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Two new black-flash cams on the market

Darton man said:
Why would anybody buy a commercial cam,they can build what they want for half the price, not black flash...
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And there's your answer. I was a dedicated homebrew user until black-flash came out. Now I have more than enough data that clearly displays the advantages of black-flash for unbaited camera locations that I will buy no camera that isn't black-flash.
 
At present, Black Flash is about the only reason I'd consider a commercial cam over a homebrew.

THAT SAID, BSK, still believe many (if not most) trail cam users (especially those new to this) will be happier and get a better value for their money if they go the homebrew route.

As Darton Man stated, a less expensive homebrew will typically produce quality pics that far surpass the picture quality of even the relatively expensive Reconyx cams. Reconyx cams may bej about the best commercial cams on the market (and they are great cams), but most any homebrew produces better pics.

Just what are most users wanting most?

Reliability? Great pic quality?

Maybe with exception to the Reconyx (and cams that cost over $500), is there any commercial cam that's been as reliable as a homebrew?
 
By the way, the daytime pic quality of a 4.0 mp Sony homebrew seems to surpass the pic quality of an 8.0 mp Chinese cam. Both produce clearer pics than a Reconyx.

But nighttime pics?
I've seen nothing even come close to a homebrew that uses a REAL CAMERA (such as a Sony).

For many years, most homebrew cams have been configured using various models of real Sony cameras, but nearly all were rated at 4.0 mp. Now, FiremanJim and others are using Sony cams that have a true 10.0 or greater mp capability, unlike the "interpolated" and exploited "up to 8.0 mp" advertised on many of the Chinese cams. You know something's been misled when an old 4.0 mp produces clearer pics than a new 8.0 mp.
 
I think the thing about the commercial cams would still be the idea that they still have cheap manufactured control boards.

You may get a good one that last for 3-4 years with little use, but with little use, will there really be a need for black flash?

Point being, unless you are running black flash cameras constantly over a parcel of land, I personally do not see the need in taking chances buying any cheap made black flash cameras when compared to homebrews.

When comparing a commercial cam to a homebrew, in terms of reliability, I admit, I would love to have Recoynx. I could buy one if I wanted, but again id rather build 4-5 homebrews. If a couple of homebrews were stolen, still not like loosing a Reconyx.
 
I cant tell you how many times I would be using a red glow camera or a white flash camera and have a picture of a good buck coming to the location the camera was targeting and seeing another 2 or 3 sets of "eyeballs" in the background, then thats the only picture that camera took.

Now with my black flash cameras, I see them coming in to the targeted location and hanging out for sometimes hours and sometimes ALL NIGHT....getting multiple angles of all the bucks, not just the one angle of one buck and "eyeballs".

For me, until a true black flash homebrew is available, I will stick to commercial Reconyx's. And as far as their picture quality (maybe it's just mine), but mine are clear as a bell.

But as all things go, different strokes for different folks
 
Absolutely true Wes, homebrew cameras take MUCH better pictures than ANY commercial trail-cam. Homebrews will also be more reliable than any commercial trail-cam under $400. The only highly reliable commercial trail-cams are the most expensive, noteably Reconyx and Buckeye.

And how you use the camera determines whether you need black-flash or not. If you use cameras just to get a summer baited census of the deer/bucks using your hunting property, I would feel very comfortable using white-flash homebrews. Deer will put up with a lot to have access to the bait.

The strength of black-flash is in being able to monitor unbaited locations for long periods of time during deer season without having to move the camera, especially trails, bottlenecks and scrapes. Although, if you have the ability to visit and move cameras frequently, you can still get good buck inventories from unbaited locations with white-flash. I did so for many years before the invention of black-flash. But that required VERY frequent camera relocation (weekly).
 
Improvements have definitely been made in image quality from commercial cams, but NOTHING compares to the qualiy of images that homebrews made with pocket digital cameras take.

These are homebrew pictures, and not even the entire image. These are cropped out sections of the full image:

07-0102.jpg


07-0064.jpg


07-0079.jpg


buck0912d.jpg
 
Wes Parrish said:
is there any commercial cam that's been as reliable as a homebrew?
Click to expand...
My two 2005 model Cuddeback C-3000s have been great to me. They are getting antiquated with their CF card requirement and limited user settings, but other than that, they have performed flawlessly for me over the years. My only gripe is battery life is so-so, 3-4 weeks during the winter on 4 D cell batteries. With that said, I would not even think about purchasing or recommending the newer model Cuddeback cameras as they are no where near the quality camera the first generation cameras were.
 
I agree on the Cuddebacks Andy. I had 2 that were 2005 (or earlier) and they worked GREAT for about 3 years, then they all died. Bought one more and it didnt work out of the box. Havent bought another one
 

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