Roaming free –
Contour ROAM 3 action cam
w w w. s u p d i re c t . c o . u k
s h e d : a c c e s s o r i e s
Shoot yourself (on a budget) –
Fatstick SJ4000 action cam
w w w. c o n t o u rs h o p . c o m
Ignoring the fact the SJ4000
looks remarkably similar to
another familiar action cam,
we were intrigued to check
out what all the fuss was
about. Having done research
prior to getting hold of one
from Fatstick SUP, it seemed
opinions and thoughts were
mostly positive and as such
our interest was pricked.
Compact and lightweight, the SJ4000 has a number of settings
that will appeal to stand up paddlers. HD 1080p video will be the
preferred moving image option for many, although you can swap
to lesser pixels if needed. Starburst photo mode is also another
well-used feature on action cams and the same option is here.
The easy to navigate menu, even when in its waterproof housing,
makes changes swift and efficient. A sharp backlit LCD screen is
most welcome and allows paddlers to review their content, if they
wish, before uploading to laptops back at base – although be
aware that this will drain battery. A full charge will easily last for
an hour session, with the LCD going black to save more juice until
further use wakes it up.
Water housing is robust with the cam fitting snuggly. Spring
loaded buttons on the outside are chunky enough to locate
and use even with chilly fingers. They’re a little stiff to start
with but will loosen slightly after using a few times.
An extensive box of mounts is provided as standard, although
our personal preference is to use a Flymount (see previous
review – www.standuppaddlemag.co.uk/flymountreview.html)
or K4 Fins’ windsurfing harness. The mounts supplied are fine
but just not quite up to scratch for our needs.
Image and video quality is pretty good. If you’re a professional
videographer/photographer then you’ll no doubt have your
personal preferences and as such those familiar higher level
models from GoPro et el will probably fit the bill better. But
you’ll pay for it…
We used the SJ4000 across a variety of different SUP scenarios,
from flat water to waves, breezy to calm and bright to overcast.
Unsurprisingly the SJ4000 nabs the best quality vids and pics
when used in good light. Having said that it does work fine in
murkier conditions; results just won’t be quite as sharp and clear.
k ie t a r
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CONCLUSION
Contour disappeared from the action cam
scene for a while but are now back with a
bang – the brand’s ROAM 3 offering is blowing
up and gives another alternative to the
already busy action camera market.
Looking very distinct, the ROAM 3 is
cylindrical in shape offering an easy one
touch recording mechanism, laser leveller
and 180 degree rotating lens, and is without
water housing (it doesn’t need it).
There are a number of ways to attach the Contour during
paddling but we chose our standard method, which gives a
variety of shooting angles from the paddle.
With its simple slide-to-record mechanism, hitting go has never
been easier. The bullet like nature of the ROAM 3 also ensures
you always know what the lens is pointing at. Although we can
see the benefits of the laser leveller on land, the watery
environment doesn’t really lend itself to this feature. Having the
option of rotating the lens was welcome though.
The ROAM 3 isn’t the lightest of cameras when attached to
your paddle shaft, and it seems to perch quite high atop the
mount. That said, after a short while you forget it while
paddling, until the time comes to drop in and record.
The footage from the session in question was satisfying upon
inspection (www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ek9ZJUE_cXw). It’s
always a bit of gamble when you’re trying to shoot paddle
surfing, as results don’t always end up how you thought. In
this case though the ROAM 3 didn’t flatten off the wave size too
much (a common problem in the surf) and we were able to
capture a decent \