Tasco 3 mp camera from Amazon

[bobcat]

I see Amazon has these for $39. I'm wondering if anyone has any experience with this particular model and is it worth the $39? I don't expect much at that price but if they would take pictures of whatever walks by and if the pictures are good enough to see what it is, then that would be good enough. I don't like that they take D batteries but my two Moultrie D40's take D's as well. At least at this price I wouldn't have to be too concerned about theft.

http://www.amazon.com/Tasco-3-MP-Trail-Camera/dp/B00453MZYC/ref=sr_1_2?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1296251104&sr=1-2

[JackOfAllTrades]

I wonder what it would take to install an external battery pack with different cells?

-Steve

[billythekidrock]

A 30 ft flash with a 45 ft sensor? For the price I would try one, but would go with rechargable batteries. I would also pick up a couple 2 gig cards.

[TeacherMan]

someone be the guinea pig and try them out  at that price I would buy 10 if they are ANY good at all. I'm not looking for publishable pics I'm just wanting an effective scouting tool.

[billythekidrock]

I agree. I would pick some up if they weren't using "D" batteries. I am pretty set on rechargable "AA' & "C" though.

[jdurham]

I had a couple of the cheaper cameras.  They worked great in warmer weather.  Once it got cold at night they didn't want to snap pictures.  The flash gobbles batteries too. That is not a problem since the camera is only about 125 yards from the house.  It was the slow or no shutter response in the cold that made me get the CuddeBack.  For use in the summer and fall the cheaper ones work great.  One camera lasted about 1500 pictures before the flash quit, the other only about 500.  My Cudde Back has taken over 6000 pictures from late Sept. to the end of December.

[bigelk1030]

I bought this camera around thanksgiving last year from amazon (I paid $49 argggg).  Anyway, the camera has worked well for day shots.  At night its poor (IMHO), it has a flash not IR, although the sesitivity is good, I get birds such as crows in pictures.  The interesting part is I have had the same batteries in the unit since I first put it out.  Its still clicking pics and still on the first set.

You can see a picture (second one) it took during the day:
http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,64941.0.html

I just bought an IR camera that I have next to this one, I am looking forward to see how much better the IR is, no results yet.

[Wazukie]

I've got one out in the woods right now,  I will be checking it next Friday.  I'll let you know how it works.  The one I bought was from Wal-Mart and takes c-batts.

[bobcat]

Thanks that will help. I'm still debating on the Tasco 5 mp camera that Cabelas has on sale for $80 right now. It uses 4 AA batteries and battery life is claimed to be 6 months. I would probably save enough with not buying batteries so often that it would more than justify the extra $40 per camera, over the one that Amazon has for $40. But it sure is tempting for only $40.

[billythekidrock]

I agree on the longer battery life costing less in the long run. My Bushnells take ok pics, but I haven't had to replace batteries and they have been out for nearly 6 months. Saves on gas too.

[bigelk1030]

Hey bobcat
I actually have the 5mp tasco IR out in the field now hanging with the 3mp that amazon is selling (side by side comparison), early results show the IR is much better at night (5MP), but that was pictures of me walking in front of it, no animals yet.  The 5MP 4AA batteries ran out in a week, to be fair it was really cold that week, but the 3MP tasco (4D batteries) has been going strong since Thanksgiving timeframe. 

The 3MP is about 2.5-3 times bigger (physically) than the 5MP, the 3MP has a password and is very easy to use, the 5MP no password and a bit harder to set up.

My only conclusion so far is the 3MP sucks at night (I can send one to you with a coyote that you can barely make out) and the 5MP may need batteries more often.  I will pull the cards later in the week and can update you on both if you would like more info.  Let me know.....

[Skyvalhunter]

Teacherman with the cold up there it will definately affect the battery life. Best to look at the operating temps.

[huntergreg]

I've got one out in the woods right now,  I will be checking it next Friday.  I'll let you know how it works.  The one I bought was from Wal-Mart and takes c-batts.

I have the same camera. Not the fastest camera out there but I get pics day or night. There are some pics on the link from the one from wall-mart. The batteries last forever in the cam

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,59776.0.html

[Alan K]

Decent pictures for the price, doesn't look like the flash reaches out very far though.

[Wazukie]

so I went out and checked the cheap Wal-Mart cam today.  337 pictures of nothing.    Not sure whats going on, if its the camera or the set-up. All the picture were snapped between 2 & 5 PM each day.  Not sure if its just a very sensitive trigger or what.  It looks like its either picking up shadows or small trees moving just a little about 30 feet out.  I put it on another set for a week and we'll see what happens.