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Site Updated: 01/28/2012
| January 25, 2012 Well I checked both the Leupold and the Primos last weekend. The Leupold got a good workout and performed quite well. Battery life is still at a full charge with Energizer Ultimate Lithium fuel. The controller is sweet to use. You just plug it into the USB port and download the photos. No need to shut the camera off or open any camera doors and it has a big viewer. The Primos Truth Cam X Blackout is one sweet camera to operate but two things are showing up as a weakness to me: 1) the picture quality is well below average and 2) the focus appears way off. However I have to say it could be the easiest camera I have ever setup. I love everything about the intuitive setup but the picture quality needs improvement.
January 13, 2012 I am really beginning to take a shine to the Leupold RCX-2. I still have a lot of field testing to do and need to get it deployed in a location for the opportunity to take a lot of pictures. One thing that many of you might like is the ability to view your setup from the controller. For those of us that like the camera pointed perfectly before we depart, this is a great time saver. I still have questions on detection circuitry but the picture quality is good and the recovery is short...so far. I have had some pictures that indicate a lens issue or a SD write issue but they have been few. I really like the ability to plug the SD cord into the camera without shutting it off. That is sweet! The other thing that is nice is that you literally plug the the controller into the camera and then download the pictures to the SD card in the controller. There is a lot of thought that went into this camera. This camera is not without blurry night photos but even the blurry night photos are acceptable.
The Primos Truthcam X Blackout is a different story. The biggest issue is the quality of the night photos. My pictures have been extremely grainy. However, I need to get it in a location to capture a lot of pictures. Everything about this camera is decent but the picture quality needs much improvement.
For you Reconyx Hyperfire owners there is a firmware update dated 10/24/2011. I updated my cameras and am test driving them now. December 28, 2011 Deployed the Leupold first. Had an issue when downloading pictures from the camera to the controller. Swapped the camera out with the Primos. Pulled the Primos card for the first time tonight. I was concerned about picture capture because of my SD card issue. The camera seemed to work just fine. Next step is to keep track of battery life. Leupold is ready for deployment again. I'm just trying to find the right place. Picture quality of the Leupold is what I hoped for.
December 18, 2011 I am getting ready to deploy two new cameras, the Primos Truthcam X Blackout and the Leupold RCX-2. My first comment for both of these cameras is that they are very well made compared to cameras in a lower price range. That is about all they have in common. The Blackout is different from the Truthcam X. The Blackout is black and is a black flash camera. The Truthcam X is a red LED camera. The Primos camera is a true blackfash camera. I don't notice any flash. The operating menu is a pleasure to work with and almost fun. I always spend a lot of time at home with new cameras before I deploy them. This camera has given me many challenges in trying to get it ready for field deployment. At first I thought I had a defective camera but after most of a day I discovered that this camera is very, and I mean very, choosy about its SD card. The user manual indicates it can use cards up to 8 gb. After trying three brand new 4 gb SD cards and going through all of my older cards, I have discovered the only cards out of my inventory it likes and works quite well with are 2 gb Sandisk cards. I don't know if it is the FAT card format or what but they work. The strap is very nice and you can secure the camera with a Python cable. I really like this camera so I want to give it a good chance to work. I was even impressed with the box and package it came in. It was very well thought out. Probably the only thing I don't like about this camera so far is the four D cell batteries needed to operate it and of course its need for a very specific SD card. The Leupold RCX-2 is a different issue. First of all, just to get it out of the package was a challenge. After getting it out of the package I couldn't believe all the pieces and parts. It is operated by a remote. Now that I've spent some time with the remote it is very simple to use. It appears to want a lot of power. To get it to work properly I installed 8 AA Energizer Ultimate Lithium batteries as recommended in the user manual. Once they were installed the camera seems to work quite well. The picture quality is very nice and I have a passion for above average picture quality. The strap is a standard buckle strap but it does come with a bracket for a Python cable. Due to its need for power I am curious how many pictures I will get with a set of lithium batteries. I'm not a fan of remotes but Trailcampro's review of this camera intrigued me.
