Trail cam, don't recommend

[TexHunter]

As some of you know I bought some trail cams to use on my job sites to try and prevent theft or catch the perps if they try. I've been using them in the woods this fall with limited success. The last one I bought in May has been back to the manufacturer twice and still not sure how well it works. I have gotten some good pictures and I like the data that the camera gives as far as time, date, temp and moon phase but this means nothing if the reliability isn't there. The other two cameras have been very quirky. I wonder when I go to pull the cards if I'll have anything or not.

The camera is the Recon Talon digital with infrared flash. B&W model. With the price of these camera what it is, reliability shouldn't be an issue. While their customer service has taken care of things, the fellow you talk to get a return treats you like you're as dumb as a bag of rocks. I know what the + and - signs mean in a battery compartment. I have given every opportunity to make things right and I still don't think they are. Lesson learned.

Just wanted to inform anyone looking at these cameras.

[Tejas Raz]

Wonder how many others have had the same experience? Too bad, I thought they looked good... ???

[TexHunter]

Don't know TRaz and they do take good pictures for the most part. For the price though I'd probably go with the Leaf River IR with daytime color. Many of the pictures you've seen especially early or late have to be photoshopped to show everything.

[Gamblin Guy]

Hey Tex,

Sorry to hear about that, I was hoping they would be the ticket and was looking forward to getting one next year. Guess I will wait for a little while and see what else comes about.

Dan

[Bushbuck]

The leaf river IR cameras are not without there problems also. so far out of 5 this year we have sent 3 back. we still have 2 and one needs to go back to to mechanical problems. That will make a total of 4 out of 5 that have not worked well.
I also find they are very slow even with the smallest card. we also have had alot of blank pictures. The deer must also see the red light at night as many of our photos that we do get show the deer looking right at the camera. we seem to have alot of problems depending the time of day and the amount of light as to how far a photo will be taken.
I do not really care for the red light sensor thing to test if the camera is picking you up also. The little screen is almost useless to view pictures in the daytime and a reader is a must. it makes it difficult also if you are setting up a camera and You want to keep checking the angle to make sure You have the hight correct.
I am not sure what else we are going to try, but I feel we are going to try something different than the leaf river ir this time..

[TexHunter]

Thanks for that info BB. Might have to go with home built.

[dbowers]

I am starting to think that building trail cams is the way to go. I had bought some stealth cams cause thats what I could afford. All I had/have is problems. So I know what your goin through.

[TexHunter]

Well I corresponded with the company that build these cameras to let them know my feelings about the bad camera. The head guy called me and they have replaced the camera. The other two I have work great so hopefully the third was just a lemon. I think they should have replaced it the second trip back but the guy was real nice and agreed they should have replaced it the second time. I'm happy now. Going to put this one out this weekend and I'm sure it will work fine.

Although this model doesn't do daytime color pictures here are some things I like about it.

1. Moon phase, time, date, temperature. Good for compiling data if you choose to.
2. 6 D batteries provide excellent battery life. I probably get 1500 pictures on a set of batteries.
3. Easy set up and operation.
4. Has a lock box that is an option. (Could probably make your own pretty easy though)
5. The cameras do a have a pretty good range on them especially for an IR flash camera. I've had pictures at night out to 50 ft.

[Tejas Raz]

That's good to heere Bill. I still like the overall quality of the photos you're getting. 50' at night is pretty durn good! Better than any standard flash which is usually 15-20 at most.

[TexHunter]

Glad they took care of it. 50 ft is pretty good Scott. I'm putting the new one out tomorrow and I'm sure it'll work as well as the other two.

[MoTribute]

Ever since it seems like the flood wall has broken with all the trail cameras out on the market today its harder to find out just what camera out there is any good or not. A good friend of mine pointed me toward this website and it has ton's of useful information about trail cameras. I hope this will help other out in the future when it comes to selecting a camera to use

Here is the website.
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[TexHunter]

I've heard of the site MoT and have read about Game Scout if I remember correctly over there.

[MoTribute]

Yeah they have a lot of good unbiased information over there. I had bought my Scout Guard 550 based on their reviews.

[meanmike]

WEll, I have a Moultrie I-40ir, a model from a year ago that has the better trigger speeds, and I have a Scout Guard550, and I really like both of these cameras, and they both have great battery life, I know for a fact that I had well over 5000 pictures on the moultrie before I changed the first set of batteries!!!( lots of moving weed pictures, as it took me awhile to get things all figured out!)!!!! The SC is so small, its really nice!!!

[ajsokla]

Ditto on the ScoutGuard 550. Taken hundreds of pictures. Never a problem. Put the batteries in in August of 2008 and the're still taking pictures. Getting ready to buy another. Nice price too.