Soon after we first tried the Contour GPS action camera, the company’s “new and improved” Contour+ update sought to address several of our niggling issues. “Bigger lens!” they said. “Better audio!” Would they deliver the goods? Or was it all just marketing wizardry? Watch our snow video comparison.
We finally got our hands on the Contour+ and took it to Thredbo for a bash last weekend — and we’re impressed.
Keeping in line with our last insane trip into the wild, we took a GoPro for the sake of comparison. This time, both cameras were strapped to the same helmet and were running their default settings (besides setting the recording mode to 720p at 60fps) for consistency and glorious slo-mo.
As you can see in the video above, the Contour+ picture is a little flat and underexposed, while the GoPro picture is a tad over exposed.
Depending on your taste, the GoPro footage may be more appealing out of the box, but the default Contour+ picture is more suitable for colour grading in post. If your prefer the higher contrast without any fuss, the Contour+ allows you to modify your picture settings via your phone on the fly, or on your computer before heading out.
The last time we tested these two brands of rugged camera, we found the Contour range easier to use. This is still the case, even moreso with bulky gloves on.
Getting the Contour+ set up and recording on the slopes was an absolute breeze — we had it connected to our iPhone in seconds to check the shot and had zero issues with the gigantic sliding record button.
The GoPro on the other hand was tricky to operate, and if you miss the on/off beep, it’s impossible to know if it is recording without checking with a mate.
The GoPro was in its waterproof case while the Contour+ was naked, so comparing sound is not really fair — but the quality of sound output from the Contour+ is a massive improvement over the Contour GPS. It’s actually usuable. The Contour+ also features an external 2.5mm microphone jack, which we didn’t get a chance to test, but is a really handy feature to have.
The Contour+ not only addresses all of the concerns we had with the Contour GPS, but builds on a good camera and makes it even more awesome.
GoPro, old friend — you have some catching up to do!
Also: We couldn’t get the new Drift HD 1080p rugged cam in time to test against the Contour+ and GoPro, but Giz US has reviewed this model seperately.
The full video of the trip will be online soon — follow Ben White’s personal Vimeo account if you’re interested!
More information at [Contour Australia]and [GoPro]
Matt
Monday, August 29, 2011 at 1:53 PMThe contour+ is so much more expensive (and still comes without housing) so you’d want it to be alot better :)
Ben White
Monday, August 29, 2011 at 4:43 PMI think the extra features are make up the additional cost personally, but it’s up to you at the end of the day – would you have use for the GPS/external audio recording?
light487
Monday, August 29, 2011 at 3:05 PMHrmm.. prefer the look of the GoPro “default” imagery.. I’m not one for post production.. so a slightly over-exposed but seemingly crisper image is more appealing to me over something that needs editing in post to make it look good.
Ben White
Monday, August 29, 2011 at 4:46 PMThat’s understandable! I didn’t test it thoroughly enough for the post, but you can actually modify the picture settings on the Contour+ itself if dislike the flat default.
Lacy
Tuesday, August 30, 2011 at 8:27 AMActually, you don’t need to do anything in post. You can change the light settings right from your phone (if you’re running an iPhone or Android) to bump up the exposure to make it a little brighter. Super easy.
Mark
Monday, August 29, 2011 at 4:08 PMThere’s a new firmware update for the GoPros that improves the ease of use.
It no longer seems to change shooting mode when you turn it on, and also has a ‘dummy mode’ that starts recording when you turn it on, and stops when you turn it off.
Highly recommended.
Ben White
Monday, August 29, 2011 at 4:49 PMI’ve been using dummy mode for a while now – it’s really good, except my on/off button is getting a bit hit and miss due to the case taking an absolute beating.
The GoPro system is perfectly fine if you can look at the camera to check when you hit record, but I found it clumsy as a helmet camera.
Bart
Tuesday, August 30, 2011 at 8:16 AMI own a ContourHD, but must admit I prefer the brighter and higher contrast picture of the GoPro ‘out of the box’ (post production is a pain in the butt)
Not handled a Contour+ yet – is the bluetooth switch easier to access and activate than it is on the ContourGPS?
Ben White
Tuesday, August 30, 2011 at 9:10 AMHey Bart, the bluetooth button is in the same spot as the ContourGPS (in front of the sliding record button), but with a helpful bluetooth logo now :)
It feels slightly more like a button on press as well.
Bart
Tuesday, August 30, 2011 at 9:57 AMThanks, that’s helpful to know the Bluetooth button is more ‘button’ like – I read reviews of the GPS model when they revealed the BlueTooth functionality that said it was a bit awkward to activate, so hopefully on the ‘+’ it’s fixed.
As there’s no way to alter the exposure on the ContourHD when riding around (without taking a laptop with me in a backpack!) I get a lot of under- or over-exposed footage if the conditions change during the day from what the camera is set to in the morning, so have been considering upgrading to the GPS (or + now) to use with the iPhone app and avoid altering it in post post production. Or even just buying a GoPro for its auto-exposure functionality.
Ben White
Tuesday, August 30, 2011 at 10:14 AMNo worries! If you’re considering a Contour upgrade, I’d definately go for the + over the GPS. The bigger lens makes a huge difference in quality.