December 12, 2011 Trailcampro has developed some videos to help educate trail camera users. Take a look at the videos on the Blog page and see if they help your knowledge of trail cameras. They do an excellent job in my opinion of helping us all become smarter in the use of trail cameras. Some final comments on the Spypoint Tiny: this camera has huge potential in my opinion and most users will be happy with this camera as it stands today. My favorite part has to be the holder that attaches to the tree. The camera inserts into the holder and is removed when swapping SD cards or changing batteries. This eliminates the need to disturb the aiming of the camera when changing SD cards. The holder also allows for use of a Python cable. The camera size is very small and works well for my deep woods treks. You can throw more than a few in a backpack and head to the woods for deployment. If you like view screens, this camera has one. You can perform a quick field check for that buck of a lifetime. Just remember that using a view screen reduces the life of your batteries. Spypoint does not recommend use of rechargeable batteries in this camera.
November 25, 2011 I've had some time to test drive the Spypoint Tiny. The good: fit-n-finish, size, view screen, black box, ease of setup, average picture quality. Needs Improvement: camera depth of field/focus, reduced time between burst mode pictures, picture quality of black box photos, instruction manual. I can't express enough how I like this camera. The way I use cameras, however, it needs some changes or improvements.
Now that we have hit Black Friday it's time to make your Christmas lists and make sure you get your next camera(s) from Trailcampro. They are extremely helpful and can recommend the camera that works best for you. This guys are extremely responsive and provide very good customer service. Time to go shopping call Trailcampro at 1-800-791-0660.
November 11, 2011 I've been checking my cameras as much as possible. I ordered another Scoutguard 565 from my good friends at Trailcampro. I really like that camera. I'm not a fan of remote controls but this camera does everything I ask. I like night color photos. I am trying a new Spypoint Tiny. I really like the fit-n-finish on this camera and the small size. It is unique in that it has a separate Black Box that will receive pictures. This is good if you would happen to have your camera stolen. The one issue when using the Black Box is that you can only take one picture at a time with a one minute delay. It does work. I tried it. The Spypoint is deployed to what appears to be an active scrape right now.
October 23, 2011 I am liking the Cuddeback Attack IR more and more. The one thing I am really coming to appreciate is the limited number of blurry night photos. I just wish the delay time was much less than 15 seconds. I don't get near as many photos with the Cudde as I do my Reconyx and Bushnell cameras. Has everybody seen the Trailcampro 2011 Fall Shootout? Great info, you need to check it out!
October 16, 2011 I've been test driving a Cuddeback Attack IR. I am pleasantly surprised. The best things about this camera are picture quality and detection circuitry. The rotary dial is fairly simple to use but requires a little dexterity. The things I would like to see improved are reduced delay period between pictures and the mounting bracket. The darn camera sticks about 1-2 inches from the tree when used. Coons, squirrels and deer can rotate this camera if not mounted properly. With the delay period and no burst mode, you don't capture near as many pictures. I like to take a lot of pictures, especially in burst mode, for that perfect pose. The Reconyx and Bushnell allow me to do that. At $230 the camera seems to do pretty well. The one thing I don't understand is the narrow detection cone. Yes it gives them that "centered subject" they advertise about but I would prefer a shorter delay period and wider sensing cone. All-in-all it seems to be a good camera. Call the guys at Trailcampro to try one.
October 10, 2011 Holy cow! I've been away from this page way too long. I've been a one-man-band hunting, checking cameras, hanging stands and scouting for whitetails. You've never seen a limping fat guy walk so far. It's time to go! For you cost conscious trail camera buyers and Moultrie supporters, you need to take a serious look at the Moultrie M80. The price is hard to beat at $140. It isn't perfect but the upside makes this camera hard to resist. My favorite things about this camera include: size, price, fit-n-finish, color, flash range and setup. Things I would like to see improved are reduction in the number of blurry photos and shorter recovery time. I'm no code writer but I bet a firmware upgrade would help. Give the guys at Trailcampro a call and order one. If you aren't satisfied, take them up on their return policy, 90 Days Satisfaction Guaranteed. P.S. The Moultrie M80 is the #1 selling camera in the world right now! You need to try one.
