HEAD CAMS – Contour GPS Review
Mountainwatch Field Reporter | Alex Cameron
The sleek body of the Contour GPS camera was the first thing to arrest my attention. I had heard about the myriad of features; GPS tracking, Bluetooth connectivity, infinite mounting options, HD video, the list goes on.
But when I lifted the small, solid and evenly weighted device out of the packaging, I was struck by the aesthetic yet functional design and it’s inherent robustness. It felt like this was a camera that could be dropped, fallen on, covered in snow or thrown from a chairlift to a friend in confidence. And as the day progressed, this was indeed proven true time and time again. This camera is built for the action sports lifestyle.
The Contour GPS is jam-packed with features and functionality; it is truly a testament to modern technology. For a full list of its capabilities, check out Contour’s particularly helpful website. Although I didn’t have the opportunity to try everything the Contour was capable of (I was pretty keen to get some riding in!), I did connect the Contour GPS to my iPhone with Bluetooth.
The basic operation of the Contour GPS camera is very straight forward to the point of being intuitive; particularly the process of setting the camera to record and then back to stand-by, which can easily be performed with a clumsy mitten on. Even with my limited technological literacy, I was happily operating the camera without consulting the user’s manual. Connecting the camera to an iPhone via Bluetooth was not as easy; the mitten had to come off and the user’s manual had to come out. However once connected, Contour’s free iPhone app allowed me to adjust the picture settings, contrast, frame-rates, quality and mode. It also showed the remaining battery time and the remaining space on the memory card – very helpful.
I used the Contour GPS to record various different activities; a time-lapse while driving, people hanging in a café, friends snowboarding and some simple scenery shots seeing as that particular day Mother Nature had provided a delightful smorgasbord. The picture quality varied, perhaps due in some part to my fiddling with the settings. That said, I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of some of the shots. I’m sure that as you get to know the camera, you will be able to achieve high quality images all the time.
It is worth noting that the design of the Contour, with its rotating lens, and the array of mounts that the camera comes with, allows you to capture almost any activity. We mounted the camera on goggle straps, car bonnets, snowboards and even a chairlift!
However, it is also worth remembering that the Contour is a competitively priced, hand-held camera. It doesn’t zoom, doesn’t stabilize the image and adjusts slowly to changing light. Like any device in its class, don’t expect the world and you will be pleasantly surprised. Big thanks to Contour Cameras for allowing us to use the cameras, and if you’re in the market for a small HD camera, then check out Contour’s range.
Watch A Typical Tuesday, the edit shot with the help of the Contour GPS and check out the teaser below.
