First of all, they guys at VholdR let me borrow the 720p version ContourHD camera. I liked it so much, I paid $330 at BH Video to buy the 1080p upgraded version. I am not being paid by VholdR to write this blog. I am doing it to help you decide if this camera is right for you. I need to get my hands on the GoPro next.

Please look at these other blogs about the ContourHD cameras if you are new to my site:

ContourHD 720p Road and Trail Test
ContourHD 720p Indoor/Outdoor Test
ContourHD 1080p – A Day in Television

I took a few minutes today to drive around with both the ContourHD 720p (model 1200) and ContourHD 1080p (model 1300) point-of-view cameras mounted to my car. I chose a car as my mount because I had to lug around my Mac Book Pro running the software to configure the 1080p camera to record at the five different formats/frame rates. There is just a “hi” and “lo” switch on the back. You must dial in the switch to the specific settings using special software.

I wanted to get about one minute of video in all the formats/frame rates that these two cameras can record onto the microSD cards.

The ContourHD 720p camera is able to record in two different flavors: SD (848×480 @60FPS) and in HD (1280×720 @30FPS)

The ContourHD 1080p camera can record in five. Full HD (1920×1080 @30FPS), TALL HD (1280×960 @30FPS), CONTOUR HD (1280×720 @30FPS), ACTION HD (1280×720 @60FPS), and FAST SD (848×480 @60FPS).

I have included the original untouched files directly off the ContourHD 720p and 1080p camera’s microSD chip below for you to download and test out. They vary in size from 40MB to 225MB so a fast internet connection is a must!

I am testing out these cameras in full because I will be using them on a shoot in Florida this week and I do not want any surprises. I plan on just shooting 1080p and 720p HD @30FPS using the supplied 2GB cards and my new 16GB card. I will have my computer with me at all times!

I have found that the audio on the newer 1300 model camera is much better when it comes to heavy wind. I am still having trouble with a slight hiss and audio “interference” noise when using the camera in a quite room. If you turn the speakers up, you will hear it. VholdR told me that this was a problem on earlier models, but I found it on the new 1300 model as well.

I also found that the factory default (and not user adjustable) color and contrast setting on the 720p camera looked pretty good, even at the lower resolution when compared to the 1080p version. The 1080p version was smoother and packed with resolution, but the picture was almost too flat. The newer model 1300 does allow you to adjust the picture setting using the free “Easy Edit” software, but I have not yet deviated from the factory set default settings.

I found the 1080p camera to be much more noisy (grainy) as far as the video goes in the low light of my edit suite. The 720p version seemed to be cleaner. The cameras also did not really match color temp wise. You will see this much better in the XDCAM EX 1080p video blog edit download at the bottom of this page.

I have changed the audio gain setting in the 1080p camera from default 33 to 42 and found that it seems to work well at that level. I also changed the “bit rate” setting from “default” to “max”. This has changed the bit rate on the 1080p 30FPS footage from about 1MB/sec to about 1.7MB/sec (according to Final Cut Pro). I will be using this resolution and frame rate most of the time and I want the bit rate as high as possible for less video compression.

A problem I ran into was trying to get the “ACTION HD” 60FPS footy into 30 FPS but running at slow motion. I searched the VholdR website for help on how to use Compressor, QuickTime, or another piece of software to achieve this. I could not figure it out. Final Cut Pro would not let me bring the 60FPS file into my project.

So, I need your help. Please download all the files below, but specifically the file titled, “ACTION HD”. It was shot 720p @60 frames per second. Let me know if you figure out a way to bring the file into Final Cut Pro as a 30p files running slow motion.

The guys at VholdR just emailed me the bit rate setting for the formats on the ContourHD 1080p.

Here are the bit rates but note they can vary drastically from frame to frame because it will try to conserve space if there is little or no activity to encode (e.g. static frames with little variance in colors will be lower bitrates even if the setting is Max).

Please download these original H.264 .mov files taken directly off the ContourHD memory cards and uploaded to the server. Have fun with them and see how they work with your NLE.

