Time for a new Trail Camera

[Senior Citizen]

Bought one 10+ years ago. Had a removable camera that actually used 35mm film. Has been a really great camera, just expensive and time consuming getting the film developed.

About 6 or 7 years ago I bought a Stealth Cam DIGRC-XTR. Have hated it since the day I set it up. Not user friendly. Set up in low light and bad eyes is horrible. Wake up time seems to be DAYS. Had it out for the past 3 days. Only pictures it has taken are of me....trying to figure out " Is this thing on?". This morning I eased into the spot where it was set up on a trail. Had dropped about 3 gallons of pears in front of the camera. There were 2 deer standing there eating pears. I watched for several minutes. Camera was set on 1 minute time out. I think the deer sensed me and eased off. I waited a few more minutes and went to check the camera. Not nary a darn picture. I stood in front of the camera for about a minute making all kind of moves trying to get it to take a picture. NOPE. Took the camera off the tree. Left it turned on and walked about 1/4 mile back to my 4 wheeler. Threw it in a 5 gallon bucket facing up. It took 2 pix of the sky on the way home.

Looking for recommendations for a new IR camera under/around $200.00. Must be user friendly and simple to set up. And definitely not a Stealth Cam.

Thanks in advance for any and all recommendations.

SC

Thanks

 

[fat tom]

Just bought 3 of these. Excellent value. Good camera too.

NEW MOULTRIE GAME SPY D55 IR INFRARED GAME CAMERA 5 MP - eBay (item 380258936519 end time Aug-19-10 12:09:19 PDT)

For the mods:this is NOT an auction!
f.t.

 

[Hermann]

I have a Bushnell - $199 at BassPro works for me, great battery life.

 

[Senior Citizen]

I have a Bushnell - $199 at BassPro works for me, great battery life.

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Is that the non-camo version of the 8.0 megapixel Bone Collector Trophy Cam?

 

[Bob R]

Go take a look on the Natchez Shooters Supply web site. They were having some pretty good sales recently on trail cams.

bob

 

[armadillo]

Stealth Cams work great for me (I have 5) and the new IR is $109 at Bass Pro.

 

[ArcticFox]

I'm going to pick up two of them here shortly. In checking out the sale prices I came across this site which reviews the models of the major brands. Trail Camera Reviews

 

[Senior Citizen]

Thanks Guys

right now I'm thinking I'm probably gonna go with a Bushnell 5.0 meg from Wal-Mart's. The reason I say Wal-Marts is because of their return policy. If the camera doesn't work exactly as advertized or something is mechanically wrong with it they will refund or replace it in 30 days. I know the folks at the local WM Sporting Goods Department and they're good folks. If I order it or buy it from Bass Pro...........I'm on my own with the manufacturer and that can be months of delays on something I need right now.

I do thank you all for your insight and suggestions though.

SC

 

[Hermann]

my Bushnell is a year old now, its the brown color 5 mb.
Ah, only one disadvantage it only likes SanDisk memory cards, but besides flawless.

 

[Senior Citizen]

my Bushnell is a year old now, its the brown color 5 mb.
Ah, only one disadvantage it only likes SanDisk memory cards, but besides flawless.

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Then I'm in luck. I already have four 4 gig SanDisc.

Does your camera take good pix at night? At what distance do they fade out really bad?

tks
SC

 

[Senior Citizen]

Bought the new Bushnell 5.0 @ Wal-Mart

yesterday. Asked about their return policy and was told if if didn't do exactly what it was suspposed to, or the pix were mest up (white outs) bring it back for a full refund.

Have tested the camera around the house. Takes great day time color photos and videos (15 sec). Wake up time is a second or less.

Now, the IFR night time pix are something else. If you are within 10 feet of the camera and directly infront of the lense you will be washed out. You will look like a white silouette. It just seems to have a circle dead in front of the lense that the IR Flash is too stong for. But 45 -50 feet behind and off to the side of dead center are beautiful B&W pictures. I had on black shorts and a dark red t-shirt last night and it washed them out within 10 feet. Went in side and got a deer mount and sat it in a chair about 8-10 feet in front of the cameral. BAD...........but the out line is crisp and you can see the horns clearly if you like bright white horns. pic attached.

Taken about 8 feet in front of camera

Taken about 8-10 directly in front of the camera

Taken about 18-20 directly in front of the camera

This little camera is a "sport". It is so simple to use. It takes pictures fast and wakes up fast. About the size of 2 ciagrette packs laying side by side. Holds either 4 or 8 AA batteries. I've got a 4 gig card in it right now. High res color phots are 1.6 mb and nite time B&W pics average just under a meg.

If I get this white out problem resolved I'm gonna be tickled to death with the camera. Especially for $149.97. More if I get the problem resolved.

SC

 

[Hermann]

My night pix are a little darker. I found some things too close will reflect as white spots when IR pictures/viceo is taken.
I played around aiming the camera at different angles to avoid direct and close reflection of the LEDs and it is OK, now.
At nighttime the video function works almost better than the picture function, so I maily use this feature. Of course the color of your clothing makes a difference, too. Reflection of the IR LEDs seems to be the key to this. After all I am happy with it and I get good pix at night up to 30 yards.
See the grass reflect on this picture of a nightime visitor (fox).
I have not changed batteries since I bought it a year ago and I have made over 400 pictures/videos, it even survived being frozen in the wintertime. For the money spent it is good enough for me.

 

[Senior Citizen]

My night pix are a little darker. I found some things too close will reflect as white spots when IR pictures/viceo is taken.
I played around aiming the camera at different angles to avoid direct and close reflection of the LEDs and it is OK, now.
.

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I wonder if I put a piece of tape over a couple of the led's would it take some of the white out.........out?

SC

 

[cass]

I have three game cameras overlooking my hog traps. Two are Moultrie I-40s, and the other is a Scout Guard SG550. All three are very good units. I have never had a problem with wash out. The Scout Guard is small, has great battery life, but requires a plug-in remote to program it. The I-40 Moultries have a problem with their LED screens, so bad that Moultrie will send you a free screen replacement just for asking. I've been through two screens. They run on 6 D batteries (the SG550 runs on 8 AA batteries). I recently converted all of them over to external rechargeable batteries, and they now operate for months without a battery change/charge - a very simple conversion.