Drift Innovation HD170 helmet cam review
What's this, another way to capture for posterity the extremeness of our helmet-requiring pastimes? Yes indeed, a new player has entered the increasingly crowded POV/action/helmet camera market, the Drift Innovation HD170, offering 1080p recording in a durable case that stands poised to take on GoPro's HD Hero and VHoldr's ContourHD 1080p. However, the built-in color LCD here lets you do something you just can't do on either of those two: check your footage on the camera itself. Does this make up for some of the cam's other shortcomings? Read on to find out.
First thoughts on unboxing the HD170 is that this is one big mamma jamma -- relatively. It's about two full inches longer than the ContourHD and easily dwarfs the GoPro HD. It's the heaviest of the three, too, weighing in at 175g compared to the ContourHD's 127g and the GoPro's 100g. However, throw the GoPro into its polycarbonate case, which is required for mounting, and that jumps up to 169g so the difference between those two is minimal. However, the extra weight between this and the ContourHD is magnified when it's attached to your head, and the HD170's size makes it a little tricky to mount in some tight areas. Its size and styling also makes it hard to miss, despite a design that has a lot in common with the rather more stealthy ContourHD.
Like VHoldr's offering, this camera is long and narrow, rather more aerodynamic than the tiny toaster design of the GoPro. It also offers the rotating barrel of the ContourHD, meaning regardless of the mounted angle of the camera at you can easily ensure a perfectly vertical image. This makes mounting on angled handlebars easy, a feature made even more useful by the integrated LCD, something neither of the others offer. Despite its First Class Forever size the screen is hugely handy... sometimes. If you're mounting on a rollbar or frame or the like you can turn on the cam and instantly tell whether you have it oriented just right. However, if you have the thing mounted on the side of your lid you'll still have no idea what you're filming until afterward. For this situation we still prefer the ContourHD's laser sights.
The LCD also means on-device reviewing of footage, so that you can ensure every moment of your last yard sale was captured in glorious detail, and provides a helpful UI for changing resolution, exposure, and other settings on the camera. This is a definite improvement over the clunky button presses required on the GoPro and the inability to tweak much of anything in the field with the ContourHD.
Flip open the back and you'll find room for the 1110mAh battery, an SDHC card, a miniUSB connector, and a second connector for the included component/composite video and audio outputs -- unfortunately no HDMI. Also included in the box are mounts for attaching to a helmet, affixing to goggles, clamping onto handlebars, or strapping on to just about whatever you like. There's no suction cup mount on offer, but the sliding clip mount on the bottom unscrews from the body, leaving a standard, threaded receiver which you can use to attach just about anything you like -- no proprietary adapter required.
Finally, there's the remote control. Unlike the one on the Tachyon XC it is not infra-red, meaning you don't have to worry about line of sight. And, you can even strap it onto your wrist. Nice.
The novelty of having a camera strapped to your head has largely worn off, so if that noggin-borne device doesn't capture good-quality footage it simply isn't worth having around. The HD170 records at a maximum of 1080p30 at about a 12MBps bitrate, matching the resolution and frame rate of the other two here with a quality that's comparable as well. We filmed most of our footage on an unfortunately overcast day, not ideal conditions for these tiny sensors, but the HD170 delivered footage very close to the other two in terms of ultimate brightness and color reproduction.
Our initial tests revealed what appeared to be some excessive jelly vision, a CMOS-specific issue that we quite often see on DSLRs like Nikon's D5000. It's an issue caused by the sensor not capturing the entire scene at the same instant, which can appear to compress, stretch, or shift the resulting image as the camera moves. When mounted firmly onto the chassis of a race car or the handlebars of a motorcycle and subjected to vibrations, the image here does suffer some funky distortions. However, testing the competition's cameras using similar mounts proved video quality to be comparable -- they all have a little jiggle going on.
However, they don't compare when it comes to audio quality. We've already lambasted the ContourHD for its excessive wind noise and praised the GoPro for its clear sound seemingly regardless of speed. The HD170 doesn't match the other two, distorting sound at any speed as if it were recording underwater. The deep rumble of a motorcycle exhaust is turned into an odd high-pitched squeal. Like on the ContourHD you can adjust the mic sensitivity based on your racing situation to help out, and while that did help to reduce the wind noise, it didn't help to reduce the overall audio distortion.
