Contour ROAM2 = FAIL!

[Erci]

Just wanna share this with you all, in case you're thinking of getting an action cam.

I just got ROAM2 (have had Contour HD for a couple of years.. great camera) mainly because I wanted to add the still photo capability.

What I didn't know was: the only way to switch mode (going from HD video to still photo, etc) can only be done by hooking the camera up to a computer!

So, if you set it up to shoot video, that's your only option for the day till you're near a computer.

Why would anyone buy this thing considering GoPro Hero3 White edition (same price, same specs) gives you a nice big MODE button right on the front?

*sigh*.. this thing is going right back to Amazon.. along with 2 new mounts I got for it.

 

[motojoe122]

My experience with amazon is that they dont take returns, they will refund your money and you can get something different. I bought a generator, when I opened the box the engine mount was cracked. I got a refund, bought another, and got the first one welded....now I have 2 generators:BLAA:
Other products might be a different situation tho:don'tknow:

 

[sloring]

Why would anyone buy this thing considering GoPro Hero3 White edition (same price, same specs) gives you a nice big MODE button right on the front?

.

simple: form factor

 

[Kazza]

I got a deal today for a Go Pro - $199 - good price in Perth. I'm thinking about it

 

[Motogiro]

Sort of sad to think the competition would be so far off! I've always liked their video and the physical shape for helmet mounting.
Sent from Moto's Droid using Tapatalk 2

 

[oaks]

The original ROAM is the same way. The software-only controls were a surprise and disappointment for me as well. But for $89 (Amazon ran a special promotion last year) I put up with it.

 

[Ssky0078]

Did you try the App that is for smart phones? They said it was originally just a viewfinder app, but Contour was looking to integrate some control function to it.

I was looking at the Contour +2 because the the form factor, 270 degree camera rotation, and the GPS (private viewing only, no recorded footage of exceeding posted legal speed limits).

I had originally bought a GoPro Hero2 HD outdoor edition, but returned it because it has this v198 firmware "brick" fail which was just very frustrating to deal with.

This is getting frustrating trying to find a cam. I want to start motovlogging and also putting up video on doing maintenance or other mod/fixes.

 

[Kazza]

I got a deal today for a Go Pro - $199 - good price in Perth. I'm thinking about it

I just bit the bullet

My Go Pro Hero is on it's way

Merry early Christmas to me (oh, I suppose Mike will use it too ....)

 

[greg]

the new gopro can shoot video AND take pictures at the same time

 

[oaks]

Did you try the App that is for smart phones? They said it was originally just a viewfinder app, but Contour was looking to integrate some control function to it.
....

Contour does have their Connect phone app, but in addition to a smartphone, you need a camera with Bluetooth: Contour+2, Contour+, and ContourGPS, but not the ROAMs.

Apps | Contour

 

[Erci]

Did you try the App that is for smart phones? They said it was originally just a viewfinder app, but Contour was looking to integrate some control function to it.

I was looking at the Contour +2 because the the form factor, 270 degree camera rotation, and the GPS (private viewing only, no recorded footage of exceeding posted legal speed limits).

I had originally bought a GoPro Hero2 HD outdoor edition, but returned it because it has this v198 firmware "brick" fail which was just very frustrating to deal with.

This is getting frustrating trying to find a cam. I want to start motovlogging and also putting up video on doing maintenance or other mod/fixes.

App is not compatible with ROAM2.

 

[sloring]

I read your review on Amazon. Do you work for GoPro or something? Geez, talk about bias. Here's what some of the people said about you "review".

One star, cause cannot change mode without pc? Really? Omg.

Look, the camera is advertised and reviewed to need the computer to change modes. Its on the Contour website under "Tech Specs" and written in several other reviews of the product, including some here on Amazon. This is not a secret. What is bad about his review is he gives it 1 star for not having a function it was NEVER ADVERTISED TO HAVE. If you don't understand the poor logic with this statement, I dont know what else to tell you. This has nothing to do with having "lower expectations" or "placating" the public. It is a simple lack of knowledge by the purchaser, and then he blames it on the device and gives it 1 star? That is all I am saying. I like my camera, it works great. I dont need the mode change, and I knew it didnt have it when I bought it. I don't know why I am even bothering to reply about this, I guess I just think it was an undeserved, horrible rating for a silly reason he should have already known about. Best of luck to everyone, I'm out. Hopefully now people will see it does NEED the computer to change modes.

