Contour+ Camcorder Review

Color

Compared to the swath of ultracompact camcorders that have passed through our labs, the Contour+ managed an above average color error score. Compared to regular-sized camcorders, however, the results of the Contour+ color tests weren't all that impressive. So, in all, we have to label this as a half-way decent showing for this rugged adventure-cam. Its color error was 6.71 and its saturation level was a smooth 105.2%, both of which, like we said earlier, are better than your average ultracompact camcorder. More on how we test color.

Color Accuracy Performance

Color Error Map
The map above is a diagram of the color error. The length and direction of each line indicates how the camera processed each particular color while capturing video.

The Contour Contour+ produced a color error of 6.71 and a saturation level of 105.20% in our bright light color testing.

The Contour+ does not have any preset color modes, although you can manually adjust things like contrast, exposure, and sharpness, or pick from a few different white balance presets. To make these adjustments you need to hook the camcorder up to a computer and use Contour's free Storyteller software, or use Contour's free mobile app. As you can see from our sample images below, the Contour+ handled colors decently overall. You can also see the strong fish-eye effect produced by the wide angle lens in the train sample below.

100% Crop

We also saw a somewhat overexposed image from the Contour+ in our bright light testing. You can see what we're talking about clearly in the chart image below. We found the camcorder was able to meter and expose images better that had more variation in their lighting (like the train image above).

Looking at the crops from the Contour+, you'll immediately notice the camcorder's images have more noise and more artifacting than the competition. This is one of the biggest problems with the Contour+ and things only got worse in low light situations. The camcorder's bright light noise numbers weren't awful (as you'll read in the next section), but the strong presence of murky artifacting in our color crops is very disconcerting.

Low Light Color

The Contour+ handled our low light color test very well, and its color error numbers were better in low light than in bright light (this is somewhat common for ultracompact camcorders). Basically, the Contour+ was able to white balance and expose the low light image better, thus resulting in better color accuracy. Overall, the camcorder managed a color error of 3.2 and a saturation level of 109.8%, both of which are strong results. More on how we test low light color.

Low Light Color Accuracy Performance

Color Error Map

The map above is a diagram of the color error. The length and direction of each line indicates how the camera processed each particular color while capturing video.

The Contour Contour+ produced a color error of and a saturation level of in our bright light color testing.

Most ultracompact camcorders do better on our low light test than our bright light color test, and you can see this holds true for the Kodak PlaySport Zx5 and the Sony 3D Bloggie MHS-FS3 (the Sanyo managed good color numbers in both kinds of light). Still, the Contour+ had the best color accuracy amongst the camcorders in this group, and it was the only model of the four to have a saturation level of over 100%.

Noise

The Contour+ averaged 0.83% noise in our bright light test, which is more noise than most ultracompact camcorders and regular camcorders measure in our testing. Still, its not an overload of noise, so that's a good sign. Looking at the vertical crop shown below, you'll see a fine layer of noise on the image from the Contour+. It isn't overtly distracting, but it is there and it is noticeable. More on how we test noise.