First look: Contour Roam 3 camera

Contour has released the latest edition in its Roam line of point-of-view cameras. The Contour Roam 3, which can be mounted to your handlebars or helmet, is ready to shoot video or still photos when you’re ready.

The camera ships with a 8-GB micro SD card for storing data. For getting that data over to your computer, you have two options: a USB 2.0 cable or the micro SD card adapter. For mounting the camera, there’s a profile mount, which can adhere to the side of a helmet, and a rotating flat-surface mount, which actually has a slightly concave surface. To protect the camera, the package includes a rubber lens cap and cloth camera sleeve. Not that you need to worry too much about babying the Roam 3. It’s waterproof to 10 m on its own: no extra case required. That’s nine more metres than the Roam 3’s predecessor, the Roam 2. While the cameras in the Roam line have fewer bells and whistles compared to the Plus (+) line—no GPS, Bluetooth or live streaming capabilities—the Roam 3 does get the benefit of some trickle down. The new camera features the same lens technology (170 degrees, wide-angle) as the +2.

The Roam 3 has few switches and sliders: two locking switches for securing the camera door and the record slider. Push the slider forward and you’re recording. Slide it back and you’re done. The battery also shuts down. The status button on the camera door toggles between video and still camera mode. It also activates a laser to help you align the camera. With a bit of adjusting, you’re sure to get the right horizon as the lens rotates 270 degrees.

You can make further adjustments via the Roam 3’s software: Contour Storyteller. After you download it to your computer, you can set the video resolution as high as 1080p or as low as 480p. A switch on the camera lets you toggle between two video settings on the fly.

In Canada, the Roam 3 package retails for $270.