New Reconyx cameras

[TheLBLman]

Read the customer review dated 06-25-2013 at this link:

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Hunting/ ... t103867380

This is fairly typical of so many reviews where a user has tried multiple brands.

I remain flabbergasted that Leupold put out a junk cam.

 

[BSK]

Im telling you guys, dlc covert black 60 is the best bang for the $$! $139.00

I just don't like the night pictures I've seen from test units. Too blurry for my needs.

 

[nodog]

I tried and returned 3 other cams about 3 years ago starting low and working my way up to a cuddy at $250, none of them worked all that well. I ended up finding a guy who shipped HC500's tmd for $395. I mentioned returns and he said he'd take it back no questions asked, but no one ever did. The reconyx took 100+ times more pics, at a greater range than the other 3 put together.

It's still going strong and worth every penny. It also came with an excellent mapping software.

If I did buy another cam I'd do the same thing, buy them from a place that takes returns no questions asked and set it out for a couple weeks, but now I'd set it out next to the reconyx. If it even took half the pics I'd probably keep it. I really don't need thousands of pics to go through.

I have 2 hc500's and in side by side tests they both work exactly the same. I call that good quality control.

 

[nodog]

Read the customer review dated 06-25-2013 at this link:

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Hunting/ ... t103867380

This is fairly typical of so many reviews where a user has tried multiple brands.

I remain flabbergasted that Leupold put out a junk cam.

yep, i didn't want to spend 400, but to get one that did what it was supposed to do i didn't find any other option.

 

[Mike Belt]

I couldn't agree more with you guys about the price of the ReconyX cameras. They're expensive and I can't believe I paid the money I did. Right now I don't regret it for a minute. Compared to what I spent prior to that on cameras and batteries, and the frustrations experienced along the way not to mention all the lost time and effort, I've averaged more pictures at a less than yearly average cost of prior units. I'd still pay their asking price for more cameras. All the downsides to other units following the hype of their effectiveness has made me highly skeptical. I don't have the time, money, or inclination to experiment. I'll continue using a camera that I have 100% faith in each and every time I set it out.

 

[JCDEERMAN]

Right on the money, Mike

 

[PickettSFHunter]

Reliability is number 1 for me, I have to be able to count on my cameras workings. If I didnt homebrew I would definitely be buying Reconyx, I just wouldnt be able to afford as many as I have now. I just hope they keep up with their QC.

 

[BSK]

I completely understand what you're saying smstone22. I just keep holding out hope (and Wes would say it's a false hope!) that one of these other camera makers will begin to equal the quality of Reconyx. So far, I haven't found a company with Reconyx's quality, but I do think a couple of the Chinese cam manufacturers have made big strides in the last 2 years.

In fact, I'm about to bet another $500-600 on more equipment from a Chinese company. Let's hope I don't lose that bet!

 

[TheLBLman]

I completely understand what you're saying smstone22. I just keep holding out hope (and Wes would say it's a false hope!) that one of these other camera makers will begin to equal the quality of Reconyx. So far, I haven't found a company with Reconyx's quality, but I do think a couple of the Chinese cam manufacturers have made big strides in the last 2 years.

Actually, BSK, I agree with you.
I also have hope that eventually the competition of the free-enterprise system will raise the quality control, make the innovations sizzle, and lower prices = all equaling much greater value to the end consumer.

It's just that the progress has been remarkably slow compared say to regular cameras and computers.

In fact, I'm about to bet another $500-600 on more equipment from a Chinese company. Let's hope I don't lose that bet!

I hope you win that bet, but I consider the odds still too low for me to take. Let someone else be the guinea pig.

With the relatively cheap high-quality regular cameras coming out of Japan, I'm surprised some innovating Japanese company hasn't jumped on producing trail cams. They COULD produce quality trails cams for about the same price as the Chinese junk.

All we need is a company like Nikon or Sony to simply start putting together something similar to what homebrewers are currently doing, using their proven real cameras (instead of those cheap "image processors" used by the Chinese), and they could corner the market overnight.

 

[TheAirMan]

Reconyx cameras may be great but for the price, I'd rather build 5 homebrews.

 

[Boone 58]

No Reconyx camera is worth 1/2 the price they charge. I can buy 4 $150 cams and get WAY more pics out of them.

I am NOT gonna pay a Reconyx price for any cam..........my limit is around the 100~120 mark............so I am watchful for a deal. Also, I am not using anything but AA batteries, no more c or d's................ :whistle:

 

[BSK]

I also have hope that eventually the competition of the free-enterprise system will raise the quality control, make the innovations sizzle, and lower prices = all equaling much greater value to the end consumer.

It's just that the progress has been remarkably slow compared say to regular cameras and computers.

Agreed.

All we need is a company like Nikon or Sony to simply start putting together something similar to what homebrewers are currently doing, using their proven real cameras (instead of those cheap "image processors" used by the Chinese), and they could corner the market overnight.

I've wondered the same. The explanation I've heard is that the trail-cam market is too small for the big digital camera makers to get involved. Personally, I question that, considering the millions of trail-cams that are bought each year.

