What are /r/trailcam's favorite Products & Services?

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You could go with rechargeable batteries if you add a small solar panel to the camera. The problem with rechargeables is that their maximum voltage is slightly lower than normal alkaline AA, so if your device has a strict requirement of 2.7v nominal, then the rechargeables will show low power sooner because they run at 2.6v (for example, numbers are not exact). The solution to this is to change the batteries often.

Alkalines should work well in cold weather for quite some time. We use ours without changing the batteries for 2 weeks in freezing temperatures. Bushnell cameras claim to work for 1 full year on a single set of alkalines. I've even had cameras set up for 1.5mo in stormy weather with hundreds of videos taken and the batteries were still at 80%.

Lithium is more expensive but you'll get consistent voltage out of them. The problem is that once they run low on power they stop altogether. This isn't such a problem for cameras since they're digital, but for drills and motors instead of getting a period of slowing you'll notice that the drill stops altogether even after you just used it.

FYI: The camera used was a Browning Recon Force FHD Extreme. Kind of spendy at $ 170 (I think I paid $ 160), but I've about fallen in love with it, and I also have Bushnell and China clones. Bushnell has problems.

This Browning appears to have long battery life, great picture quality, setup screens and options.

I use alkaline and buy them in bulk from Costco or Amazon. Amazon has them in 100 count for real cheap.

Yes, when batteries are low the menu/display will sometimes go off after a second or two. New batteries fixes it. This happens in my Bushnell cams. Newer Bushnell cams have been a lot of trouble for me.

Other cameras won't take night IFR shots when batteries are below 40%.

If you are going to buy a new one, try a Browning Recon Force FHD Extreme. I just bought one and am very impressed with battery life and overall quality so far. IMHO newer Bushnell's are not worth buying, They used to be good.

I bought this one for my dad a few years ago and it’s honestly turned out to be my favorite camera affordable and has a viewing screen in the camera. We Haven’t had any issues with it. https://www.amazon.com/GardePro-A3S-Technology-Activated-Waterproof/dp/B087G8W2PY?pd_rd_w=KvRnd&content-id=amzn1.sym.f2c818da-d87b-4e54-b2fe-ab9306b41593&pf_rd_p=f2c818da-d87b-4e54-b2fe-ab9306b41593&pf_rd_r=ZX3Z4X4X34YRPA45NV2N&pd_...

Thanks, that was a useful writeup. I got stuck with around 4 or 5 Strike Force BTC-5HDPX models and I regret buying those. Mainly the mount is totally retarded. It loosens up and falls down so it points to the ground. I can't believe that style made it into production. I get so angry at those. I do have a Strike Force Dual-lens and it takes great picture quality.

Have you tried this iZeeker Dual-lens for $89? It has so many bells and whistles it almost look like scam.

I always get poor battery life from Bushnells.

AM I correct that wider angle makes everything look further away?

So what one camera is your all-around favorite?

Moultrie makes a micro camera, which is 1/2 of a normal camera size. It says that the batteries last a year.

https://www.moultriefeeders.com/moultrie-micro-42i-kit

There's also the Shadow Micro Cam by Widgame Innovations, but I couldn't find it on their website.

https://www.amazon.com/Wildgame-Innovations-Megapixel-Infrared-Trubark/dp/B07V7281FT

You might be better (and get better quality) from like a dash cam (maybe something like this).

we have this one. For years we had a little a servo motor from "Add a Motor" but it was fussy, needed to re-set if the power went out, & the motors tended to burn out every couple of years. Not unexpected-- it's cheap electronics-- but as long as I was getting a replacement I thought I'd try this new one. So far, very happy with it. will see how it does through our snowy and very cold winters before I give it a universal thumbs up.

