freighttraininguphill

I just got DashWare, which is one of two software packages I know of that allow you to overlay the data onto the video. The other one is Bike Telemetry. They both use the data from a GPS unit like my Garmin Edge 500.

Here's my first (successful) attempt at using it. I still had the raw files from last weekend's steep climb video that I posted on YouTube July 16, so I used those plus the TCX file exported from the activity page on Garmin Connect for that ride. I used the default percent grade gauge and created a simple text gauge for speed, heart rate, and altitude. The text is much easier to read at lower resolutions and smaller screen sizes, plus it doesn't cover up too much of the scenery.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86ooHBgr90Q

For my next climb video I'll add a distance gauge.

sudoshift

Ooooooh I see, alright thanks! I thought it was something built-in to the camera.

johnny99

ContourHD is $149 at Amazon today. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002QGSYZ4
Any more interesting deals out there right now?
Which mounts work best for road bicycles?

smasha

page title says "ContourHD Camera", picture shows GPS, comparison chart identifies the GPS and HD as different cameras... i'm confused. i think that's the 1080 (model 1300) but i'm not sure.

a few weeks ago my 1080 that i bought for $180 earned it's keep during an incident. for $150 i'm tempted to have an extra, just in case... i don't need GPS or HDMI.

FWIW, i like the contour as helmet-cam, but mounted on the bikes i'm partial to the HEROs because they self-adjust better to varying lighting conditions. i've got the HERO-960s, but i do want to upgrade to the "real" HEROs only so i can get 60fps and do a better job of catching license plates.

smasha

doh!

Item model number: 1300

yup, that's "just" the 1080p model. perfect for my needs... all the features that it doesn't have, i don't need.

and the "extra" $30 that i spent on mine about a month or so ago, it was still worth it because it was there for an incident. the evidence that it collected may not only result in a serious prosecution, but also some reimbursement from the motorist or his insurance.

now... should i save my money and hope the HEROs go on sale? check out another type of camera that does 60fps HD? or get this because it's a good price, although at night it's not much better than an ATC2k?

sjvcycler

I have been out of it for a bit but here is an example of dashware, garmin 500 data, and a Tachyon HD which they no longer make but they make a new micro version.
https://www.tachyoninc.com/

Sorry for the Music

I have other Videos there you can see that I've created and I take the sound out because this camera is shock proof which means the mic is inside the housing and it sounds horrible. One of the vids has audio from my camera and its no bueno.

LOL just remembered that dog chasing me at the end!

freighttraininguphill

Nothing wrong with that music. It's much better than most of the music I hear on cycling videos, especially if your camera's mic doesn't work that well as you say.

I tried a Casio EX-G1 last year on my handlebar mount, and it had a horrible buzzing sound from the slightest vibration. It is also a shockproof, waterproof camera. I took it back and got a different camera.

cyclocommuter

Sorry for the late response... yes it is though technically it is Grand Funk Railroad (when there were just 3 of them) recorded live.

cyclocommuter

All that information is derived from the Garmin GPS data... I use a formula to calculate bearing based on GPS coordinates, the elevation is calculated similarly but using some sort of ratio and proportion.

cyclocommuter

Once you have the GPX / XML file off the GPS device, you can do whatever you want with it if you have some knowledge of programming. There are also commercial and free (open source) applications that enable you to do this some which have already been discussed in this thread.

Snowsurfer

I've looked at many videos shot with a Contour HD and GoPro Hero HD. Both videos look about the same in quality in terms of capturing images, blurriness, focus, etc.

Colour saturation is better in the GoPro Hero HD.
In some videos Contour HD seems sharper. Still others, GoPro Hero HD shows better sharpness.

Sometimes the distorted fisheye effect of the GoPro Hero HD doesn't give as good an image at the fringes (edges).

Both are capable cameras. I prefer the Contour HD for helmet. I don't own the GoPro, but am considering getting one. It would be good to get a mixture.

Drift is also (has also) released a new camera that is the same as the 170 HD, more or less, but improved, and is 25% shorter.

freighttraininguphill

What mount do you have? I just ordered a Contour from Amazon for $145, and I was reading the reviews for the helmet mount. People are reporting that it doesn't hold very well.

Snowsurfer

lol, no mount yet.

