POV Action Camera Full Size Videos, Specs & Reviews
Contour+ 2 POV Action Video Camera
- MSRP: $399
- Resolution Options: 1080p at 30, 25 FPS; 960p at 30, 25 FPS, 720p at 60, 50, 30, 25 FPS
- Lens: 170° rotating wide-angle lens
- Still photo resolution: 5 megapixels
- Built-in GPS
- Time lapse mode
- Bluetooth remote control with mobile app for iOS and Android
- Weight: 156 grams
The biggest benefit of Contour is it feels like a real camera. It’s an electronic device that has a machined case, nice big glass lens. It’s a little big but it feels good and ergonomic specially when hand-held. The big downside is the form factor and lack of mounts. That’s where GoPro dominates with their Hero series as their camera can be mounted practically anywhere in their robust little case…
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Full Resolution Contour+ 2 Video Sample (1920 x 1080 at 30 FPS)
Drift HD Ghost POV Action Video Camera
- MSRP: $399
- Resolution Options: 1080p at 30, 25 FPS; 960p at 25, 30, 48, 50 FPS; 720p at 25, 30, 50, 60 FPS; 800×400 at 25, 30, 50, 60, 100, 120 FPS
- Lens: 170° rotating wide-angle lens
- 2-inch color LCD display for composing and playback
- Still photo resolution: 11 megapixels
- Time lapse mode
- Built-in Wi-Fi with remote control unit and iOS mobile app
- Weight: 167 grams
The Drift Innovations HD Ghost is a rugged outdoor sports video camera, that is easy to use, has a long battery life, and includes a 11 megapixel sensor, built-in Wi-Fi, and two-way remote with indicator lights, and a unique video tag/loop recording function. It has an excellent usage and form factor, combining loud indicator beeps for mode changes, the remote, an intuitive menu system, a fully rotatable lens and a useful LCD screen…
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Full Resolution Drift HD Ghost Video Sample (1920 x 1080 at 30 FPS)
GoPro Hero 3 Black POV Action Video Camera
- MSRP: $399
- Resolution Options: 1080p at 60, 48, 30, 24 FPS; 960p at 100, 48 FPS; 720p at 120, 60 FPS; 800×400 at 240 FPS; 4k at 15 FPS; 2.7k at 30 FPS
- Lens: 170° wide-angle lens
- Still photo resolution: 12 megapixels
- Time lapse mode
- Built-in Wi-Fi with remote control unit and mobile app for iOS and Android
- Only POV camera with a chest mount option
- Weight: 182 grams with battery and waterproof housing
The GoPro HERO3 Black Edition has quite a few excellent features on top of its already outstanding functionality, the most prominent being the 12 megapixel sensor, which is accompanied by a sharper glass lens, both of which result in photos and videos with increased clarity and sharpness and more vibrant colors. It has built-in Wi-Fi, a wearable Wi-Fi remote with an LCD screen and buttons to emulate the camera, and Wi-Fi smartphone App capabilities, which give full camera control and scene preview…
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Full Resolution GoPro Hero 3 Black Video Sample (1920 x 1080 at 30 FPS)
JVC Adixxion POV Action Video Camera
- MSRP: $299
- Resolution Options: 1080p at 30 FPS; 960p at 30 FPS; 720p at 60, 30 FPS; 854 x 480 at 30 FPS
- Lens: 170° wide-angle lens
- 1.5-inch color LCD display for composing and playback
- Still photo resolution: 5 megapixels
- Digital zoom
- Digital image stabilization and rolling shutter suppression
- Time lapse mode
- Built-in Wi-Fi with mobile app for iOS and Android (requires hot spot)
- Weight: 126 grams
The main things that make the JVC Adixxion different are its “Quad Proof” design (shockproof, waterproof, freezeproof, dustproof), 5x digital zoom and 1.5-inch color LCD display for composing shots and reviewing your videos. Like other high-end POV cameras, the JVC has full 1920 x 1080 full HD video and a 170-degree wide-angle lens. It can also take 5-megapixel still photos and it has built-in Wi-Fi with a mobile app so you can use your Smart Phone or tablet to compose shots and change settings…
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Full Resolution JVC Adixxion Video Sample (1920 x 1080 at 30 FPS)
Replay XD1080 POV Action Video Camera
- MSRP: $299
- Resolution Options: 1080p at 30, 25 FPS; 960p at 30 FPS; 720p at 60, 30 FPS
- Lens: 135° wide-angle lens
- Still photo resolution: 5 megapixels
- Time lapse mode
- Weight: 85 grams
The XD1080 is a small, light and compact video camera, which is easy to use and has a simple interface for video resolution changes. It has an excellent usage and form factor, combining two sharp tactile buttons (power and record) with distinctive vibrating mode changes, and a tiny cylindrical camera body. The rugged and water resistant camera records in a wide array of high-definition video resolutions up to 1080p, and have proven itself to take excellent footage with great clarity and realistic colors…
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Full Resolution Replay XD1080 Video Sample (1920 x 1080 at 30 FPS)
Sony Action Cam POV Video Camera
- MSRP: $249
- Resolution Options: 1080p at 30 FPS; 720p at 120, 60, 30 FPS
- Lens: 170° Carl Zeiss wide-angle lens
