Game Camera advice?

[California]

I spent the afternoon reading old threads here then looking at websites of the game cameras that people mentioned.

'Bushnell trophy cam with the blacked out IR flash' seems to be the best images/best features type so far as I can see. But user reviews on Cabellas etc indicate that people have to exchange dud units (all brands) way more often than I want to. Reliability seems to be blind luck.

I have a comment that may be useful to others: Kmart has better prices on Bushnell compared to other vendors - $60~80 less.

What are people using? How good is image quality, convenience, reliability? Is a viewing screen in the camera useful, or do you have better versatility to scan a lot of pictures if you read the card with a laptop?

And broadening this topic - I started out thinking it would be interesting to use a outdoor wifi security camera so I could see whats going on out there real time (or review recent snapshots) on my laptop, even from my home in town via internet connections at both ends. That led off to hobbyists and programmers who seem to be pushing the bleeding edge with questionable reliability in the transmission and viewing software, if not the hardware. I still think that might be more entertaining than climbing a tree in the morning to fetch the memory card out of a real game camera to see what it captured overnight. With typical 12V 1A draw, a wifi camera would need an extension cord for power, but not an ethernet cable clear back to the house. Hanging the camera on an outbuilding here, with power available, would work for me.

Advice? And of course some sample photos would be interesting for everyone. Thanks!

 

[clemsonfor]

I have a wildgame cam i bought 2 black fridays ago for $80. I converted it to run on the 6v lantern batteries. It will go all season on that one charge. I will say stay away from stalth cam. I am very satisfied with this one and is worth more than i paid. It is an IR cam but older and entry so its only 4mg. All cameras will die eventually but i have heard others with good success out of bushnells and moultries. Cudeback is the gold standard i think.

Forget the viewing window, it will be worthless. Dont buy one of those special viewers your digital camera is the same thing, this is what i use in the woods to view them. i have no laptop so i cant do that. But a laptop is the best way to scan hundreds of pictures at one time.

There is somewhere on here a link to a website that tests all different brands of cams in all price ranges. They do tests and show the pics to show distance they pick up at night and show deer, how far the triger will work, how long the trigger takes etc. I cant remember the site but im sure some one on here can say.

 

[kenmac]

I bought Primos truth cam 35 for about 50 bucks with coupon. Takes real good pics day or night

 

[beersngars]

If you can justify the coin, the Reconyx IS the standard. I don't own one but a friend does and it is amazing. He says he can get between 25000 and 40000 pics on a set of batteries. The best part is the trigger time which is waaayyyy faster than any of the others. I would love to have one but $500 on 1 camera is not in my budget.

If the price doesn't scare you, do some DD.

Look here: Chasingame.com: Scouting Camera Reviews | Performance Reviews | Trail Camera Models compared | Sample Pictures and Movies

 

[greasemonkeyok]

Ditto on Reconyx trigger times. Set one up on the back patio to try it out and it took 120 pics in one night - skunks, raccoons, and one possum. I had no idea there would be that much critter traffic. Part of the reason for the high number of pics was because the raccoons were curious as to what was going on with that new box.

The only read drawback on the Reconyx is I'm afraid it will get stolen out in the woods.

 

[California]

If you can justify the coin, the Reconyx IS the standard....If the price doesn't scare you, do some DD.

Look here: Chasingame.com: Scouting Camera Reviews | Performance Reviews | Trail Camera Models compared | Sample Pictures and Movies

$500 scares me. For a first camera, and some possibility of theft.

Thanks for that review site! I looked all through it and got a much better idea of how to set up a camera. For example point it north or south so it doesn't face a sunrise/sunset, and above line of sight where flash will be ignored. I didn't see a discussion of wifi for real time remote viewing. Maybe this isn't a good way to do it, or maybe it isn't invented yet.

 

[clemsonfor]

$500 scares me. For a first camera, and some possibility of theft.

Thanks for that review site! I looked all through it and got a much better idea of how to set up a camera. For example point it north or south so it doesn't face a sunrise/sunset, and above line of sight where flash will be ignored. I didn't see a discussion of wifi for real time remote viewing. Maybe this isn't a good way to do it, or maybe it isn't invented yet.

Chasingame is that site i could not remember!

You can get cameras that send the pics via cell signal and upload them to the net then i think you log onto your page and view them in a folder. I think thats basically how they work. They are i think over a thousand dollars for the good ones and some maybe inthe several hunderd range from i think bushnell, but you need to have a cell subscription for the cam so that it can uplaod via the cell networks. ANd if your property is out in the boondocks like my home and seperate farm property there is not enough signal barely at either place to even send a text, cant make a call and good luck trying to send a pic text.

