High Definition Helmet Cameras

All of a sudden, it's all gone HD!....
But do you really need a high definition helmet camera?

First off, a brief explanation about video resolution. Resolution is represented by two numbers multiplied by each other. This gives you the total number of pixels. The more pixels, the bigger the image will be. With more pixels you can play your video on a larger screen or in a bigger window without as much loss in quality. That's why watching a blue-ray high definition film looks so much better on a big screen.

Comparitive size of common video resolutions

In the UK, standard definition (SD) is 720 x 576 and this is what you see when you're watching a normal television broadcast or a DVD.
A common computer resolution is 640 x 480 (known as VGA) and there are quite a few helmet camera systems on the market that use this resolution which is fine for playback on computers or for embedding on to websites etc.

Thankfully, more and more helmet cameras are now available that can manage 720 x 576 resolution and this is something even a beginner should be aiming for.

In April of 2009 VholdR announced the release of their ContourHD wearable camcorder billed as the world's first high definition helmet cam.

VholdR Release the ContourHD first high definition wearable camcorder

The ContourHD records at a resolution of 1280 x 720p. The "P" stands for progressive which means the images are not interlaced giving a much smoother looking video when played back on a screen that can show progressive video (like a computer monitor or an LCD/Plasma tv). The ContourHD can also record video at 848 x 480 (Wide VGA) at 60fps that played back on a computer gives a really smooth looking video, great for high motion filming.

Shortly after the release of the ContourHD, both VholdR and GoPro announce the release of their 1080p cameras. The Contourhd 1080p and the GoPro HD cameras can both record video at the maximum 1920 x 1080p resolution at 30fps. This is known as "full hd" and is currently the highest resolution possible until you start looking at the film/cinema industry.

You can set the ContourHD 1080p and the GoPro HD cameras to record at lower resolutions if so desired.
The important thing to consider when choosing your camera is what you are planning to do with your video? Yes, you could edit it and put it on to a DVD but then you are limited to a standard definition of 720 x 576.

VholdR Community video sharing website

You can now upload HD videos on to Youtube and Vimeo but the only website that currently accepts full 1080p video is the VholdR video sharing site www.vholdr.com

Can my PC handle 1080p Video?

Another thing to keep in mind is that to playback video at such a high resolution will require an up to date computer.  For smooth playback of 1080p video you will need a 2ghz+ processor with at least 1gb of RAM. You could also use the same spec computer to edit this type of video but you might find it a bit clunky on a PC with less than 2gb of RAM. An average Laptop could take up to 15 minutes to render 1 minute of video.

Ideally, for a smooth, non-bothersome editing experience of 1080p video, a dual or quad core processor with 6gb of RAM is advisable.

Also, remember that the file sizes of video at this resolution will be large so you will need plenty of hard disk space. For instance, 1 hour of 1080p video might take as much as 5gb of space, it will soon add up.

Quad Core i7 CPU (4.0ghz) Rendering 1080p Video in Sony Vegas

If you find your computer struggles with mundane everyday tasks then the chances are it's not going to handle high definition video very well and in which case you should choose a camera system to suit your PC or be prepared to buy a new Computer. In short, there are no hard and fast rules to computer specification and that’s why nobody is quoting any specifics for these cameras.
We don't see the point in filming at 1080p if you're not going to be able to enjoy it.

ContourHD 1080p vs GoPro HD

Don't think of this as Betamax vs VHS, this is more like PS3 vs XBOX. Both systems have their own unique selling points and each one will appeal to a slightly different market more than the other.

So which one of the GoPro HD or the ContourHD 1080p cameras would we recommend?

Well, they're both superb bits of kit. The video quality from both units seem to be on a par with each other depending on what conditions you are filming in and how you have them set up. The GoPro has a very wide angled lens of 170 degrees which suits some people better than others.  At 170 degrees you certainly get a very unique looking video, we would advise checking out the many sample videos available and making sure this is the sort of thing you are looking for.

Videos from GoPro HD can be found on the GoPro HD Vimeo page.
Video from Contour HD and ContourHD 1080p can be found on the VholdR website.

The ContourHD 1080p has a narrower field of view which doesn't give such a fish eyed effect to your film. It also has the advantage of two lasers that can be fired from the front of the camera making it very easy to point in the right direction.

The GoPro HD unit is supplied with a very tough waterproof casing so you can take it in the water as far down as 60m!

The ContourHD 1080p is not waterproof (it is weatherproof) meaning a bit of rain and the odd splash is not a problem but we recommend against using it for water sports unless you have the waterproof casing for it.

From a design perspective, the ContourHD helmet cameras are much easier on the eye over the GoPro HD units, the sleek design of the ContourHD certainly looks much "cooler" whereas the GoPros have a kind of retro stills camera look to them. On a helmet the GoPro does not have such a low profile and can tend to stick out a bit and you won’t be winning any awards for aerodynamics.

With its rotating lens the ContourHD can be laid down flat on the top of a helmet which gives it a fairly low profile.

On the other hand, you might be looking for a waterproof stills camera to take on holiday that can take amazing 5mp shots, something ContourHD 1080p cannot do and also shoots awesome looking  video and if this is the case....GoPro may well be the one for you.

Still shot from GoPro Camera

Both cameras have a wide variety of mounts available making them suitable for all sorts of sporting activites. Both are relatively easy to use and they are both built to a high quality standard.

Verdict...

High definition isn't for everyone but it looks like this is the way it all seems to be going for the enthusiasts.

If you're just looking  for an SD helmet camera system for a bit of fun and uploading the odd video to youtube then you can get yourself some really nice bits of kit for less than £200.00.
If you're a gadget loving tech monster with a critical eye for video quality then the really good news here is that high definition cameras for sports use have arrived and they're not costing the earth either!