 

[BSK]

Also, I am not using anything but AA batteries, no more c or d's................ :whistle:

Good point Boone 58. I really do hate having to buy C-cells for my Reconyx cameras. I like cams that use AAs. Lithium AAs last a long, long time.

Any Reconyx users out there that use the C-cell to AA adapter? I wouldn't mind loading my Reconyx cams with 12 Lithium AAs instead of 6 C-cells. I bet 12 Lithium AAs would last all season.

 

[BSK]

Reconyx cameras may be great but for the price, I'd rather build 5 homebrews.

If someone could build truly black-flash homebrews, I would be interested.

 

[Mike Belt]

BSK---I do and have been for the last 4 years but mine takes the same number of AA's as it did C's. The only difference is the sleeves. They're the same size (diameter) as the C's but the AA's fit into them and stack just like the C's do inside the unit. I can run about 1 1/2 years off a set of Lithiums running cameras 4-5 months a season. The only thing I have to watch for is since the AA's are smaller diameter than the sleeves and the opposite terminals of the batteries have to make contact there is a chance they will separate just enough in the sleeves to lose that contact. You just have to remember to check on that after setting the camera up and walking away and you're good to go.

I'm not sure what the sleeves are made of. It looks like some kind of composite material. I got mine from ReconyX but I'm betting you could make them from anything if they were the same size diameter.

 

[TheLBLman]

All we need is a company like Nikon or Sony to simply start putting together something similar to what homebrewers are currently doing, using their proven real cameras (instead of those cheap "image processors" used by the Chinese), and they could corner the market overnight.

I've wondered the same. The explanation I've heard is that the trail-cam market is too small for the big digital camera makers to get involved. Personally, I question that, considering the millions of trail-cams that are bought each year.

IMO, a big company like Sony or Nikon has really missed this opportunity --- but I'd sure welcome them to PLEASE jump in first thing in the morning.

Look at it this way.
They are already making the cameras, which are superior to everything being sold commercially as "trail cams". In the regular camera market, big as it is, a company such as Nikon or Sony has not dominated it, as they have broad competition from other quality companies such as Canon, Olympus, Pentax, Fuji, Leica, Ricoh, etc.

Let's say Nikon decided to offer "trail cams" using any of their regular "point & shoot" cameras in the 12 to 16mp range, costing around $100. Within a year, I believe they would sell more trail cams than Bushnell has sold in the past year. What would that do to their "market share" in the camera business?

I think Nikon has overlooked a tremendous opportunity for themselves, particularly since Nikon is already a popular "brand name" for binoculars, cameras, and riflescopes among those who are also purchasing trail cams. And unlike Bushnell, Nikon makes a quality camera. Just would be so easy for them to pair one of their cameras with a quality box (such as SnapShotSniper), have a similar price point to Bushnell, while providing superior quality for that price, even far superior image quality to Reconyx (for half the price).

 

[JCDEERMAN]

Also, I am not using anything but AA batteries, no more c or d's................ :whistle:

Good point Boone 58. I really do hate having to buy C-cells for my Reconyx cameras. I like cams that use AAs. Lithium AAs last a long, long time.

Any Reconyx users out there that use the C-cell to AA adapter? I wouldn't mind loading my Reconyx cams with 12 Lithium AAs instead of 6 C-cells. I bet 12 Lithium AAs would last all season.

I don't know about the adapter for the AA's, but my newest Reconyx uses AA's. I used it all for one season (aug-jan 2011), then again the next season (aug and sept 2012). Surprisingly, it stayed at 99% until around October, then started fading and had to change them. But for 12 lithium AA batteries to last 1 1/2 years and over 15,000 pics, I couldn't believe it!

 

[BSK]

BSK---I do and have been for the last 4 years but mine takes the same number of AA's as it did C's. The only difference is the sleeves. They're the same size (diameter) as the C's but the AA's fit into them and stack just like the C's do inside the unit. I can run about 1 1/2 years off a set of Lithiums running cameras 4-5 months a season. The only thing I have to watch for is since the AA's are smaller diameter than the sleeves and the opposite terminals of the batteries have to make contact there is a chance they will separate just enough in the sleeves to lose that contact. You just have to remember to check on that after setting the camera up and walking away and you're good to go.

I'm not sure what the sleeves are made of. It looks like some kind of composite material. I got mine from ReconyX but I'm betting you could make them from anything if they were the same size diameter.

Mike, I was under the assumption that the adapters used 2 AAs to replace each C-cell. Is that not the way it works?

[Added]

Just looked them up on Reconyx's website. You're right; one AA per C-cell. I might have to invest in some of those adapters.

 

[Anonymous]

Spypoint!

 

[nodog]

Reconyx cameras may be great but for the price, I'd rather build 5 homebrews.

No reason not to if your getting what you want. It would be interesting to see what would happen if you'd put yours up against a reconyx. Just find a place that takes returns and give it a shot.

Don't know if it still works but I bought and returned mine at BassPro. Didn't know it at the time but even after returning them I built up points, bout 20 bucks worth. Won't cost you much to see how good your cams are. No one wants to spend that much for a cam to set out and be stolen.