Choosing a good trail camera

[JamesK.]

I've been researching trail cameras for a few weeks now and can't make up my mind on which one to buy. Any thoughts on which one might be the best bang for my buck?

[h20hunter]

Here is my two cents....get a 5mp Bushnell Trophy. I think they do a great job and last a long time on a set of batteries. In my mind if I have to buy a set of C batteries everyone month or so that outweighs the savings of $50 on another cam. They are small and have a nice easy security box.

[Noiro]

The one I went with. Bushnell® HD Trophy Camera – Brown

http://www.cabelas.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=1355111&categoryId=0&parentCategoryId=0&subCategoryId=0&indexId=0&itemGUID=21d189b9ac101c52065b0b1c4b55f1da&destination=/checkout/basket.jsp

[Skyvalhunter]

How much are you willing to spend? Do you want a flash? Do you want fast trigger speed? Do you want long detection range? Do you need long battery life?Lots of +/_'s

[JamesK.]

Thanks H20 and Noiro, I will check that out. Sky- Id like a camera that has good battery life and most of the places I intend to put my cameras will be closer shots. I wasn't wanting to spend more than 200 on each camera. I'm planning to buy 3 of whichever one I choose.

[Skyvalhunter]

Just remember for closer shot areas if your trgger time is not good you might just be getting an ass shot only or nothing at all. Position your camera according to how you think they might approach. Bushnell has a reputation for a dead spot on detection right in front of the camera but will detect better on both sides.  Consider if you want a flash as it makes people aware of your camera and bears very aware. Also depending on where you will be setting your camera up i.e close to a road or trail you have to plan for security. Some have better security boxes than others and there are alot of home made security boxes out there. If you are going to change the card and batteries often then battery life is not a big deal. If you think it will be a high use area then make sure your cam can take the larger SD cards unless you are checking it often.
IMO if you don't want to spend more than $200 go with a Bushnell like bone collector. Use the litium batts as they last a long time and unlike alkaline they don't leak thus potentially ruining your investment.

[MtnMuley]

Sky posted some good info.  Personally, I'd go with a Moultree.  The M80's M55's D50's.......all have worked flawlessly.  I'd internet shop and pick out a couple in the $100-$130 range.  AA batteries in Energizer Ultimate Lithium.....they will be spendy, but should last most of the year and thousands of pics.

[buckfvr]

Ive got Bushnells and have great results and incredible battery life.  I dont pay extra for endorsed versions of anything if I can help it....no celebs names on cams, and dont need camo.

[bobcat]

The Bushnell's have a 2 year warranty versus the 1 year that most all other trail cams offer. So that's a big plus.

I have about a dozen trail cams, but no Bushnell's. they've just always been more money than I'm willing to spend.

 If I buy a $200 camera I will feel it's necessary to lock it up. So now you're looking at another $50 to $75 minimum, for the security box, cable, lock, etc. so now you've got almost $300 invested in each camera.

For the same $300 I would rather buy three $100 cameras, or even better, five cameras for $60 each and have five cameras instead of just the one.

I only have two cameras that I lock up, the Primos Truth Cam 35 and 46. They are made with a hole in the case for a Python security cable. You can buy the cable for about $15. No security box needed. I believe most of the new 2013 Moultries have the same feature.

The new Moultries are also very competitively priced, and I would be taking a real hard look at some of them.

Another suggestion would be to not get three of the same camera. Get three completely different cameras. That way you can find out what you really like the best. I would suggest getting at least one white flash camera, for times when you want color pictures at night.

[buckfvr]

Let me recommend  www.trailcampro so you can compare trigger speeds and other pertinent info.

[Doublelunger]

Best bang for your buck is the moultrie m-80's.  they are a very reliable camera.

[JamesK.]

Right on, thanks for all the helpful information guys. That helps narrow down my search big time. Hopefully awesome pics to come

[BowForElk]

I have a Truth cam 35 which was on sale for 75.00 and got a security box off ebay for 35.00 and I like it. good pics easy to use. I don't have to change the batteries that often although it does take D cells which are $$.  I had a Truth Cam stolen previously so I got 6" lags and I bolt the box to the tree with a cordless impact. Needless to say my cams don't get stolen anymore 

I just bought 3 $50.00 Tasco cameras at Walmart in Chehalis and set them out last week. Going to check tomorrow to see if any of them worked!! ( I saved the packaging just in case!) I figure if I get OK pictures with a $50.00 camera then theres no need to spend more money! just buy more cameras! And its not a hard hit if one gets lifted. (although I always have a weird feeling mines going to get sent to the Saw Mill someday  )

[muleyslayer#1]

I have a Truth cam 35 which was on sale for 75.00 and got a security box off ebay for 35.00 and I like it. good pics easy to use. I don't have to change the batteries that often although it does take D cells which are $$.  I had a Truth Cam stolen previously so I got 6" lags and I bolt the box to the tree with a cordless impact. Needless to say my cams don't get stolen anymore 

I just bought 3 $50.00 Tasco cameras at Walmart in Chehalis and set them out last week. Going to check tomorrow to see if any of them worked!! ( I saved the packaging just in case!) I figure if I get OK pictures with a $50.00 camera then theres no need to spend more money! just buy more cameras! And its not a hard hit if one gets lifted. (although I always have a weird feeling mines going to get sent to the Saw Mill someday  )

I agree primos are a good camera. I have the truth 35 and the X-cam and both work really good and take great pictures.

[bobcat]

One of the best deals I've seen in a long time, a Wildgame Innovations W6E, for $66. The same camera on Amazon is $131. You can get it from Black Bear Sporting Goods for half that, right here:

http://www.blackbearsportinggoods.com/6mp_Micro_Cam_Ir_Flex_Plus_p/ellbapw6e.htm



They don't have picture of it on there, but you can go to Amazon and see what it looks like: 

http://www.amazon.com/WILDGAME-DIGITAL-SCOUTING-CAMERA-MEGAPIXEL/dp/B0092VUGT8



It's similar to the W6X that Amazon had last year for $50, which some of you may remember. I got two of the W6X cams, and one went bad after a couple months. I returned it and they replaced it with a W6E, under warranty.

The W6E does really well on video mode. Here is one video I got last November with mine:

http://s1140.photobucket.com/albums/n580/bdan68/ONeill%20East%202012/?action=view&current=WGI_0030.mp4