We recently found this out at work, when we called to order like, 12 of them. :wall:
Contour Camera Goes Out of Business
- Thread starter AWP
- Start date
Amazon and ebay are your friend.
I just started playing with mine, it seems easier then the GoPro. Will test them side by side in a couple of weeks.
Mike K.
Unverified
Gents,
If I may step in here with a comment. Keep your eyes on Contour, like the Phoenix, you should see some activity soon.
They were due to come out with two new cameras this fall, along with a specialized case. The Garmin VIRB will be a nice unit but there really is no need for an on-camera screen in many applications.
Cheers !
Mike K.
If I may step in here with a comment. Keep your eyes on Contour, like the Phoenix, you should see some activity soon.
They were due to come out with two new cameras this fall, along with a specialized case. The Garmin VIRB will be a nice unit but there really is no need for an on-camera screen in many applications.
Cheers !
Mike K.
Please post an Intro, which is required. To be blunt this is the 1st and only warning, as per site rules.
I don't know I love my GoPro. Although I agree the Contours profile is better compared to the GoPros square shape. The Contour is almost too simple to me, I like the options the GoPro gives. But if Contours start going cheap I'll be all over that.
SpongeBob*24
Verified Military
I just got my GoPro in for my Birthday......
Mike K.
Unverified
SpongeBob, that's great!
Just an update for those who are curious. As you may know, Contour closed it's doors in Sept. The employees were all called into a conference room at noon on a Friday, a board member called in on a speaker phone, thanked them for their efforts, said the company was closing that afternoon, there is no severance pay, grab your gear, the locks are being changed. That's how it went down. About 65 folks out of work.
The assets were sold to a VC investor and moved to Salt Lake City. His intentions were to sell off what they had and then resume production, selling to Costco and Walmart. I really think he'll have a tough time. All the brain trust and talent was in Seattle. I'm not sure how the warranties will be handled. You may be SOL.
GoPro sold just over a million cameras last year. They are the Apple or MicroSoft of the POV camera industry. It's an interesting market.
Hopefully, one of the others on the market will work well for your various applications.
Prost !
Mike K.
Just an update for those who are curious. As you may know, Contour closed it's doors in Sept. The employees were all called into a conference room at noon on a Friday, a board member called in on a speaker phone, thanked them for their efforts, said the company was closing that afternoon, there is no severance pay, grab your gear, the locks are being changed. That's how it went down. About 65 folks out of work.
The assets were sold to a VC investor and moved to Salt Lake City. His intentions were to sell off what they had and then resume production, selling to Costco and Walmart. I really think he'll have a tough time. All the brain trust and talent was in Seattle. I'm not sure how the warranties will be handled. You may be SOL.
GoPro sold just over a million cameras last year. They are the Apple or MicroSoft of the POV camera industry. It's an interesting market.
Hopefully, one of the others on the market will work well for your various applications.
Prost !
Mike K.
The rig in Spongebob's post was THE hot ticket for skydiving and probably skiing or similar applications "back in the day." Lew Sanborn, Carl Boenish, and Bob Buquor were skydiving camera pioneers and that looks like a setup they used.
SpongeBob*24
Verified Military
My guess is a circa 1970 Warren Miller rig from the back country of Sun Valley......
My guess is a circa 1970 Warren Miller rig from the back country of Sun Valley......
You two actually remember the 70's?
HA! I don't believe it.
I do and I also read a book. Once.
Dr Seuss doesn't count.
SpongeBob*24
Verified Military
Mike K.
Unverified
I can't imagine what that felt like when the chute opened.
Re: Warren Miller, I remember when he personally narrated his films.
Re: The Garmin VIRB. Great company. Large body. Not easily adaptable to mounts as the Contour was. Not sure how well it will be accepted.
Mike K.
Re: Warren Miller, I remember when he personally narrated his films.
Re: The Garmin VIRB. Great company. Large body. Not easily adaptable to mounts as the Contour was. Not sure how well it will be accepted.
Mike K.
Saw that on Soldier Systems.net; hope so as I have a Roam2.
Mike K.
Unverified
Freefall,
Thanks for the heads up. I had a couple of folks send me the news. I think it's great that Contour is coming back around. I and a number of others, prefer the design and features of the Contour. The size and shape work well for a number of applications and customers (SO, LE and others).
In conversation with the Contour marketing manager the week after they closed, we talked about the physical differences between the two. I was very pro Contour. He reminded me that I viewed the product as someone from a different (older ?) generation. He educated me that the younger generation (majority of purchasers) viewed the cameras as just a vehicle to get their end product (YouTube videos, selfies, etc). They really don't care about the style because the end result is what they're interested in.
Early last year (March?), Foxcomm purchased a 9% stake in GoPro for $200m. With that influx of money, advertising of the GoPro exploded. And of course, that younger generation wanted/needed to identify with all those younger sports heroes/adventurers. Hence, record sales for the year. And only increasing.
Sorry to be a little long winded, but it's interesting to watch/been somewhat involved in, a small company that has a great product, almost disappears, then comes back to life.
I hope that Contour continues to develop/support, product and customers.
Cheers !!
Mike K.
Thanks for the heads up. I had a couple of folks send me the news. I think it's great that Contour is coming back around. I and a number of others, prefer the design and features of the Contour. The size and shape work well for a number of applications and customers (SO, LE and others).
In conversation with the Contour marketing manager the week after they closed, we talked about the physical differences between the two. I was very pro Contour. He reminded me that I viewed the product as someone from a different (older ?) generation. He educated me that the younger generation (majority of purchasers) viewed the cameras as just a vehicle to get their end product (YouTube videos, selfies, etc). They really don't care about the style because the end result is what they're interested in.
Early last year (March?), Foxcomm purchased a 9% stake in GoPro for $200m. With that influx of money, advertising of the GoPro exploded. And of course, that younger generation wanted/needed to identify with all those younger sports heroes/adventurers. Hence, record sales for the year. And only increasing.
Sorry to be a little long winded, but it's interesting to watch/been somewhat involved in, a small company that has a great product, almost disappears, then comes back to life.
I hope that Contour continues to develop/support, product and customers.
Cheers !!
Mike K.
If I was Contour I'd be concentrating on Military/LE/Fire Communities.
I have a Go-Pro and Contour, the Contour is my hands-down favorite.
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