September 11, 2011 Trailcampro.com wrapped up their photo contest. The Grand Prize winning picture was hard to beat. I hope a lot of you take time to check the Trailcampro website on occasion. You can also e-mail me any time with questions. I'm no expert but have had my own challenges with various cameras. For example, it seems that many issues are related to low battery power. I have one camera with mixing pixels on the LCD because of moisture and humidity. The only thing I know to do is to bring it home and let it dry out. I have one that is set along a creek in a low lying area. The last two times the camera has taken many pictures but the lens has been fogged over. The location is awesome, however, if the same thing occurs the next time I check it, I'm moving the camera. It's a waste of my time to look at indeterminable pictures of Iowa whitetails.
August 6, 2011 The 2011 BTC software update really makes a difference. The flash is significantly brighter. The software update is available for the 2010 and 2011 BTC cams. Go to the Trailcampro Blog, scroll down and follow the link.
July 30, 2011 I was reading the Trailcampro blog the other night and read that Bushnell had a software update for both 2010 and 2011 Trophy Cams. I downloaded the files to an empty SD card, plus a backup card and took the cards to the field with me. I followed the update instructions, took a couple of daytime test photos, checked that it still worked and headed for the next cam. I am somewhat nervous about making field updates even if the cam reacts as the instructions say. If I do something wrong
July 26, 2010 Wow! has it been that long since I updated this page. Sorry about that. I'm just now starting to get back in a rhythm with my cameras. Trailcampro is having another photo contest. Please take time and checkout the entries. Holy crap am I jealous. There are some beautiful photos. Talked to a hunting buddy the other day. He has a couple of workhorse Moultrie I40 cameras. He lost his pixels on the LCD. I had the same thing happen a couple of times. It's moisture. You really only have two choices. Send the camera back to Moultrie and have them fix it or bring it in and let the moisture evaporate. With the highly humid summer we have had in Iowa this year, the cameras don't stand a chance. I had the same thing happen to one of my Reconyx last year. I brought it in and dried it out. We started a new page for those of you that would like your photos displayed on the site.
April 16, 2010 Well, my friends at Trailcampro hooked me up with a 2011 Bushnell Trophy Cam. I've been test driving the camera. This camera has audio with the video...SWEET! The detection circuitry seems to be quite sensitive but I do notice a definite change when I adjust between levels (i.e. High.Normal.Low). Photo and video quality is good. Audio isn't too bad either. It's acceptable in my opinion. I can't wait to point the camera at a rub or a scrape while in video mode. You might want to read their Moultrie M100 camera review.
February 19 ,2011 I captured a photo with my new ScoutGuard SG565 that I really like. I thought I would share it. I adjusted the camera angle up last week to gain more distance from the flash. As you can see the camera pumps the flash downrange quite well.
January 29, 2011 Trailcampro completed their review of the ScoutGuard SG565. I got some more pictures this week from this little camera.
January 22, 2011 I really have to give kudos to my Scoutguard SG565 trail camera from Trailcampro. This little camera takes some awfully nice pictures. It does have one little gremlin that I can certainly live with but would prefer it didn't have it. It is a filter "snap" when the camera takes a picture. I would give this camera a 5 on a scale of 1-5 if it didn't have that little noise. As it stands now I would give it a 3 or 3.5. I am hoping that HCO comes out with a firmware upgrade. This would be a great little camera then.
December 31, 2010 Pulled my first SD card from the ScoutGuard SG565 incandescent flash camera. All I can say is nice! Picture quality is what I expect. Thanks Trailcampro!
December 29, 2010 The ScoutGuard SG565 is deployed. The setup looks good. I hope to check it soon and report on its function.
