VholdR just came out with a new HD version of their video camera called the ContourHD. The new video camera looks identical old one but it shoots in both HD and SD (you can switch between). The ContourHD cam has way better sound recording, significantly improved video quality (HD!), and can use a 16GB micro SD card. See the full features here: http://vholdr.com/contourhd/features
I managed to get some “interview-chat” time with the VholdR headz. Here’s what went down:
VholdR: Soon is a good time to do your interview if you want.
nwBro: Ok. I got some shit.
VholdR: We’re getting so much traffic right now. Super sick. We got 7 thousand visitors yesterday on our site.
nwBro: Fuck.
VholdR: Is that good?
nwBro: I got 189 yesterday.
VholdR: haha. Maybe it will get you a bit of action?
nwBro: Eh. I don’t care about action.
VholdR: Right. Gotcha.
nwBro: Im just stoked on the cam. And all the shit I’ve read online is weak. We gonna do this legit.
With cusswords n shit.
VholdR: haha, coo.
nwBro: I don’t even like snowboarding anymore.
VholdR: haha, me neither.
nwBro: Only reason i want to snowboard is so i can watch a video of ripping ropeline apart on a pow day.
I got the line in my head…
VholdR: HELL YEAH. I’m excited to check out the park this weekend.
nwBro: The park?
Vholdr: Yeah.
Looks like some fun hits in there right now.
Just saw some snowskate action from hurlbut–using a VholdR. some juicy lookin booters in there. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mn6TFHDLXns
nwBro: No park this weekend homes. Ski Acres is closed. Only park you gonna be riding is Alpental wall hitz.
Old school.
Board grabs.
VholdR: Oh shiz.
hahahaha.
Thats coo too.
nwBro: Yeah, i don’t think surf will be on either.
Fuck.
VholdR: Frak.
Build a booter!
Alpy bc…
nwBro: In spring slush?
VholdR: Maybe.
Oh yeah.
Not that rad.
But still fun maybe?
nwBro: It hurts.
Vholdr: Maybe a nice hip or naty feature somewhere?
nwBro: We could get JR and Brock to come out and drop off huge cliffs to flat.
In slush.
VholdR: hahaha.
nwBro: They’re all about that shit.
VholdR: fer sher.
I’d be down.
nwBro: Ok….ima start hitting some questions.
VholdR: Ok ready.
nwBro: So the audio on the VholdR was pretty bad. Sounded like a jet. What did you guys do to make it better?
VholdR: We have a new higher grade microphone and better tuned the firmware for higher speeds.
Sound with action video was an area where we learned the most.
We first tried to hear people’s voices and that became too sensitive when you got going at speed.
nwBro: Yeah, i can’t imagine really getting away from some sort of “jet” noise…
VholdR: Watch the videos up there now, we kept the raw sound so people could compare www.vholdr.com/contourhd/videos
You definitely hear less wind and more action this time.
nwBro: Cool. You can always just dub some Sublime over your vid anyways.
VholdR: haha, true.
nwBro: So are you guys making any changes to the VholdR software? the video editing stuff?
VholdR: Absolutely. Making the software HD compatible. So you can import, clip and post HD videos to VholdR.com which will all be a widescreen HD community.
Specifically…a widescreen and 4:3 player in the software, thumbnails are 4:3 or widescreen (16:9), and then a improved user interface. Kept the main functions of importing, clipping, and posting online, just beefed it up for HD. Of course it’s Mac PC out of the gate.
nwBro: Does the new cam use a different codec for both the SD and HD modes?
VholdR: Yep. We have upgraded the camera hardware. We’re using the H.264 video codec. Wikipedia has a great page on what h.264 means (page here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H.264)
But it compresses HD video really well so you get high quality and small file sizes. Then the file type we produce are .mov. Very Apple product friendly.
nwBro: Im a PC.
VholdR: Quicktime and VLC will be the main players we recommend. Still testing all the editing software and computer compatibility but so far using the ContourHD videos is really simple. Should be a much better plug and play experience.
nwBro: Cool. You have a few competitors out there. Do any of them shoot in HD?
