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

[BowForElk]

Checked one of my cams today, had 147 pictures in 6 days. The picture with the 3 elk are from about 30 feet away. So the TruthCam has pretty good detection as well as picture quality. Im pleased.

[bobcat]

BowforElk- great elk pictures!

I like my Primos 35 as well. It was well worth $60.

[BowForElk]

BowforElk- great elk pictures!

I like my Primos 35 as well. It was well worth $60.

Thanks! I was so stoked. I have had my camera out for awhile with little result so I think I'm heading in the right direction! And I agree I wish they would go on sale again I would justify buying 2 or 3 more. Im going back out today to finish checking the rest of the Tasco's and drop a salt lick. We will see what else we got!

[Mfowl]

Sportsmens Guide is having a flash sale on trail cams today (right now) several to choose from.

[bobcat]

Im going back out today to finish checking the rest of the Tasco's and drop a salt lick. We will see what else we got!

Which Tasco do you have? White flash or infrared? I've only had the white flash Tasco's, but last week I got an infrared Tasco sent to me by Bushnell as a replacement for the bad one I sent in (it had fogged up internally.)

This new one is tiny. Smallest camera I have, it would fit in a shirt pocket. I put it out last weekend, on a not very well used deer trail. Hoping for at least a couple pics just to see the quality. From the back yard testing I did, I don't think I'm going to be very happy with the night time pictures.

[BowForElk]

They are the 3MP IR cameras from walmart. They were $50.00. I know which one your talking about I think its a 5MP, walmart had it for $80.00.

I know you get what you pay for but if it takes pics when its supposed to and they are clear enough for me to get a look then i don't care. The only thing I don't like so far is it takes 1 picture every 30 seconds, which sucks. I like the 3 picture option on other cameras cause theres less of a chance to get an ass shot or something. so I'm gonna see what the pics look like and if I get half pictures then Im gonna try out the video option.

[bobcat]

They are the 3MP IR cameras from walmart. They were $50.00. I know which one your talking about I think its a 5MP, walmart had it for $80.00.

I know you get what you pay for but if it takes pics when its supposed to and they are clear enough for me to get a look then i don't care. The only thing I don't like so far is it takes 1 picture every 30 seconds, which sucks. I like the 3 picture option on other cameras cause theres less of a chance to get an ass shot or something. so I'm gonna see what the pics look like and if I get half pictures then Im gonna try out the video option.

Yes, it's the 5mp model, and I looked it up on Amazon, they have it for the same as you said, $80. Not a bad deal for me I guess, since the camera it replaced only cost $40. This one does have a multi shot burst option, for 3 pictures.

I just went and checked it tonight after work. It was in a spot that is likely to get human traffic, so I just pulled it. I'll find a better spot for it this weekend. Didn't get any pictures in the 5 days that it was out there, so it wasn't a hard decision.

I'm actually pretty happy with the pictures I did get (of myself and my daughter.)

Yes I know this is 2013. (I mistakenly set it for 2012)

Here are a couple:

[Skyvalhunter]

Nice pictures and that is a real fine pink backpack you are wearing.

[bobcat]

Nice pictures and that is a real fine pink backpack you are wearing.

That looks pink on your computer? 

Something's wrong. Just looks white to me, but actually it's camo. Which is what I don't like about infrared flash pictures. No color.

But, I'll be happy with this camera as long as I can see antlers on a deer or elk.

[Turner89]

They are the 3MP IR cameras from walmart. They were $50.00. I know which one your talking about I think its a 5MP, walmart had it for $80.00.

I know you get what you pay for but if it takes pics when its supposed to and they are clear enough for me to get a look then i don't care. The only thing I don't like so far is it takes 1 picture every 30 seconds, which sucks. I like the 3 picture option on other cameras cause theres less of a chance to get an ass shot or something. so I'm gonna see what the pics look like and if I get half pictures then Im gonna try out the video option.

