Alright blokes and birds, we've just opened our brand new UK store, PointofViewCameras.co.uk. The whole purpose of this store is to make your shopping experience easier while reducing headaches due to shipping and that whole mess that customs can create. On top of this, we are now able to provide you with a heck of a lot more product since we ship locally with Royal Mail, Parcel Force and UPS!
That's right, now you and the rest of our fan base in the UK and Europe, are able to pick up some of the products that were not available as we were not able to ship them outside of North America. With our Expansion to the UK and European markets, doors have opened for those of you who have a desire to create amazing HD video, but haven't had the advantage due to a lack of products available in your area. That is all changed and we are excited to release a number of innovative products right now, and to offer new and exciting action camera products in the near future.
Check out the new products now available in the United Kingdom and Europe by visiting PointofViewCameras.co.uk. For a limited time only - receive free delivery with all orders of £75 or more, within the United Kingdom. Outside of UK, take advantage of our low delivery rates as low as £3.95.
The HD Helmet Hero by GoPro is now available in the UK and Europe!
Recording in brilliant 1080p HD format at 30 fps this is the go to camera for a wide range of filming opportunities. With the ability to venture deep into the sea with its included underwater housing, this camera will not disappoint you with limitations. Loaded with features, the HD Hero is equipped with a wide angle of view and can shoot still photos at a variety of settings.
Now available in the UK and Europe, say hello to the Contour HD 1080p by Vholdr.
Recording true HD footage at 1080p, this camera is the smallest wearable camera in the world, but packs in some pretty amazing features.
This camera weighs in at a ridiculously light 4.3 ounces and is constructed with a tough anodized aluminum body that is resistant to water, snow, mud... and it's also shock and vibration resistant.
Ok, we get it… it can be a bit daunting trying to figure out which HD Hero is right for you… but the fact is, regardless of whether you are looking at the HD Helmet Hero, the HD Motosports Hero, the HD Hero Naked or the HD Surf Hero, the High Definition camera is exactly the same. The difference lies within the contents of the specific package you’ve chosen for your personal requirements. So, rest assured that you’re getting the same awesome little HD camera regardless of which package you decide to pick up!
So what’s this sweet HD camera all about? Well, lets look a little closer before we dissect each package to see exactly what kind of swag you’re going to get with each model…
13. Extra GoPro HD Li-Ion Battery
14. USB/AC Power Adapter
15. USB/Car Charger Adapter
16. *16GB SDHC Memory Card in lieu of 4GB card
17. RIDE HERO Handlebar and Seatpost Clamp
18. Tripod Adapter
As an added bonus to either package:
19. Bonus: POV Filming Guide
What’s in the box with the HD Motosports Hero:
1. 5 Megapixel HD MotoSport HERO Camera
2. Rechargeable 1100 mAh Lithium-Ion Battery
3. Waterproof Quick-Release Housing
4. Skeleten Backing for Quick-Release Housing
5. Suction Cup Mount
6. 2 Curved, 3M™ Adhesive Mounts
7. 2 Flat, 3M™ Adhesive Mounts
8. Three-Way Pivoting Side Arm Assembled
9. Vertical Surface “J-Hook” Buckle
10. 2 Quick-Release Buckles
11. HD HERO Instructions and 1 Year Warranty
12. Bonus: 4 GB SDHC Memory Card
Cables (not shown):
• USB Cable
• Component Video (HDTV) Cable
• Composite Video + Audio Out Cable
13. Extra GoPro HD Li-Ion Battery
14. USB/AC Power Adapter
15. USB/Car Charger Adapter
16. *16GB SDHC Memory Card in lieu of 4GB card
17. Roll Bar Mount Clamp
18. Tripod Adapter
As an added bonus to either package:
19. Bonus: POV Filming Guide
What’s in the box with the HD Surf Hero:
1. 5 Megapixel HD Surf HERO Camera
2. Rechargeable 1100 mAh Lithium-Ion Battery
3. Waterproof Quick-Release Housing
4. Skeleten Backing for Quick-Release Housing
5. FCS Plug-Compatible Mount
6. Quick Release Buckle
7. Adhesive Mounting Base
8. Leash
9. HD HERO Instructions and 1 Year Warranty
10. Bonus: 4GB SDHC memory card
11. Bonus: POV Filming Guide
Cables (not shown):
• USB Cable
• Component Video (HDTV) Cable
• Composite Video + Audio Out Cable
The Genius Behind this Great Little Camera…
Developed by GoPro, a world leader in wearable sports cameras, the HD Hero is the world’s first TRUE high definition wearable camera. Recording 1920x1080 HD footage at 30 frames per second, the Hero captures your thrilling moments in crystal clarity that puts you back in the middle of the excitement every time you play it back. This slick little camera can also be set to record at 960p “full frame” resolution for a maximum field of view at 30 frames per second, while it also boasts the ability to shoot at 720p at either 30 or 60 frames per second. When you film at 30 fps you get a fluid realism that is super pleasing to the eye, while 60 fps provides slow motion footage that spreads like butter.
