TheLBLman
Well-Known Member
Maybe you got a lemon Browning, but I've had much better overall luck with Brownings than Tactacams. Haven't tried a Blackgate.Neither one has as good of a sensor as the Brownings but the Browning is just an untenable solution becuase of the high cell plan costs and the poor build quality of the cameras themselves.
I haven't had these new cams long enough to know if they also have durablility and quality issues. I will have to see about that over the next year.
I think you're on a good path in comparing different cams, but suggest a minimum of two alike cams to help rule out a "lemon".
You also might take a look at all the very detailed comparisons available at www.trailcampro.com
although doesn't look like they've tested a Blackgate.
Most of us who run cell cams are running more than one of the same brand.
For my purposes, running 4 or more Browning cell cams,
I spend less (just for the monthly cell plans) than running 4 or more Tactacams.
I do agree that the minimum you "can" spend monthly is less with "a" Tactacam.
But my average monthly service cost is overall less with the Brownings.
I typically find some different "pros" & "cons" with different brands of cell cams,
and often, it takes a couple years or more to appreciate differences like longer battery life, higher quality (and faster) sensors, etc., as just a couple the "pros" of the Brownings.
The ongoing replacement of cell cam batteries is an often over-looked item of new users. Most of my Brownings only use 8 AAs, while my Tactacams use 12 AAs. Ironically, the Brownings 8 AAs last longer than the 12 in the Tactacams.
Another way of measuring "costs" is what you spend per great pic obtained.
Hard to put a price tag on all you miss with slow sensors and less reliable cams.