VHoldR ContourHD Review - First Impressions

I recently got the very sweet VHoldR ContourHD for a long term test, and after its first couple of uses, I am amazed of the exceptional clarity of HD. I have extensively tested the GoPro HERO Wide and the VIO POV 1.5 video cameras, and both have some special attributes they bring to the table, but that can't even hold a candle to the HD medium. This camera truly blows the doors off the other cameras!

Not only does the HD look good on the normal small screen format, such as YouTube, Vimeo, and others, but when it is seen in a full widescreen mode it still retains it clarity. The HERO is very grainy in a full screen mode, while the POV 1.5 is a bit better, it still doesn't have the crystal clear clarity of HD.

This is a general video test of ContourHD:

VHoldR ContourHD Test - Stoopid Trail Colorado from Brian Mullin on Vimeo.

Highlights

Video: HD (1280 x 720) at 30 fps or SD (858 x 480) at 60 fps, in H.264 Codec using a 5 Mega-pixel CMOS Image Sensor

Memory: MicroSD card (Maximum of 16GB, comes with 2GB), recording time of HD 30min/GB or SD 60 min/GB

Lens: HD 135 degree or SD 90 degree

Body: Water resistant, aluminum and fiberglass

Battery: Removable Litihium-Ion Battery, 3 hour record time


The unit comes with a 2GB microSD card which was good for 44 minutes of recording time in HD mode (20min per GB in HD). I went out and bought 8GB microSD card for maximum recording time, since at that point I will be bumping into the battery limit. I wanted to get a 16GB card, but they cost 3 times as much as the 8GB? I am still doing some battery and recording length testing, so no final iterations on them as yet.

Weight (measured)
101.5 grams (battery and card)
8 GB card .3 grams
battery 21.7 grams

Impressions
I have never used a VHoldR camera before so, so I had a few things to learn about the camera, but fortunately everything is fairly straight forward. The camera has some heft to it for such a small package, but the Aluminum body seems to be pretty tough so it should be able to take some abuse? Basically, the camera attaches to your helmet or bike using one of the mounts from the VHoldR Trail mount system. Unfortunately, it did not come with a vented helmet mount, just a goggle and a flat surface mount, what gives with that? I would like to see a version that comes with a vented mount as standard, that makes sense to me? I rigged up something while I waited for one of their vented mounts, so I used the goggle mount with a large Velcro strap swiped from one of my night lights.

This video test has a lot of shadowy areas, in which I was going in and out of the trees, from full intense Colorado sun to deep shade:

VHoldR ContourHD Shadow Test from Brian Mullin on Vimeo.

The camera has a simple On/Off button on the back of the camera, has two leds on the back that informs you of the memory and battery levels (green->yellow>red), an led in front that informs you of the camera is on (green) or in the record mode (red) and on the top of the camera is a slider that turns the recording on and off. On the back if you slide down the cover, on the inside there is the battery slot, a switch to change between HD or SD, a MicroSD slot and a mini USB port.


You just slide the camera onto one of the mounts, and then rotate the lens (90 degrees right or left of top center) to about where you think it is level, turn on the camera, click the switch until the dual laser beams come on that helps you level the lens. It can be a bit tough doing that in the field since the laser can be hard to see, so I suggest doing it at home. I freaked out the family the first time I turned on the lasers, and pointed them against the wall, which was kind of fun until the kids wanted to play with it, NOT!

After you get everything set up it is pretty easy to reach up on your helmet and turn the camera on or off, turn on the lasers or slide the record button. It makes a nice loud beep noise as things go on or off.


While it was on my head, I did notice the weight, but it wasn't significant, and it was nice not to have any wires (a big fault for the POV). It doesn't stick up in the air as much as the HERO camera, but it still got whacked by trees, and the softer slider material on the body seemed to get the abuse since it was showing gouges and scratch marks.


Once the camera is on and running, there isn't much to worry about. I only recorded in HD (1280x720) which is at 30fps, I have not tried it but the SD is at 60fps so it is supposed to give a smoother look? However, all of the video hosting sites cannot hold 60fps, so it is really only good for the VHoldR site.

One gripe I have is that if you don't clear the memory before your ride you are SOL to record much, especially if you are like me and max out the memory. The HERO is nice in this respect since you can delete an old recording, on the ContourHD, I was not aware of any method to do that?

It is really easy to open up the back latch, but it only bends so far so and tends to bow back and gets in the way. The microSD pops out easily, but the battery tends to get stuck in the slot.