Miss Nothing with a Wider Angle of View…
The Hero is equipped with the industry’s widest 170° Surround Video™, which takes in much more of the scene, eliminating the worry of severing your buddies heads and lower legs when recording at 960 or 720p. Recording with a slightly narrower angle of view at the 1080p setting, the Hero is the perfect choice for adding a little variety to your videos. GoPro also records superior HD sound with their highly developed recording system. This means that the audio captured enhancing your videos, as opposed to dragging them down with irritating wind noise.
This camera just seems to keep getting better doesn’t it… well we’ve only got a few more things to cover, then you can get down to making that all important choice… I promise.
Did Someone say Still Imagery?
Guess which camera eliminates the need to carry a second camera to capture still imagery? You got it… the HD Hero shoots 5 megapixel images, perfect for a nice sharp print. Wait, we are not done yet… it also can be set to shoot images every 2, 5, 10, 30 and 60 seconds in Auto-Photo Mode. This camera has the ability to be set for 3 photo burst mode and also has a self timer mode… so you’ll never be left out of the shot again.
Water is NO MATCH for the HD Hero!
But another standard addition with each package is the Rugged Waterproof Housing which is able to accompany you to depths of unto 180 feet, or 60 meters. As an added bonus, all orders include a free 4GB SD memory card, while shipping and the POV Filming Guide are always provided free of charge.
Sounds pretty awesome doesn’t it? Well you really only have one more decision to make… and that means deciphering exactly what your recording needs are…
So lets break down these packages and see what makes the most sense for you.
So, there you have it folks… a solid breakdown of content for each GoPro HD model, including their Megapack options. Now that you’re all set to make an informed decision that meets your needs and desires, order yours today and start capturing the most wicked films you can possibly imagine.
If there is any information that I have happened to not include, or if there is some knowledge you would like to share for the benefit of our readers, please let us know!
I live in Ontario’s unpredictable climate. One day I’ll go kiteboarding in nothing but board shorts and the next day I’ll be wearing a full winter wetsuit.
Ever since I purchased my GoPro HD Hero I’ve been having problems with it fogging up during cold water sessions. There’s nothing more annoying then getting off the water to open up my GoPro case so it can defog before going riding again.
Enter GoPro Anti-Fog Inserts. The cure is as simple as placing two thin inserts inside the camera case, one on either side. These Anti- Fog inserts absorb all the moisture in the GoPro housing so that fogging is no longer an issue and I can focus on my riding. No longer do I have to keep checking the lens to see if it’s foggy, I can now trust my GoPro to get the shot…the first time.
Thanks for tuning in.
