REVIEWS DEALS BIKESHOPS TRAILS

GoPro vs VHoldr Contour HD

69753 Views 119 Replies 37 Participants Last post by jojotherider, Jan 31, 2011

LeeL

Discussion Starter · Jun 14, 2009

GoPro vs VHoldr Contour HD

Comparison of GoPro vs VHoldr ContourHD on Vimeo

NOTE

Both mounted Helmet Cam. Rider on same trail at same time. Angry Midget in Squamish.

Compressed to 640 x 480 25 fps. H264 codec for QT (did this as its an optimized size for sharing videos without caring overmuch for quality via Vimeo or Youtube)

Will try next compressed to 1080p and 36fps for Vimeo HD and Youtube HQ type filesharing.

Comparison of GoPro vs VHoldr ContourHD from Lee Lau on Vimeo.

1 - 20 of 120 Posts

Picard

· #2 · Jun 14, 2009

vhold video is definitely much clearer than gopro version.

LeeL

Discussion Starter · #3 · Jun 15, 2009

Here's a better version

Vholdr vs GoPro - Angry Midget Squamish from Lee Lau on Vimeo.

Vholdr Contour HD is the first video segment worn on the helmet. GoPro Hero Wide is second segment worn on the chest mount.

Compressed to HD 720p. 1280x 780 30 fps. H264 codec - Mov file output

I accidentally disabled sound but the Vholdr's mic is better although there's lots of wind noise. This time a longer segment and rendered to HD.

See less See more

LeeL

Discussion Starter · #4 · Jun 15, 2009

More - blended GoPro and VHoldr ContourHD footage together. Rendered 640 x 480 H264 Mov output - nonHD. As someone who's primary interest is to share via web this is how I'd usually render my videos.

Some observations

1. GoPro makes the riding look faster. Note that in many of those shots, Brian and I (the riders carrying the cameras) are riding the same trail at about the same speed. The GoPro is mounted on his chest. Footage where you can see riders' arms and handlebar are the GoPro. The Vholdr is mounted on my helmet.

2. GoPro's footage is smoother. Speculation perhaps the Vholdr's mount (ziptied to helmet and either helmet or mount could shake a bit) vs GoPro very secure chest mount. Also speculate that GoPro's extreme wide angle makes footage appear smoother.

3. Edges of footage are much more distorted (vignetted) with GoPro vs Vholdr which preserves the reality of the image better (Vholdr is less fisheye)

4. Vholdr's footage is better even when video was compressed. Dark and light delineated better. Colours are sharper and less washed out

Straight out of Squampton from Lee Lau on Vimeo.

Rode Wormhole, Angry Midget, Roadside A to Another Man's Gold. Then the Plunge and Hoods in the Woods for a nice loop. I thought the University side was just for beergut shuttlers now but was wrong.

Filmed with VHoldr ContourHD and GoPro

oh yah - then we lapped Grin And Holler in the wet.

The Janitor, Brian E, Brian M and Sharon on this ride

See less See more

pastajet

· #5 · Jun 16, 2009

Lee,

I will try and get a set up battle of the POV 1.5, the Go Pro and the ContourHD all at the same time!

Here was my latest ContourHD videi:

VHoldR ContourHD Test - Stoopid Trail Colorado from Brian Mullin on Vimeo.

LeeL

Discussion Starter · #6 · Jun 16, 2009

brian - if you didn't get that sense already - thanks so much for the GoPro review. Your thoroughness was inspiring and set a high standard. I'm going to try a Panasonic Lumix FX-35 vs GoPro vs Contour HD kind of setup. Will be pretty cool to check out your head-to-head

5H0CK3R

· #7 · Jun 16, 2009

LeeL said:
Here's a better version

Vholdr Contour HD is the first video segment worn on the helmet. GoPro Hero Wide is second segment worn on the chest mount.

Compressed to HD 720p. 1280x 780 30 fps. H264 codec - Mov file output

I accidentally disabled sound but the Vholdr's mic is better although there's lots of wind noise. This time a longer segment and rendered to HD.

In this take it looks like you converted the GoPro segment to the HD resolution which isn't the native GoPro res. Doesn't that stretch and distort the image a bit?

LeeL

Discussion Starter · #8 · Jun 16, 2009

yah - good point - it does compromise the GoPro res. Unfortunately, I'm a video editing dummy so Im glad you pointed that out. I'm going to revert to my usual laziness and render everything 640 x 480. That keeps every dimension about the same.

Polar Bear

· #9 · Jun 16, 2009

pastajet said:
I will try and get a set up battle of the POV 1.5, the Go Pro and the ContourHD all at the same time!

Here's a comparison of the POV 1, the GoPro, and a Canon Vixia HF11 (HD Camcorder mounted to helmet):

ProEdgeBiker

· #10 · Jun 16, 2009

for the Money, IMO, the Countour HD gets the most bang for your buck.

pastajet

· #11 · Jun 18, 2009

Ok, I tried to get all my cameras working at the same time, but the GoPro battery died (been sitting a long time), and then the POV 1.5 lens got pointed cockeyed when the cord got grabbed by my backpack, so only the ContourHD worked!