But seriously, it's so, so worth it to automate the chicken door.

https://weather.com/weather/tenday/l/USAZ0247:1:US

Wish I could, we'll be hovering around 100 by the weekend... at least it's a "dry" heat here...

oh and... our genetics are not awesome, but then again, theyre not bad! heres some bucks form the same spot last couple years. got pics of a lot more big bucks from within couple mile radius, but these are all within 50 yards of where the young one was. so like i said, not amazing, but not shabby by any means. https://imgur.com/a/Iiogu

GardePro A3 Trail Camera 20MP 1080P, H.264 HD Video, Clear 100ft No Glow Infrared Night Vision, 0.1s Trigger Speed, 82ft Motion Detection, Waterproof Cam for Wildlife Deer Game Trail https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07YTRR837/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_NMEAWG2N3HGKX61C07TQ?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

1080P 16MP Trail Camera, Hunting Camera with 120°Wide-Angle Motion Latest Sensor View 0.2s Trigger Time Trail Game Camera with 940nm No Glow and IP66 Waterproof 2.4” LCD 48pcs for Wildlife Monitoring https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08DJ5WKVQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_ENVPVVBCGYN7ZRFWNWCC?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

These videos were from this camera that I got on Amazon. I will say, while the video quality is nice, the camera itself is super finicky and does not work as expected. I have the sensitivity all the way up and it frequently does not take video or pictures despite animals being picked up on other cams I have very close to it.

Can you put them up high and out of peoples direct line of sight?

Can you somehow hide them in things like birdhouses? Expect lots of bird pics lol.

I have no idea about this product: https://www.ecwid.com/store/camohide/

Grade pro. I’m not familiar with the brand, but am really happy with the picture quality.

GardePro E5 Trail Camera 24MP 1296P Game Camera with Ultra Fast 0.1S Motion Activated 100ft Night Vision 90ft Detection Distance for Outdoor Wildlife Scouting Hunting, Brown https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08H2417SG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_HF18A0FY8B60NVDG39WR

What about this one?

https://www.amazon.com/Hunting-120%C2%B0Wide-Angle-Waterproof-Wildlife-Monitoring/dp/B08DJ5WKVQ/ref=sr_1_13_sspa?dchild=1&keywords=browning+trail+camera&qid=1625369039&s=sporting-goods&sr=1-13-spons&psc=1&smid=A2698Z4GIK0P0...

I've had decent success with Crenova: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B082VXXGCG

The SD card that it came with was absolute trash, so you need to get a decent one. This one works fine: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08GYG6T12. I bought 2 so I can swap them and pull the videos and pics at my leisure. If you use the SD card that came with it you'll end up with skipping in the video.

I configured mine to record 30 seconds of video after snapping three pictures. It can do just video as well, and fewer pics. The video duration is also configurable. You can see results if you look on my profile in this sub (anything with a timestamp from 2021 is with this model, anything earlier is from an earlier model of the Crenova that finally died on me).

There are almost certainly better trail cams out there, but this one does ok to satisfy my curiosity of what's out there. I don't know if it's missing stuff. It occasionally captures pics/vid where I can't see anything - maybe something small runs below the field of view?

Let me know if you have more questions and I'm definitely interested in others who have pricier cameras.

Got it, so low-glow it is! No risk of being stolen by anyone, the only consideration for me is between getting high quality images vs. scaring the animals.

Bushnell has this one for $160: https://www.amazon.com/Bushnell-Trail-Camera-Sensor-Glow_119975C/dp/B07VFK5LK4?ref_=ast_sto_dp

It doesn't have as good reviews as the cheaper ones I listed above and has pretty much the same stats. Would you still say it's worth it? Thanks for your help.

I usually buy brand trail cameras for $150+, but I got one of these on Amazon for $ 54.00 just to see what it could do. It does OK so far.

There was a discussion last week about low cost trailcams. Since then I purchased two Gardepro A3 cameras with 1080p video and all the typical features. So far I'm quite pleased with video quality and cameras. Now I'll have to see if they survive the rainy Oregon winter. It's even a no-glow.

When each 10 second segment begins there is a popping/crackle sound but that only happens when I combine them to one video. When I play each segment separately there is no pop, so I'll have to figure that out. Otherwise audio is good too. I took this sample in my driveway 50 feet from the house.

If you need C batteries get AA to C adapters. Buy lithium AA’s, long lasting and better in cold weather.

https://www.amazon.com/LampVPath-Battery-Adapter-Spacers-Converter/dp/B01BOX86HU/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1537038078&sr=8-4&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=aa+to+c+battery+adapter&dpPl=1&dpID=51h5rqCImqL&ref=plSrch