Both the ContourHD and the HERO, like a lot of the CMOS video cameras use a Rolling Shutter, which makes videos seem a bit shaky and scattered (think sea sickness), due to motion artifacts (skew and wobble). The POV uses a Global Shutter technology like CCD's use, which helps alleviate the artifacts to a large degree. A Rolling Shutter exposes different portions of the frame at different point in time, hence "rolling" through the frame, while a Global shutter exposes the entire imager simultaneously. Neither does this in the physical sense. The degree that each camera exhibits the motion artifacts issue depends on a lot of factors. The GoPro due to its extremely wide camera angle (170 degrees) tends to compensate for some of those side artifacts, but it is still there.

This is a video of a multi camera shootout (ContourHD vs HERO Wide vs POV 1.5), I really strapped the helmet down hard so it wasn't sloppy on my head:

Multi Camera Shootout - ContourHD vs HERO Wide vs POV 1.5 from Brian Mullin on Vimeo.

This is my set up to try and test all 3 of my testing camera at once. Of course the HERO's batteries were dead, and the stupid cord on the POV got caught and pulled the lens to the side, so on my first test only the ContourHD worked properly!

When you get back home, or somewhere you have access to a computer, just open up the back latch, connect the USB cord and then either download the recording to the computer or watch them directory from the camera memory. I tend to download the video and the use my video editing software (current fave is PowerDirector Ultra) to create a short edited video that I upload to Vimeo. The indicator on the back stays red until the battery is fully charged, which can take a couple of hours depending on how much video was recorded.

Bottom Line
This is plain and simple one of the best sports specific HD (and non SD) video cameras on the market, and it makes the competitors look like wet noodles in comparison. The camera is light weight, durable and is intuitive to use. Its price is competitive and the HD benefits are simply amazing. It has a hint of motion artifacts like most CMOS Rolling Shutter cameras, and is a bit blurry with very distant background objects.

MSRP: $299.99

Purchase VHoldR ContourHD from REI





VHoldR ContourHD url: http://www.vholdr.com/contourhd/overview

Detailed Specs:

Video
HD (1280 x 720) at 30 fps
SD (858 x 480) at 60 fps
5 Mega-pixel CMOS Image Sensor
H.264 Codec

Memory
MicroSD card
Maximum 16GB (2GB included)
HD 30min/GB
SD 60 min/GB

Audio
Internal microphone
AAC Audio compression

Lens
HD 135 degree
SD 90 degree

Body
Water resistant
Aluminum and Fiberglass body

Battery
Removable Litihium-Ion Battery
3 hours record time
Charge via USB or Optional Charger
Charge Time 3 hours

Comes with
Countour HD camera
2GB MicroSD Card
Google Mount
Flat Surface Mount
Rechargeable Battery
USB Cable

Julbo Motion Review

Julbo Motion w/ unique ear loops

UPDATE: I Just found out that Julbo has currently discontinued this model, it is unknown if the model will later return into their sunglasses line?

I have been wearing and testing the new Julbo Motion sunglasses for a couple of months while mountain biking in all sorts of terrain and weather conditions. They have been in rain, snow, dense fog, and bright sunshine while on terrain varying from smooth singletrack to rough and tumble rock gardens. They offer incredible clarity, comfort and a panoramic field of vision.

Julbo History
Julbo was founded in 1888 by Jules Baud in a little town close to Morez France, which resides in the Jura Mountains . The company has 70 employees, and is wholly owned by the Baud family, and is currently run by the brothers Christophe and Matthew. They originally started out making optical (corrective) lenses, but they evolved into sunglasses and action sports wear. In 1950 Julbo was the first company to produce true mountaineering glasses (the Vermont Round), so they have a rich history in high altitude optics.

Julbo Motion
The Julbo Motions are quite a departure from normal sunglasses, they are really a category unto themselves. Instead of the normal temples (arms) that go over your ears, they use an elastic ear loop that goes around the back of your ears to hold the sunglasses in place.

Ear Loops

The sunglasses are then supported on your nose with a bridge that pushes directly towards your face instead of the more typical set of pads that cradles itself on the top of the nose. The ear loops are connected to the glasses with short metal arms that swivel easily, and this allows the glasses to move, and conform to your face. The nose bridge keeps the lens away from your face, so they vent well, but not so much that your eyes water.