RAW FILE DOWNLOADS

ContourHD 720p (model 1200)
Note: There is a file embedded within this post, please visit this post to download the file.
Note: There is a file embedded within this post, please visit this post to download the file.

ContourHD 1080p (model 1300)
Note: There is a file embedded within this post, please visit this post to download the file.
Note: There is a file embedded within this post, please visit this post to download the file.
Note: There is a file embedded within this post, please visit this post to download the file.
Note: There is a file embedded within this post, please visit this post to download the file.
Note: There is a file embedded within this post, please visit this post to download the file.

More Downloads:
1080p @30FPS (XDCAM EX) version of demo video posted at top of this blog. yikes…611.4MB!
Note: There is a file embedded within this post, please visit this post to download the file.

Well, I just bought a new bit of gear. The $329.99 ContourHD 1080p wearable full-on HD wearable point of view camera. I got it at BH Photo & Video a few days ago with free shipping! The Twenty20 company that makes this camera did not send me a demo unit. They sent me a 720p camera a month ago that I need to return to them. I plan on making money with the 1080p camera and this review is for my website, not for Twenty20.

I decided that the only way I was going to be able to experiment with the new model 1300 wearable HD camera was to just strap it to my head and go to work.

So I did… I must say that with the two batteries and 4GB of memory, I only captured “key moments” during my day. I did not just let the camera record all day long! This would not have been possible for me.

It may seem like I am playing around with this new camera and just acting like a tv geek, but I am not. Well, at least the playing around part. The best way to find out the limitations of gear (that you plan on using in the future on paid gigs) is to just go out and shoot with it!

Before you press play on the 11 minute 30 second edited version of my entire day embedded below, please read the rest of the blog.

Yesterday, I was hired to shoot the University of Connecticut vs. Holy Cross women’s basketball game at the DCU Center in Worcester, Massachusetts. I would be operating the hand held camera under the left basket (camera 3) for the standard definition broadcast on Connecticut Public Television (CPTV).

We used the Rhode Island based COX Communications “Mercury” remote television truck. This truck carries four Ikegami HL-387 hard cameras with large 55-66x lenses. The truck uses Vinten Vector 70 and 750 panheads. For handheld cameras, the Mercury rolls with four Ikegami HL-59 digital UNIcams. The truck is all standard definition, but CPTV brought along a Sony HDW-750 high definition HDCAM from the station and I was asked to shoot scenics of Worcester with it. We down-converted though the camera using SDI to get the pictures into the truck for the broadcast.

This was going to be a pretty easy, laid-back four camera basketball game and I figured this would be a great stress-free environment to walk around with a camera mounted to my head. And actually keep it running while I worked the game!

The camera is small, but not covert! People could see the camera hanging off my head. They asked me what I was doing and why. I just told them that it was a new Bluetooth hands-free cell phone device. These people all know me quite well and by now, nothing surprises them. They kept talking about Star Trek and Borg for some reason.

I already posted a review about the 720p version of this camera. You can read that here. I liked the ContourHD a lot and think $300 is a great price for the unit. The 720p ContourHD was used on Discovery Channel’s “Dirty Jobs” with Mike Rowe. Mike wore the camera on his head as he cleaned windows on a skyscraper in Honolulu. The video from the sub $300 camera looked good cut together with the Panny Varicam footage!

I still need more time with this upgraded 1080p camera for further experimentation. But here are my first impressions using the new model ‘1300′:

The size of the 1080p version is exactly the same as the 720p version. Lens, mounts, battery, 2GB microSD slot, USB 2.0 connection, dual red lasers and Hi-lo switch are basically the same as the 720p version. The only difference is “1080p” printed on the side of the camera in white. This camera costs $50 more.

This camera does have more recording options. They are listed below:

ContourHD1080p has five video settings instead of two:
Full HD – 1080p (1920×1080) at 30fps
Tall HD – 960p (1280×960) at 30fps
Action HD – 720p (1280×720) at 60fps
Contour HD – 720p (1280×720) at 30fps
Fast SD – WVGA (848×480) at 60fps

You can configure Contrast, Exposure, Metering, and Microphone Gain for the ContourHD1080p from within the Easy Edit software. I did not use the software for the video I shot yesterday. I just unboxed the camera, charged the battery via USB and ran out the door.

