The upcoming release of the High Def ATC9K by Oregon Scientific will be giving some other 1080p cameras a run for their money and with the popularity of their previous SD models… is sure to be a mighty contender in the world of HD action sports cameras. Pre orders for its October 1, 2010 release are now being taken… so get in line for this one… it’s bound to win some hearts!

Let’s talk about filming, because the ATC9K provides the opportunity to capture thorough footage without weighing you down with excess equipment. Filming in true 1080p HD format at 30fps, the ATC9K by Oregon Scientific also can record in 720p at 30 or 60 fps. What’s more, ATC9K morphs into a digital point and shoot… snapping 5 megapixel stills - talk about a multi-tasker. Another not so common feature in the world of wearable, action cameras is the addition of a color, LCD display, enabling the user to playback footage for instant review - and just to make life a little easier… the ATC9K also comes with a handy little remote for easy control, no matter where the camera is mounted.

The ATC9K has been specifically designed for use in action sport environments and because Oregon Scientific has constructed the camera with a rugged body that waterproof up to 20 feet this is a great camera for winter and water sports, as well as for Scuba divers and rainy day warriors who like to brave the muck. The ATC9K is also an excellent option for wake-boarders and surfers, as it enables them to record their acceleration and distance.

The ATC9K expertly captures all the detail thanks to it’s ability to measure gravity force during acceleration. On top of that, the ATC9K also sports an optional GPS plug-in, letting users map their location, speed and distance traveled using Google Maps or Google Earth. Once hooked to the computer… you can see the corresponding location, acceleration, altitude and Google Map all within Oregon Scientific’s in depth software, developed specifically for this feature. This is an incredibly useful tool for anyone who is on the lookout for new trails to mix up their filming/riding terrain.

Click above to see larger image.

Equipped with a built in microphone, the ATC9K enables you to playback captured sound and narration, for footage with full audio. But if silence and discretion is required, you can record with the camera sounds and LED light turned off for optimal, custom control.

The Oregon Scientific ATC9K lets you display that personal touch to your videos with a range of mounting options. The package comes with everything you need to mount the camera to your helmet, goggles or handlebars… but it doesn’t stop there, there are many other mounts available, allowing you to stick the ATC9K to pretty much any surface.

With features like these all packed into one inclusive camera, one can only wonder what the competition is going to come up with to match the performance levels of the Oregon Scientific ATC9K.

After viewing many of our posts and reviews on the Drift HD170, our friend Richard decided to pick up an HD170 for his own personal use… but since he also owns a GoPro HD Hero… he decided to make a comparison video between the Drift HD170 and the GoPro HD Hero from an original vantage point…the sky.

The 2 cameras seem to perform comparably with their wide fields of view, but the Drift (in this particular video) seems to have washed out the colour a little bit, whereas the GoPro footage displays a far more lush take on the color. However, the exposure can be adjusted on the Drift HD170, while the GoPro HD Hero has automatic exposure. So depending on the control factor you are looking for… either are still a terrific option.

The other issue displayed in Richard’s comparison is the fog factor that the GoPro HD Cameras can experience. Combatted with the of GoPro’s anti-fog inserts, the problem can be eliminated - but the Drift displayed no issues with fog or obstruction of clarity within the clip. So if you are planning on taking the HD Hero into a potentially humid situation, make sure you arm yourself with the anti-fog inserts just so you’re covered against any potential fogging.

Overall, both the Drift HD170 and the GoPro HD Hero performed well, with a few minor issues - but with proper planning and awareness of these imperfections, I am confident that you can prevent them from occurring and come out ahead of the game with some incredible footage. These are both superb cameras, which do capture action footage from your point of view, exceptionally well.

So take a look and decide for yourself which is the winner n your books and post your winner below!

A special thanks goes out to Richard for sharing this comparison with us.

Sometimes a product hits the market that exceeds the expectations of consumers and retailers alike - a supreme example is the HD Hero from GoPro. ‬

Recently (6/5/2010), a group of Engineers and Designers from San Francisco launched a balloon into the sky near Davenport, California, decked out with a couple of GoPro HD Hero cameras and a Canon Power Shot. Positioning one camera pointing downward and one pointing at an upward angle they were able to capture the balloon and the horizon at the same time, while the Power Shot was programmed to take photos and videos at pre-defined intervals with CHDK firmware - these shots are highlighted at the end of the video.‬

‪The balloon soared up into the atmosphere to an altitude of 80,000 feet, where it burst and deployed a parachute, allowing the footage and equipment to safely drift back to Earth, reaching a peak speed of 50mph. The use of a Shadowbox provided all GPS, pressure, accelerometer, and temperature data, while the cameras and tracking hardware were contained within a disposable styrofoam cooler to ensure thermal protection at the high altitude as well as providing a softer landing. Upon impact in Crows Landing, 70 miles from the original launch site, the cooler had no visible cracks and the GoPro’s continued to record for another 2-3 hours, until their batteries died. The payload was tracked with a SPOT satellite personal tracker, and with no damage to any of the components used in acquiring the payload, it can and will be reused for the next flight.‬

‪This incredible experiment truly shows the HD Hero’s ability to hold it’s ground in rough and tumble situations as a truly a versatile and adaptable point of view camera. The project successfully yielded a collection of stunning stills and video that have been carefully edited to produce this high quality compilation of their efforts.

‪The group is planning another launch soon, with goals to exceed 100,000 feet in altitude - with increased attempts in camera recording stability. We look forward to seeing it and sharing it with you!‬

‪We would like to thank Kevin Macko and everyone else who was involved in the production of this video for allowing us to post it and share it.

If you have any questions or comments, post them below!

Me and a few surfers from Tofino spent the springtime in Indonesia where I took along a GoPro HD to play around with. It’s a great tool for using in extreme conditions as well as getting some really creative angles. I was able to stick it on the front of my scooter easily while driving around the roads of Indo and take it out in the water to get another angle. The surfing in this particular video was all shot in Sumbawa. I brought along swim fins and a mask and swam out to some of the reef breaks a got a couple shots which turned out pretty good. This was all shot at 60fps which was really easy to slow down and get smooth motion. The fish-eye lens captures most of what you typically see, but you need to really get close to see your subjects best. It’s definitely something worth bringing wherever you go. It’s so small, how could you not!?

~ Adam.

Questions or comments? Leave them below.