Reddit reviews ContourROAM Hands-free HD Camcorder

This won't help you specifically, but I would like to encourage everybody who drives a car or rides a motorcycle in Japan to get a camera like this one and have it running all the time when you are driving.

A friend of mine was in a traffic accident where he was not at fault, but the other party in the accident was a skilled liar and fed his police and the insurance company a load of crap. Luckily, the camera on my friend's helmet caught everything, the police ruled him not-at-fault and saved him hundreds of thousands of yen worth of hospital bills and car repairs.

The 20,000 yen investment for the camera can end up saving you a load of money.

It's a Contour Roam and I've had it for a little over a month. It was $99 on Amazon when I got it, and a few days before that it was $109, so I think the price changes kinda frequently since now it's at $136.


Pros:

• Daytime video quality is pretty good
  
• Easy to use
  
• Computer software is decent, or you can use Windows Explorer to copy files
  
• Uses MicroSD cards up to 32GB
  
• You can charge the battery and record at the same time (I think only the official Contour car charger works for this)
  
• Records one video file with no gaps, unlike some dash cams that record in shorter clips
  
  Cons:
  
  
• Since it's not specifically a dash cam, it doesn't record over old files when it fills up, so you need to manually delete old videos
  
• You can't change the focus, and mine sort of focuses on the windshield. Video quality is still decent but it's hard to read license plates unless you're stopped behind a car at a light or something.
  
• Nighttime video isn't great. You can't really see anything that your headlights or a streetlight aren't shining on (except other cars' lights). Here's an example, and it wasn't even totally dark out then.
  
• You have to manually start and stop recording. The button to do this is really big and there's a red light that comes on when it's recording, but I've forgotten to turn it on a few times because my mirror's in the way so I can't see if it's on.
  
  
  Overall I'm pretty satisfied with it. Before this I had like a $30 dash cam that would overheat if I left it in the car too long in the summer, and the video quality wasn't that good. It stopped working and I got this and it's a huge improvement. Once or twice I've left it in the car on accident for several hours (it probably got to at least 120 degrees in there; they only guarantee it to work up to 109) and it was fine. I dropped it once on the sidewalk and that also wasn't a problem.

Actually, just $99

That sucks, I'm sorry. I've had somebody try the same thing on me, but I was able to stop in time.

I just bought an inexpensive camera and helmet mount. It's too late now, and hopefully you'll never have another psychopath try to kill you, but it's the only way to guarantee there's evidence.

http://www.amazon.com/Contour-1600-ContourROAM-Hands-free-Camcorder/dp/B005GLFSYQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1373235756&sr=1-1&keywords=contour

http://www.amazon.com/Contour-1600-ContourROAM-Hands-free-Camcorder/dp/B005GLFSYQ

You're search is done. http://www.amazon.com/Contour-1600-ContourROAM-Hands-free-Camcorder/dp/B005GLFSYQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1370279157&sr=8-1&keywords=contour

I bought a ContourRoam. It's 1080p, waterproof up to a meter or so (meaning it's fine in the rain), and single switch operated so it's idiotproof. I also bought a 32GiB microSD card and the helmet mount. The camera and helmet mount seem to be out of stock from where I bought them right now, I got all three for 220USD shipped.

The video is fairly stable, but Seattle has lots of crappy streets so when I'm on those streets the video can be a bit shaky. I've been using transcode's stabilize filter to stabilize videos, and it works really well.

Or this Contour is on sale right now.

Both the ContourROAM and the ContourROAM2 would work for what you want. The ROAM is about $100 (Amazon), the ROAM2 is $200. I really like the form factor for most things of the Contour line (although the Go Pro is nicer for running).
http://www.amazon.com/Contour-1600-ContourROAM-Hands-free-Camcorder/dp/B005GLFSYQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1370399185&sr=8-1&keywords=contour
http://www.amazon.com/Contour-ROAM2-Waterproof-Video-Camera/dp/B009CN8VRK/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1370399185&sr=8-2&keywords=contour

I just got a ContourROAM from Amazon a few weeks ago (half off b/c they're phasing it out for the ROAM2), and am pretty pleased with it so far. With a 32 GB MicroSD its battery life is the limiting factor -- allegedly 3.5 hours at 1080p, more for lower res video -- if I understand the manual right (haven't had a chance to go on a long enough ride to test that).

The only downsides I can think of are that the battery isn't removable and that I had to buy a memory card and vented helmet mount separately. I really like the large slide on/off switch, however, and it's light enough to not really notice it when mounted to my helmet. Like you, I got it mostly for safety, though I hope to use it to get some good video from random bike parties.

The contour is only 100$ and way less bulky than a gopro


http://www.amazon.com/Contour-1600-ContourROAM-Hands-free-Camcorder/dp/B005GLFSYQ

You'll probably want to put something like this on your helmet rather than an actual dashcam on the bike.

I am considering one of these. http://www.amazon.com/ContourROAM-Hands-free-Camcorder-2011-Model/dp/B005GLFSYQ/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1331597503&sr=8-2
I drive a scooter and was in an accident a few months ago. I am wanting a cam to protect myself in the future. Arizona drivers are not the greatest.

Just to let you know, the Contour in the link you posted only comes with a surfboard mount. This one has a profile mount that should work best.

The ContourROAM Hands-free HD Camcorder may work out for you. I don't have any experience with it, but it has the following...

• ~$100
  
• 8hrs record time at 1080p with 32gb Micro SD card (sold seperately)
  
• 170 degree super wide angle lens
  
• Tripod Mount
  
• Waterproof
  
• Decent Reviews
  
  However, the battery is not removable. It lasts 3 hours though.

I checked my order history and this is what I ordered (looks like the same as you?). Now I'm just confused.

Another option is the Contour ROAM (which is the predecessor of the Contour ROAM2). Amazon has it for $99.

All you need in this here http://www.amazon.com/Contour-1600-ContourROAM-Hands-free-Camcorder/dp/B005GLFSYQ

There are sticky mounts that you mount on your dash. flip it on when driving. turn it off when you're not. wipe the memory and recharge after 3-4 hours. rinse repeat.

Contour user here. I haven't used the R7 or GoPro, but I do love my Contour, especially after getting it for $99 on Amazon.com, Although it did go up a little bit in price recently

I slapped the Contour on the side of my Empire Avatars and it hasn't given me a problem at all, and it's taken direct hits with no problem.

The GoPro, IMO, is the better all-around camera. But for only around ~$100 the Contour is a fantastic, alternative. Ignore the terrible music at the start. I suck at selecting music

Also now that Contour is bankrupt, you can grab their ROAMs for pretty cheap for those of us who don't have a charger dongle to the phone.

I use a contour roam mostly because I can gun mount when I am playing airsoft or paintball or mount it on my helmet. It uses a standard threaded mount on the dash. There are cheaper options if you just want a dash cam. Deal Extreme or DX.com both have cheap dash cams, I would get one that has two cameras, one forward and one backward.

http://www.amazon.com/Contour-1600-ContourROAM-Hands-free-Camcorder/dp/B005GLFSYQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1342044371&sr=8-1&keywords=contour

Link

Same here so I went with the Contour Roam (first generation), was about $100 plus $40 for a vented helmet mount, plus the cost of the memory card.

There were two different versions for $100. This one is the one I got. It looks like you ordered this one. It had been priced at $100 when I first started looking at them.