Brendan Schnurr
~Big Fall Productions
I was privileged and lucky enough to receive the newly released Drift HD 170 Camera from Drift Innovation a few days ago. The minute the camera arrived from the UK, I opened the box, took some preliminary products shots (included in this review) and, the following morning at 7 am went out for a mountain bike ride to test the capabilities of the camera and to capture some test footage. Most of my weekend was spent testing the camera followed by another early Monday morning ride (test) in an effort to get some footage during the nice morning light. I’m excited to share with you my thoughts and initial impressions in the following Drift HD170 Review.
1080p High Definition Video Resolution (also records in 720p and WVGA)
LCD Screen. 1.5” Color TFT
Video and Photo Capture
Digital Zoom (in 720p and WVGA mode)
Expandable Storage - SD Memory Capacity up to 32GB
RF Wireless Remote Control for Hands Free Video and Photo (16 ft, 5m range)
5 Megapixel Still Photos with Photo burst Mode
170° Fully Rotatable Wide Angle Lens
Built-in Microphone & Speaker
Rechargeable Lithium Battery
User Friendly Control Panel
Waterproof to 1.7 ft (0.5m)
Multi Sport Mounting (Package includes Handlebar Grip, Goggle Mount, Helmet Grip, Head Strap, Velcro Strap and Universal Mount)
Standard 1/4” (8mm) camera (tri-pod) thread great for use with after market mounts such as RAM
User Friendly Control Panel (menus) in 7 Languages
1 year manufacturers warranty
Initial impressions
The Drift HD 170 is extremely easy to operate with only a few buttons, a large 1.5” color LCD screen and easy to follow on-screen indicators and menus. I was up and running in seconds without having to look at the instruction manual.
Being able to review and change the settings right on the spot was a huge relief - a definite luxury denied by other HD helmet cams such as GoPro HD or Contour HD, which do not have built in displays. Setting up shots could not have been easier and the ability to review footage on the fly was priceless. Given the many different mounting configurations we wanted to test, this was a life saver.
Below you will find some earlier footage demonstrating the LCD and some of the menu options and functions. Keep in mind this video was shot for the Drift X170 (SD model) however the functionality of the HD170 is very similar.
Another impressive feature is the 170 degree wide angle rotating lens, which gives users a lot more flexibility when mounting the camera. The camera doesn’t always have to be mounted upright; it can be mounted sideways or upside down with an easy twist of the lens, post-production flipping, or the use of conversion mounts is no longer necessary.
I found myself rotating the lens back and forth as I switched between the different mounting configurations on my bike and ended up with upright footage every time - sweet! (well, every time I did not forget to rotate it back that is). The lens can be rotated into any position through out the full 360 degree range, compared to the Contour HD lens which can only be rotated within 180 degree range or the GoPro which does not have a rotating lens (although they are just about to release a firmware update which will allow the users to flip the image vertically).
Lens rotated to 90 degrees when the Drift HD170 camera is helmet mounted.
During most of my shooting, I found myself using the included remote control. Even though the well positioned stop / record button is easily accessible from most mounting locations, I ended up using the remote quite often, especially when the camera was mounted on the top of the Bern helmet. The remote control - with a range of 16 feet (5 m), allows for some seriously “remote” mounting options.
Remote Control included with the HD170 Action Camera
Another feature worth mentioning is the rugged case design. The rubber like jacket surrounding the camera gives it a bit extra impact protection while keeping the elements out. The camera is waterproof up to 0.5 m (1.7 feet).
Drift HD 170 in its rugged case made out of hard rubber like material.
Before I dive into the details here are some quick Pro’s and Con’s of the HD 170 Camera:
Pros
Outstanding Video Quality
5 MP Photo Capable (incl. Digital zoom)
LCD Screen
Remote Control
Long battery life
Ease of use
Flexible mounting options
Date & Time Stamp
Cons
Not capable of 60 fps shooting
No record indicator on the remote control
Not waterproof when using external microphone
Camera size a bit on the bulky side
The Details
Mounting Options
Unlike some point of view cameras, the Drift HD 170 comes standard with a wide range of mounts.
