A new toy

So even though I can’t be on the bike doesn’t mean I can’t purchase anything new to use the moment I can return to cycling. The newest gadget that we received is one of the hottest items in the adventure cam market, the VholdR ContourHD!

Twenty20 was started as a result of a business plan competition at the University of Washington in 2003. They produced the Twenty20 camera line because they wanted to share their love of skiing with more people than could fit on the slopes. After two versions of the Twenty20 camera they came up with the VholdR, the first wearable self contained adventure camera. It was a huge success.

If you ride with a Bee Team member or visit their site you might see a video or two made using the VholdR. Fast forward to 2009 and we now have the ContourHD, the first HD wearable camcorder capable of capturing and sharing HD quality video. The ability to capture video in High Definition or High Action, record 8 hours of HD video on a single memory card, shoot video with a wide angle lens, and use software to share HD video, is again leading the market.

Here are the specifications of the new ContourHD:

ContourHD has two video settings;

• HD Video Setting
  • Resolution: 1280 x 720
  • Frame Rate: 30 frames per second
  • Field of View: 135 degrees
• High Action SD
  • Resolution: 848 x 480
  • Frame Rate: 60 frames per second
  • Field of View: 90 degrees

ContourHD uses H.264 video codec, AAC audio compression, and a .mov file type.

ContourHD records to an internal microSDHC memory card. The ContourHD is compatible with up to a 16GB microSD memory card.

ContourHD will record different time lengths depending on what video setting you are using. Estimated record times:

• HD – 30 minute per GB
• SD – 60 minute per GB

ContourHD uses an embedded microphone that is located on the bottom of the camera. The microphone has been upgraded from the VholdR camera and it has been tuned it to reduce wind noise.

ContourHD uses a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, located right inside the back door of the camera. The ContourHD battery will last about two hours (120 minutes) when recording SD and about 90 minutes when recording HD.

ContourHD on a MTB on Vimeo.