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BSK

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Sorry, just had to vent. But I hate having to shop for trail-cams! Far too much erroneous info out there masquerading as unbiased reviews.

Over the past 6 or 7 years, I had finally settled on one variety of cam because it did what I needed it to do most quite well. However, the company stopped manufacturing what I needed. Now I'm back to looking for an acceptable camera to buy as my old cams fail.

Prioritized, I need:

1) Powerful black flash that can illuminate well out to 70-80 feet.
2) Fairly crisp night and day images, with no fuzziness.
3) A fast, quality trigger.
4) Camera delays that will go down to 10 seconds.
5) Burst mode of at least 3 pictures per trigger, although the option for more--like 5--would be better.
6) Relatively good reliability. I can't have a high percentage of cameras failing during the season.
7) Runs at least 3 months on 8 or more lithium AAs.
8) Don't cost an arm and a leg like Reconyx.

I don't need video or cell-mode.

Any ideas?
 
Look into Covert. I've had good luck out of mine. Moultries are nice reliable cameras too, but I'm not sure if they have a camera that will fit your needs. I've also read that a lot of people seem to like the browning black ops? series
 
I've got a covert promos and browning. Not a fan of the night time pics from the covert but battery life is good. Out of the 3 for what your asking I would go with the browning.
 
The closest thing I've found to your criteria, at a "reasonable" price, is the Browning Dark Ops.

BSK":32dputbo said:
Prioritized, I need:

1) Powerful black flash that can illuminate well out to 70-80 feet.
------- Has it.
2) Fairly crisp night and day images, with no fuzziness.
------- Has it.
3) A fast, quality trigger.
------- Has it.
4) Camera delays that will go down to 10 seconds.
------- Has it.
5) Burst mode of at least 3 pictures per trigger, although the option for more--like 5--would be better.
------- Has it, and then some ------ Even have a choice of how much time in between those pics.
6) Relatively good reliability. I can't have a high percentage of cameras failing during the season.
------- Has it.
7) Runs at least 3 months on 8 or more lithium AAs.
------- Does it ------ and by using only 6 lithium AAs.
8) Don't cost an arm and a leg like Reconyx.
------- Does it in the ballpark of $150 per unit.
Click to expand...
One more "plug" for the Browning Dark Ops:

It has a very small "footprint" and a superior case design that is less prone to water leak problems.
 
Another vote for browning dark ops. Black flash range is good, not great. Night photos aren't overly crisp, to be expected with black flash. Battery life is fair, 3 months shouldn't be a problem. Anecdotally, I'd say it holds fewer images on a given SD card than my other cameras (this may just be the mp setting). Mine have been problem free so far. Ymmv
 
Vermin93":xta2d2jr said:
Stealth G42NG
Click to expand...
Not to say this isn't a good cam for the money, but unlike most, you cannot service it without removing it from the tree, if you use Python cables for attaching. I often use Python cables, and it sometimes takes a card cycle or two to get that cam "positioned" exactly the way I want it ---- so I don't want to have to move the cam once it's set just to change out the SD card. Otherwise, the Stealth G42NG and Browning Dark Ops may be more similar than different.
 
Information here has helped me decide on my next one. I will try the Browning.

Coverts customer service is excellent but it comes a time when you get tired of sending them back. What really bad is not knowing what you miss when is down and you only check em every 3 weeks,

Don't waste your money on the Extreme Black 60. No brighter, still fuzzy night pics .and not much greater range than MP 8.

Battery life is excellent. Over 16.000 pics when the trigger sticks. Trouble is I have had 2 with this problem.

I would like to see some Browning pics if anyone has the time. Thanks.
 
Mr.Bro":n1casii2 said:
I would like to see some Browning pics if anyone has the time. Thanks.
Click to expand...
Keep in mind it is "normal" to have more nighttime image blurring on moving animals with true black flash, but of the several black-flash cams I've used, none have been any better than these Brownings (at least in the under $500 price range). The Browning Dark Ops seems to have a faster shutter speed than many makes I've previously used, although I suspect most are getting faster as well.





Note how the daytime shutter speed is fast enough to still capture acceptable images even on some pretty fast-moving animals.







And exceptionally good images on stationary animals . . . . . . .

 
Mr.Bro":1u19oq6a said:
Much better pics than my Coverts.
Click to expand...
I've been running at least one Covert Black 60 from each model year 2012, 2013, and 2014, and overall, the Browning Dark Ops has produced at least slightly better images. Not meaning to knock Covert, as I believe they're one of the better lines, and their customer service may be the best in the industry, but I've had fewer problems with the Brownings, and for several reasons, like the Browning Dark Ops more than the Covert Black 60.
 
well if money wasnt an issue the new reconyx cell cam for $1200

but my best cam is a browning strike force....i have a stealth G42 coming in the mail...we shall see
 
I'll echo what others have said about the Dark ops,great camera..so far. Also having good luck with the new Black flash proof cams from primos. Very fast trigger speed,excellent picture quality..pretty strong flash.
 
Thank you all. I'll check into the Brownings. I've been hearing good things about them. Surprisingly, I've also heard good things about the latest Primos, although they've not been high on reliability in the past.
 
The Dark Ops are $114 on amazon right now. That's a good price, we usually wait till there around $120 each.
 
Covert gave me a good deal on a 2016 MP8 Black due to problems on a 2013 out of warranty MP 8 Black.

It will accept up to a 32 g card and flash distance was 100 feet. I think this is greater than last years models.

Best of all it came with a 2 year warranty. I like this. Tested it last night and seems brighter also.
 
I bought 3 coverts 2 failed within a year. I was hoping to see this thread sooner than later. I'll buy a few of the dark ops and give them a try.
 
My covert black 60 failed within two months and instead of sending me another one they sent a HD40 white flash. They must not have any confidence in the black 60.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk
 
I called covert just today and they are going to send me the correct camera. They preceded to tell me I should have sent the HD40 back since they sent me the wrong camera. Bla bla bla.
Basically it was my fault.
I said yes mam I understand your frustration.
I purchased a camera from you guys it failed within two months, yall sent me the wrong camera back and I feel your frustration cause I spent money on something that doesn't work.
They do have a good return policy but I'll never buy another covert.



Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk
 

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