Unique Nose Bridge

The ear loops do need to be the right length to stop them from slipping down the nose or pulling to one side, meaning that they need to fit somewhat snugly to pull the lens and nose piece against your face. I was fortunate at first, and they fit me perfect, but over time the elastic stretched, and I needed to tighten them.

The elastic is bound into two small plastic holders on either end, which are then held onto the metal arms with small eyeglass screws. There are two positions on the upper portion of the metal arms and one on the lower, so it does allow you an easier method for some adjustment without altering the physical length of the elastic.

Loops - showing screws and plastic holders

To alter the length of the ear loops:
1) loosen the upper small screw (use an eyeglass screwdriver).
2) pull the elastic knot out of the plastic holder.
3) tie a tight knot at the length you want.
4) cut off the excess.
5) push the new knot back into the slot of the plastic holder, no excess should stick out.
6) screw the plastic holder into the more forward of the two upper positions.
7) repeat 1-6 on the other arm.
8) if either side is too tight, move the plastic holder to the rearward position.

It is a pain to do the alteration since the screws are tiny, and it can be difficult to get the screw to mesh into the plastic holders. I did have a report that the plastic holders (screw lugs?) can be damaged when tightening them down snugly. I did it several times and outside of the difficulties I mentioned, I had no issues. The elastic can only be shortened so there is no going back after cutting them! I would suggest that Julbo offers an extra set of the elastic, holders and screws, and in addition adds another adjustment hole. Spare elastic can most likely be obtained at a fabric store.

Julbo Motion Measured Specs:
Weight: 20 grams (.7 ounces)
Lens size: 138mm x 46mm (5 7/16 x 1 13/16 inches)
Arm Length: 71mm (2 3/4 inches)
Adjustment distance between upper holes on arm: 6 mm (1/4 inch)
Nose Piece size: 19 mm wide x 9mm tall x 5 mm thick (3/4 x 3/8 x 3/16 inches)


Sun/Sunlight 101
Our Sun, is a yellow dwarf, and specifically a G2V star, which means it's a spectral type G2 (based on color and surface temp) and luminosity class V (based on surface area).



Surface temp: 5800 ºK or 9980 ºF
Core temp: 15.6 million ºK or 28.1 million ºF
Mass: 4.38 x 10^30 lbs.
Diameter: 864,000 miles
Age: 4.57 billion years
Composition: 74% Hydrogen/24% Helium/2% other
Color: White (appears yellow due to refraction)



The Sun generates its energy by nuclear fusion of hydrogen nuclei into helium, with a net output of 383 yottawatts (10^24). The Sun lays approximately 93 mullion miles from us, and its light travels that distance in 8 minutes and 19 seconds, which is about my average speed while mountain biking. Sunlight is the total spectrum of the electromagnetic radiation given off by the Sun, and its wavelengths vary from 100 nanometers to 1 millimeter, and are divided into five regions:

Ultraviolet C or UVC: spans 100 to 280 nm
Greatly absorbed by the atmosphere, it has germicidal properties, and is more powerful than UVA and UVB, but they can be fatal to an organism.

Ultraviolet B or UVB: spans 280 to 315 nm
Mostly absorbed by the atmosphere, overexposure can cause sunburn and some forms of skin cancer, and they cause irritation to the cornea.

Ultraviolet A or UVA: spans 315 to 400 nm
Less damaging to the DNA, but are responsible for premature aging of the eye.

Visible light: spans 400 to 700 nm.
It is this range that is visible to the naked eye, and it represents 45% of Sunlight.
Bright and intense light, can lead to fatigue, temporary reduction of sight, and eye pain over prolonged exposure, and even with brief exposure the retina may be damaged and suffer vision impairment.

Infrared light: spans 700 nm to 1 mm
It is largely responsible for the warmth or heat that the sunlight carries, and it represents 48% of Sunlight. They heat the tissues, dry out tears reducing their protective qualities and can cause eye disorders.

Human Eyes 101
The human eye is a significant human sense organ. It allows humans conscious light perception, vision, which includes color differentiation and the perception of depth. The human eye has a 200° viewing angle and can see 10 million colors.


Eye Parts
Cornea: transparent protective envelope, 300 times more sensitive to sunlight than the skin.
Iris: colored membrane surrounding the pupil, determines eye color.
Pupil: central part of the eye varying according to brightness.
Crystalline lens: a transparent positive lens which adapts itself to object distance, reflects light.
Vitreous body: gelatinous liquid located between the crystalline lens and the retina.
Retina: a plate which is hypersensitive to light, transmits information to the optic nerve and to the brain.
Optic nerve: it transforms the images perceived by the retina into nerve impulses.






