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March, 2024

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Garmin getting into the helmet cam business.

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belden...
Posts: 2914 - Karma: 1,273
What do you guys think? Looks pretty sick, lots of customization characteristics which seem easy and work well.

https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/on-the-trail/action-cameras/virb-elite/prod119594.html

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Aug 23 2013 9:37AM
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ny300z
Posts: 1299 - Karma: 1,708
interesting....some cool features though

Film The Run, Not The Lift Line

VIRB Elite features high-sensitivity GPS for data stamping and GPS-based “smart” recording profiles like Skiing Mode, which automatically records your downhill runs and stops recording while you’re getting hot cocoa or waiting in the lift line.

Sensors, Sensors and More Sensors

VIRB Elite’s ANT+™ wireless connectivity also works with Garmin external sensors. Pair with the tempe™ wireless temperature sensor, speed/cadence bike sensor and the premium heart rate monitor to include revealing sensor information in your videos, like how fast your heart was racing on your last bike race or peering over the edge of the Grand Canyon. Elite also features a built-in accelerometer and altimeter for data stamping and custom filming profiles.

Shoot Video and Photographs at the Same Time

Don’t lose a moment of video just to capture a photograph. VIRB Elite allows you to take still photos at the same time you are recording video with just a touch of the button on either your compatible Garmin device or on the camera itself.



Aug 23 2013 9:43AM
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CKpolicy
Posts: 2587 - Karma: 2,463
If it works anything like the GPS gathering dust in the center console of my car, no thanks.
Aug 23 2013 9:45AM
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Mag
Posts: 8155 - Karma: 14,809
I'm not seeing much advantage of this over a contour, except this will be much heavier it seems, especially if the usual mounts are anything like that sample one.
Aug 23 2013 11:05AM
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Lou.
Posts: 1787 - Karma: 3,876
Seems like just another action cam attempting to take a bite out of GoPros delicious, but will only end up with a mere crumb
Aug 23 2013 11:10AM
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a_burger
Posts: 5206 - Karma: 20,187
I wouldn't trust it too decide what to record and what not,

Just imagine "oops, it stopped recording when you did the backflip off the cliff"
Aug 23 2013 11:19AM
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werd.
Posts: 967 - Karma: 4,330
Click for larger imageClick for larger imageClick for larger image
Aug 23 2013 11:41AM
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corona
Posts: 12752 - Karma: 32,263
960p @ 60 fps. cool.

anyone have some sample footage?
Aug 23 2013 12:11PM
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VD.
Posts: 4054 - Karma: 4,564
Except nobody really knows what's going to become of Contour at the moment.
Aug 23 2013 12:14PM
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Mag
Posts: 8155 - Karma: 14,809
While I never had one, contour is still the best action cam out there, simply because the audio, while not good, is more than just somebody beating a hammer against a stone wall, image quality on every action cam out there is not great, all really soft and oversharpened while not even having enough dynamic range to cope with snow.

In that case I really feel having the audio is just what makes an action camera, you're not gonna be using it for broadcasts in most cases, you're just filming friends and shit, so it's nice to hear what people have said/done.
Aug 23 2013 12:23PM
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buttrapinpirate
Posts: 497 - Karma: 225
I'm not totally sure as to whether or not that front lens element is the final element, or a protective element like gopro's case, but if it is the final, that would suck to scratch that thing.
Aug 23 2013 12:27PM
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Mag
Posts: 8155 - Karma: 14,809
I'd not far from bet my life on that being a protective element, you can see the parts where it attaches making it easily removable/replaceable.
Aug 23 2013 12:30PM
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NH_OPERATOR
Posts: 1070 - Karma: 2,883
Frankly at this point I dont understand what company would even bother going up against GoPro at this point from a business standpoint. I understand that Garmin is hurting as smartphones have pretty much decimated a large chunk of their business, but when I look at potential markets, and I see a company like GoPro spending ENORMOUS amounts of money on advertising, and having essentially already dominated the entire market I just dont get how they could think it would be a good idea to spend money on R&D making a camera thats going to try to compete with them. The only way I could see this being majorly successful was if they brought it to the market for 100-150 dollars and substantially undercutting GoPro while still managing the same level of image quality. Honestly I mean if you think about the people you know who are into any kind of action sports, and also have even a remote interest in filming, how many of them dont have a GoPro already? Anyone with a GoPro is not going to be changing either, because they have likely invested in a number of different mounts that work on any of the different models of GoPros.
I give it a year after launch before its discontinued.
Aug 23 2013 1:27PM
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snomaster
Posts: 3336 - Karma: 5,677
Have you used a GoPro Hero 3 Black edition?

This camera is a joke. Garmin is obviously hurting because GPS's are in our phones. I would personally never use that gps functionon the pov. I'm usually in the backcountry and it just wouldn't function for me. hopefully a bunch of people don't loose their jobs when this project fails.
Aug 23 2013 2:38PM
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bieberhole69.
Posts: 654 - Karma: 1,387
The advantage is the company is still in business
Aug 23 2013 2:56PM
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-SnowSnoli-
Posts: 756 - Karma: 1,703
So is Contour, they are just downsizing.
Aug 23 2013 3:01PM
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Brule.
Posts: 3846 - Karma: 5,658
Not sure if Garmin is going to have as many mounts like GoPro. IMO we're perceiving this as a failure. Let's give this 6 months and see where they are headed with their POV camera investment.
Aug 23 2013 6:51PM
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Brule.
Posts: 3846 - Karma: 5,658
Sorry for the dub post, but the design of the POV camera reminds me of:
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Aug 23 2013 7:18PM
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Laurent.
Posts: 10054 - Karma: 25,277
Not really actually.

Garmin's profits are still mostly automotive, they make stand alone as well as OEM units for manufacturers. They also have the aviation, outdoor and marine gps market firmly in their grip and a decent amount of cash to burn.


They probably will not get close to GoPro but they can possibly be a worthy alternative.
Aug 23 2013 7:30PM
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Skibumsmith
Posts: 5414 - Karma: 11,608
It's pretty damn ugly. Once they make a sleeker design and a mount that doesn't stick up so high they might have something worth buying.
I'm bummed that Contour went belly up. They were gopros only real competitor and made sick cameras.
Aug 23 2013 10:08PM
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SHARKWEAK
Posts: 209 - Karma: 4,079
i thought contour had closed down
Aug 24 2013 3:38AM
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Mag
Posts: 8155 - Karma: 14,809
They have, but their cameras haven't self combusted
Aug 24 2013 10:16AM
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