Three Lessons in the Wipeout of Contour Cameras

For almost a decade, Contour made point-of-view cameras used by skiers, surfers, and other thrill seekers looking to capture their activities. Shaped like short, stout flashlights, the durable gadgets easily affixed to the equipment of adrenaline junkies. They looked sleeker than rival products made by GoPro and drew rave reviews from gearheads and camera buffs alike. Outside magazine even chose a Contour camera as one of the “perfect things” in its recent gear-buying guide. The problem for Contour was that list—and virtually every list of its kind—was topped by GoPro as best in class.

Now, Contour is apparently quitting the point-of-view cameras battlefield, leaving GoPro with one less obstacle in its path toward a potential IPO.