry, Contour and GoPro, refreshed their wares. Contour launched its Contour+ and Roam models last summer, while GoPro delivered the HD Hero2 late last year. As our extensive testing can attest, both companies put out great cameras, but with Sony about to get in the game with its $199 Action Cam, the pair need to raise their games -- and that's exactly what Contour is doing with the Contour+2.

This logically named follow-up to the Contour+ is a big step forward on many levels, still delivering 1080p recording while offering many design and software improvements, including the ability to use your smartphone not just as a viewfinder, but to start and stop recording, too. Plus, at $400, it's $100 cheaper than last year's offering -- and that's despite coming with a fully waterproof case. Join us as we put it through its paces.

Gallery: Contour+2 review

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Contour+2 review: the best consumer helmet camera on the market originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 Sep 2012 09:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Contour+2 action camera puts waterproof 1080p recording in your pocket for $400

Posted on 05/09/2012 by Michael Gorman

Contour2 action camera puts waterproof 1080p recording in your pocket for $400

Just over a year later, Contour has released the Contour+2 camera as the follow up to its Contour+ model. Like its predecessor, the +2 shoots video at up to 1080p and 120fps, though that max frame rate's only available at 480p resolution. It also sports the same rail mounting design, a sliding power/record switch on top and a 270-degree rotating lens. Naturally, the camera comes with a waterproof case, for filming in hostile environments, and a couple of adhesive mounts, so you can get those super gnarly POV shots. The +2 stores clips on an included 4GB microSD card, but it can also stream live video using the mini-HDMI port round the back. GPS is onboard to track the location and elevation of any epic runs, and you can add a map of your route with speed and distance data and edit your videos using the free Storyteller app for PC and Mac. Once you've tweaked things, the app also does simple sharing of the results directly to Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Vimeo. The best part? Contour's latest will set you back $400, which is $100 less than the original Contour+. Hit the break for a video walkthrough of Contour's latest action cam courtesy of company CEO Marc Barros, and head on over to our review to see how this thing operates in the field.

Gallery: Contour+2 action camera and accessories

Continue reading Contour+2 action camera puts waterproof 1080p recording in your pocket for $400

Filed under: Portable Audio/Video

Contour+2 action camera puts waterproof 1080p recording in your pocket for $400 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 Sep 2012 09:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Contour’s new mount, watersports kits help bring its cameras with you in the water, snow or dirt

Posted on 01/05/2012 by Richard Lawler

As Contour continues to do battle with GoPro over the action-sport POV camera market, its latest offensive centers around prepackaged activity-specific mount kits that should make it easier for customers to pick one up and go. Also new is an all-in-one ContourRoam watersports kit that includes the HD camera and waterproof case that's capable of keeping it dry at depths of up to 60m. The mount kits include sets for skiers, cyclists, motorcyclists, hikers and an all purpose helmet mount kit. All of these are available starting today on the company's website and at select retailers, with the mount kits going for between $59 - $99 and the Roam Watersports kit for $249. We appreciated the Contour+'s sleek package in our head to head test with the Hero 2 last month and the addition of these packages should help it compete on price and ease of use right out of the box. The specific details are in the press release after the break and pictures of each set are in the gallery below, assuming your hobbies are exciting enough to merit recording, of course.

Gallery: Contour accessory kits