Greeting all - Apologize if this is a repeat thread, as I am not exactly a frequent flyer here. I've seen some of Pat's reviews of the moultrie mobile cameras, but am looking for everyone's experienced feedback regarding non-cellular cameras. In the ozark mountains of MO, I have cell service at 1 of our 20 stands and am not interested in seeing pictures on my phone. I really enjoy the work involved to walk the property and pull cards, and then sift through them on the computer. For us, that's all part of the experience.
Quick rant about these darned cameras... To say the least I've absolutely had it. Most companies hardly make anything that isn't celluar, because they don't profit that monthly subscription. We have used Coverts for over a decade and they have been mostly reliable. Stealth cams, coverts, and moultries we have bought within the past 10 years are always 50/50. We buy a 4 pack of cameras, and half of them have issues, or simply don't work out the box. I'm done dealing with feradyne and others trying to get customer support.
We run about 25 cameras across 400 acres and always enjoy hanging a few more each year, moving them around to different corners of food plots, or throwing one on a big scrape. I am forever biased that half the cameras I buy, will have issues or wont work. So why would I buy a $100 camera, when I could buy double the amount of bass pro $40 cameras? Forever debating in my head whether to spend the extra money, or go cheap. Every year I spend several hours searching something affordable ($60 range) and reliable, but when I find the one that looks right... the reviews are awful.
Thanks for letting a therapeutic writer relieve some stress.... Excited to hear your responses.
Where I’m located, cellular cameras are not allowed. Like you, I enjoy the process of checking my cameras. I’m oftentimes scouting spots for upcoming years rather than real time information for this year. I’ve had great luck with Browning. Recently I’ve leaned towards the dark ops but I have a bunch from the strike force series. If you want more specific models, please let me know. My cameras aren’t out year round. I take them down and clean them up good. Remove all batteries for storage. I allocate two sd cards for each camera. Makes it easy to swap out. My sd cards are never switched between cameras. Stay with the same camera until I retire them. When I talked to covert customer service, they recommended ONN cards. I use sandisk in my brownings. I never spend more than $100 on a camera. Watch for deals on browning. You can easily get them for $80 and sometimes less.
I was just about about to type almot exactly what Bowhunter81 typed.
I had bad luck with 2 brands of cell cams, and went back to SD card versions. The only ones that have stood the test of time and are still around working are the Brownings. I get great battery life (a full season) and they just work. Tractor Supply usually has deals on them after the season.
Without checking cameras against each other and without an objective testing method you’ll have no clue if your camera is any good. How do you know what you missed? Why is the picture blank? Why does one camera take 100 pictures and another one at the same spot take 50? Which ones have the best battery life? Which ones last best in cold?
Back in 2011 I set out to answer those questions and buy the best cameras for my outfitting operation. I bought two of every camera that Cabelas offered with a 90 day money back policy. I tested all of them on a board for 75 days feeding deer with temps down to -40 F. I checked on them daily, night and daytime, walking through them from 2 to 20 yds, running through them, walking slowly. Sending my dog through, rolling different size balls through them, etc, etc and I wrote it all down on paper, pulled the sd cards and checked the results.
It was a mixed bag of results even from the same brand of camera. The only one that stood out was Reconyx. I quit writing down what I did, I just pulled the Reconyx cards and compared the other cameras to it. None were close to as good. So, I bought 35 of them at $500 each and I still use every one of them today, none have died. I had them all reconditioned by Reconyx twice for less than $50 each. That was their HC500, an incredibly good camera.
I bought 10 of the new Reconyx hyperfire 400 when they came out and they are almost just as good operationally/internally as the 500 but not quite, have had some big variability in battery life camera to camera. The face of it also collects snow and blocks the camera and bears can get their claws inside the face and break it apart even with a security box on it. The hc500 is no longer made so I’m back to the beginning if I want new cameras.
So the Reconyx hyper fire may not be the best choice but go buy a bunch of whatever cams with a good return policy and test them out objectively. Browning strike force was the 2nd best camera so I’m using a few of them too. They are a bit too sensitive is all, better battery life than Reconyx though.
$400-$500 for a camera may seem like a lot of money but leaving a camera out for weeks or months in a perfect spot and finding out it died 2 days after I set it up isn’t worth the savings
Browning non-cell cams are what you are looking for. I recommend the "upper-end" models because the night time pic clarity is much better and video is very good. Look at Trailcampro.com for an extra 1yr warranty (2 total) and good customer service.