VholdR: No, it’s the first HD camcorder you can wear. Look at www.vholdr.com/contourhd/techspecs. We put an awesome chart there comparing us to the competition.
With ContourHD we talk about “amazing video quality” and “easy to use”. So the video quality is now our strongest differentiater. We’re putting a comparison video together that should be up next week so you can see video shots side by side. HD is a totally different experience. It’s big and awesome.
nwBro: Word, but none of the other ones have goggle strap mounts right? Cause im not into helmets.
VholdR: The wearability is something we’re also going to highlight. Our “how it’s wearable” page goes up next week. But it will show how you wear it on a helmet, goggles, vented helmet, handle bars, etc.
nwBro: Well, you should highlight the fact that you have lasers.
VholdR: The goal is to give you HD for more than just your head.
nwBro: Do any of the competitors have lasers?
VholdR: I’ve never seen another camera with lasers…tech nerds such as yourself definitely like that feature. haha
nwBro: Lasers are fucking sic man. You can fuck with cats. They love that shit.
Vholdr: And dogs. Bauer has some sweet videos on the site (our office dog).
nwBro: Trippin on lasers?
VholdR: Yep, straight trippin.
nwBro: ha ha! Ok…are you guys keeping the same website name? Or is it changing with ContourHD?
Vholdr: Vholdr.com for now. It has all the traffic. If you type in contourhd or hd helmet camera the website comes up. What we’re saying is…ContourHD by VholdR.
nwBro: ah. Ok. So the cam is a wider lense now. But it’s not mega fish eye wide right?
Vholdr: No mega fish eye like go pro. We thought 135 was a nice middle between Vio @110 and GoPro@170. 170 is interesting for alone POV but 135 is much better for following people.
nwBro: Yeah, makes sense to me…too wide and all that’s good is filiming up close.
VholdR: Exactly.
nwBro: What’s the craziest video you’ve seen on Vholdr.com?
VholdR: I still love motorcycle ice racing. Motorcycle sidecar ice racing.
nwBro: Whoa! That’s Extreme.
VholdR: vanstylhee is posting a ton of great POW footage from south lake tahoe. You’d think the guy has been unemployed all winter getting after it everyday. Comboed with perfect daily bluebird pow conditions in the sierras, a new 09 dragon sled, and doods who know what up, makes for good POV. http://www.vholdr.com/users/vanstylhee
nwBro: Gotta do something to stay occupied.
VholdR: haha, i guess so.
nwBro: Ever get any illegal stuff you have to pull?
VholdR: Not yet. We’ve had naked bicycle riding. Really popular video. Naked motorcycle riding in Santa Cruz.
Of course it’s from Santa Cruz too.
nwBro: Oh, i bet its coming. I just read some of the comments on the Gizmodo post….
VholdR: haha. They’re hysterical. “beard sold separately”.
nwBro: There’s a bunch of dudes on there that are digging on your model.
VholdR: That photo of Ivan Marcinko is everywhere. He’s the most famous unknown guy in the world right now. Hopefully k2 will be stoked on that.
nwBro: Well good for him. Dude throws down some ill aerial maneuvers.
VholdR: http://www.flylyf.com/the-vholdr-contourhd-wearable-hd-camera/
That was a big reason why we approached him. We’re looking forward to seeing some HD POV footy from him.
nwBro: Cool. Well, thanks for the info. Im pretty stoked to get my hands on one of these things next winter.
Looks like you can get them all over the place?
VholdR: Yeah, at REI, Amazon
nwBro: Word.
…
is it waterproof?
water resistant. can’t dunk it under water. i personally spent all winter using it riding in all weather conditions caked in snow and rain and had no problems what so ever.
i gotta say, id be much more inclined to buy if it could be dunked underwater.
j, i’m guessing you would like to take it out surfing? i know i would too…we’re working on it. hopefully we’ll have some waterproof options for you soon. stay tuned…
HD huh.. in what resolution, 640×480.. that doesnt really count. Bro bro I got a HD camera!!!!! not really.
They are pretty cool for what they are intended for though. S’bout time there are some affordable, semi bomb proof media collectors for the fun clips.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMVf2jOeyC8 the little blond kid loves them for his action shots
The resolution is pretty big. Think it’s 1024xsomething. Filled up a screen when i chegged it out.
