CONCLUSION

   To date i may not have reviewed any action cameras but I’ve used a few 2011/2012 models by GoPro and Contour which although very good in quality (the Contour was made out of metal alloy so it looked better too) lacked several features the ATC9K has. For example the ATC9K has a narrower field of view which means that objects are larger and i don't know about others but i like that more than covering a wider area (personal preference). True i would like a slightly larger FOV (145 tops) but even 130 degrees is very good. Also both the GoPro and the Contour models also lacked a rear LCD screen so you couldn't check your recordings nor could you adjust their settings wherever you were unless of course you carried a laptop with you (even if you did the ATC9K way is easier and faster). GoPro did offer an extra LCD backpack back then for the HERO2 but it cost quite a bit and well it just wasn't the same. Then we have the G-Sensor which may not really come in handy for people such as i since i am not into Xtreme sports but for people who are this is a must feature. Finally when it comes to the Video/Audio and Picture quality of the ATC9K things are very good but far from great since i have to admit that the GoPro HERO2 had better, more vibrant colors while the Contour HD 1080p model had crisper image but that's not something one can't fix by playing around with the settings (the result may not be identical but it comes really close). My sole problem with the ATC9K is the same as with every action camera out there and that's the poor low-light video recordings and in an era where night vision has been around for decades (even my old SONY DVD camcorder had it) i just can't figure out the why we see less and less green screens.

   Normally FullHD 1080p action cameras don't come cheap especially when we are talking about rugged water-proof models like the ATC9K so i was expecting a price tag set on par with the cost of GoPro and Contour models. Luckily enough for consumers Oregon Scientific follows a rather aggressive price policy and so currently the ATC9K is for sale inside the USA for a price of USD137 (Purchase Directly from Amazon.com). Inside the EU things are not as great but still the asking price of 220Euros (Purchase Directly from Amazon.co.uk) is not bad at all, not when the ATC9K packs so many features that others don't have. Certainly if your only goal is getting the best action camera in terms of Video/Audio and Picture quality there should be a few better options out there since the ATC9K has been around for over 2 years already, however if you want a complete package sold at a very attractive price tag (especially in the USA) then the ATC9K is the right one for you and that's why it gets our Golden Award.

PROS

- Build Quality (Solid Rugged Housing)
- Design (Scuba Gear Like)
- 1080p@30Fps/ 720p@60fps
- 3/5 Mega-Pixel Stills
- Water Proof Up To 20M
- 1.5" LCD
- Ease Of Use
- G-Sensor
- Remote Control
- GPS Capability (Sold Extra)
- HDMI Output
- Bundled Mounts
- Price (Especially In The EU) 

PROS

- 2+ Years in the Market Already