Cell Cam best pics?
Whitetail Deer
I've got a Tactacam Reveal and it does great! But pics aren't very clear and if something isn't right in front of it (a little ways out) it's less than great. It's my only cam. Since I don't really get into the cam thing a whole lot I'd like the few pics that I do get from it to be really good.
Is there something better out there that's significantly better? Something that takes great pics (and doesn't spook deer... I don't want to set something out that gets everything all flinchy and stuff)? If and when I do replace this camera I want to upgrade in pic quality.
Ive had good results with the Browning cameras. Pics and video are both better that Tactacam, hut the cams are a little higher in price. Still under $200 the last I bought some, so not bad. Tactacam works ok for what it is, but there are issues with them for sure. I get almost twice as many pics with the Brownings as the Tacs, with the cameras on the same tree. Ive talked to Tactacam support on this issue, and they say the camera is working fine and cant see anything wrong. Ive tried setting changes and different download times, and nothing has worked. I stopped service on my Tactacams and went to Brownings only. No cell plan with Browning, but at least I know what walks thru now
SD----- Tactacam offers a $9/month additional service to get an HD pic from your cam. That is expensive for just 1 cam however, but easier to swallow if you have more than 1 of their cams. The pics are much better, but if you are looking for super clear photos, I don't think you are gonna get that from any of the cell cams.
I also have a Browning cell cam and the pics are better over Tactacam, but they aren't really clear either, even though they are already an HD pic.
I'm not familiar with other brands, but my guess is that the clarity is going to be very similar between all of them. What you are looking for may not be available and i share the frustration. Just seems to be the nature of cell cams.
I request HD pics of the one's I want a better look at. They are better, but not to the point that I'd like. Grunt, I suspect you are right about the clarity of any/all of the cell cams. Possibly due to sending too much data over cell, so they tone it down? Anyway... I want better pics, doesn't mean I'll get them. Hopeful though.
Make sure your camera is set to the highest pixels available. Still not portrait quality though.
I have 4 Tatacams;you will find the pictures on the SD card much better than what are sent to you.They rival the Brownings for quality.
I'm surprised at a complaint on Tactacam quality. I feel fairly impressed with them compared to the many other cams I've used over the years. My purpose isn't wildlife photography, it's just knowing what animals are around.
A fellow on another forum I visit has developed his own version of a game cam, but his uses a Canon 5D and two remote off-camera flash units. The images he gets are amazing.
I would avoid Tactacams. They are fun while they work, but in my experience, they don’t last long.
Photo quality is ok, and better if you pay for the HD service or pull the cards.
But their failure rate is terrible. I have had 4, and 3 of them have all gotten the same glitch, eventually.
Out of the blue, the time/date stamp will get stuck on Feb 7, 6:28 am, and the battery/s will start discharging every ten or so days.
After returning the camera to the company, they will tell you it is not a fixable issue and offer you 10% off a new one.
Garbage customer service and garbage product.
Mike B, I send you a message.
I'm happy with the Tatacam, it's worked great. I just want higher quality pics and would buy a different cam if there was one that was significantly higher in quality.
Wildan2 - I've got a few pics I want better quality out of from this season. The next time I go in to do something with the cam I'll grab the sd card and give it a look. Thanks!
Tactacams have served me well. I have 8 of them, and recently installed the new lithium battery packs in 4 of them. The lithium solve a lot of battery life issues.
I have 4 Wise eye cameras and have been pretty happy with the photo quality.
I’ve got 10ish Tactacams. I’ve been generally pleased I guess. Pic quality is an issue though and some place i have cams cell coverage is poor and the tactacams seem to struggle.
I’ve pretty much decided I’m going to start switching to the WiseEye cams this year.
—Jim
Jim, Tactacam offers an extended range antenna for areas where cell service is weal. I haven't tried them but have heard they work well.
Sundowner, I’ve bought one. Biggest POS I’ve ever paid $ for. Made my reception worse! Very disappointed, I’d give it negative stars on a review.
—Jim
Moultrie pic
Moultrie pic
I only have experience with Spypoint, (my buddy’s cameras), Moultrie and Spartan. The Spartan pics are much, much better than the Moultie but they cost three times as much so factor in that. The Moultrie cams I have are all on food plots as I just want to see what’s using them so three for one ain’t bad even if the three don’t take good pics. I would avoid Spypoint.
I have Tacticams, moultrie, and browning. My browning are a few years old and the pic quality is horrible. Maybe newer ones are better. The tacticam and moultrie are about the same quality and way better than the brownings. My only issue with the moultrie is they miss a crap ton of pics. About 10 to 1 vs the tacticam. Customer service is great with tacticam and pretty good with moultrie
One thing to be aware of when it comes to missing pics with cell cams is the "recovery" time between photos. It takes about 20sec for a Tactacam to take the next pic assuming there is still movement to detect. Trailcampro is good about giving you the recovery times in their reviews. The Brownings seem to have a quick recovery time. My friends Moultries sure miss a lot because of the delay.
I will agree that the pic quality is very good if you are pulling the cards, but getting that quality in the app hasn't been the case.
Reconyx is significantly better try one... I tried a bunch of others and they all puked out within two years. Wont buy anything else....
I’d agree Reconyx are almost certainly the best, but damn they cost a lot. I am a bit scared to put them at some of my places, and for the same money as 2 of them I can have 6-8 “not quite as good” cams.
But for something you consider secure and cost is no object by all means get Reconyx.
—Jim
I have 12 Tactacam cameras currently out and about 6 stay out on solar year round including a few 3.0. The pics are "ok". Havent had an issue leaving those 6 out. I agree with wilddan2 on the card pics. Otheriwse the quality is OK even with the HD pics IMO. After seeing the Reconyx and Wiseeye photos above, they seem hard to beat for photo quality.
I hadn't even considered Reconx. Likely due to the fact that I'm cheap and don't actually use my cell cam as a tool for hunting. It's just a way to get pics and kind of see what's out there. Even though I'm cheap I'd consider paying for high end (to get high end) now that I know I like having a cell cam. Absolutely something to research.
Yes they are expensive but I have some that have been going on twenty years...Buy once cry once... Whats it worth to have something last for twenty years these days....
I do only video mode anymore - way way better IMO