You could use it for Corndog flickz for sure.
oh shit..it’s 1280×720. damn. http://www.vholdr.com/contourhd/techspecs
I stand corrected
Why didnt vholdr put ‘whaterproof’ in ‘compare contourhd with the competition’ chart ? It´s important required characteristic that people search when buying a helmet cam.
right, huh. the act2k is, well at least to several feet or so, and i assume the act5k is too. not nearly the film quality as the vholdr, but it can be submerged and has a reputation for being quite durable. i imagine building a waterproof hd cam that can withstand abuse would up its price a considerable amount.
If you want real “water proof” I think your only option is to get a housing which will cost more than the camera, or get a olympus hand held. Wrap your shit in seran wrap. Required? First off helmets are for pussies, start with the basics then move to waterproof.
How does that wide angle work? Any comparative normal to wide picture examples?
the wide is good. i checked it out a while back. standing up…it gets your feet in the frame when you look just slightly down.
i think it’ll be rad for pow jumping. it should pick up your board and grabs n stuff pretty good.
Here’s a waterproof one. 10 feet or so. Cheap, but definitely not HD. It seems like it isn’t all that complicated to make something waterproof these days. A couple o-rings to protect the battery and memory. That’s all the olympus really has. That shit is relatively cheap too.
http://www.compuvisor.com/helmet-camera-oregon-scientific-helmet-cam-atc2k-waterproof.html?OVRAW=waterproof%20helmet%20cam&OVKEY=waterproof%20helmet%20cam&OVMTC=standard&OVADID=8419877521&OVKWID=96348006521
I hate to say it, but the act2k does look pretty awesome. And I found one for $90. Waterproof to 10 feet. Self contaiined like the contour. Definitely not HD, but for a $90 waterproof helmetcam….that’s pretty sick.
yeah that one looks like a really good deal. comes with mounting gear too and some sites offer an sd card as well. i believe there is a newer model out too…
this is dope–> http://www2.oregonscientific.com/shop/product.asp?cid=30&scid=127&pid=971
and there are other site with better prices
what the hell you need a waterproof helmet cam for?
whoops. double post. . . I personally wouldn’t need one. But i guess if your into watersports, it might come in handy. I can think of one in particular that is featured in a northwest sports/weather website……. Not trying to steal vholdr’s thunder, that camera definitely looks rad.
LOL he said “watersports!”
seriously? comparing us to ATC5K?? why not just tape a cell phone to your head. smaller and prolly better video to boot…not to mention you can make some calls.haha. see some video samps below for yourself.
ATC5K
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqHjKtxn2wk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3I7UH8gFbho&feature=related
ContourHD
http://www.vholdr.com/contourhd/videos?vid=2
This year I broke 1 hd video camera and 1 point and shoot, last year 1 mini dv. None of them were broken by wetness. Just tell your friends not to bukaki the lens when they roll by, don’t drop your shit in the water, and wrap some sections in seran wrap on the snowing days.
The v-holder is rad for some chase cam shots and for it’s general ease of use (I would guess). Also, to get a wide angle set up on traditional point and shoots is near impossible. So that feature set together makes the v-holder a good tool in your belt of media machines, if you are into makin movies.
I like my chase cam from a side by side perspective so it really doesnt work for that cause you have to watch with your head whats in front of you. It must be for damn sure smoother during regular chase runs though.
The only thing we know for sure from this forum post is that the A-man has some secret thing for watersports, and that 89.7% of the the time he prefers the bottom.
yo clem is into water sports from the sounds of it but it just comes out of his ass while hes pukin in the shower
the vids look good but really no reason to take footage if your not followin someone. hey vholdr goin to canada next week to tear some shiiit up can i borrow one. dirt should be good no dust and no rules ehhh
yep….video looks a lot better in HD. You definitely get what you pay for with technology. I’m just sayin’ though, throw a couple o-rings in there. That way A-man isn’t gonna have to crawl back to vholdr for a warranty because his lady friend sprayed his p.o.v. camera during his watersports session. As for the ATC5K, luckily I don’t know sh(t….i’m probably not in the market for either one so what do I know anyways.