Included in the box are the handlebar / seat post mount (tubular mount), helmet mount (w/ industrial strength velcro adhesive pad), head strap mount, goggle mount, universal clip and even a wrist mount for the remote control.
Click on the above photos to see larger images.
Topping off this impressive mount selection, is a standard tripod thread built into the base of the camera itself - a thoughtful idea that just makes sense. The threaded camera mount gives you the ability to use many other available mounts.
Click on the above photos to see larger images.
Battery and Power
While the Drift X170 came with alkaline AA batteries batteries - which only lasted for about 1.5 hours, the Drift HDX170 Action Cam comes with a rechargeable 1110mAh Lithium-ion battery keeping you shooting longer and away from stores buying replacement AA’s.
Shortly after I took my first few video clips with a fully charged battery, I noticed that the battery life indicator showed 1/2 full with was a bit disconcerting. However, I’m happy to report that the battery ended up lasting long after the two and a half hour shooting session was over, despite of having the LCD turned on all of the time. As I write this the battery is still running strong after the display has been on for more than 4 hours. How about that? If that’s not enough, you can put the camera in power saving mode where the LCD screen turns off after moments of inactivity (when you are not pressing any of the buttons).
To recharge the camera, simply connect it, using this supplied USB cable, to any USB charger (automotive, AC outlet, etc..) or plug it into your computer. A blue indicator light will come on while the battery is being charged.
The battery life tests were done with the included 1110mAh battery. The optional expanded 1700mAh battery is a great choice for long days of shooting or when you are working in cold climates.
Video
As to be expected from a 1080p capable camera the video quality of the HD170 1080p is outstanding - a drastic improvement from its predecessor - the X170 which shot video at mere SD resolution. It’s nice to see individual blades of grass wizzing by, the rubber texture of a bike tire or the shine of a rain drop. In addition to the Full HD 1080p video, the camera is also capable of shooting 720p and WSGA video all up to 30 fps.
One of the common problems of CMOS based cameras is the rolling shutter effect and judging from the test video I tool (while riding next to horizontal bridge railings), the drift HD 170 keeps it to a minimum.
White balance and auto exposure can at times be problematic on wearable cameras but I must say from what I’ve seen so far (and using the default neutral auto exposure setting), the HD170 handles fast changing lighting conditions quite well. If you are expecting to shoot in low light or very bright conditions, the drift cameras offers adjustable exposure settings as well as night mode. If that’s not enough - Manual Exposure Control is available for advanced users.
For those inquiring minds here are some additional Optics and Video specifications:
Angle of View: 170 deg. ultra wide angle in 720p and WVGA and 127° in 1080p mode.
Lens Rotation: 360°
Lens Focus: 0.5m to ∞ (infinity)
Zoom: 4x Digital Zoom in 720p and WVGA modes
Aspect Ratio:16:9
Sensor Type:CMOS
Video Format: MOV (H.264)
Night Mode:
The night mode setting enables the most optimal results when recording in less than ideal lighting conditions, stay tuned for our own videos to come soon looking at and testing night mode in depth, for now, you can see the difference that night mode can make in this test video from Drift Innovation:
Photos
In addition to shooting brilliant 1080p video, the Drift HD170 Action Camera is quite capable of shooting Five Mega Pixel photos. One feature I had no idea existed - but was pleasantly surprised in finding, was the digital zoom. While in photo mode you have the ability of zooming in. Keep in mind that the photo quality degrades with higher zoom levels. All photos are saved in JPEG format.
Actual photos taken with the Drift HD170, Click on thumbnails to enlarge
Click on the above photos to see larger images.
Click on the above photos to see larger images.
One draw back is the fact that you have to go though about 4 menu options (clicks) when switching between photo and video modes. A separate photo shutter button would have been a welcome addition, but then again - I suspect Drift Innovation intentionally omitted it as an effort to keep the number of buttons to a bare minimum.