I have used multiple brands of cameras over the years in all types of weather conditions here in the upper midwest.
I have used Stealth Cam, WGI, Browning and Bushnell to name a few. Hands down and no comparison the Muddy MTC 1000 series is the best camera and value ($) I have used.
I bought a 4 pack from Sportsmans Guide in the spring of 23 for $125. In June of that year I placed them afield and they worked flawless. And still do. I left one camera out from 6/23 to the end of 4/24 and it took over 15000 pics during that time and still had 2 bars of battery life when I pulled it. I was using just plain Rayovac AA batteries.
IMO these are very impressive cameras for a very reasonable price.
Wow great review Mike! Reconyx would love to see this thread. I too use Reconyx (500's) and the hyper fire - have for years - ever since they came out, they also have top notch customer service. They are in Wisconsin and if/when you call - someone who speaks english answers your questions, although i have not called them in several years. They are unbelievable reliable. They will last years longer than anything else. Ive used them in temps from upper 90's to below zero here in rural Illinois - they just keep working.
I totally agree 101% with Mike !! I have several Reconyx HC600. They’ve been outside in any kind of weather imaginable, in the mountains of Colorado, since the day they were purchased. Starting since 2011…. 365 days a year, after all these years, they still perform like they did when new !!! Also have some Hyperfire, cell & non cell. They have a 5 year warranty. Never had a problem. While other guys are replacing their cams every couple few years. No need with a Reconyx :)
My favorite part of having cell cams is not having to drive to your spot and be covered in ticks just checking a cam. I have both but rarely use the non cell cams anymore. Another good thing about cell cams is that you don’t waste time going to check a bunch of cams and instead can be using that time scouting. The big con of a cell cam is when you’re at work and it is showing you bucks all day pissing you off!
I've been using Browning for a number of years and have had great luck with them. I have one now not taking pics sometimes but it's from 2014 so I can't complain. I have recently put out some GardePro cameras and so far so good. Not bad for $40 each.
I agree with Mike. Reconyx cameras are the best, hands down. I have been running them for about 4 years and they have held up great. One thing they do, is they will FIX the cameras, and it’s usually free. My brother has a few that he’s sent back and had repaired after using them for 10+ years. Battery life is great on them as well. I would recommend with any purchase, that you take the time to register the camera online with them. I would also point out that even though a trail cam is cellular capable, I believe most can still be used like a regular trail cam. If you went that route, just make sure it doesn’t have an internal memory card that can’t be removed / replaced.
I have 6 out - 3 different brands. 3 of them are the Muddy (same as buckhammers pic) which do work pretty good.
All of them are the cheaper variety. Couple issues with the cheap models are the night time pics - not very good quality and blurry when the animal is moving.
Meidase P60 off Amazon. Got 4 of them on Black Friday or Amazon Days or something. I think they were like ~$40. Can't say enough good things about them. Picture and video quality is excellent. Great battery life, a color display and intuitive menu for setting up. Lots of other great features.
I’ve had Muddy’s for 5 years and they have been reliable. They have started to not want to recognize the SD cards, but I just keep trying different cards and they eventually take one. Campark has been ok too, but uses batteries a lot more.
Mike, are the Roconyx black flash or no flash ? I am sticking to this option as I have convinced my self some animals notice (a very debatable topic). I am also convinced people notice ! So I try to steer clear of the people who would help them selves to my cameras. I also use them occasionally to monitor my logging jobs I supervise.
Intuitively I agree with the concept of buying the best equipment that lasts a long time. I just not sure what my tolerance level is to having a $500 camera stolen vs a $100 camera. Erik
A little off topic but did anyone else see the news story about the guy caught on trail camera heading to a hunting cabin with a gun?
Attacker was estranged from family and one of the people got a notice on his phone, went to get a gun for self-defense but wasn't quick enough. Perp killed his own Dad and held the others captive for a while.
I have been into game camers since 35mm(film days);lots of different brands over the years.For non-cell the best have been Bushnell and Browning.phaseing out the non-cells as they fail and replace with cell based(Reval/Tactacam). We have about ten cell cameras and wouldn't have it any other way;couple are 120 miles away.