This is probably due to the camera's "waterproof" nature and, while we hate to use unnecessary quotes, in this they feel appropriate because the HD170 is rated to survive a mere half-meter plunge. In other words: getting splashed with mud is probably okay, but whatever you do don't trip into a kiddy pool.
At $329.99 the HD170 is a bit of a hard sell compared to the competition. That's $30 more than the ContourHD 1080p or GoPro HD Hero, either of which are available for $299 (or less, if you shop around). It's certainly nicer and easier to use than the GoPro, thanks that camera's clunky exterior case and two-button menu system, and it offers comparable video quality to the competition -- if you left room for Jell-O. But, it's considerably larger and somewhat heavier than the other two and, while it does come out of the box with more flexible mounting options, at the end of the day it finds itself attached to a third place out of this trio.
Update: This review originally and incorrectly stated that the HD170 suffers from excessive "jelly vision" effect compared to the competition. Further testing has revealed that to not be the case. We've updated the text and added a new video. Also, the folks at Drift have passed on a few additional videos to share.
And here's another biking video, this one helmet-mounted. In this case the neck absorbs much of the bumpiness and so the jelly effect is definitely reduced compared to a rigid frame-mount. If you'll be using it mounted on your lid the problem is much less of a concern.
Unboxing and first impressions
First thoughts on unboxing the HD170 is that this is one big mamma jamma -- relatively. It's about two full inches longer than the ContourHD and easily dwarfs the GoPro HD. It's the heaviest of the three, too, weighing in at 175g compared to the ContourHD's 127g and the GoPro's 100g. However, throw the GoPro into its polycarbonate case, which is required for mounting, and that jumps up to 169g so the difference between those two is minimal. However, the extra weight between this and the ContourHD is magnified when it's attached to your head, and the HD170's size makes it a little tricky to mount in some tight areas. Its size and styling also makes it hard to miss, despite a design that has a lot in common with the rather more stealthy ContourHD.
Like VHoldr's offering, this camera is long and narrow, rather more aerodynamic than the tiny toaster design of the GoPro. It also offers the rotating barrel of the ContourHD, meaning regardless of the mounted angle of the camera at you can easily ensure a perfectly vertical image. This makes mounting on angled handlebars easy, a feature made even more useful by the integrated LCD, something neither of the others offer. Despite its First Class Forever size the screen is hugely handy... sometimes. If you're mounting on a rollbar or frame or the like you can turn on the cam and instantly tell whether you have it oriented just right. However, if you have the thing mounted on the side of your lid you'll still have no idea what you're filming until afterward. For this situation we still prefer the ContourHD's laser sights.

The LCD also means on-device reviewing of footage, so that you can ensure every moment of your last yard sale was captured in glorious detail, and provides a helpful UI for changing resolution, exposure, and other settings on the camera. This is a definite improvement over the clunky button presses required on the GoPro and the inability to tweak much of anything in the field with the ContourHD.
Flip open the back and you'll find room for the 1110mAh battery, an SDHC card, a miniUSB connector, and a second connector for the included component/composite video and audio outputs -- unfortunately no HDMI. Also included in the box are mounts for attaching to a helmet, affixing to goggles, clamping onto handlebars, or strapping on to just about whatever you like. There's no suction cup mount on offer, but the sliding clip mount on the bottom unscrews from the body, leaving a standard, threaded receiver which you can use to attach just about anything you like -- no proprietary adapter required.
Finally, there's the remote control. Unlike the one on the Tachyon XC it is not infra-red, meaning you don't have to worry about line of sight. And, you can even strap it onto your wrist. Nice.