I found that the video looked good and the auto exposure, contrast and metering factory default settings were fine for a $330 1080p camera.

I was not happy with the audio. I found it to be very noisy and it really only picked up my voice clearly using the build in mic while the camera was mounted to my head. But was this camera really made with audio in mind? It is a point of view camera after all and most POV cameras do not even have audio.

Just before I typed this blog, I opened the ContourHD free “Easy Edit Software” on my Mac to see the camera’s settings. I was greeted with a message that said the clock and date on the camera was incorrect. The program automatically updated the date/time file time stamp with a click of my mouse to match my computer’s date/time. That was nice.

I then went into “tools” and clicked “configure camera”. The below window popped up:

The software lets you set the video resolution for the “hi” and “lo” switch located on the back of the camera. It is possible to shoot 720p at 60 frames per second! I will be testing that feature out on a future blog.

In case you were wondering, you can set the camera bit rate to “high” and “max”. This differs with resolution setting, but I shot at 1080p 1920×1080 30fps using the “default” bit rate setting and my files were at 1.0MB/sec. Not certain if this is the maximum bit rate. I will have to test out “max” setting in a future blog.

This pop-up window also allows you to adjust the mic gain. I had the camera set at “33″ for the above video and I was not happy with the results. The sound was low and I had to boost it quite a bit in Final Cut Pro when I was editing. I plan on testing the sound at “50″ the next time I use this camera as a “Life Documenting Point of View Camera”.

I then clicked the “Lighting” tab at the top of the window in the Easy Edit software. I did not adjust these settings, but you can get an idea how much you can configure this tiny and inexpensive 1080p video camera.

I will run tests on these parameters in a future blog. Right now, I am happy with the results and will leave the camera at the default factory settings.

This camera captures .mov files to a microSD card. I have not used anything other than a 2GB card so far and I have found that the card fills up after about half an hour of footage at full hd. The battery lasted about 3 hrs non-stop.

I will post actual h.264 .mov raw files with ACC audio straight out of this camera in a future blog so that you can download see the difference between full hd, tall hd, action hd, contour hd and fast sd. You will be able to play with raw files that were shot at the higher 60 frames per second.

I also plan on getting a hold of the GoPro HERO full HD POV camera for side by side testing. UPDATE: Dave Aldrich shot a great little audio test with the GoPro HERO camera. Check it out on Vimeo by clicking here.

I just need a little snow so that I can take this thing skiing!

I have been blogging up a storm about this little camera and I have received a ton of emails about it. I have been asked several times by people to post footage from inside a building. How will the camera react to the low light and different light color temperatures?

I mounted the ContourHD 720p camera to my head (using a miner’s head lamp strap and light) and walked right into the workplace looking for TJ Powers. He is hard to track down these days now that he got his promotion.

When watching this video, take a look at the CMOS jelly effect, it is very obvious. Also, this little 720p camera does not do well in low light. I am looking forward to testing the new 1080p version of this camera in similar situations. If it works out and looks good in low light I could go undercover for Dateline NBC!

Notice that as I enter rooms with outdoor light streaming through the windows, the camera maintains a 3200K white balance. The camera really is quite intelligent.

All audio was recorded with the 720p ContourHD built-in mic. Sorry about the music, but it was getting late and I am not feeling well at the moment.

Yes, this TV station bought four Vinten Vision 10 AS tripods!

I finally got some time to test out the ContourHD camera. The first wearable 720p HD POV solid state camera. And I love it.

There is an ever better version of this camera coming out in about a month that will shoot 1080p video in the same form factor. The video that I have seen thus far shot with the 1080p camera is spectacular.

This video blog will discuss the features, versatility and the video quality of this great little 720p camera. I will soon have the 1080p version to test and I will post my review in a future blog.