December 22, 2010 I received my new ScoutGuard 565 incandescent flash camera from Trailcampro this week. Here is what I like about this camera: price, size, use of AA batteries, trigger time around 1.5 seconds, picture quality and the ScoutGuard reputation. These factors outweighed my concerns of the filter clunk, remote control operation and lack of burst mode. The filter clunk is noticeable but not a deal killer for me. I "hope and expect" that the manufacturer will come out with a firmware upgrade to eliminate the filter clunk. I've been test running the cam for now on cat cam. So far so good but the span between pictures is a little long. However, I feel I can live with the clunk unless my photos show very alerted whitetails. Stay tuned. I trust my friends at Trailcampro. They won't steer me to a camera that won't meet my needs. I am going to take this opportunity to present the following criteria to all camera manufacturers regarding the perfect incandescent flash camera: size should be small and use AA batteries, trigger speed around 1.5 seconds or less, camera should have a burst mode of 3-5 photos and no more than 10 seconds apart, batteries need to last 60-90 days at least, picture quality needs to be above average and not have the "eye ghosting issue", security needs to be available and the detection must be wide, dependable and at least 45-50 feet. The flash range should be at least 50 feet. If anybody can produce a camera that meets these criteria, I will take an honest look at it. I would also like a camera without the remote. The remote for my 565 is a little touchy.
December 13, 2010 This cold weather is a challenge for most trail cameras. My Reconyx cameras seem to work well especially with NiMH batteries. However, the display screen is very slow to respond when changing settings or arming the camera. The Bushnell Trophy Cams don't have the same issues but they seem to be harder on batteries. My old Cabela's I50s work well but the mechanical filter is temperamental on one of them. When it gets down to zero, even I move a lot slower. I've been talking with my great friends at Trailcampro about a night color camera. I think they are tired of listening to me. There is a new camera that I just had to have. It will be on its way shortly. This incandescent flash camera is the ScoutGuard SG565. I am anxious to set it up and test it out. The camera uses AA batteries, which is a big plus in my book, especially for remote deployments. Scoutguard has a good reputation for dependability. One last thing that makes this camera a winner is its size, it is 5-1/2 x 4 x 2-1/2 inches. Now that is small for a trail camera. If you like incandescent flash, contact the staff at Trailcampro to discuss this camera further.
November 30, 2010 This cold weather really does a number on alkaline batteries. Now is the time to switch over to lithium or rechargeable NiMH batteries. Cold weather does not reduce the life of lithium or NiMH batteries
November 28, 2010 Trailcampro has completed a new test I think many trail camera addicts will find very interesting. In essence it shows the detection width of the camera's PIR and compares it to the camera's Field of View. This is sweet information. I base my camera choices on this exact information. I don't understand why narrow detection cone camera manufacturers continue with a narrow sensing area.
November 18, 2010 Trailcampro has the new Scoutguard SG565. It's a nighttime incandescent flash camera. The initial information sounds pretty good.
November 9, 2010 I have a Moultire I-50 camera from Cabela's about 18 months old. My mechanical filter doesn't always fully swing in front of the lens for the day pictures. I finally figured out what the issue is. When the batteries get below 60% they don't have enough juice to move the filter completely.
October 24, 2010 The Reconyx cameras captured some nice pictures this week. After looking at the pictures I decided to change the resolution setting to 1080p. The camera seems to zoom in a little closer with this setting. We'll see what we get next. Hopefully the detail will be a little better. I prefer the 3.1 setting but due to the current camera setups I may have to compromise.
October 19, 2010 As a trail camera addict, I usually have a ton of questions about specific situations, settings or camera trap setups. The guys at TCP are absolutely fantastic at answering my questions. In the world we live in today there is no substitute for customer service and responsiveness. The crew at Trailcampro respond to my questions all the time and with very good suggestions.
October 17, 2010 The Reconyx captured some great pictures in Rapidfire mode this morning. The files are big but it is definitely worth watching. This is where the Reconyx cameras really shine.
