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Best Trail Cam

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FLcracker

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Ocoee Florida and Loretto Tennessee
Was wondering what other folks are using in the woods. I bought one last year and put it up at the farm to see what was going on. Although it captures good pictures the selling feature was the Bluetooth ability to download photos without disturbing the area...sounds better than it is and the customer service stinks....thanks for input
 
I haven't had luck with any of them. The all have their downside so far. I am trying a browning now, we will see. I liked my bushnell until the display went out so you can't program it. My problem is I buy lower end cameras. That might be my problem, but I am scared to spend too much with the experience as been so bad. Two years is about average for me


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Cabelas in Chattanooga has these for $35 on clearance right now
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Ive used Cuddeback, Moultrie, Eyecon, and Browning. The Eyecons and Moultries were junk, the Cuddebacks are pretty good but I love the Brownings that I bought so far theyve been the best overall cameras that I have used so far.
 
I make my own but my buddies have had really good luck with the Browning spec ops, reconyx and coverts (not sure the model of those). I'm thinking of grabbing a couple of the Brownings for the video mode
 
rockytopcop":2r96ez96 said:
. . . . the Cuddebacks are pretty good, but I love the Brownings that I bought so far theyve been the best overall cameras that I have used so far.
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I'll respectfully disagree with you about the Cuddebacks, as imo, they are over-priced junk.
Do agree that the Browning line may be the best thing out there for their price range.

Speaking of Cuddebacks, back when their name was "Non-Typical", they produced some really good 35mm film trail cams, and actually led the way in mass retail offerings of the new digital trail cams (at that point changing their name to Cuddeback). Their very first retail digital trail cams were relatively good (but by the current standards, very expensive and only produced a 1.3 mp image). At about that time, many of us became fans of "home-brewing" our own trial cams using a real Sony 4.0 mp camera and some far better triggering devices than could be purchased (retail) from any source other than Reconyx.

The trail cam industry has certainly come a long way in the past couple decades, and is quite the proof how competition makes the free enterprise system (Capitalism) sizzle in ultimately benefitting the consumer. Did anyone else on here purchase one of those Cuddeback "NO FLASH" (No Count) cams? That was my turning point with Cuddeback. Today, you can purchase a Reconyx for little more than Cuddeback was charging for their "NO Count" units barely over a decade ago.

Think about this:

What we routinely purchase today for around $100 is a superior trail cam (by most measures) to what was costing in the $400-$500 range barely over a decade ago. What's more, today's cams are relatively small in size, and have long battery life using AA's, compared to typically 1-month battery life and using Size D batteries not that long ago.

Life is good and getting better :tu:
 
elknturkey":33xl0qb7 said:
I make my own but my buddies have had really good luck with the Browning spec ops, reconyx and coverts (not sure the model of those). I'm thinking of grabbing a couple of the Brownings for the video mode
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If your video mode usage is going to be mainly at night (typically the case when targeting deer), you may be disappointed with the Browning, as it cannot be programmed for as long a video clip at night as the others you mentioned. That's actually a battery-saving "feature" on the Brownings, but could interfere with your intended primary use. They'll otherwise take comparable video (of course the latest Reconyx will be better, but you'll pay dearly for a little better).
 
Good to know LBL. Is there any others you would recommend other than reconyx for video? I mainly just want em to hang over scrapes. One friend got some awesome video of bucks on his reconyx at night and you could hear all the little subtle grunts
 
elknturkey":swa22w3o said:
One friend got some awesome video of bucks on his reconyx at night and you could hear all the little subtle grunts
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The Reconyx UltraFire XR6 Covert IR is likely what your friend is using, and yes, incredible video and sound.
But it normally sells for $599.99 (plus a hefty tax if you buy it in TN).

Around the $150 initial price point, a couple of standouts if mainly used for video:

Stealth Cam G45NG
- - - and/or the
2016 Browning Spec Ops Platinum

Although I previously dissed the Browning cams for nighttime video, this particular new Browning cam was designed mainly for the purpose of video. Apparently, if a particular cam is programmed to work best with still pics, it's not the best for video and vice-versa, thus this Browning Spec Ops Platinum may not be among the best choices if you're mainly doing still pics.

But note this 2016 Browning Spec Ops Platinum still has a maximum programming of 20 seconds per nighttime video clip. (For prior models, it was only 10 seconds.)

For me, and solely for nighttime video, it would almost be a toss between these two. There are differing pros & cons with each. I don't like having to remove a python cable lock in order to check the Stealth cams; I don't like being limited to only 10 to 20 seconds of nighttime video (per triggering) with the Brownings. Otherwise, these two cams' differences appear mostly cosmetic (outer case design differences with different brand stampings), and I suspect they're both essentially the same inside and made at the same Chinese factory.
 
Im in the cheap and many phase of trail cam ownership. Stealth cams, wild game etc. No more pricey cams for me.
 
Planking":1r6coecu said:
Im in the cheap and many phase of trail cam ownership. Stealth cams, wild game etc. No more pricey cams for me.
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Totally understand, and it can be hard to figure out how placing four $150 cams isn't providing us more of what we want, than placing a single $600 Reconyx.

But as our frequent poster friend Dandy Andy will tell you, some of the initially more expensive cams are actually lower in cost over the next 3 years of operation, especially on a reliable cost per pic basis, longer battery life, fewer special trips to check, etc.

I've been thinking about just biting the bullet and going totally with Reconyx, just can't afford that initial up-front cost! :mrgreen:

At the moment, I have 2 cams in the truck I had to pull because they weren't working or not working right, plus mailed one back for repair a couple days ago (so I have 3 "out of service" at once as we speak). Having cams that don't work (or don't work reliably), it's hard to reconcile their value, no matter how "cheap" the initial cost.
 
I love my Reconyx cameras. The only thing I don't like about them is having to remove the lock cable in order to check/pull the card or arming the camera and then having to install the cable. On the older models all you had to do was drop the bottom portion of the camera to do that. It's a safety feature that won't allow anyone to remove the camera card without accessing the cable lock first. I do like it better than just having a keyed lock on the bottom access door plate...less keys to keep up with. ;)
 
I bought two browning trail cameras this year and both were were bad straight out of the box. Their customer service was poor and reps were rude, charging repair fees from brand new items i had just purchased and never used, I'll never buy another Browning trail camera.
 
I use my Homebews..hard to beat a good homebrew pic. And they last forever.I can put as many Batterys in it as I want .(as long as they are configured right) I just fix em when they have a problem.
 

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