Performance
The novelty of having a camera strapped to your head has largely worn off, so if that noggin-borne device doesn't capture good-quality footage it simply isn't worth having around. The HD170 records at a maximum of 1080p30 at about a 12MBps bitrate, matching the resolution and frame rate of the other two here with a quality that's comparable as well. We filmed most of our footage on an unfortunately overcast day, not ideal conditions for these tiny sensors, but the HD170 delivered footage very close to the other two in terms of ultimate brightness and color reproduction.
Our initial tests revealed what appeared to be some excessive jelly vision, a CMOS-specific issue that we quite often see on DSLRs like Nikon's D5000. It's an issue caused by the sensor not capturing the entire scene at the same instant, which can appear to compress, stretch, or shift the resulting image as the camera moves. When mounted firmly onto the chassis of a race car or the handlebars of a motorcycle and subjected to vibrations, the image here does suffer some funky distortions. However, testing the competition's cameras using similar mounts proved video quality to be comparable -- they all have a little jiggle going on.
However, they don't compare when it comes to audio quality. We've already lambasted the ContourHD for its excessive wind noise and praised the GoPro for its clear sound seemingly regardless of speed. The HD170 doesn't match the other two, distorting sound at any speed as if it were recording underwater. The deep rumble of a motorcycle exhaust is turned into an odd high-pitched squeal. Like on the ContourHD you can adjust the mic sensitivity based on your racing situation to help out, and while that did help to reduce the wind noise, it didn't help to reduce the overall audio distortion.
This is probably due to the camera's "waterproof" nature and, while we hate to use unnecessary quotes, in this they feel appropriate because the HD170 is rated to survive a mere half-meter plunge. In other words: getting splashed with mud is probably okay, but whatever you do don't trip into a kiddy pool.
Wrap-up

Update: This review originally and incorrectly stated that the HD170 suffers from excessive "jelly vision" effect compared to the competition. Further testing has revealed that to not be the case. We've updated the text and added a new video. Also, the folks at Drift have passed on a few additional videos to share.
And here's another biking video, this one helmet-mounted. In this case the neck absorbs much of the bumpiness and so the jelly effect is definitely reduced compared to a rigid frame-mount. If you'll be using it mounted on your lid the problem is much less of a concern.




























:D!!!
I was thinking this would be cool to film longboarding, but i think ill just buy a cheap flip video,
@sweetelectro
I was just thinking of porn...
Is the the only water-resistant helmet cam? I want to be able to go from the 4-wheeler into the lake to water ski, etc.
@jeff0529 The ContourHD is water resistant and has an optional waterproof case. The GoPro comes with a waterproof case.
@TimStevens
Thanks!
@bloggerrus
Uh, no. When the product's Web site says the video format is "AVI", you should look elsewhere. A company that doesn't know the difference between a video format and a file format can't really be trusted to make video cameras.
Raceoptics system is way better than any of those.
@thevolta and start at $450.
Well all 3 cams successfully recorded that whale of a wide left turn. Yikes.
@DigDug Pretty bad, wasn't it? I was paranoid about that person pulling out in front of me and not only failed to downshift but nearly went into the parking lot to the right. But, it turned out to be the most tangible example of the jelly effect so I used the shot anyway.
@TimStevens
Yeah it really looked like he was gonna' bolt out in front of you - it's like they just *know* the worst possible moment to decide "they can make it." Glad he didnt make the move (I;ve been there). At least you would've had a ton of evidence at your disposal!
@DigDug Haha, I was having the exact same thought. "Dude, you just had the luck to pull out in front of the one guy with not one but three separate cameras rolling on his motorcycle."
mmmmmmm I love POV
Wow, really expensive and fairly disappointing!
This one, $48 - waterproof, with IR night vision, 2Mpx cam is really cheap&chic:
http://bit.ly/theIRcam
@bloggerrus
NO, spammer. As I noted after the first time you spammed these comments, the product's Web site says the video format is "AVI". A company that doesn't know the difference between a video format and a file format can't really be trusted to make video cameras.
Now piss off.
@Information Central the specs on Drift website look good to me. What is missing or incorrect?