I got the two cameras about a week ago. I've actually only opened up one, and have been testing it out. The camera really isn't so good in low light. It's got a wavy, sorta under water feel to it when filming.

I will be buying the vented helmet mount from Contour. I guess you lucked out. I got my cameras for $149.99 each locally (no shipping, brick and mortar pickup on location). I keep hearing that the Hero HD is a little bit better, but the youtube videos show they are about the same in terms of ability to catch licence plates.

This other member claims that the 720p @ 60fps is best for that. Maybe we will get ultraHD soon and we'll get 2160p @ 30fps. I like the black case, but too bad it is only for the Contour GPS.

Anyone think I should pick up a GoPro Hero HD for $349?

freighttraininguphill

I think you lucked out. I despise ordering things and hoping they're not DOA. I didn't have to pay shipping or tax, but I'd much rather buy local than over the internet. Unfortunately, the local price is $300.

Skinny Fred

Does anyone know why there was a price drop on the ContourHD? Amazon and its affiliated sellers all dropped to $150 around 8/1.

It's that bad in low light? I bought an ATC2K when it was newish. It was an okay value for the price, especially compared to the hard-drive-based systems, but I was disappointed overall.

sjvcycler

I like my Tachyon very much. Its cost was lower than contour and hero at the time and its case is weather / water proof meaning I can take it in the rain or even underwater if I want.

Snowsurfer

^^^ Can your Tachyon do 720p at 60fps? Is it the HD edition?

sjvcycler

nah its 30 fps. Didn't want to spend the extra money to get and HD hero. It is the 2010 XC HD edition. The price and that it runs on AA batteries is what I liked when I bought it.

Igo

Contour HD at REI for $149 today. I bought the only one they had. Can't wait. I'm a hiker and motorcycle rider too.

Igo

Hello all,
Quick question. Where would be the best place online to order another battery? Is this battery proprietary or can I buy mainstream?
What size memory will the Contour HD accept? Is there a limit?
Lastly, where does a guy buy mounts for the camera. I want a mount for my bicycle and one for my motorcycle.
Thanks a bunch. I want to do a report of the River Mountain Trail in Las Vegas.

freighttraininguphill

I try to buy locally unless the price is ridiculous, like it was on the Contour ($300 locally, $145 from Amazon). Amazon seems to have all the accessories at reasonable prices. I got the univeral mount for $9.99, which allows you to mount the Contour on anything with a standard 1/4" tripod screw. I also had to get the external charger from Amazon, since the only one available at REI was the $29.95 charger with all the international plug adapters. The regular US charger from Amazon was only $15.

I got the batteries for $29.95, the vented helmet mount for $20, and the handlebar mount for $30. All of these were purchased from REI. I have stores near me, so I didn't have to order the items.

The batteries are proprietary.

Igo

This was much help and I thank you very much. I used the goggles adapter that came with the camera but it was a tad shaky. I think the helmet mount will help. I ordered the handlebar mount but am skeptical about its stability as well. I'm trying really hard to invent something that will nail my camera flat the the bike frame to further minimize vibration. I can't find anything but the helmet mount for my motorcycle but it has a high windscreen and the helmet is heavy. It should do fine. I plan to do some serious documentation of some serious bike routes in which I use several camera types. I hope this works out well.

johnny99

You can find ContourHD batteries on EBay for around $10. I bought a couple of them from a California vendor and they seem to work OK. I don't trust the direct-from-China vendors.

The ContourHD manual says it can use memory cards up to 16GB, but I don't know if that is a real limit or if the manual was just written before 32GB cards were available. Some PCs do have problems formatting cards larger than 4GB. There is a better formatting utility on the Contour web site.

freighttraininguphill

Sorry I forgot about this question in my original reply. According to this thread in Contour's FAQ section, the ContourHD will accept a 32 GB card, which just happens to be the limit for SDHC cards, both micro and regular size.

Contour recommends using SDFormatter to format memory cards. It is a free download, available here.

Igo

I copied the program data that was on the two GB car that came with the camera and transfered it to a 4GB card I had laying around. It worked great but I'll make sure to properly format the next cards. I couldn't make up my mind how much I wanted to spend so I ordered a 16GB card but decided that wasn't enough so I ordered another one 30 minutes later. LOL.
I'm a still photographer but am just now playing with video.