I mounted this tiny camera with only gaffers and electrical tape to my car and travelled down the highway at 70 miles an hour. I also demonstrated how easy it is to mount to a mountain bike using just electrical tape.

I even enter a smelly sewer pipe with a book of matches to show you how it does in very low light!

A few things to note before watching the video below:

All audio was recorded from the ContourHD camera (except my voice over). I did find a slight static problem with the audio when the camera was mounted inside my car. You will hear it. Not certain what that issue was. UPDATE: I have been told by the manufacturer that this problem has been fixed in the current shipping contourHD cameras.

The standard definition footage was shot at 60fps, but I was unable to playback the footage with Final Cut Pro at the faster frame rate for slow motion. I will need more time to test this out.

I had an issue with the card filling up and not properly deleting the 2GB micro SD card. The camera refused to record. I simply reformatted the SD card using DOS FAT and this fixed the problem. I was told by the manufacturer to be sure to delete the files off the card and empty the computer trash can.

The camera did come with two mounts, the goggle mount and a sticky-pad mount. I only used the goggle mount. I did not want to waste the sticky-pad mount for this test. I found that electrical tape and gaffers tape worked very well instead.

The footage is sharp, but not THAT sharp at 720p. The camera I tested is available at BH Video for $280. I would much rather be using the newer 1080p ContourHD camera that will soon be available for $330.

In conclusion, this is a great POV camera for the price. The 1080p version will be a must by and will include options to adjust mic gain, exposure and a few other things by using the easy video software that is included with the camera for Mac and Windows.

Read this email I received from the company:

Hey Gang,

On Tuesday September 29th, 2009 we officially announced a big brother to ContourHD, the ContourHD1080p.

An addition to the family, ContourHD1080p is identical to ContourHD except for two features:

1. ContourHD1080p has five video settings instead of two:

Full HD – 1080p (1920×1080) at 30fps
Tall HD – 960p (1280×960) at 30fps
Action HD – 720p (1280×720) at 60fps
Contour HD – 720p (1280×720) at 30fps
Fast SD – WVGA (848×480) at 60fps

2. You can configure Contrast, Exposure, Metering, and Microphone Gain for the ContourHD1080p from within the Easy Edit software.

Features>>

Built for the Professional Market
ContourHD1080p was built for production companies, professional videographers, and hardcore video enthusiasts, with the means (i.e., a powerful computer) to take advantage of the upgrade in resolution. We created a simple page called “Which to Buy” to help you make the best decision.

Which to Buy>>

News for You
ContourHD1080p will be available late October from our retailers for purchase at $329.99. A few of them have even begun pre-selling the product. In November we’re finally going to be able to provide an upgrade program for any VholdR customers who want to buy a ContourHD (stay tuned for an email with the details).

Some More Goodies
It gets better. In November we have a new Lens Kit coming that not only includes a lens repair kit, but enables you to screw on standard 37mm filters. That means you can use a standard camera filter on your ContourHD or ContourHD1080p to adjust for lighting conditions on the go!

That’s all for now. Check out the new camera pages on the site and the new launch video from our boy Ryan Cutter.

BooYah!

-DholdR

For more information on this camera system and for a list of retailers where you can buy one please visit, http://www.vholdr.com.

If you want to see the ContourHD 1080p footage look at this!

This camera would have been nice to have a month ago! I had to bolt a Canon 5dmk2 to my head at a mountain resort in New Hampshire! Read the blog here!

I never should have opened up the box! It is 2am and I am very tired!

But I did. I have a demo ContourHD unit to play with and it is going to be fun. I have been in the market for a small wearable HD POV camera for a long time, but I have always been weary of the video quality. Usually, the quality is sub SD and if you want anything that looks good, you must pay thousands of dollars…but not anymore.

I contacted VholdR and asked if I could test out the new ContourHD camera. I really wanted to have this earlier in the month, shooting the Alex Couture downhill mt. biking film, but I got it too late! As most of you know, I had to bolt a Canon 5dmk2 to my head! You can read all about that here.

I wrote a blog about this camera before it was even available to test and the guys at VholdR wanted to get one into my hands to mess with. You can read the blog here.