Yes, it's the 5mp model, and I looked it up on Amazon, they have it for the same as you said, $80. Not a bad deal for me I guess, since the camera it replaced only cost $40. This one does have a multi shot burst option, for 3 pictures.

I just went and checked it tonight after work. It was in a spot that is likely to get human traffic, so I just pulled it. I'll find a better spot for it this weekend. Didn't get any pictures in the 5 days that it was out there, so it wasn't a hard decision.

I'm actually pretty happy with the pictures I did get (of myself and my daughter.)

Yes I know this is 2013. (I mistakenly set it for 2012)

Here are a couple:

I like the 5mp. I think they are the best deal out there for the price. I like the fact that they are light weight, small, and use double A batts.  I also did a little experiment between the trophy cam, and 5mp tasco. The tasco matched the bushnell pic for pic. only cost about $60.00 less. I'll post some pics of experiment

[bobcat]

I like the 5mp. I think they are the best deal out there for the price. I like the fact that they are light weight, small, and use double A batts.  I also did a little experiment between the trophy cam, and 5mp tasco. The tasco matched the bushnell pic for pic. only cost about $60.00 less. I'll post some pics of experiment

I'd be very interested in seeing those pictures.

[Turner89]

Thats the trophy cam flash in the background. (flash) I think they take pretty good pics.........Last one is a trophy cam pic

[Turner89]

I had to resize the bushnell pic. Tasco in the background.

[BowForElk]

I wasn't able to go check my Tasco's cause they were logging!!! I almost hiked in anyway but....open gate, Active harvest sign... kind of makes me quilty haha. Although my rule of thumb is if the gates closed I'm goin in. And their operation isn't where my camera is so I'm not in the way and I'm almost certain that if they are back there the gates open so its probably a safe bet.


Anyways Ill try tomorrow and get something off those cameras so we can compare them. Those 5MP don't look too shabby! I don't mind the B/W night pictures as long as their clear.

Have you tried the video option?

[bobcat]

No I haven't tried video yet with the Tasco. I assumed it wouldn't be any good, since video rarely is on the cheaper cameras. But I will give it a try.

Thanks for posting the pictures.

[Turner89]

I have some pretty good videos with my tasco 5mp. I'm having trouble posting the video. I've never posted vids

[bobcat]

I have some pretty good videos with my tasco 5mp. I'm having trouble posting the video. I've never posted vids

You need to upload to YouTube first, then post the link here.

[Turner89]

http://youtu.be/2LFG0lz1miI  I think I might have the video. Thanks to my 12yr old son. This is a Tasco 5mp.

[pope]

That's a nice buck!

[bobcat]

The new Moultrie D-333 sure seems to have it all, and for under a hundred bucks.

7mp, low glow, 30,000 pictures on a set of batteries, up to a 10 shot burst. If I get another camera I think this will be the one.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AU6DL9G?ie=UTF8&force-full-site=1&ref_=aw_bottom_links

[h20hunter]

Sorry bobcat.....I know I put Bushnell cams a bit on a pedastal but I'd choose this one....

http://www.amazon.com/Bushnell-Trophy-Trail-Camera-Viewer/dp/B00200C3US/ref=sr_1_7?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1363897173&sr=1-7&keywords=BUSHNELL+TRAIL+CAM

Really....I have a hard time with the size of the cams that take the C batteries. 8 AA that will last all year and much smaller.

I do agree....for $100 it is a lot of trail cam.

[bobcat]

That Bushnell is not a low glow. That takes it out of the running for MY next trail cam. I'm going with the low glows, or the white flash (for when I want color night pics.)

The Bushnell's are just too much money, IMO. They have always had the advantage over cameras of any other manufacturer, in that they carried a 2 year warranty.

But now, and I think I forgot to mention it, the Moultries now have a 2 year warranty. Well, at least the D-333 does, I'm assuming ALL Moultries will have the 2 year warranty.