Zebra Photochromic Lens
The Motions use Julbos Zebra photochromic lens made from the unbreakable, light and very transparent NXT material. They quickly darken with a light brownish tint or lighten with an amber tint depending on light intensity, and have an anti-fog coating that has been laser etched into them. Per Julbo fodder "adapts to varying light conditions from Category 2 (59-percent visible light coverage) in low light conditions to Category 4 (95-percent visible light coverage) in powerful light in as little as 30 seconds".




NXT Lens
The NXT polymer technology was born of the successful efforts to develop advanced transparent armor for U.S. Army helicopters. Commercial applications for the new transparent polymer material led to the production of lenses and shields for sunglasses and sport eye wear.

The NXT lens is manufactured by pouring resin into low-temperature glass molds. This reduces the tension in the material and gives better optical quality, excellent transparency and improved long-term stability.

The NXT lens meets the ANSI Z87.1 standard for industrial application impacts, meaning it must withstand a pointed 17.6 ounce projectile dropped from a height of 50 inches, and 1/4 inch steel ball traveling at 150 ft/sec! I did not test either compliance, but I am glad it can take a wallop.

Julbo lenses offer 100% protection against UVs: UVAs, UVBs, and UVCs.

Impressions
The ear loops work nicely, just a simple tuck of the loop behind the ear and the sunglasses stay put no matter how bumpy the terrain is. The ear loop is still up in the air for me, and needs some more long term testing, since on some rare occasions the back of my ear lobe was sore from the elastic loop slightly rubbing it. The nose bridge works great, and I honestly would not have thought it would work, but it works very synergistically with the ear loops and keeps everything in place. It would be nice if the nose piece was made of just a tad softer and more rubbery material, since it can dig in if the ear loops are tight.

The photochromic works great in changing light, and the tint has been especially nice on the cloudy and foggy days. Sometimes buzzing in and out of trees in the bright afternoon sunlight the lens did not change fast enough for those conditions, but it is a very minor issue. If I was doing a lot of desert riding, or was going to be constantly out in bright sunlight, I might prefer a somewhat darker lens. I usually ride in places in which I am going in and out of the shade, into wooded areas, and I also ride a lot in the late afternoon, so I appreciated the photochromic lens. I had the Motions out on some very damp and drizzly days, and they had a minute amount of fogging, most anything else would have fogged over, so the anti-fog coating works amazingly well.

The lens has a high degree of clarity, and the shape offers a nice panoramic field of view. The Motions are very light weight, and sit so comfortably on your face that you forgot that you are wearing any sunglasses. On occasion I noticed the metal arms of the ear loops in my field of vision, but then I forgot that they were there. I had to really look for the clear rubber nose piece, and it was only the small black plate that holds the nose piece to the lens that would stand out. It is a bit weird when you need to scratch your eye; such as when they water; since they get in the way and are not easy to move due to the elastic ear loops holding them tightly in place. You do need to be careful if you ever lay them down since they don't have arms to hold them up, so I usually just don't take them off, or I hang the loop on my handlebars for safety. It is also a chore to clean them since you don't have arms or a frame to hold onto while cleaning them.


Bottom Line
I really like the Julbo Motions, they are comfortable, stay put, are lightweight, have exceptional clarity, offer a great panoramic view and the photochromic are nice in varying conditions. The photochromic and anti-fog are 2 fantastic highlights of the lens. The ear loops and the nose bridge are unique and innovative, and only time will tell how they will keep functioning. I sometimes forget that I am wearing them, which is a sure sign of a great pair of sunglasses (or any apparel product). Outside of the difficulty of altering the length of the elastic ear loop, all the other issues were very minor quibbles.

Strengths
-Photochromic
-Lightweight
-Comfortable
-Clarity
-Anti-Fog coating
-Panoramic view
-Forget you are wearing sunglasses

Weaknesses
-Elastic loops may cause ear irritation
-Nose piece may cause irritation
-Elastic loops are difficult to adjust

Value Rating: 3.5 Flamin’ Chili Peppers

Overall Rating: 4.5 Flamin’ Chili Peppers


MSRP: $120.00

Julbo Motion url: http://www.julbo-eyewear.com/en/Products_direct_access/Sunglasses/Speed_9/Motion_165.html
Julbo USA url: http://www.julbousa.com/