VholdR ContourHD helmet cam upgrades your brain to HD

The original VholdR was already one of the more attractive propositions when it comes to helmet cams -- let's face it, when it comes to strapping a video camera to your head, style is likely your first priority -- and now the even sexier followup is here: VholdR ContourHD. The camera shoots 720p at 30fps and WVGA (858 x 480) at 60fps, making it what is apparently the world's first HD "wearable camcorder." A goggle mount and flat surface mount are included, and the lens swivels 192 degrees for easy alignment, with dual lasers to help with setup and a 135 degree wide angle lens to catch your faceplants in a comprehensive manner. There's a 2GB microSD card included, and we must say the H.264 default codec is an extra nice perk. ContourHD is on sale now for $280, and starts shipping on May 15th.

[Via Helmet Camera Central]

[commenting @ Apr 27th 2009 2:12PM]

lame... i dont want to look like the dude from Speed Racer

[RoboDan @ Apr 27th 2009 2:56PM]

It wouldn't be lame if it was also a HID
okay, well a little, but it still wouldn't look so terrible


It's like they designed a product for the severely mentally handicapped to protect their heads and to record "just how things went wrong"

Tip: make the camera invisible - or nearly so - as in flush-mounted with the helmet, perhaps at the front of it. Makes it look much cooler. Also, make this for motorcyclists, add a USB interface (or Bluetooth 3.0/wifi ad hoc), and you're golden.


Oh, and I almost forgot... BOOOOOOO

[iphonerulez @ Apr 27th 2009 7:22PM]

Lord! That dude needs a serious shave. Who says you can't be a daredevil with a clean-shaven face? This dude looks serious enough to jump off the edge of the Grand Canyon with just an umbrella.

[Brent @ Apr 27th 2009 10:50PM]

This is exactly what I have been looking for. I want a camera I can use to mountain bike and ride motorcycle around. I am move soon and would love to use something like this to give youtube tours of my new city to my family members.

[grindz145 @ Apr 28th 2009 8:07AM]

@Brent Ill second that, I'm very willing to say goodbye to the less-than-camera-phone quality video of beautiful places I've ridden, decent price as well.

[DR House @ Apr 28th 2009 7:01PM]

iphonerules

you got a problem with men who do not shave?
i never shave.....

[Anthony Parrott @ Apr 27th 2009 2:13PM]

Strange.

[yokken @ Apr 27th 2009 10:48PM]

why hasn't anyone said FPS yet? if i get one of these i'm TOTALLY making an awesome FPS film.

[bighap @ Apr 27th 2009 2:13PM]

Young Skywalker, is that you?

[Anthony Parrott @ Apr 27th 2009 2:13PM]

Test

[SlyJon @ Apr 27th 2009 2:14PM]

no not lame... i WANT to look like i'm from SPEED RACER

i also want to barrel down a ski slope with that on

[eggothewaffle @ Apr 27th 2009 2:15PM]

That is some awesome facial hair.

[B3astofthe3ast @ Apr 27th 2009 2:16PM]

WHAT????!!!!

all these years i thought my brain was already HD and IT ISN'T???!!!!!!!

[MK @ Apr 27th 2009 2:19PM]

Yes, now I can make my own "Smack My Bitch Up" up video in HD.

[CraigJ @ Apr 27th 2009 2:19PM]

HD POV porn coming soon...

There is such a thing as too much resolution...

[CraigJ @ Apr 27th 2009 2:21PM]

BTW, why are there AARP ads on your site? I didn't think the 55+ age group was your target demographic?

[bighap @ Apr 27th 2009 2:31PM]

FYI,
Firefox and Adblock Plus = No ads

[CraigJ @ Apr 27th 2009 2:38PM]

Well, these guys need to make some money...

As long at they don't suck too many cycles, and there isn't any sound, they don't really bother me...

[Wwhat @ Apr 27th 2009 2:53PM]

Question answered, only not-too-tech-savvy older people don't have adblock, making them the target of ads.

[Tagbert @ Apr 27th 2009 10:24PM]

@Wwhat
"...only not-too-tech-savvy older people don't have adblock, making them the target of ads."

Sure, this site deserves to die so that you don't have to see ads on the side.

[Wwhat @ Apr 27th 2009 11:24PM]

We humans are in a constant battle with advertiser, they seek to destroy everything with inappropriate (over-)use of ads and model their ads on being as annoying as possible almost exclusively now (which actually isn't the only possible model).