Also did you see this video? Video quality looks awesome.
http://vimeo.com/13755781
the best thing about this camera is the display. I cant tell you how many times, I have either not gotten the shot properly in frame, or the card was corrupted or some issue made me lose the best part of the footage. having the screen there allows you to make sure you got the clip, and make sure it looked like you wanted it to, something that any cmaera that doesnt have at last a small screen will always fall down on. seems cheap for 30 bucks more. also, the gopro has the best audio no question, but most of the time, your using music or something else in the edit, so not really a big issue for many people. Another review here: http://bit.ly/acxayX
Just careful where you're pointing this at, as apparently it's illegal in some states to record a video of law enforcements.
@pika2000
Here in America we really should have the right to film in any public place we want to. Making it illegal to film police will cause a lot of resentment and will lead to police not being held accountable (illegally obtained evidence is not admissible in court...). Our British brothers also seem to be battling to retain their right to simply film in a public place. It is nice to see there is at least one other socially aware individual here on engadget. :D
I want one of these!!
Quote: "But, sadly there's no suction cup mount on offer, and neither is there a standard, threaded receiver."
There is in fact one a standard threaded receiver on the HD170 (unlike the GoPro & Contour), you just need to unscrew the mount adapter and you'll find it on the underside of the camera. This opens up your options to easily use suction mounts, clamp mounts & roll bar mounts without having to buy any extra thread adapters.
The screen on this cam is the best option by far! What's the point of using a cam like this if you don't know what you're filming! And don't forget the remote too :)
Sign me up, I want one!
@X Sports Geek Wow, my mistake. Fixing the text of the review.
@TimStevens No worries, thanks for updating that.
Here's another good review into the HD170 http://www.actioncameras.co.za/review_of_the_hd170_from_drift_innovation.html
I was about to buy a GoPro last week when this was mentioned so I paused to look and I have to admit the screen, screw thread and remote all grabbed my attention. The application is skydiving so needs a secure mount and the remote will be great in the door for turning it on and the screen is good for review and quick setup changes but you dont get time to look while its running so not a massive sell. BUT. that jelly wobble really put me off. Is it always that bad or was that the only time you saw it?
@sabrepete I took it karting too, but unfortunately the footage wound up being unusable because I made had the lens oriented the wrong way and everything came out 90 degrees off. There is a huge amount of vibration when you're on a kart and the jelly effect was a huge problem.
However, I think if you're not doing too much too bumpy it'd probably be okay. Actually they have a couple skydiving videos on their site to give you an idea:
http://www.driftinnovation.com/en/hd170-action-camera
I don't really notice any jelly effect there. Sadly I wasn't able to jump out of any planes for this review, but if anyone can provide the ride and necessary accessories for my safe landing I'll be happy to bring the cam along!
THanks Tim. Its a consideration as the skydive clips looked OK, but then so did the mountain bike clips, and having worked for manufacturers like this, they always make the media look good. Whatever I buy will need to do both. Still like the low profile for my helmet better than the GoPro, Have to see if I can find a retailer in the UK after the 4th.
I have to say the remote control and LCD screen on this product is frickin awesome. End of the day we have a lot less footage to edit and we share more video as a result. Also we use this helmet mounted all the time and do not notice the size one bit. The forums seem to have a lot of buzz around this product from sky divers and parapente enthusiasts (do not do that personally but looks like fun) Lots of videos can be found here and there is no jelly video as mentioned in review.
http://www.vimeo.com/12623260
Also no issues with Jelly vision here either which looks to be some pretty fast moto bike footage from a TT in Europe
http://www.vimeo.com/12404703
However we have seen that there is jelly video samples on line from GoPro, Contour, and Drift. Seems like it depends on mounts and mounting location. In our case it has not been an issue but we either mount it on helmets (body is absorbing a lot of the shock) or we use the Pedco Ultra Clamp which is one of the best mounts we have ever used. Easy to use with the 1/4" thread that comes standard on the Drift camera. Thumbs up on Drift HD170 and certainly all the features in this camera worth an extra $29
Another great video shot with the Drift HD170 that I just saw posted on Drift Innovation facebook page
Video quality looks insane.
http://vimeo.com/13755781