Trollphysics
Tuesday, August 30, 2011 at 8:28 AMThe GoPro footage is WAY overcooked and blown out…
The Contour really wins on form factor as well. Never understood how people were putting up with a big bulky box strapped to various body parts.
Now that Contour has fixed some of the long running shortcomings maybe they will catch up?
Ben White
Tuesday, August 30, 2011 at 9:15 AMThe snow really is a really good test case :)
I’m still a big fan of the GoPro in other situations, it handles light and colour just fine – but I agree – the form factor and extra features/flexibility of the Contour+ make it a very attractive option (if you can swallow the extra cost).
Can’t wait to see how GoPro respond – surely they’re due a new model soon?
Claire
Tuesday, August 30, 2011 at 8:57 AMI have both the Contour GPS and the GoPro. I prefer my GoPro by a longshot. I use my camera mainly for underwater and the Contour GPS underwater housing is garbage. Mine opened and ruined my camera the first trip out within 10mins after it brushed against my arm. The GoPro waterbroof housing seems bullet proof and has withstood many trips out in rough surf. The cust. support I recieved was absolutely awful from Contour. After almost a month they finally had me send it back to see if the case was defective. They never emailed/called or sent me a letter, they just mailed me a camera with no explanation 2 weeks later and only because I wouldn’t stop emailing/calling and blowing up their FB page. On the other hand, GoPro has been nothing but quick and precise in helping me with any issues. Not only do I want a good product but I expect a company tos tand behind their product with Gopro does 110%. GoPro has ad on battery packs, LCD screen, many different mounts for your bike/board/helmet etc and tons of mounts like the chest strap, helmet strap, wrist strap etc.
When it is all said and done, GoPro is the way to go hands down!
GoPro also has a daily give-away where they give away one of everything they make. Can’t beat that!
steve
Tuesday, August 30, 2011 at 10:01 AMClaire,
seriously do you work for Go Pro.
The new underwtaer hoousing on the Contour GPS is bullet proof.
If II wanted a box bownie on my head I would buy a Go pro.
Contour stand behind their products and their dealers and take a better picture that is it
Ben White
Tuesday, August 30, 2011 at 10:22 AMOut of the two, I’ve definitely used the GoPro more extensively underwater, but I have taken the Contour GPS out in it’s underwater housing – from my experience it would take more than a brush to crack it open underwater – perhaps we had different models?
It’s a shame you had problems with customer support, that’s always a bummer in any circumstance. I haven’t had any issues with the GoPro or the Contour as yet, so I can’t really comment on their customer support.
David Martin
Tuesday, August 30, 2011 at 11:30 AMI think the GoPros are crap. All the hype made me buy one (HD1080) and, although my vision from it has indeed appeared on national TV news and it is “acceptable”, any use off the snow fields or out of the surf (where I think the WOW factor of the angles you are presented with overshadows and makes you forget about the average picture quality) is very, very average for a “HD” camera. Soft, colourless and overexposed – even in good light. In low light the pictures are soft and colours all over the place. I remember the day I bought it, I stuck it on my car and took it for a run…and I remember the comments when I got the pictures back to the suite: Yuck. Soft and lifeless; very disappointed. So, I will indeed be keen to look at the Contour. That said, there are a lot of people using the GoPro and love it. Good on them. Personally, I reckon the Gopro is very average and will now have to pull their fingers out to stay up with other new models from other brands. Perhaps they were groundbreaking at the time of their release, but their “average-ness” meant they were sitting ducks for the next round of technology. Just my opinion. For what it’s worth.
Ben White
Tuesday, August 30, 2011 at 2:05 PMHey David – I’ve uploaded some screen grabs from the original files, hopefully it gives you a good comparison :)
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/28352156/gizmodo/compare1_contour.png
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/28352156/gizmodo/compare1_gopro.png
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/28352156/gizmodo/compare2_contour.png
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/28352156/gizmodo/compare2_gopro.png
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/28352156/gizmodo/compare3_contour.png
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/28352156/gizmodo/compare3_gopro.png
bob
Thursday, September 1, 2011 at 10:53 AMThe Contour comes with an HDMI port!!!! No one mentioned that. I plug mine into my tv and watch my clips. No more waiting to download. And the Contour doesnt look like a VHS tape stuck to my head. Contour all the way.
Jeeremy
Wednesday, August 31, 2011 at 9:37 AMHey Ben have you seen the Replay XD1080 yet?
I’d be interested to see what its like next to the GP and C+.
not too trilled with ether companies pricing scheme in Australia they seem to be un-aware we can look at prices in the US
Chris
Saturday, September 24, 2011 at 9:29 AMSo the question is, which one will be better to produce youtube vids of my motocross helmet cam footage with minimal fuss but some fuss since I will have to edit them for youtube.
It seems that there isn’t a consensus in the forum posts.
Hachi
Wednesday, November 2, 2011 at 8:39 AMHey Ben,
I went up to your personal vimeo account and was hoping to see a video because the Giz video player doesn’t do anything for me (push play, does nothing). Were you going to upload your video from the slopes soon?