Audio
The built-in microphone of the HD170 does a great job of capturing the relevant sounds of what ever action fueled activity you are filming while keeping the effects of wind noise down to a minimum. I noticed that when the camera is mounted to a rigid surface (for example to a bike frame or seat post) the sound tends to be a bit harsher (brighter) as vibrations get amplified. When the camera is body mounted for example on a helmet, the sound tends to be quite softer.
Another welcome feature is the Optional External Microphone which can be great for in-car footage or a life saver in high wind situations. The Drift Microphone connects into the AV connector located behind the rear hatch of the camera.
The built in speaker, given it’s small size, does its job very well when playing back the captured footage.
Dimensions & Weight
The Drift HD170 measures in at 5.2” x 2” x 1.3” (133mm x 50mm x 33mm) it’s compact and weights only 4.9oz (138g).
The GoPro HD Helmet Hero measures in at 1.6” x 2.4” x 1.2” (42mm x 60mm x 30mm) and weighs 6.3oz (179g) in its housing.
The Contour HD 1080p measures in at 2.1” x 1.3” x 3.75” (53mm 34mm x 95mm) and weighs a mere 4.3oz (123g)!
Proportionate size difference between GoPro HD Helmet Hero, Contour HD 1080p and Drift HD170 Action Cameras. Click on the above photos to see larger images.
Proportionate size difference between GoPro HD Helmet Hero, Contour HD 1080p and Drift HD170 Action Cameras. Click on the above photos to see larger images.
Storage & Memory
The Drift HD 170 comes with 32MB of Internal Memory and supports SD cards up to 32GB capacity
Input / Output Connectors
All of the I/O connectors are located at the back of the camera (behind the latched back cover) and include a standard USB 2.0 port for PC / MAC connection and battery charging as well as video HD TV out connector (cable included) for instant playback on your TV.
Click on the above photos to see larger images.
PC Compatibility
The Drift is compatible with Windows XP, and Vista, Mac OS X 10.2 and later.
Another nice (and often inquired about feature), is the ability to Date & Time stamp the videos and images taken. While for most people this is simply a nice add on, for others such as Military or Law and Enforcement this is a must have feature.
How about the shortcomings?
No record indicator on the remote control. In some cases where the camera is mounted out-of-sight or out of audible range it would be nice to tell if you are recording by a visual indicator on the remote control itself.
Camera not waterproof when using External MicrophoneSince the rear hatch has to stay open when connecting external microphone the camera will no longer be waterproof. Since most people will simply use the built-in microphone, this should not be much of a concern.
Camera size. The Drift is a bit on the bulky side, but hey - the built in LCD is definitely worth the extra bulk.
Box Opening
Test Videos
Here is the video I complied from my first test. I exported it in 720p size (1280 x 720), downsized from 1080p to make sure most people can stream it from Youtube and other video sharing sites. Thinking of including the 1080p size soon, just need to figure out best way to export while maintaining reasonable file size and picture quality:
This next video was shot a few days after by Mark Z and a friend on their Vancouver to Whistler drive in Mark friends Civic Si. Find out what happens when you are trying to capture some fast POV footage:
Summary
The Drift Innovation HD170 1080p Action Camera is made for those who demand simply the best. It shoots both high definition videos (up to 1080p) and 5 Mega Pixel Stills - allowing you to capture the action from your unique point of view.
If you are looking for a great quality wearable HD camera with a built in LCD screen, loads of mounting options and a remote control, the Drift Innovation HD170 is a hands down winner.
With the color LCD screen, setting up shots couldn’t be easier. The on-screen menus are very easy to navigate, so changing any video and photo settings is a snap. Plus, the ability to review footage on the fly is priceless. Priced at $329 it offers a lot of value for the money.
A limited supply of Drift HD170 1080p cameras is expected to arrive in late July so Pre-Order Yours today!
Drift HD170 Photo Slide Show
We welcome your questions and comments about this review.
Have we missed anything? Perhaps there are additional things you would like us to test?
Please leave your comments and / or questions below.
