Archive for December 2010
Sport Cameras: Take Two
Getting great video is not such an easy task. Even when manufacturers continue to make small hand-held cameras, they don’t seem to have the same effect that a good POV sport camera would provide. The market for small sport cameras has widened and the technology is getting better. Here are two reviews on the ones I’ve been using to shoot some really great HD video.
The Camera: The GoPro Hero HD is one of the most popular sport cameras on the market. It films in total HD, with the option of three different filming formats: 1080p (true HD and wide-screen ratio), 960p (wide and tall HD with 170º angle view) and 720p (Ultra widescreen HD with typical 16:9 aspect ratio) with 30 or 60 fps. Why is any of this interesting? Because it allows for high quality digital video in a small camera, at a small price. The camera itself comes in a windproof casing with a fish-eye lens to get that wide-angle view. Although the audio is muffled as a result of this casing, it doesn’t matter: the focus is on the video, and it is spectacular stuff. The basic HD camera is priced at $299, with a number of accessories available to attach the camera to a bike, helmet, or surfboard. And all of that footage you can put on replaceable SD memory cards.
The cons: It’s hard to know when the camera is on. There are only two buttons, and a special pattern of pushing them turns the camera on. When it is activated, it makes a series of beeps and flashes a dim light that makes it confusing to tell when it’s filming or simply in standby. If you don’t get it right, you won’t have any video when you get home because the camera will either be off or in another mode (which has happened to me, much to my chagrin).
The Camera: The Contour HD picks up where the GoPro leaves off. It films in the same resolutions and frame rates as its competitor, but it’s missing the fish-eye – and that’s a good thing. The Contour HD has a simple wide-angle lens (135º) that allows you to pick up 
all of the action without distorting the image. The footage is stored on micro SD cards (even smaller) and there is a real microphone built into the camera for decent audio. One of the most impressive features is the laser leveling system. When the camera is mounted on a helmet, for example, a simple push of a button lights up two small leveling lasers to guide you to level the lens. This way what you film doesn’t look like it’s on the Titanic. In addition, the on/off switch is just that: one position is on, one is off. What you film is what you get. All the accessories are available to mount it to a bike or helmet, and Contour takes it a step further: their online programming allows you to control the audio and lighting as you desire. All in a hands-free camera.
The cons: Contour has recently come out with the Contour HD GPS model running for over $400 and with geo-locating. I don’t need the camera to tell me where I am, I’ll let the video speak for itself. Apart from this, I have yet to find any problems with the Contour.
Online Presents
Again, I need to apologize for my disappearance from the online world. Every so often the offline world presents us with a few surprises, and some activities are put on hold while the fires are put out. I’d like to thank all of you who have continued to check for new posts here, regardless of the three-plus months that I have been missing in action. I am forever grateful for your support.
Within the next couple of weeks you will see a complete face-lift of the old website. This year is soon coming to a close, and with that I will be changing the appearance of ATL. My activities have remained the same and I will continue to bring you quality articles and videos. on the activities, food and culture discovered throughout my travels. Know my online presence will be more frequent, and my focus will be sharper.
Speaking of online presence, I wanted to bring to your attention some online presents you can get for your favorite cyclist or skier. These are just a few great links with spectacular offerings for your preferred athlete (or yourself):
BicycleGifts.com : These folks offer great little gifts from unique jewelry to vintage prints. I’m particularly fond of the “spokemon” bracelet – I’ve been wearing one for ages. Their gifts are classy and unique, and a number of them you can get for little cash.
Wheeltags : If you have a team with TT bikes, Wheeltags is a cool and interesting way to personalize your teams’ wheels. If you don’t have a team, personalize them anyway. They have stylish jerseys and they are giving out gift certificates so you can save even more cash during the holidays.
Road ID : Levi Leipheimer endorses the Road ID products, and is also on the Road ID team. A company primarily known for its medical ID bracelets, Road ID also makes lights and small wallets for running. But what’s really cool is how they have constructed the site to help emergency professionals assist with accidents on the road: using a smartphone, the medic can enter in a patient’s ID number and get all of their vital stats immediately. What gift could be better than that?
Sportube: Planning a week out in Vail or Steamboat? Airlines are charging a fortune for your bags – the least you need is to pay to get your skis on the plane. Sportube makes a variety of solid reinforced travel cases for skis and snowboards so you can ship your stuff. It’s what I did and I saved over $200 and a lot of backache.
Vintage Snow: These folks offer some of the more intriguing antique ski paraphernalia. From customizable wood signs to figurines to a 1939 Sun Valley ski lift chair, you will find something for every taste (and certainly every budget).
YakTrax: The unsung hero of the winter ski resort. It’s bad enough making sure no one runs into you on the hill, imagine finishing a great day of skiing, crossing the parking lot in your ski boots, and getting a mouthful of asphalt because you slipped on some black ice. YakTrax attaches to the bottom of your ski boot so you don’t bottom out at the bottom of the hill. A smart item to have in any pack.