October 16, 2010 I have one 2009 BTC that seems to be catching the rear end of deer instead of the full deer. It seems to only occur when the deer are walking at the camera from the right (about 1-2 o'clock). I'm not sure if it means anything but I did adjust the angle a little bit hoping it would help. I had adjusted the sensitivity to 'High' a week ago but it didn't seem to help. I assume it is my setup. I need to continue with adjustments until I figure it out. I like the location. My 2010 BTC replacement camera from Trailcampro is working great so far (knock on wood). It seems to be very sensitive in my current setup. The guys at Trailcampro are extremely responsive to my questions.
October 4, 2010 I've been extremely pleased with my Reconyx Hyperfire HC500 from Trailcampro. I put together a little animated gif file of a recent scrum that took place in front of the camera. The camera was set to take one picture at a time with no delay. I would say it did a darn good job.
October 2, 2010 Pulled one of my Reconyx cameras on Friday night. It needs different scenery. The display is missing a few pixels. I took it home, pulled the batteries and am letting it "air-out". That seems to work with my I50. My I50 that lost much of its display last week is back to normal. The sunny skies and dry air we've experienced the last week or so sure seems to help. LCDs with missing pixels doesn't bother the camera's picture taking ability but it is somewhat annoying. Trailcampro is a great company. Their responsiveness is top notch. I had a 2010 BTC go bad. I sent it to Springfield, MO. It arrived there on Friday according to my tracking number. I literally had a new camera on my doorstep today. Fantastic service!
September 25, 2010 Well, it was a rough checkup this week for three of my cameras. I think all three will still take pictures but each one has display problems: A Bushnell, a Reconyx and a Moultrie. What is the chance that would happen in the same week? I assume it is all the rain we had. All were dry on the inside when I opened them up.
September 22, 2010 Trailcampro has begun to post their findings from their 2010 Trail Camera Shootout. Nineteen (19) cameras found their way into the competition. Was your camera one of the top performers? Follow the link and find out.
September 21, 2009 And the winner of the Trailcampro 2010 Trail Camera Shootout is................???
September 19, 2010 After arriving home last night I got to thinking that I probably needed to go back out and dry out the internals on some of my cameras especially the Reconyx. Yesterday was just nasty. Note to self "Don't pull SD cards when it is raining". So I trekked back out Sunday afternoon. Below are some pictures captured by the camera since I was there yesterday. Talk about one ugly little buck. It would be tough to find a volunteer to take a crack at this thing. Man is he ugly! The camera was set on 5-picture burst and 1080p for resolution.
Here is a 5-picture series of infrared pictures. The camera's night flash setting was Maximum Flash.
Update: My 2009 BTC is deployed again. It seems to work OK. We'll see in a few days.
September 18, 2010 I have a 2009 BTC that just wants to give me a gremlin every now and then. Today it's the picture numbers on the bottom of the Setup screen. I opened my camera, checked the number of photos, turned it off, pulled the card, inserted a new card and turned it back on today and the picture numbers on the bottom of the Setup screen won't show up. I tried new batteries and a different SD card. The numbers still don't show up. Update: I brought this camera home. Pulled the batteries, let it dry out, put the batteries back in and now it works fine. The software in these 2009 BTC cameras just seem to need a 3-finger salute every now and then...Control>Alt>Delete or a one finger salute in this case...turn it off and pull the batteries...that will teach this camera to mess with this Iowa fat boy.
September 12, 2010 I moved my 2010 BTC to a different farm on Saturday. The prior setup just wasn't fair to the camera. The new camera spot is more typical of a camera setup. I forgot my security cable so I went back on Sunday to pull the card and add the security. After the one-day soak, the BTC appeared to be operating as I felt it should. The pictures looked fine. I'll know more in a few days. I sure like this camera, it takes sweet pictures. I typically lean towards a camera that has higher picture quality and this camera hasn't disappointed me in the quality category. For those of you with 2010 BTC cameras, my 2010 is a 119435C with the C being important I believe. Bushnell has a firmware update on their website. Check your packaging to see what version you have, you might need updated. I also deployed my new Reconyx Hyperfire HC500 from TCP. I test drove it in the back yard for a day. These cameras are top notch. The fit-n-finish is fantastic! But, as with all cameras, you need to put them in a setting that is fair. Trigger speed isn't that important to me. You need to know your camera and give it a chance to excel. Trailcampro has all sorts of info to help you with that. Use TCP as a resource.
