New cams for 2021

Ive steered clear of Spartan because of mediocre detection circuit reviews but it sounds like I’ll have to keep my eye on the refurb sales.

No issues here either.. GoCam.
 
I found the chasing giants cell camera test podcast (ep. #55) and listened to it while driving to/from the land yesterday. There was some very good general info on capabilities, picture quality, case design, app functionality, and data plans.

The one thing that I found painful to listen to was the rant on how many pictures cell cams miss and the detection rates noted in Terry's detailed test process with ZERO mention of if the cams were set to transmit immediately or at set times. They talked about how the cellular service was the big hold up in transmitting large file sizes and how high Megapixel cams take longer which is misleading because thumbnails are much smaller and you could set cams to lower MP photos anyway. They also insinuated that the cell service needed to transmit an entire photo before taking another which also seems to be incorrect to my knowledge based on camera settings. They follow up on these issues in the next podcast but I have only listened to the beginning so far and from what I listened to, I don't get the impression that the test was run with a full understanding of these limitations. [Edit: second podcast explanation made it seem like Terry has a good grasp on these things, just didn't address them in the initial podcast]

It seems the big detail rarely discussed with cell cams is the recovery time - duration after a picture is taken until when it can trigger and take another picture. Trailcampros.com measures this on the cameras they test and if you look you'll see most cell cams have a recovery time of over 20 seconds with many taking over 30 seconds. With the way Terry ran the test, its no surprise they missed a ton of triggering opportunities. The good standard cams have a recovery time of less than 1 second. I noticed reconyx says they keep triggering and transmit later and spartan golive says something similar but also says results are very variable. I'd like more detail on this. My understanding of this is limited but it would be nice if camera manufacturers were up front about this in regards to the following:

1. Can you adjust settings such that the process of cellular transmitting or converting full sized photo files into thumbnail files does not delay cameras ability to recover and take additional photos.
2. How long is the recovery time with each of the camera settings (understanding that this may be variable based on certain settings and cell service/reception - but that can be noted)

I would love to see a detailed test of detection circuits / triggering with an explanation of how each cameras settings were set to maximize the cams ability to trigger and capture photos. Maybe I'll do a test like this myself next summer when the cams are not needed in the field. I currently have 6 different models of cell cams in service with a 7th on the way.
 
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Looks like Wise Eye only has AT&T. Not the greatest for my area.

@SWIFFY I'm guessing there's no firmware update for the Lumen? Don't see it in their list at least.
Ahh... its not a cellular camera. Just a basic LED white flash. I was just bragging it up because it worked very well and took great pictures, day and night!
 
Ahh... its not a cellular camera. Just a basic LED white flash. I was just bragging it up because it worked very well and took great pictures, day and night!

Yeah I was just wondering if it had a firmware update even though it's not cellular. I just put it out Sunday have it set for videos. Love the small size..seems pretty rugged.
 
Yeah I was just wondering if it had a firmware update even though it's not cellular. I just put it out Sunday have it set for videos. Love the small size..seems pretty rugged.
Oh I gotcha. Im no help there. Not sure about any update. I have not tried videos on the Lumen, it'll be fun to see how yours look. Good luck!
 
I tried out my new Spartan go camera. I have to say I'm beyond impressed. The camera worked perfect with clear day and night pics. Unlike my Browning that takes terrible night pics. I put the cam out Saturday. Sunday I checked the pics on my phone and this bear was in front of the cam while I was in the pole barn. I waited a few hours before I cleared out that stand.
 

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This is a long story so I will shorten it as much as I can. I have used trail cams since they had the old school white flash and took 35 MM film, to check the pics you had to take them to get them developed and wait 5-7 days to pick the pictures up. I have always struggled with cams, typically I lose the night vision aspect first so it takes a video of just a black screen, if deer were close to the cam I would see nothing but glowing eyes. Most of the cams I have used religiously took videos of the back half of the deer only when they walk through at a normal walking pace so I have no idea if it was a buck or doe.
Most of my cams were cheapo to mid-grade price so 4 years ago I got tired of it all and said screw it, instead of buying a new gun I bought a 3 pack of Cuddieback's with the fastest trigger speed for $450 that sold individually locally for almost $200 each. After the first full season, 2 cams started to take the all black night time videos and last year all 3 were doing it. I did try to get Cuddieback to make good on the warranty on the first 2 but they wouldn't for a reason I don't recall, I think they had sat on a shelf before I bought them and by the time I bought and used them they didn't even sell that model anymore (fuzzy on the details). They did offer to take my cams and in turn sell me new ones at a discount but it wasn't much of a discount and basically I was buying 2 new cams, I don't have that kind of money for cams I already bought.

