ContourGPS Camera Review

For $300, you could get the top-rated rugged sports cam -- the GoPro HD Hero2 -- or the ContourGPS.

The ContourGPS has a few things the GoPro doesn't, including a discreet bullet shape that's much less noticeable on your helmet than the boxy GoPro and GPS video mapping, so you'll always know where you were on the trail, beach, etc. when your action went down. However, professional testers still prefer the GoPro -- it shoots higher-quality video and includes a waterproof case.

Ease of use

Easy to use -- but some complain of jiggly mounts and recalcitrant batteries. The ContourGPS is Contour's middle-of-the-road camera. Like the entry-level ContourRoam (*Est. $185) and high-end Contour+ (*Est. $495) -- and like the GoPro -- the ContourGPS can attach to just about anything, with mounts for your helmet, snowboard, bike and more. Testers say Contour's slide-in mounts are easier to use than GoPro's, which use tedious little screws -- but some reviews say the Contour's mounts can allow a little more jiggling than the GoPro's, which shows up as shaky footage.

The ContourGPS boasts a few features that the GoPro lacks: A sliding record switch (easy to work when you're wearing gloves), a rotating lens (so you can mount the camera at an angle and still get your footage straight) and GPS video mapping.

Neither camera has a built-in LCD screen to preview your footage. However, GoPro sells one as a $40 accessory, and the ContourRoam can turn your Android smartphone, iPhone or iPod touch into a viewscreen via Bluetooth (you'll need a $30 add-on card for iOS devices). The ContourGPS also has a laser sight to show you where you're shooting.

Although many owners who post reviews at Amazon.com are very happy with the ContourGPS, some report problems -- including irritating usability problems. One common complaint is that the battery is extremely hard to get in and out, and the protective plastic on it constantly catches on the camcorder and eventually peels off.

Performance

Video and audio quality fall short of GoPro's. Like the GoPro cameras, the Contour cameras -- including the ContourGPS -- shoot both full 1080p HD video and still photos, and use a wide-angle lens to capture the most possible action (135 degrees for the ContourGPS, and 170 degrees for the GoPros and other Contours).

But video looks better with the GoPro HD Hero2, testers say -- especially when it comes to accurate color. "The Contour gave the sand an artificial hue" in Brian Heater's desert test for Engadget.com: "I expected a sand worm to leap out at any moment." TechnoBuffalo.com's Mike Perlman finds a similar problem, with the Contour camera's footage showing up "too soft and warm," with worse "jelly video syndrome" than the GoPro HD Hero2.

Audio quality gets mixed reviews. Although experts say the cheaper ContourRoam's audio sounds muffled, they don't mention audio in their reviews of the ContourGPS. So we turned to owner reviews at Amazon.com: Some find the audio quality poor, but others report great results. "It caught my daughter 10 feet down a small cliff saying 'this is awesome' which was completely unexpected," writes one owner, who also posts a video review.

Contour says battery life is two to two and a half hours -- but not if you've got GPS turned on, owners say. It runs down the battery much faster. Contour sells spare batteries for $30, but some owners say they're a pain to take in and out.

Durability

Prepare to pay extra for a waterproof case. Testers find the Contour cameras rugged -- just not as rugged as the GoPros. One drawback: The ContourGPS charges $40 extra for a waterproof case, while GoPro includes one as standard equipment. Mike Perlman calls this "a major issue," and it's a big reason why he likes the GoPro better. With both the GoPro and Contour, the case keeps the cameras dry down to 60 meters, so you can take them surfing, swimming and more. Without the case, the ContourGPS isn't waterproof.

Engadget.com's testers took a Contour camera into a desert sandstorm unsheathed, along with a GoPro in its protective case. The Contour ended up "crunchy ... we're still having some trouble flipping the switch," tester Brian Heater says. Co-tester Tim Stevens agrees that the Contour is "less durable out of the box for sure."

Appearance

'Much less conspicuous' than a GoPro. Users do love the ContourGPS's sleek, discreet shape. If they're sticking it on their helmet or goggles, the Contour camera is "just much less conspicuous" than the square GoPro, Engadget.com's Brian Heater says.

Fellow tester Tim Stevens agrees: "With a GoPro stuck up on top of my helmet I always feel about 10 times more conspicuous." The 3.7-inch-long Contour is also more aerodynamic than the GoPro, Stevens adds, although it's lighter by less than an ounce. "I've actually used both of them on my helmet when riding my motorcycle. At high speeds you can absolutely feel the difference between the two."

Even though Stevens prefers the GoPro's video and sound quality, he says he'd still choose the slimmer Contour camera for helmet- or goggle-mounting.

The bottom line

If you really want an unobtrusive sports camera -- or GPS tagging for your video clips -- experts at TechnoBuffalo.com, Engadget.com and CNET say the ContourGPS is worth a look. But they unanimously prefer the more dazzling footage and hard-to-break housing of the GoPro HD Hero2.