- Sony SteadyShot optical image stabilization
- Still photo resolution: 2 megapixels
- Time lapse mode
- Built-in Wi-Fi with mobile app for iOS and Android
- Weight: approximately 170 grams with battery and underwater housing
What makes the Sony Action Cam different from other POV cameras is the Carl Zeiss lens and built-in SteadyShot image stabilization. Also, unlike most POV camera manufacturers, Sony has a long history of making cameras, lenses, and camcorders and that should give them a leg up on the competition. They’ve also been kicking some serious ass in the camera world over the past few years and it seems like when they decide to do something, they do it right…
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Sony Action Cam Video Sample (1920 x 1080 at 30 FPS)
Thanks for this shootout, it’s about time someone tackled this. I would have liked to see video samples with the stabilization turned on, I had difficulty distinguishing details from one camera to the other with the images bouncing around. Correct me if I’m wrong but I can’t think of a situation where you would turn it off anyway, so would it be a moot point? I really want to like the jvc the best mostly for its ease of use and for its narrower lens (I hate the exaggerated fisheye view of most of them), but I will wait for a more detailed review before I consider buying one.
Great work, John! Really interesting.
Great shoot out John I was quite interested to see your findings and also glad that you picked the GoPro 3 as I just got mine last week as well as a steadycam smoothie and have been having quite a good time discovering the fine differences from Still to video (I Like still better) and was pleasantly surprised with the Quality of the video as well as the stills .I have the Galaxy S3 with the GoPro App works great as you now have a screen for deference to set up your shot quite cool I thought. I have heard rumors that the new GoPro 4 will have interchangeable lens.Thanks again for your great reviews
From what I hear about the GoPro, you are only held back by the speed of your computer.
I wish such a comparo was around when I got the Drift Stealth a couple of years ago. I now have a Drift HD as well. They seemed about the best for night videos at the time.
John, would a night ride comparo be possible?
With the Drift HD on low light and + 2 exposure, am I getting the best video to test lights with? If not, how much more is available from the best of the lot under low light conditions?
BTW replaceable lenses are a nice feature. The old Stealth lose its lens cover due to an impact. Still going, but less water resistant.
Thanks.
I have used all these cameras and what I can say is:
1. Hero3 = Amazing IQ but buggy as hell and horrible battery life (lock ups read Amazon reviews) Has a sweet remote!
2. Contour+2 = Great IQ and very easy to use. Looks cool when helmet mounted and looks great on a rifle (Military folks love these cameras) Also has GPS data that lets you imbed speed and location into videos. No Remote (only app)
3. Sony Action Cam = Good/OK IQ but colors are way off, higher FPS modes don’t record audio and are already slo-mo. No remote (only app)
4. ReplayXD = So-So/OK IQ – Small and has cool accessories
5. JVC – Looks and sounds bad – Nice LCD
6. Drift – OK IQ – Awesome remote. Too Bulky
Thanks a lot man (Oscar Munoz)! If it wasn’t for your comment I would have bought the GoPro risking those failures that many people are having it. So I did get the Sony over Contour; much better overall image quality and audio quality. (is the main thing about a camera IMO). Also a bit smaller than Contour. Mounting options of the Sony however suck (rigid glue on mounts or some headband mounts with the OUTDOOR kit, which don’t fit bike helmets). All but one mount require that the camera is in the waterproof case, which adds to weight, size and makes it impossible to access many features.
But anyway, Thanks again for the warning. Amazon reviews are pretty clear about it.
I’d have to disagree with a couple of your conclusions/opinions. First, I don’t think the chest mount video is the best for mountain biking – the FOV makes people’s arms look like ET’s, which is kind of weird and distracting to me. And so many of the chest mount videos seem to be angled down so all you see is bike and trail going under the bike, not what’s coming. And second, I wonder about your easiest to use choice. The Contour has a single slide switch to turn it on and off. It doesn’t get more simple than that.
I think you should have put in a category for variety of, and ease of mounts. It would be between the GoPro and the Contour and, at least in my opinion, the Contour’s form factor wins easily here. The GoPro is big (relatively speaking) and boxy where the Contour can be tucked into a lot of places without much fear of snagging something. And for me, it’s a major factor. With my ContourROAM tucked up against my headset, it gets a great perspective and doesn’t stick out like a sore thumb… or a target for a tree branch.