Here was my setup, and it hurt my neck with all that freakin' weight

See less See more

LeeL

Discussion Starter · #12 · Jun 18, 2009

hahaha - i love it!

KTMDirtFace

· #13 · Jun 19, 2009

lol vholr has a video on their web site comparing them like that all strapped on one guys helmet. (VholdR, ContourHD, GoPro, Oregon Scientific, Vio)

Lol its one crazy rig check it out
http://www.vholdr.com/contourhd/videos?vid=7

shmooove

· #14 · Jun 19, 2009

Great GoPro/ContourHD comparison guys - much appreciated since I am looking at picking up a new camera in the next few weeks. I am interested in your opinions on a few topics.

While the picture quality of the CountourHD is much better, I am concerned about the camera shake. In general it just seems much harder to watch than the GoPro Wide. There was mention that the vHoldr mount may be looser than the GoPro - has anyone found a way to tighten it up to reduce the "Blair Witch Project" effect?

How does the audio compare? Not a huge concern of mine, but worth getting an opinion on.

How are the mounting options on the ContourHD? I really have only seen helmet mounted videos vs. chest, bike and helmet for the GoPro. I am preferential to the chest mounts - they give me the best sense of the action at hand.

I will be using the camera for MTB and snowboarding mainly, so ultimately which would you guys recommend at the end of the day?

Thanks in advance

See less See more

Polar Bear

· #15 · Jun 19, 2009

shmooove said:
How are the mounting options on the ContourHD? I really have only seen helmet mounted videos vs. chest, bike and helmet for the GoPro. I am preferential to the chest mounts - they give me the best sense of the action at hand.

I will be using the camera for MTB and snowboarding mainly, so ultimately which would you guys recommend at the end of the day?

Thanks in advance

I like the GoPro because of the smoothness and the ability to chest mount and bike mount. Someone said that the Contour HD has a rolling shutter so bike mounts would probably be no good (based on my own experience with rolling shutter cameras).

As for snowboarding, check this out:

shmooove

· #16 · Jun 19, 2009

Polar Bear said:
I like the GoPro because of the smoothness and the ability to chest mount and bike mount. Someone said that the Contour HD has a rolling shutter so bike mounts would probably be no good (based on my own experience with rolling shutter cameras).

As for snowboarding, check this out:

That is a great video - perfect position for the camera, though his arm must have been tired holding it up there for so long!

Yeah if the contourHD has a rolling shutter that will be no good for bike mounting. I already have had a tough time watching some of the more bouncy videos.

Polar Bear

· #17 · Jun 19, 2009

Here's a video with the GoPro that mixes third person and chest mount shots:

JVS Mountain Challenge #2 from JVS Mountain Crew on Vimeo.

LeeL

Discussion Starter · #18 · Jun 19, 2009

It's kind of hard to say how hard or easy the Vholdr will be to chest mount. I'm thinking of rigging up a test unit like you did bri with the velcro strap around the chest (thx for the picture btw) but figuring out a mount where the Vholdr is either under the arm close to the chest or on the top of a pack strap on the shoulder. Somewhere where it's lower if you know what I mean?

I couldn't really mess around too much with the ContourHD I had as it was someone else;s test unit and it would not be nice to start cutting up their helmet etc,

I have some mounting ideas that also involve velcro straps and buckles - something that's easily moveable from helmet, to chest to rear of pack or facing backwards.

But it's really really tough to duplicate the fantastic ability of the GoPro to move the mounts around. That seems to have been really well though out.

As for audio - the Vholdr is better although it has wind noise. You can fix that by putting some noise muffling foam around the mic.

As for cold weather, in theory the Vholdr would be better since it has a LiOn battery and those are quite good in cold weather. Again, I stress this is theory.

Here's the audio comparing Vholdr to GoPro if you're curious. With the GoPro I used the mod suggested by GoPro in the review article I wrote (look that up in FeedtheHabit) and also turned the sound on Hi. It's still not terribly good.

Comparison of GoPro vs VHoldr ContourHD from Lee Lau on Vimeo.

See less See more

shmooove

· #19 · Jun 19, 2009

You know, after looking around at a number of different videos for the ContourHD I think that the camera shake could be unavoidable. And while the videos are crisper and have better color, the shake can literally ruin a viewing experience.

I hate to say it, because I *really* want the contourHD to work for me, I think the GoPro Wide may be a better choice for watchability.

KTMDirtFace

· #20 · Jun 19, 2009

shmooove said:
That is a great video - perfect position for the camera, though his arm must have been tired holding it up there for so long!

Yeah if the contourHD has a rolling shutter that will be no good for bike mounting. I already have had a tough time watching some of the more bouncy videos.

Is this to bouncy?

http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=529390

All cameras look bouncy as hell if you put it on the bars instead of your head.

1 - 20 of 120 Posts

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.