 

[Chooglin]

I have very little knowledge of these cameras, but I knew I wanted one.
My wife bought me the Wildgame Inovations N8D (made for Dicks sporting goods stores). Wildgame Innovations 8 MP IR Game Camera Combo - Dick's Sporting Goods

This camera is very simple to use...............Pics from camera.

 

[joemd11]

The wife got me a Bushnell Trophy Cam for Christmas. It was about $150 from Amazon. Will post some pics when I get some worth posting.

 

[California]

You can get cameras that send the pics via cell signal

Yes, i saw the cell phone connection cams. I don't have a cell phone. Intentionally, it would just be a way for others to schedule my day for me. (My wife gets a lot of that). So I likely wouldn't consider that version.

Also I saw comments that a camera's card can be viewed on a digital camera. But I like my little 10x zoom Panasonic pocket camera for its fantastic zoom and Panasonics won't display a .jpg made on something else.

What about wifi outdoor security cameras? Is there hardware/software to fire at adjustable intervals plus when triggered by a motion sensor? I think the software exists to transmit via internet but what I've found so far looked pretty buggy. I don't mind getting deep into network setup for a quality product. But I don't want to be a beta tester for something that's never going to work as-released. BTDT, early Linux. Never again!


Chooglin - Those pictures look excellent!

Joe - I was focusing on Bushnell until I read of their dismal repair record in 2010 on that review site. 60 day turnaround, to remedy a fault that existed in all of a certain model? I need to find something saying that is now behind them before they get back to the top of my list.

 

[lockhaven]

spent 50 dollars at walmart

 

[Avondale]

I have a number of cameras.

I had Bushnell "Bone Collecter" series. Garbage. Sent it in for repair, they sent back a new camera, sent it in for repair, got a new camera, sent it back and demanded refund. Long time in between repairs and a longer time to get my money back.

Moultrie products are very reliable. I have two different, older types that use "D" flashlight batteries. Good run time and picture quality. I also have 3 small Moultries (M-80) which so far are the better option. They use "AA" batts, have good run time and also do video.

I have a STEALTH, not a very good camera as it eats up "C" cell batts, worse when cold out. Good pictures when it does work, though.

Also have an old SPYPOINT. It uses "C" cell batts, not quite as bad as STEALTH but can really add up over a season. Very good pictures. I had a problem with mine long after warranty ran out, service was excellent and free when they discovered I was using wrong sixze SD card. OLD tech could not format larger cards than 1Gb which I can not find around here so I used a 2GB. They found that certain types of cards would work if formatted via the camera so it is still in use.

The WILDgame is a good camera, has a rechargeable batt and takes good pictures. Re-charging is a bit of a pain as whole camera must come in.

Also, have a PLOTWATCHER time lapse which can take pictures at preset intervals without any external trigger (i.e. critters setting it off). When used overlooking a food plot, you can see the critters entry/exit points and a date/time stamp. Not the best quality picture but usefull device that could use refinements. It is a couple years old so there may be better ones out there now.. It eats "AA" batts but rechargeable ones help with cost.

For me, viewers are not a good option. Usually tooo small to be of value and a pain to zoom in/out. I have two SD cards for every camera, just drive by and switch them out, view at home on large screen, much better (in my opinion.)

I'd like to have a Reconyx but $$$$$$$.

Hope this helps.

 

[nybirdman]

Check camcorder reviews on line.Reconx is the top rated but $500.00.I had two Wildgame Inovation cams that took a total of "4" pictures between the two of them(JUNK).Just ordered a Bushnell Trophy cam,best rated for the money...time will tell.

 

[lhfarm]

What about wifi outdoor security cameras? Is there hardware/software to fire at adjustable intervals plus when triggered by a motion sensor? I think the software exists to transmit via internet but what I've found so far looked pretty buggy. I don't mind getting deep into network setup for a quality product. But I don't want to be a beta tester for something that's never going to work as-released. BTDT, early Linux. Never again!
....

I've not tested any IP cameras for security, but the software I use - Blue Iris - Home will support them. It does require a PC, but has very good motion detection. I've been tempted to hang a camera off my barn too and actually have cat6 running to there. I don't know if any of the low-end wifi cameras have good enough embedded software to do the job. But I'd encourage you to give it a try and if it doesn't work try it with the Blue Iris software.