I'm fighting on my side, I'd rather have no content than what the ads manage to do with it, hell have you any idea how many people completely stopped watching TV because the content could no longer excuse the pain of the ads?
And since engadget is articles about products and new gadgets, that people have to buy, I'm saying reading engadget itself is already supporting ads, without the extra annoying ads.
Let the product makers do anonymous sponsoring, if you make decent product you know it'll get a good review/mention, and if it's electronic/gadget/phone engadget will create the buzz for you. Plus engadget also annoy people all on themselves, with that carousel thing for instance, so if you want to spread ads because you are a sadist that's covered too :P

Not that I mind if some self-hating types prefer to sacrifice themselves to the god of advertising, but I'm not going to thanks.

[CraigJ @ Apr 27th 2009 11:53PM]

I still doubt that the number of 55+ readers exceeds 1%, but hey, whatever.

[bandigolo @ Apr 27th 2009 2:22PM]

That's pretty badass - I think we should make all NFL QB's and MLB batters wear these once they push that 720p mode up to 60 fps.

[bighap @ Apr 27th 2009 2:37PM]

One word...XFL

[bandigolo @ Apr 27th 2009 3:49PM]

The XFL could have placed cameras up the cheerleaders' skirts and it still would have tanked.

[GiantSquid @ Apr 27th 2009 2:30PM]

How did they get Tom Brady to put that helmet on and let them take a picture?

[AlCabone @ Apr 27th 2009 2:38PM]

Great for skydivers/basejumpers.

[jeesusfreek @ Apr 27th 2009 2:39PM]

sweet - perfect for POV dirtbike, mountainbike comps, and boating quals

[Todd @ Apr 27th 2009 2:43PM]

great for other POV videos too.....

[Levi @ Apr 27th 2009 2:40PM]

First person parkour. Mirror's Edge IRL. I know there's a YouTube of it already, but with this helmet can, it could be so much better.

That one on YouTube is pretty funny though. I like the part where he slides under the thing.

[anthony909 @ Apr 27th 2009 2:43PM]

perfect for snowboarding.......this thing is awesome!!!!

[Cedrock @ Apr 27th 2009 5:11PM]

I'm thinking the same, and if Tom Cruise is wearing it, then I want it too

[Wwhat @ Apr 27th 2009 2:57PM]

To judge this you should see test footage, to see if it has that wobbly effect when you pan the camera for instance.
But even so you can mention that some of those flip-type mini cameras already do 720p @60 FPS, which for actionshots would be better than 30 I imagine.

[kevin @ Apr 27th 2009 3:05PM]

Finally! In41

[waterwagen @ Apr 27th 2009 3:13PM]

Facial hair sold separately.

[DirtyVegas @ Apr 27th 2009 3:15PM]

But, my brain works in HD already...

[KrazyCalvin @ Apr 27th 2009 3:31PM]

I would seriously consider getting this if the camera could just mouunt to any glasses. I would just constantly record my daily events and upload highlights to a new blog of sorts.

[kevin @ Apr 27th 2009 3:33PM]

I sure hope not ALL your daily events.. Don't want to see that camera get shaky moments-at-a-time...

[John @ Apr 27th 2009 3:32PM]

But is it Waterproof? I do alot of white water rafting/kayaking & am trying to find a HD Helmet cam that I can use to record the rapids I am going through! I need something waterproof! Is this it? Anyone have any ideas?

Thanks

TGC

[Ian @ Apr 27th 2009 10:31PM]

waterproof enclosure?

[cory yalowicki @ Apr 28th 2009 6:06AM]

GoPro Hero is what your after. Pretty nice and inexpensive. Lots of mounts.

[frank @ Apr 27th 2009 3:37PM]

Just put a pair of HD glasses in front of your cameras.

[Nate @ Apr 27th 2009 3:41PM]

Being a skier (and this pic certainly implies that it woul dbe used for skiing) I know from experience that video shot from closer to ground level, not head level is more stable, smoother. Better sensation of movement. Hopefully the flat mount would support mounting to a ski without too much drilling.

[bandigolo @ Apr 27th 2009 3:55PM]

Well thank God you're a skier. I don't think anyone else could possibly have reasoned that video shot from a 2" base mount would be more stable than video shot from a 6' vibrating mass of muscles, bones, and tendons.

[Nate @ Apr 27th 2009 4:11PM]

That doesn't make any sense.

[bandigolo @ Apr 27th 2009 5:39PM]

Yes it does.

[FluXulF @ Apr 27th 2009 4:03PM]

Is it just me or is there something really weird going on with his eyebrows etc. in there behind the visor?

Mutants only?

[DigDug @ Apr 27th 2009 4:58PM]

The lense appears to have changed the color and contrast behind the mask (notice the difference in skin tone and contrast).

That dude is seriously hot though - wow. Who cares about the 'dang camera.

[gadgeTT @ Apr 27th 2009 4:07PM]

I want a waterproof version that I can take down when scuba diving. That would be much more convenient than wrangling an underwater housing while not bumping into things.

[Kanja @ Apr 27th 2009 4:55PM]

Is this DOT3 approved?