September 11, 2010 The Reconyx Hyperfire HC500 from TCP is performing as advertised. It is in a sweet spot and doing well. I'm not sure how my 2010 BTC is doing though. I think it was just in a spot that was tough to perform and I was shooting the flash into nowhere. I'm still getting some blank day pictures with sensitivity set on Normal. This camera has been moved to a location that is just a little more conducive to taking pictures.
September 4, 2010 I think I have a "run away" camera. My 2010 Bushnell Trophy Cam seems to go on a picture taking binge every now and then. I hope it is just temporary but we will see. I will keep an eye on it.
September 3, 2010 Trailcampro continues to perform reviews and tests on cameras as they come in. Check out their review of the long awaited Uway NT50B with true covert black flash. September 14th Trailcampro will be holding their trail camera shootout with results released a couple of days later. In an effort to keep you up to date with our Reconyx HC500 experience, below is a 5 picture series of some turkeys. The camera doesn't seem to miss much but the picture quality needs just a little bit of tweaking. We sure hope they consider a firmware upgrade in the near future. The only editing we did from the original was to change the size to 640 x 480 pixels.
August 21,2010 This is a follow up to the date issues I was having with my 2010 Bushnell Trophy Cam. The cam held the date and time all week so I assume it was the batteries. It is currently running on a set of NiMH. The number of pictures on these batteries in one week: 3,500.
August 20, 2010 Trailcampro is performing their 2010 Trigger Speed Showdown. For you speed junkies keep an eye on this Trailcampro report. Trailcampro has indicated on their Blog that there is a Bushnell Trophy Cam firmware update. Follow this link to the blog. Once there you will find a link to the location of the firmware itself. Everybody should stay in touch with the Trailcampro website and keep an eye on the Uway camera. The engineering that went into this camera is supposed to be extreme. Delivery has been delayed for months until the engineers and manufacturer got things just right. This sounds like a high level of quality control. The picture quality is said to be very good. It comes in both a red flash and black flash option. Visit Trailcampro for more details.
August 10, 2010 For you trigger speed junkies, read this article by Trailcampro. It is from 2009 but tells you who has the speed.
August 7, 2010 The Reconyx HC500 took 2,900 pictures this week. The camera was set on 3-shot burst, 3.1 mp and balanced night mode. Below is a 3-shot series of both color and black and white. Still no shooter bucks at this location.
August 1, 2010 The Reconyx HC500 took 5,100 pix this week. I don't know how it crammed all those pictures on a 2 GB Sandisk card. I'm still waiting for my first mature buck. Below is another 5-shot series in color and some random night mode shots. The night mode setting was "Fast Shutter".
July 24, 2010 Trailcampro indicated on their blog that the Uway NT50 and NT50B Nighttrakkers may actually begin shipping this week. Keep your eyes on this cam as the 'hype' on the web says this camera is one to watch. One of the unique specifications with this camera is sound recording with the video. Below is a 5-shot burst of pictures from our new Reconyx HC500 purchased from Trailcampro. Our location isn't producing any mature whitetails yet but we think it should only be a matter of time. We will give it a couple more weeks before deciding if we need to punt and move it to another location. We anticipate the deer will move from the soybeans to the corn any time.
Below is a single nighttime picture from the Reconyx HC500.
July 15, 2010 Check out the Trailcampro 2nd Annual Trail Cam Photo Contest. Help a brother out and vote for Picture No. 84. There are some very good photos in this year's contest. Top prize is a Reconyx Hyperfire HC600 Ultimate Package. Trailcampro needs to be commended for putting together such an awesome prize package.
