Helmet Cam Showdown: GoPro vs Contour

Image Quality
With the release of the HD Hero2, GoPro has edged ahead in the category of image quality. The difference between the Contour+ and the HD Hero was not overly significant in most conditions, but the new Hero2 has considerably better colors in all conditions, particularly in low light situations. The Hero2 clip shown here was shot in very low light, hazy conditions, and the images are surprisingly good.

You can see a comparison video below, showing the HD Hero vs the Contour+ (standby for a comparison of the HD Hero2 vs. Contour+).


You can see below how well the Hero2 does in low light conditions.

Both cameras record surprisingly nice images in 720 and 1080 modes. Until the release of the Hero2, it was reminiscent of the Canon vs. Nikon image debate. One thing to consider for advanced users is the fact that the Contour video settings are configurable on your computer, which may make the Contour more practical for some.

Mounting Versatility
The GoPro wins here. With more mounts than you can shake a stick at, we can hardly imagine a situation that the GoPro can’t be incorporated into. With an included waterproof case and several sport-specific package options (motorsports, surfing, etc), GoPro has you covered. Key to GoPro’s edge here is the erector-set style extender links. They can be stacked, twisted and adjusted to work almost any angle – just don’t forget a screwdriver. Best of all, the price of the GoPro includes a waterproof case and the mounting kit of your choice so you can use the camera right away without shopping for accessories.

The Contour+ is not far behind, however, and the universal mount adapter with the tripod screw base in particular is a solid, dependable camera mount. Hopefully they’re working right now on increasing their mounting options. Unfortunately, only the basics are included with Contour models. For example, if you want to use a contour surfing, you will need to buy the Contour Waterproof Case ($50) and the Contour Surf Mount ($20). If you buy the GoPro HD Hero2 Surf Edition ($300), you get all the accessories you need included.

Durability
GoPro durability is hard to beat. Although the lenses on both cameras are not difficult to scratch, in the case of any housing or lens damage, switching out the external GoPro case in the field takes about 2.4 seconds. Virtually all of the GoPro mounts feel stronger than the Contour’s comparable alternative.

Tech Features
This is where Contour+ leaves GoPro in the dust. With configurable camera settings, iOS / Android connectivity, GPS, etc, the Contour+ may more thoroughly satisfy the camera geek or tech-savvy user. Note on the Contour+ GPS: It’s not a “real” GPS and can only be considered a type of GPS “feature” since it only works with Contour’s “storyteller” app, and does not function independently.

GoPro says on their web site that they will have an accessory available in February 2012 that will allow you to stream from the Hero2 to your smart phone. However, you will need to mount the accessory to the camera which will increase the size (and price) of the Hero2.

General Ease of Use
Close call here. While the GoPro is just plain simple and the LCD screen tells you the number of clips recorded or photos taken at a glance, the scrolling button system can be annoying and there is much less tactile feedback when going to record mode. However, the GoPro scores highly in the mount category and the fact that it lacks technical features to worry about will be a boon to many users. Also, the HD Hero offers a “one button” mode that forces the camera to turn on and record instantly with one press.

The Contour’s forward slide record button is a major plus in this category. The Contour “Roam” model does offer one button mode (“instant on-record switch”) but it’s not an option for the Contour+.

Ergonomics
The Contour+ has a sleeker feel and feels nicer in your hand, if you ever happen to shoot that way. It also wins in terms of aesthetics; I have to admit that the GoPro looks a bit cheap and clunky by comparison, not to mention that the “teletubbies” comment scared me.

Battery Life: I didn’t get a chance to use these cameras side by side in a snowy environment, but I stuck them both in my freezer on record mode. The Contour lasted about 1.5 hours and the GoPro nearly 2 hours.

Sport by sport helmet cam recommendations

Climbing / Alpinism
The GPS feature in the Contour+ might be a compelling advantage for climbers. Being able to trace an approach or ascent route on a map easily can be an added bonus. The Contour+ is also quite slim and fits well on the side of a light climbing helmet. The GoPro protrudes more, but is generally more durable. Personally I’d go with the Contour+ for this application, but if durability is the main concern, GoPro wins.

Watersports (i.e. surfing, whitewater kayaking, pee-porn)
Since the Contour+ waterproof housing doesn’t come standard, I didn’t test it. A waterproof case is standard with all GoPros, and the GoPro is a child of the water, developed by surfers for surfers. The GoPro is more compact in waterproof form than the Contour, for sure. I’d be leaning toward GoPro on this one, unless, as stated elsewhere in this review, the tech features of the Contour+ are too crucial for your project to pass up. Nothing about this product has given me reason to believe that the Contour’s waterproof housing would not work well.

Snowsports
This comes down to two factors: Battery life (cold weather kills batteries) and exposure. The GoPro seems to deal relatively well with varied bright-light conditions, but the Contour+ is (minimally) configurable. The settings are basic, but hey, it might help. Keep in mind that the Contour+ goggle strap mount is crap (unstable and you’ll probably get the corner of your goggles in the frame) and the head strap mount from GoPro is useless. For best results, stick them on the top of your helmet.

The Bottom Line

Editors' Choice: GoPro HD Hero2
Even though we don’t consider ourselves to be a really tech-savvy, we appreciated the wide range of features and the integrated GPS on the Contour+. However, it is considerably more expensive at almost $500 MSRP vs $300 for the HD Hero2. And with the Contour+, you generally have to buy more mounts; with the GoPro you get many different mount options included in the base price.

Regardless of features or ease of use, what we really want is a beautiful image. The GoPro HD Hero2 is noticeably better in terms of image quality than the Contour+. Due to that fact alone, if we were buying a camera today it would be the GoPro HD Hero2.

If we were buying two cameras and wanted the GPS features (we do; that’s a great feature for BASE jumping), and Bluetooth, then the second camera would be the Contour+.

Best Buy: Contour Roam
We were tempted to give the Best Buy also to the Hero2 because you get so many great features and mounts for $300. However, if you are trying to save every dollar, we have two recommendations: the Contour Roam and GoPro Hero 960.

Contour's least expensive option is the Contour Roam ($200) which we gave the Best Buy Award. It has the same great lens and video quality as the Contour+ with the bonus of keeping a laser alignment and it is waterproof to 1 meter. What it lacks that the Contour+ has is the GPS, external mic and smartphone connectivity. If those features are not important to you, then the Roam delivers a lot and saves you $300 over the Contour+.

The other budget option is the GoPro Hero 960. In some sense, it is old technology that has been left in the dust by other GoPro and Contour models. On the other hand, at $150 (which includes a bomber housing and a few mounts) it is totally adequate for many people. If you mostly shoot video for the web, then not having HD 1080p is not that crucial.

About the Author
Matt Gerdes is the author of the Great Book of BASE. He has jumped north of the Arctic Circle, in the tropics, and from buildings, bridges, cliffs and antennas all over the world. He is also an avid backcountry skier, and enjoys climbing big walls and speed flying in his spare time. He is an enthusiastic user of POV cameras in all of the sports he enjoys.

Here is some video Matt shot using the GoPro