With all these new HD helmet cams being released in quick succession it can be difficult to figure out which one you want. You may have know three weeks ago but now there are so many new ones which look awesome - so which one do you go for?
GoPro has just launched the GoPro HD Hero2 which is a super fast and high quality upgrade of the normal Go Pro HD. Drift Innovation just launched the Drift HD cam which delivers awesome video and still includes the screen, remote and rotating lens which is terrific. Contour's not missed a beat and have also recently launched their Contour+ Plus which pushes them up into the professional camera levels.
How do you compare one against the other? The Go Pro 2 has the waterproofing and loads of awesome accessories but the Drift HD comes with the screen and remote which makes using it super easy. Comparing the GoPro 2 and the Contour Plus is tricky because the GoPro Hero2 offers more user functionality but the Contour+ has all kinds of extras which make it suitable for the professional market. Again comparing the Contour and Drift means you need to compare functionality against user friendliness. It's not an easy choice.
Luckily Action Cameras has taken a lot of the confusion out of this comparison by putting these top HD action cameras together in a side-by-side comparison review. Check out this page to see the review....
To review the Gobii 720p HD Action Camera we needed to confirm exactly what the Gobii was. When we received one to test and review we saw it was the same as a few other products which had been sent to us in the past it. This seems to be a generic camera sent straight out of China and labelled differently depending who is selling it.
Gabii Action Camera Review
While this camera looks good on paper it is unfortunately not something that would be featured on Action Cameras. The video quality is good, especially for the low price, but the build quality of the camera isn't up to scratch - we've seen too many of these "made in China" cameras come into the market and soon exit because of huge return rates.
If you're keen to see the range of helmet cams that we do recommend then check out the Action Cameras Best Sellers.
To do a comparison review of the Contour and the GoPro HD you need to look at quite a few varying factors. You need to compare the features beyond the video quality as they both deliver 1080p HD video and are both made for extreme sports.
GoPro HD
ContourGPS
It's always good to kick off a comparison review with a video comparing the warmth of the video quality between the GoPro and the Contour helmet cameras.
Let's also take a look at all the features compared on a side by side chart.
Go to the comparison section on the Action Cameras website to generate this head to head comparison for yourself for the GoPro and Contour cameras or for any other helmet cam.
Comparing the GoPro HD and Drift HD is an awesome head to head battle between two of the best helmet cams around. While they both film in 1080p full HD video, that's about where the similarity ends.
The GoPro wins hands down on the waterproofing side as it can easily go go to 60meters underwater whereas the Drift HD is merely water resistant against rain showers.
One other thing they both do is take still photos, the GoPro in 5Mp stills and the Drift HD in 9Mp shots. Both have the ability to shoot photos continuously in a timelapse mode which pretty awesome for getting excellent in-action shots.
The benefits of the Drift range of cameras has always been the built in screen, wireless remote and rotating lens. The original Drift X170 couldn't really stand side by side with the likes of the GoPro HD but now that the 4th generation Drift HD is out it is more then fair to give them a good comparison review.
The advantages of the screen include easy aligning of the shot (so you know what you're filming) and being able to watch your videos on the go which is cool. Recently GoPro has released the LCD BacPac which of course allows for GoPro users to add a screen onto their 1080p GoPro cams but this will set you back an extra R995.
The new GoPro cameras have the ability to film in the upside down mode adding an extra dimension to your mounting ability so you can mount the camera in all kinds of places (older cameras can get this feature with a simple firmware upgrade. The comparing feature here is the Drift HD's rotating lens on the front which means you can mount the camera body in any orientation and simply twist the lens into an upright position so your picture will always be upright.
The wireless remote control on the Drift HD is a great feature for a lot of users. The benefits are pretty easy to figure out and, as it works up to 8meters from the camera, it's pretty sweet.
Mount wise, both the GoPro HD and Drift HD come with a range of mounts in the box to get you started. The adhesives provided work on 3m tape which seriously stick on properly.
Here's a graph showing a side by side comparison of the specs. (The Drift HD pricing is actually R3,750, not R,3999 as in the image below).
So, which one is the best of the comparison?
It depends on what you're using it for. People into land and water sports - the GoPro is for you. People into land and air sports who like the idea of the wireless remote and screen, go for the Drift HD.
You're interested in a helmet cam but not sure which one to go for? Well, you can do one of two things...
1) Phone us to pick our knowledgeable brains (we've been doing this for 5 years!), or
2) Go to our Best Selling Action Cameras page, click on the helmet cameras you're interested in, and hit the "Compare Selected" button at the bottom.
Our new comparison feature will instantly give you a head-to-head comparison of your selected cameras. Add or delete cameras from the list or delete comparing features which you're not interested in. This list includes the GoPro HD, Drift HD, Contour range, ATC9K, and more.
Be sure to take full advantage of this exciting new feature as it is a first in helmet camera websites worldwide!! Check this link for a detailed review to compare the GoPro HD and the Drift HD.