Anyway, I always change batteries before putting them out for the season. I think where I am killing the cameras is, I always leave them running past the end of deer season so I have an idea what bucks made it through the orange army gauntlet and just leave them until the batteries die. I recall saying that to Cuddieback and they basically said "no, batteries die all the time without damaging the cameras" or something similar. Maybe I am just THAT unlucky to have the same constant issue with cameras no matter the brand I buy or how spendy they are.
Am I doing something wrong or really just that unlucky?
What is a bulletproof camera that you guys would recommend that doesn't break the bank?
 
This is a long story so I will shorten it as much as I can. I have used trail cams since they had the old school white flash and took 35 MM film, to check the pics you had to take them to get them developed and wait 5-7 days to pick the pictures up. I have always struggled with cams, typically I lose the night vision aspect first so it takes a video of just a black screen, if deer were close to the cam I would see nothing but glowing eyes. Most of the cams I have used religiously took videos of the back half of the deer only when they walk through at a normal walking pace so I have no idea if it was a buck or doe.
Most of my cams were cheapo to mid-grade price so 4 years ago I got tired of it all and said screw it, instead of buying a new gun I bought a 3 pack of Cuddieback's with the fastest trigger speed for $450 that sold individually locally for almost $200 each. After the first full season, 2 cams started to take the all black night time videos and last year all 3 were doing it. I did try to get Cuddieback to make good on the warranty on the first 2 but they wouldn't for a reason I don't recall, I think they had sat on a shelf before I bought them and by the time I bought and used them they didn't even sell that model anymore (fuzzy on the details). They did offer to take my cams and in turn sell me new ones at a discount but it wasn't much of a discount and basically I was buying 2 new cams, I don't have that kind of money for cams I already bought.

Anyway, I always change batteries before putting them out for the season. I think where I am killing the cameras is, I always leave them running past the end of deer season so I have an idea what bucks made it through the orange army gauntlet and just leave them until the batteries die. I recall saying that to Cuddieback and they basically said "no, batteries die all the time without damaging the cameras" or something similar. Maybe I am just THAT unlucky to have the same constant issue with cameras no matter the brand I buy or how spendy they are.
Am I doing something wrong or really just that unlucky?
What is a bulletproof camera that you guys would recommend that doesn't break the bank?

I don’t think you’ll find a “bulletproof” camera that doesn’t break the bank. These are fairly sophisticated devices that get left out in the elements year round and the race to the bottom (price wise) hasn’t done anything to make them more reliable.

Im new here and gather there is pretty active involvement from cuddeback, so hopefully this doesn’t stir things up but - if you try to find reviews on cuddeback from what seems to be the most detailed and fair reviews on the web (trailcampros.com), you’ll find that cuddeback evidently didn’t like results of said detailed reviews being shared. There are other similar instances out there as well. That sends enough red flags for me to avoid cuddeback despite the theory of cuddelink being very attractive.

I’ve had good luck with browning dark ops trail cams. They aren’t perfect, sun glare can cause false trigger issues, night pictures are mediocre (like many black flash cams), and function seems to really slow in the dead of winter (still get pics and vids but I think detection circuit struggles more), but I haven’t had any flat out quit on me or eat batteries. I think the strike force versions would work similarly and have better night pics if you like red or low glow.

I know the bushnell core series has had pretty good detection circuit, battery life, and winter function reviews but have no personal experience.

Spartan seem to have good reliability and picture quality reviews but less exciting detection circuit. No personal experience.

$70-160 stealth cams have been disappointing in both detection circuit and reliability.
 
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I don’t think you’ll find a “bulletproof” camera that doesn’t break the bank. These are fairly sophisticated devices that get left out in the elements year round and the race to the bottom (price wise) hasn’t done anything to make them more reliable.

Im new here and gather there is pretty active involvement from cuddeback, so hopefully this doesn’t stir things up but - if you try to find reviews on cuddeback from what seems to be the most detailed and fair reviews on the web (trailcampros.com), you’ll find that cuddeback evidently didn’t like results of said detailed reviews being shared. There are other similar instances out there as well. That sends enough red flags for me to avoid cuddeback despite the theory of cuddelink being very attractive.

I’ve had good luck with browning dark ops trail cams. They aren’t perfect, sun glare can cause false trigger issues, night pictures are mediocre (like many black flash cams), and function seems to really slow in the dead of winter (still get pics and vids but I think detection circuit struggles more), but I haven’t had any flat out quit on me or eat batteries. I think the strike force versions would work similarly and have better night pics if you like red or low glow.

I know the bushnell core series has had pretty good detection circuit, battery life, and winter function reviews but have no personal experience.

Spartan seem to have good reliability and picture quality reviews but less exciting detection circuit. No personal experience.