By the way, how are you breakin’ so many cameras swappy….geezus.
helmet cams and the likes are cool for about 20 seconds then you get tired of it.. IMO.. if used to chase someone. or ever better put it on backwards and have someone chase u.. then they work out pretty killer.. i wish more people used them like that… the vholdr HD looks killer for sure.. swappy u should get one!! the footage of u drinking beer would come out killer i bet!
i broke 2 video cams in 2 seasons as well.. we are plagued right now on keeping functional video cameras around.. mine just stop working.. no water damage or drop damage.. just stop working.. weird.
My son, 14, and his hard earn money, (he has been umpiring baseball games to pay for this) is looking at this camera.
question, he wants it for when we go snowmobliing. Do you recommend. Does the cold weather hamper the battery life.
If is snowing hard, do you recomend using it. Have you tested on stampede pass? What weather conditions do you
not recomend it for.
one more question.
what is with the format.
does your software convert it.
does it open with window media player.
explain
thanks
VholdR wrote:
“seriously? comparing us to ATC5K?? why not just tape a cell phone to your head. smaller and prolly better video to boot…not to mention you can make some calls.haha. see some video samps below for yourself.”
Indeed the ATC5k video quality is comparable to some cell phones, however it far more durable than both cell phones and the VholdR and is virtually water proof, unlike the Vholdr. Can the Vholdr be submerged under water? No. Can the vholdr withstand wet heavy snowfall, perhaps.
Are you really comparing videos uploaded on youtube to that of vidoes uploaded on your own site? We all know about the quality in videos lost when uploading to youtube.
Plus, the video links you posted of the ATC5k on youtube are of poorer quality than other ATC5k vidoes on youtube, such as this one–>
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5YHrU8DWhc
I dont know man. If you look at the comparison chart at the top of this post, it’s pretty clear to me that the ContourHD blows all the others out of the water with vid quality.
Might be heading to Hood one weekend here soon (since the ocean won’t cooperate) and film with the ContourHD. Get some pipe shots.
ofcourse. basically i wanted to point out that Vholdr posts of the ATC5k videos on youtube were a bit misleading. Definitely the quality is below the Vholdr, but tthe SD format is virtually the same, but obviously the HD blows out the ATC5k. However the durability and water resistance is not. And those are two very important factors to consider when purchasing and using an action sports camera. If the Vholdr was as durable and had as much water resistance as the ATC5k then i would purchase the Contour Vholdr.
The comparison chart is wack on so many levels. It does compare battery types, but does not tell you the lenght of the battery life. Obviously this depends on filimng, turning on and off, etc… but it would be nice to now how a certain type of rechargeable lithium battery compares to 2 AA, 3AAA or 4 AA batteries. Does the VholdR rechargeable battery last 2,3, or 4 hours? And can you turn off the laser alignment? Is it even necessary? I imagine it would be quite hard to see the laser dot while outdoors during daylight.
Also, the comparison chart does NOT include water resistant specs and durabitlity. Like i said before, in my opinion, those are two of the most important factors when purchasing and using an action camera. And online community? Who the F cares about whether your camera has a page dedicated ot just that camera? That is a sorry ass selling point. We all know that there are plenty of online resources available for video and camera sharing, commenting, questions, etc..!
i dont know man…trying to put specs on something that has such a variability to it would be misleading–battery life, waterproofness, ability to land puss, etc.
true
waterproofness or rather water resistance isnt all that variable when wondering or not if it can be submersed under water up to several feet and still continue to work.
The contour would be the perfect lipstick/POV cam only if you could hook it up to a field monitor. I think that is DEFINITELY a feature that needs to be added especially if VholdR wants to market to the broadcast side of things.
yeah a hands free POV cam is quite convenient!
Waterproof is necessary before I purchase. If you are riding down the road or trail and it starts to rain then what. I intend to use it on my trail bike and street bike and yes, I ride in the rain all the time in Florida. I hope they come up with a solution soon. Then I will purchase one. Low light capability would be a big plus also. I did not see specs on that.
What about to make a transparent waterpoof case?
It’s on it’s way.