Drift HD170 or ContourHD1080p?

[punkedmonkey]

Hi guys,

I am looking to get a helmet cam - number of reasons. I happen to enjoy videography - so would like to document rides and other things, I also like the idea of that little bit more reassurance in the even of an accident that I can show what happened .

I was wondering whether anyone had any thought when comparing the Drift HD170 vs the ContourHD1080p. I had had a look at some of the reviews online and really can't decide. So was wondering what people's general opinion are of them and what they think about the performance in a couple of areas:

1) Which has the better low light performance? (this is more of a commute issue)
2) I like the idea of the ContourHD's 60fps stuff - anyone played with this?
3) Mounting - the HD170 seems to come with a comprehensive mount kit, but the ContourHD is largely extra addons. Will I need extra stuff with the ContourHD? Any other experience with the mounting. I ride with a vented helmet...
4) Durability - How have owners of either found the waterproofness/durability of these units?
5) Configuration - the contour looks like you either have to carry a laptop around to configure it or you just have to set it up at home and thats it. The HD170 looks like you have menus and stuff you can go through and configure it as well as review footage and delete any you don't want - how useful do people find that functionality?

Thanks in advance for the advice!

Cheers!

 

[gaz]

I use a contourHD 1080p. I don't think anyone here uses the drift, but alexwarrior on youtube does.

1. I think the contourHD probably has the best low light performance out of all CMOS cameras.
2. I don't use the 60fps settings, as i like to use the 960p mode for a taller image. Have a look at the Drift Stealth which will have 60fps mode.
3. You will need to buy a vented helmet mount to use the contourHD on your helmet. A slight downside but worthwhile.
4. My contourhd's have taken a bit of a beating. but survived. It will work fine in a shower but in heavy rain you will need to use the water proof case. I can't comment on the drift.
5. You do need to configure the contourhd on a computer, but it's simple to do and you make sure you have the best picture quality! I think this is what makes the difference between poor low light quality and acceptable low light quality.

 

[downfader]

Looking at the size of the unit I will say that the Contour will be better on the helmet, and the Drift better actually on the bike. The Drift is quite big.

I will also add that the extreme wideangle lens will make things look further away on the Drift, so if you see anything interesting you might have to be very close.

 

[Cush]

I bought the drift X170 (not the HD model) and have used it as a hat camera on walks but have never used it on a cycle helmet but I do use it with a bike mount I have not shot video with it yet. After a bit of practice I have got to like it.

 

[Rezillo]

1) Which has the better low light performance? (this is more of a commute issue)
2) I like the idea of the ContourHD's 60fps stuff - anyone played with this?
3) Mounting - the HD170 seems to come with a comprehensive mount kit, but the ContourHD is largely extra addons. Will I need extra stuff with the ContourHD? Any other experience with the mounting. I ride with a vented helmet...
4) Durability - How have owners of either found the waterproofness/durability of these units?
5) Configuration - the contour looks like you either have to carry a laptop around to configure it or you just have to set it up at home and thats it. The HD170 looks like you have menus and stuff you can go through and configure it as well as review footage and delete any you don't want - how useful do people find that functionality?

Thanks in advance for the advice!

Cheers!

I've got a Contour gps after having a Contour 720p version since it first came out. I've written a review in the Reviews section above, albeit somewhat hampered by the inability to edit the original post to add changes to it.

The gps version has the same lens and sensor as the 1080p HD version so it is roughly comparable, although see the comment at the end.

1. The 720p version had far better low light (night) performance than the gps version. It's fine on dull days but not great for nightime use.

2. 60fps 720p gets rid of rolling shutter effect from handlebar vibration.

3. The Contour handlebar mounts are not great - I made my own. Helmet mounts look ok but I don't use them to give any valid opinion!

4. I wouldn't use mine in anything more than a brief light shower.

5. GPS version has bluetooth and is shortly to get a Android app that will act as a viewfinder and settings changer. You can also set up two completely independent sets of settings and switch between them during the ride. I'm not sure about the 1080p but I think it might be limited to only some settings being able to be separated.

The GPS version currently has two firmware bugs, one (problems with high capacity memory cards) which is fixed in the beta firmware I have. The other is that the bit rate settings are a step out from the 1080p , so high on the 1080p roughly equals medium on the gps. This is being fixed but it means that all my example videos are not on the best quality setting.

John