No disagreement, though, on the best overall being the GoPro; the video it produces is pretty amazing. And I’m a Contour guy!
the sony blows the gopro out da water. pause at 1:51 sony and 1:56 gopro and just look at how much more detail the sony gives! sony won this one hands down! sounds like gopro gives more money to mtbr
I thought the Contour looked the best, blacks were much sharper and the distance was about right for POV. The Go pro was too far out and the Sony was way too fish eyed. The trees were like bows. I would agree with the comment about ease of use on the Contour. So easy-The go pro is a camera that acts like a POV as the contour and Sony are POV cameras. The new Black Ops game has the Solider’s wearing the Contour.
I have used both the Gopro and Contour. I now prefer the Contour. It is much simpler to use. The battery lasts a long time. The Gopro hero 2 battery was ok but epic rides required bacpacs etc. The new Contour mounts are nice especially the flex staps. The new Hero 3 has all kinds of problems. The CEO had to put out a message apologizing for it. Stay away from VIO, the hd version is crap. It was the worst purchase I have made. No experience with Drift but the Ghost looks interesting.
Hi John! What a great test “all in one – POV camera shootout test” Very informative, and very helpful. Thanks for sharing and making the effort of doing it! For us evaluate and to choose our favorit, after what ever reason …I pick GoPro 3
M64 DK/Europa
I have a indirect question to the POV Shootout on film editing software. I plan on purchasing a GoPro Hero3, but want to find, in advance, a beginner film editing software for this camera. Here’s some criteria of editing software I would like to create on: cutting and pasting segments to different areas, speeding up or down FPS, adding in music and at different volumes. This seems like common editing of video I often see online. Could you name your top two or three, under $100, a beginner could learn to do the above types of editing. Thanks for your time and devotion to MTBR, John W.
How much does the helmet weigh with all the camers on it ?
Oskar – the helmet with cameras weighs 6.2 pounds / 2.8 kg
Wolfski – I have been doing video for a few years now with Adobe Premiere Elements. It’s a fairly robust consumer video editing package at a pretty reasonable price. I’m about ready to upgrade to Premier Pro, but Premiere Elements will do everything you’re asking for. I made this video with it, for example.
The main reason I went with the Black Edition was the 1080p/60fps. None of the other cameras offered this and feel it needs to be mentioned. I had an HD contour that already did the 1080/30 and 720/60. If I was going to pay the money for an upgrade, I wanted a “tangible” upgrade. Contrast/color improvements vary by viewing screen. GPS wasn’t a deal breaker.
The one thing I do miss from my contour is the switch. I think the single switch for on/off & record is brilliant. In around 30*F temps I only get about 2 hours of battery life with sporadic recording. I feel like I got around 3-4 hours on the contour. Still, an extra battery is $20 and the benefits of the 1080/60 are worth it imho.
This was a great review, and the best I have seen. But I have found that the editing can become an issue. Do the camera’s all use the same kind of files to record? I have a Contour HD and the mov files turned out to be hard to work with if you didn’t have an Apple. You may want your purchase to be influenced by the camera that uses files that are easier to edit. Will the Adobe Premier Elements handle the mov files?
Maybe it’s my screen, but I liked the Drift HD Ghost’s color and image the best.
I have a Kali mtb helmet with the camera mount on top. The camera (attachment) snaps into place. I have tried it with a GoPro. Anybody know if any of the other helmets have this feature or accessory?
Thanks….Mr. K
Too bad you didn’t demo the VIO POV HD – it beats them all. The Sony did a good job though.
The battery life is the problem with these small units. VIO POV still wins.
:38 There was actually test done by Skiing magazine months ago testing camera back to back.
http://www.skinet.com/skiing/videos/skg-gear/tested-helmet-cams
Check it out for some more info.
Nice comparison! I have an ION, it would be interesting if you could add that to the mix if there is more testing in the future.
Would be nice if you could put up the RAW video files up as a torrent that we could download. Youtube is not a great reference for image quality.
Good review, but essentially just a copyjob/plagiarisation of someone else’ work a couple months before yours, right down to the helmet modification. That part…not cool.
It’s also clear that you favored the GoPro right from the start.
The Sony HDR-AS15 Action Cam has Digital Image Stabilization, not Optical.
The jerkiness of the videos are what turns me off to ever wanting to buy one of these cameras. How long can you watch these videos? I would rather look at a clean picture then watch these unstable movies.
All I want is a bike mounted camera that I can stop and go snap and then start again.
Thanks for taking the time. Just thought I would chime in to say that I thought the Drift had the best picture as well.
Haven’t bought an action cam yet, but after reading and viewing a weekend of reviews I might go with the Drift HD Ghost…If for nothing else, because of the problems the GoPro 3 buyers are having with firmware and battery life. One more thing, unless I missed the more complete review section of your site, I would consider putting together a complete review of all cams, including accessories, wifi usability, apps, costs…etc
Once again, thanks for taking the time.
Check out the VuVantage POV camera set up backpack/hydration type setup that adds no weight to the helmet and actually tracks your forward progress. I believe they have videos on on their webpage.