July 10, 2010 The Bushnell Trophy Cams have really been pumping out the pictures (knock on wood). One of my I40s takes very nice pictures but the light metering can really be a pain at times. Before I moved my I40 last week, it sat just inside the edge of the woods pointed out into a field with about one fourth of the picture 'horizon'. This caused the the camera to meter perfectly on the sky but during the day, the pictures were extremely dark. I couldn't even make out the little fawns in the pictures. That is one thing I have learned with the Moultrie I40 and I50. This camera isn't smart enough to know to meter on the darker foliage right in front of the camera. The Bushnell does a much better job.
June 5, 2010 My little '09 Bushnell Trophy Cam really did well in it's first week in the field, it took 681 pictures. The Tenergy NiMH rechargeable batteries were still hanging in there. My settings are as follows: Camera, 5 mp, 3-shot, 15 second delay, normal sensitivity, time stamp on. This time of year with warm temperatures it is typical to set sensitivity to high but I was worried about false triggers so I left it on normal. It seemed to do quite well. I'm watching for ants or bugs taking over my security box. So far so good. I may need to stop at the hardware store and get some ant killer if they begin to call my box home.
May 30, 2010 There appears to be a lot of decent looking cameras to hit the market yet for us camera addicts. My friend at Trailcampro indicates they are anxious to run through their trail camera shootout for 2010 but they are waiting on some of the cameras to hit the market yet. One type of cam that seems to have a limited choice in the market place is the nighttime incandescent flash. Trailcampro staff feel the Cuddeback Capture is a very good camera for those people looking for the nighttime color photos. I am saving my pennies for now waiting for the staff at Trailcampro to to
May 7, 2010 Well, I held a new Reconyx Hyperfire HC500 in my hands today. I was in a sporting goods store and they had one in stock. The camera is much smaller than I expected. Trailcampro says Wow!
April 30, 2010 Here's what Trailcampro has to say about the Bushnell Trophy Cam:
April 16, 2010 Trailcampro Low Price Guarantee Buy With Confidence! At Trailcampro we guarantee our customers the lowest priced Scouting cameras on the web. If within thirty (30) days of your purchase you find a lower price on a exact product we will gladly refund you the difference. Please note the following:
April 12, 2010 Trailcampro has a new article that compares the Tenergy NiMH batteries and regular alkaline batteries. Take some time and read the article. Trailcampro says: "So how long will your Tenergy Batteries last? Roughly 1,000 charges. Let's see, you have saved money, increased the battery life of your trail camera, and now you have kept hundreds of batteries from finding their way to the landfill. This is an easy decision!" We all know that individual Owner experiences will vary but it is well worth the time to give it a try.
April 6, 2010 For those of you looking for rechargeable batteries. You need to take a look at the Tenergy NiMH. I for one get sick of buying batteries, especially when the weather turns cold. This is definitely an option for cost-conscious trail camera addicts. Trailcampro has sample 2010 BTC photos posted for your review. All I can say is nice!
April 1, 2010 Reconyx is at the top of the list with BEC when it comes to quality and dependability. Reconyx has a new line of cameras coming out in 2010. These "HyperFireTM" cameras will use SD cards in lieu of flash cards and AA batteries in lieu of C or D batteries. This camera is priced around $550. What really intrigues me about this camera is the fact that the camera will accept a python cable. I look forward to Trailcampro's review of this camera.