This is what I have come up with so far, just a few minutes ago…

I have been looking for a high definition point of view “mini-cam” to cover action sports. My buddy Aaron, sent me a link to a new product made by Twenty20 that appears to fill a void to help cover action from the athletes point of view. And it is very inexpensive bit of gear!

I had been following my mate from the UK, Den Lennie at Tapeless Made Easy and he recently tested out a Sony HD mini-cam. You can find his video blog here. The new Sony HXR-MC1 records 1080i in AVCHD format on memory stick duo cards. This camera even has a little LCD screen to view the video and the recorded files. Nice, but it costs $2700! It is a high end Sony product, but do you really need to spend that for a “crash” camera? You can find it at B&H Video here.

Now there is a cheap alternative for extreme action sports fans. And the guys who try to capture all the sick action.

I found some interesting information on how this camera came about and the guys who created it.

The story about the Twenty20 company began in 2003, when two undergrads from the University of Washington, Marc Barros and Jason Green, put together a simple helmet camera to record their skiing adventures. They won third place in a U of Washington business model competition and took the award money to rent a place to start making the Twenty20 Helmet Camera full time.

They went through a bunch of camera designs since 2003 and they are finally offering an affordable, wearable and decent quality HD mini-cam POV camera. And best of all, the camera only costs $279.99!

I have not used this camera yet, and it is not due to ship until the end of July, but I am planning on contacting Twenty20 to see if I can try out a demo. I want to use it on a project that I will be working on with a bunch of talented mountain bikers from New England later this summer. The video will chronicle the riders as they rip down a remote and non-lift assisted single track line in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. I will be shooting the entire video with the Canon 5dmk2 Digital SLR and I want to mix in ContourHD camera content throughout the short MTB documentary.

Another interesting twist to this camera is the fact that the website where it can be found, http://www.vholdr.com, offers a video showcase of POV action films. The Twenty20 company obviously wanted “community” to be part of their business model. I am looking forward to watching how this idea takes off and I feel that these guys are on the right track.

A few things to mention about this camera, that I have found by researching it. First of all, it is tiny! Look at the picture above to get the measurements. This camera will not weigh you down and when mounted to a helmet or bike frame, the athlete will not even know it is there.

The ContourHD does not have a viewfinder. You simply must point the thing and hope the framing is correct. Not really a big deal, since this exclusion makes for a cheaper price tag and one less thing to get busted during that inevitable, ugly crash.

This camera also only records HD at 720p not 1080. But… you can record in 60fps at standard def, so it is possible to record high speed at a lower resolution. Nice option, for a cheap POV.

The camera records onto inexpensive microSD memory cards and even includes a 2gb card that gives you about an hour of HD and 2 hrs of SD video.

The HD lens is nice and wide, at 135 degrees with no zoom and the body is water resistant made of aluminum and fiberglass. I will need to get my hands on this camera to verify a good build, but again, for the price this thing is disposable.

The ContourHD is powered by a removable and replaceable Li-ion battery and you can record up to 2hrs in SD mode. I am not sure how long you can record in HD with the battery, it is not stated on the website. You charge the camera to full in about 3hrs using USB to computer like an iPod. You can buy an optional a/c plug in battery charger as well.

The camera comes with “Easy Edit” software and works with the PC and the Mac. You use the USB 2 cable to download the h.264 .mov files to the computer. Like the Canon 5dmk2, you will probably want to convert these files to ProRes 422 before you edit with the current version of Final Cut Pro. Editing native h.264 files are very clunky and like to beat up FCP!

In the box you get the camera, the 2gb microSD card, a goggle mount, a flat surface mount, a rechargeable battery and the USB cable. Again, all this for $279.99. That is pretty reasonable for the quality that this little versatile camera can put out. You can find this camera (currently pre-order only) at B&H Video by clicking here.

You can also see a bunch of other videos on the vholdr website by clicking here.

I hope to get my hands on one of these cameras very soon. When I do, I will post another blog with video to show you how the world’s first wearable high definition camera stacks up.