1Likes
-
1
Post By JustMe
|
17 Sep 2013
|
|
The franglais-riders
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: UK
Posts: 1,185
|
|
Contour HD helmet camera - Review
I got a contour HD helmet camera last year from Amazon. I bought it specifically for our next holiday to the US where we planned to rent 2 bikes for 3 weeks and ride the BearTooth highway and go up to Glacier National park, via Yellowstone. Awesome trip.
Now would you like to see me riding any of those roads? Well, no luck as the camera failed us completely.
Now I tell you, it is a very simple camera, there one On/Off button and one on/off filming sliding button. So 2.
When switched on, you know the filming is occurring as a green light turn red and you hear a double bip. If this is not occurring when you slide the button “filming”, you know you’re buggered!
I contacted the help desk at Contour and got the usual patronising conversation:
- Is the battery in? Yes it is.
- Is it charged? Yes it is!
- Is there a memory card in? Yes there is!
- Is the memory card the correct one? Well it was the one provided with the camera so I would think so!
- Update software. Done, no changes.
- Remove battery, insert again. Done, no changes!
- Do a sacred dance while chanting in tune around it . Ok I am making this one up!
Anyhow, after all of this, the help desk asked us to send the camera to the US (we were living in Brazil at the time) at our cost. They sent a replacement camera back to the UK where we originally bought it and we picked it up last Christmas.
Great, we were planning to ride across Europe to Romania this summer. We’re just back from there!
SO would you like to see me ride the Best road in the world (According to Jeremy Clarkson!) aka the Transfagarasan? Well you can’t … guess why? Oh yes the new camera failed again.
I recharged the battery and replaced the memory card by one I got from Amazon. This time it seemed to work! Yayeee! So we decided to go back to the Transfa.. and ride it again. Would you think this time it filmed? No! It died again!
So in conclusion, after owning 2 of the same, I can confidently report that this camera is a monumental piece of crap and I would advise you not to waste your money on it as it will fail you at the worse moment. We have 2 holidays without hardly any records and no record of our best rides because it failed again and again!
|
17 Sep 2013
|
-
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,344
|
|
No pictures or vids Maria? they didn't happen then! I feel your pain-
After the first duff one, you're a brave girl to buy a second!
Maybe consider the DRIFT HD Ghost no worries- great kit
|
17 Sep 2013
|
|
The franglais-riders
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: UK
Posts: 1,185
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bertrand
No pictures or vids Maria? they didn't happen then! I feel your pain-
After the first duff one, you're a brave girl to buy a second!
Maybe consider the DRIFT HD Ghost no worries- great kit
|
Hi Bertrand,
in the US we did not take as many pictures as we tought we would get some filming.
We did not buy a second one, we got a free replacement for the fualty 1st one. But second one is shaky too. We took many pictures though, this time!
I will check out Drift, thank for the advice. I would definitely like to get a decent camera for filming.
Cheers.
|
17 Sep 2013
|
Registered Users
HUBB regular
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 63
|
|
Contour is now out of business. It closed a few weeks ago.
However, make sure the problem is not a bad connection to the battery. Some were made the wrong size and vibration breaks the contact.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
|
17 Sep 2013
|
|
The franglais-riders
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: UK
Posts: 1,185
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by MT350
Contour is now out of business. It closed a few weeks ago.
However, make sure the problem is not a bad connection to the battery. Some were made the wrong size and vibration breaks the contact.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
|
Out of business? Wow not surprised though considering how bad the cameras are!
|
18 Sep 2013
|
|
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Dunedin, NZ
Posts: 308
|
|
Sorry to hear the contour failed you on 2 amazing trips, I've been thinking of buying a video camera & was just browsing info on the Drift so I'm glad I came across this thread!
__________________
Elaine
Striving to live the ordinary life in a non ordinary way
|
6 Oct 2013
|
Registered Users
HUBB regular
|
|
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: UK
Posts: 31
|
|
As a counterpoint, I have 2 of them and they work great. I'm tempted to buy more now that they are heavily discounted.
I don't thing any consumer product is immune from having bad units. I'm sorry you ended up with two in a row!
|
6 Oct 2013
|
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Nieder-Olm, Germany
Posts: 144
|
|
I had a Contour Roam with GPS and stuff for the trip to Romania last year. We never got it to work properly; the first one was DOA, the second (both purchased from Amazon) did fail on us dozens of times by shutting down after a few seconds of recording, more often than not unnoticed (I cannot constantly listen for some odd beep when I´m riding). Replacing and formatting cards, updating software and firmware and even the secret dances did not help long. When it worked, it got excellent results, but I expect reliability for this amount of dough.
I finally gave up after it failed on us again during this years´ trip to the UK and sent it back to Amazon. Man am I happy now that I asked for a refund instead of a product replacement.
If I ever go back to making roadmovies, it will be a GoPro, whether I look like a Teletubby with one on my helmet or not.
Cheers
Chris
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 1 guests)
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...
2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.
"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)
Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.
Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.
Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!
What others say about HU...
"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia
"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK
"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia
"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA
"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada
"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa
"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia
"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany
Lots more comments here!
Diaries of a compulsive traveller
by Graham Field
Book, eBook, Audiobook
"A compelling, honest, inspiring and entertaining writing style with a built-in feel-good factor" Get them NOW from the authors' website and Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk.
Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!
New to Horizons Unlimited?
New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!
Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.
Read more about Grant & Susan's story
Membership - help keep us going!
Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.
You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.
|
|
|