March 12, 2010 The 2010 Bushnell Trophy Cam XLT trail camera has some changes that can definitely be considered improvements. It will have 32 LED's for extended IR flash and improved image quality after dark, improved picture sensor, ability to handle 16 gb SD cards and a molded receiver on the back for a python cable. That sounds like the perfect camera to me. We'll see how it turns out. I still haven't seen any reports on the ideal incandescent flash cameras. I want decent picture quality and a camera that doesn't eat batteries like my yellow lab eats dog food. One thing that absolutely drives me crazy is the hype that goes with new cameras coming to the market then end up being a big dud. There were a couple of models in 2009 that had many game camera consumers giddy with anticipation. The cameras were a flop. I refuse to preorder just because of this. I want to read some testing and feedback information on any new model before I make a purchase. There are a couple of cameras right now that looked great when their advertisements hit the internet last fall but they still aren't in the market. Go to this website for excellent trail camera information:
February 6, 2010 Take a look at what's new in 2010. Well, time to start looking for the next great trail camera. Right now the Reconyx Camera is by far the best in the industry. But unless somebody sends one to me in the mail, I am not going to spend the $600. It's just too much of a risk in the areas I hunt. There are some new things coming out and I am anxious to read the reviews and add one or two to my inventory. The Moultrie I45 and I65 were a bust in 2009. The cameras never lived up to the hype. The word is Moultrie is already revamping the line-up. I plan to "go small" in my inventory. I really like the Bushnell Trophy Cams but have ran into a situation where a bad batch at Cabela's required me to go through 5 different cameras before I found one on the fifth try that didn't have problems with the LCD screen. I plan to really consider a camera that has audio with video. Some already exist. My ideal camera will include:
I learned in 2009 that the large cameras spook the deer when they see them on the side of a tree especially when the cameras are in a security box. So if anybody wants to send me a camera to try in 2010, I'm sure I can find a tree that a nice Iowa whitetail walks by every now and then. See our photos page.
2009 Bushnell Trophy Cam
Wanted one of the new, small cameras that could run on AA batteries. Decided to purchase a Bushnell Trophy Cam due to its somewhat positive reviews. Have been putting it through the home testing regimen. So far so good except the switch is a little touchy when going from the On to Setup mode. Pros
Cons
On a scale of 1 to 5, I would rate the camera a 4 so far. The week IR flash is the only reason we would rate this camera below a 5.
Stealth Sniper Pro - I850
I wanted a night color game camera to add to my Moultrie IR collection. I decided to try a new Stealth Sniper Pro, 8 mp camera. I had always liked the picture quality of the Stealth cameras. My home 'getting acquainted' testing identified that the camera required standard SD cards. High speed cards would not work in the camera. With standard 2 gb SD cards the camera seems to function just fine. The incandescent flash is quite powerful and lights up the night pretty well. The Stealth security bracket is somewhat loose. The second week of field testing has shown that it can come loose and slide in front of the lens. The bracket will require some clamps or tie straps to keep it from sliding in front of the lens. I did purchase a 12V external battery and this camera performs pretty well with the 12V. I would not recommend the camera if you only plan to use the internals. Pros
Cons
On a scale of 1 to 5, I would rate the camera a 4 with the use of the 12V battery. I would rate the camera as a 2 if you only plan to use internal batteries. It is a battery eater.
Moultrie I40
This was a very popular camera in 2007 due to its dependability and price. It boasted of a 1.5 second trigger. A problem with this camera were "whiteouts" at dawn and dusk. A firmware upgrade fixed this issue for the most part. The camera can be purchased for $200 at Cabela's. Security for this camera generally costs in the $40 to $50 range for a box. Battery life is outstanding. You can go an easy 4 months or more on 6 D-cell batteries. The brass thumb screw receivers easily separate from the molded plastic (i.e. the come loose, don't over tighten). The best fix we have found is super glue to reset the brass receivers or to send the camera back to Moultrie. For the price, this camera is hard to beat if you like nighttime IR photos. It is difficult to reach the SD card for removal and exchange for a new one. Sent an I40 back to Moultrie on December 30, 2008. We will get first hand experience with customer service and be able to report it here. Received a replacement camera on January 14. Customer service performed very well.
Cabela's I50 by Moultrie (5 mp version of the Moultrie I40). We've totally committed to the I40 and I50 for now. they seem to be the only cameras in the $200 price range we can count on.
This camera is made by Moultrie for Cabela's. We really like this camera not so much for its 5 mp rating but because it just continues to take pictures. The trigger time is around 1.5 seconds by our estimation. We prefer still photos. We typically set the camera on High or Enhanced quality and 3-shot mode. The 13 second spacing between shots on this and the I40 is poor in our opinion. The camera operates pretty well in cold weather but the display screen is slow. This is understandable when the temperatures get below 30 degrees F. Like the I40 the SD card excess is a pain in the behind for fat fingered people like me.
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