The only thing "absolutely ridiculous" is this review. You should give yourself 1 star for poor product research before you purchased it. You are giving this cam a poor review for a function it was never designed nor advertised to do. Yeah, that makes a lot of sense. I can possibly understand knocking it to 4 stars because of it, but giving it 1 star??? Horrible review...

The GoPro and Roam2 are very different. If you want the MODE button, buy the GoPro. If you want a sleeker/lower profile body, waterproof WITHOUT the case to 1 meter, and a rotating lens with laser alignment, get the Roam2. No brainer in my opinion. This is an action cam, put it in 720p/60fps and leave it alone.

 

[motojoe122]

I read your review on Amazon. Do you work for GoPro or something? Geez, talk about bias. Here's what some of the people said about you "review".

One star, cause cannot change mode without pc? Really? Omg.

Look, the camera is advertised and reviewed to need the computer to change modes. Its on the Contour website under "Tech Specs" and written in several other reviews of the product, including some here on Amazon. This is not a secret. What is bad about his review is he gives it 1 star for not having a function it was NEVER ADVERTISED TO HAVE. If you don't understand the poor logic with this statement, I dont know what else to tell you. This has nothing to do with having "lower expectations" or "placating" the public. It is a simple lack of knowledge by the purchaser, and then he blames it on the device and gives it 1 star? That is all I am saying. I like my camera, it works great. I dont need the mode change, and I knew it didnt have it when I bought it. I don't know why I am even bothering to reply about this, I guess I just think it was an undeserved, horrible rating for a silly reason he should have already known about. Best of luck to everyone, I'm out. Hopefully now people will see it does NEED the computer to change modes.

The only thing "absolutely ridiculous" is this review. You should give yourself 1 star for poor product research before you purchased it. You are giving this cam a poor review for a function it was never designed nor advertised to do. Yeah, that makes a lot of sense. I can possibly understand knocking it to 4 stars because of it, but giving it 1 star??? Horrible review...

The GoPro and Roam2 are very different. If you want the MODE button, buy the GoPro. If you want a sleeker/lower profile body, waterproof WITHOUT the case to 1 meter, and a rotating lens with laser alignment, get the Roam2. No brainer in my opinion. This is an action cam, put it in 720p/60fps and leave it alone.

Bringing sand to the beach.......sloring?

 

[sloring]

Bringing sand to the beach.......sloring?

That's just a poor review. There's nothing else that can be said about it. The title gave it away, then there's the promoting of GoPro. No shame.

 

[Erci]

That's just a poor review. There's nothing else that can be said about it. The title gave it away, then there's the promoting of GoPro. No shame.

Man, you're really making friends fast here :BLAA:

No, I don't work for GoPro and I don't get any promotions or discounts from them. The purpose of my post here and on Amazon was to hopefully prevent others from making the same mistake I made.

As I mentioned in my review, I've had Contour for years and loved it. I probably should have mentioned that the Contour I had (HD 720) had a mode switch built in (granted there were only 2 settings: HD vs SD).

I did not read the full tech spec for ROAM2 before I bought it. I just looked at the features, where I saw the list of possible modes. If it had stated right in feature list that computer was required to switch modes, my purchase/review/post here would have never happened.

:don'tknow: - sincerely hope this will save someone the headache of having to return ROAM2.

 

[sloring]

:don'tknow: - sincerely hope this will save someone the headache of having to return ROAM2.

that's fine, but do you really think it deserves 1 star? If not, go change it.

 

[Erci]

that's fine, but do you really think it deserves 1 star? If not, go change it.

That's fair. I've posted a reply to my review and changed it to 4 stars.. and thanks for bringing it to my attention! I never received emails from Amazon stating that there were any replies to my review. I would have chimed in sooner if I had seen them.

 

[sloring]

That's fair. I've posted a reply to my review and changed it to 4 stars.. and thanks for bringing it to my attention! I never received emails from Amazon stating that there were any replies to my review. I would have chimed in sooner if I had seen them.

Thanks for doing the right thing. I didn't mean to be an a-hole or anything. I just don't want one comment to hurt Contour since I personally think they make good products and I want them to continue improving.

 

[Erci]

Thanks for doing the right thing. I didn't mean to be an a-hole or anything. I just don't want one comment to hurt Contour since I personally think they make good products and I want them to continue improving.

Fully agree. I did figure out a trick around the mode thing. It's still a bit annoying, but at least there's a way to switch modes without going home!

Settings are saved on the microSD card. So.. you can carry multiple cards with you, each one with settings you want (still photo, vid, etc) and just swap them to change modes.

Not exactly simple, but it would do the trick.

 

[sloring]

so are u keeping it?