$70-160 stealth cams have been disappointing in both detection circuit and reliability.
I have 4 Browning dark oops. They have been really good cameras, so far. The only complaint I have is night photos. If I don't have a animal within 15ft of camera, you can't even see what is there. I was going to get their cellular cam but it doesn't get that great of reviews. Might be Spartan from here on out.
 
I have 4 Browning dark oops. They have been really good cameras, so far. The only complaint I have is night photos. If I don't have a animal within 15ft of camera, you can't even see what is there. I was going to get their cellular cam but it doesn't get that great of reviews. Might be Spartan from here on out.

Yeah, the dark ops struggle at night if you need more than bucks frame size in anything but an ideal picture setup. We don’t have much for mature bucks or buck #’s period so I haven’t needed much to ID them.

I’d steer clear of their cell cams. The plans are overly expensive too.
 
Anyway, I always change batteries before putting them out for the season. I think where I am killing the cameras is, I always leave them running past the end of deer season so I have an idea what bucks made it through the orange army gauntlet and just leave them until the batteries die. I recall saying that to Cuddieback and they basically said "no, batteries die all the time without damaging the cameras" or something similar. Maybe I am just THAT unlucky to have the same constant issue with cameras no matter the brand I buy or how spendy they are.
Am I doing something wrong or really just that unlucky?
What is a bulletproof camera that you guys would recommend that doesn't break the bank?

For non-cellular white flash for just pictures I'm liking the Covert Hollywood or the newest model- NWF18. Seeing them for $75 for the former and $123 for the latter.

I've had Stealth's DS4K's out for a # of years now with no problems. Around $180...they have different models now.

My Cuddeback's have always worked for me. Have one that is close to 10yrs old now.

One of the DS4K's I got "used" at Trailcampro for $99. This will be it's 3rd year.

 
Thank you all for the input guys, much appreciated! I took notes of the comments and will shop accordingly. With the prices of cams these days it is hard to justify buying a couple cams that only last a couple years, when I can buy a gun that lasts a lifetime for close to the same price. I do very much love the many aspects that cams bring to the sport but who doesn't love buying a new gun? LOL
 
I have a Campark that I really like. I was looking for something like you that was inexpensive yet reliable. I originally bought it because it has built in wifi and you're supposed to be able to download the pictures to your phone from a distance so you don't have to physically pull the card. You have to basically be beside it to download the photos so that aspect has been a disappointment but I have been pretty impressed with the picture quality and camera overall. It's fairly heavy and solid and at least appears well built. We'll see how long it lasts but this will be it's 2nd year in the woods and so far so good. I don't leave mine up year round but usually out until the end of January.

https://www.campark.net/products/ca...v_na3e6mQFl2bJHDP3WL6qFHWRtD07LRoC7zcQAvD_BwE

They used to sell them on Amazon. They have some lookalikes but I think they're knockoffs.
 
I received my Reveal X today from Gander Outdoors, took about 10 days to ship which is a bit long but who knows. Setup was a breeze and I have it in the yard for the night tonight and will deploy it in the woods tomorrow.
Pretty sketchy cell service on my property so I’m anxious to see if it works out there.
I’ll do a review after it’s up and running a bit.
 
Sample of the Lumen on video. The second one in the clip is just to show what a few daytime videos are doing- fading in and out a bit. Most are ok though.
 
My couple day old review of the Tactacam Reveal X. As stated earlier setup was super easy.
My property has terrible cell reception so I was not sure a cell cam would even work. Most of the time reception is so bad I can’t even get a text to go out on my phone.
much to my surprise I set the cam up and it said it had “moderate” service. Once I got back into decent phone reception I had a notification that I had pics. It worked! Camera has been out for a little over 24 hours and I’ve gotten a bunch of pictures, has worked great so far. I even requested a HD photo and that came through as well.
I’ll follow up after this cam has been out for a while but initially I am impressed.
The nighttime pics are great. Super bright and not blurry at all so far.
Daytime low res pic
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nighttime low res pic

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HD photo (camera set to 8 meg)
03921B8E-6453-4CED-BFD0-DD8253CD12A3.jpeg
 
FYI, herd 360 just got some more RidgeTecs in and they are listing for $299 and have a 16% discount code on top of that. I got two more for $512 shipped. MRSP on these is $400.

I’m pretty much settled on RidgeTec unless they start having more issues. My 3 right now cost me $18/month and you can get 1080 video to your phone. Good night time pics even being no glow. Day time pics are not great with some colors being muted and struggle with shadows but they are not terrible.
 
Looking to get the newest Stealth DS4K and came across this place: https://dackoutdoors.com/product-category/cameras
On the Stealth's at least they're cheaper than anywhere else I've seen so far. Took a few weeks to get it though.
 
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