Cuddeback vs. Leaf River
10-23-2005, 01:00 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 37
Cuddeback vs. Leaf River
I decided to buy a digital scouting cam and decided on one of these two. Does anybody have either of these? Are you happy with them? How is the picture quality at night? day? dawn? dusk? Any pictures for comparison would be great. How do the battery lives compare? I have heard good things about both of these units. Thanks for the help!
10-24-2005, 03:16 PM
#3
Fork Horn
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: N.W. Wisconsin
Posts: 308
RE: Cuddeback vs. Leaf River
For the money, you're probably better off making your own, or at least buying a "homebrew" from people like the makers of the "Snapshot Sniper".
I have a Leaf River (it was the 1st digital I bought) they service people at Leaf River have been AWESOME.
BUt I'm not overly thrilled with the camera to tell you the truth.
I have a Leaf River (it was the 1st digital I bought) they service people at Leaf River have been AWESOME.
BUt I'm not overly thrilled with the camera to tell you the truth.
10-24-2005, 05:17 PM
#4
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Iowa, Dubuque
Posts: 67
RE: Cuddeback vs. Leaf River
MatthewG,
I purchased two Leaf River model #DC-2BU two months ago. I don't have any hands on knowledge with the Cuddeback so I can't make any comparisons of the two but I can tell you my experiences with the Leaf River.
It takes four "D" and three "C" batteries. I bought super cheap batteries and have the cams out for a full seven weeks. The "D" indicator light is still on full while the "C" indicator light is on half (possibly only because I used them for a few hours in a radio first). I don't know how much more life I will get but I think they will last the rest of the hunting season.
The quality is ok, definately not 35mm. Best put I would say the quality is good enough for precise hunting knowledge (ie. number of points on a buck etc.) but not framing material.
The trigger seems slow.The cam is best placed over a scrape, up or down a trail (not across), or anywhere a deer will momentarily stop. I believe this to be standard for this price of a cam, but am not certain.
The LCD viewing screen is very nice and well worth the extra few bucks. The screen is quite small but gives an inthe field view on whats going on. If there arequite a few pictures, which seems to be everytime, I just bring them back and hook them up to the computer to get a blown up version. Then you can store them,E-mail them, print them,etc.
The flash is ok I guess. It's range is up to about 60 ft. or so fordecent quality.
With tons of options it was somewhat confusing at first but did not take long to get used to them. NowI'm toying with some others.
The housing seems very strong and well built. No problems.
All in all I amquite pleased withthe Leaf Rivers, but this is without any knowledge on other cams. I bought this one based on the reviews of "others". Hope this helps and I will try to put some cool photos along with this since I save them all.
I tried to attach photos and am having problems. I will send this in fear of losing it and then reply again with photos- hopefully.
I purchased two Leaf River model #DC-2BU two months ago. I don't have any hands on knowledge with the Cuddeback so I can't make any comparisons of the two but I can tell you my experiences with the Leaf River.
It takes four "D" and three "C" batteries. I bought super cheap batteries and have the cams out for a full seven weeks. The "D" indicator light is still on full while the "C" indicator light is on half (possibly only because I used them for a few hours in a radio first). I don't know how much more life I will get but I think they will last the rest of the hunting season.
The quality is ok, definately not 35mm. Best put I would say the quality is good enough for precise hunting knowledge (ie. number of points on a buck etc.) but not framing material.
The trigger seems slow.The cam is best placed over a scrape, up or down a trail (not across), or anywhere a deer will momentarily stop. I believe this to be standard for this price of a cam, but am not certain.
The LCD viewing screen is very nice and well worth the extra few bucks. The screen is quite small but gives an inthe field view on whats going on. If there arequite a few pictures, which seems to be everytime, I just bring them back and hook them up to the computer to get a blown up version. Then you can store them,E-mail them, print them,etc.
The flash is ok I guess. It's range is up to about 60 ft. or so fordecent quality.
With tons of options it was somewhat confusing at first but did not take long to get used to them. NowI'm toying with some others.
The housing seems very strong and well built. No problems.
All in all I amquite pleased withthe Leaf Rivers, but this is without any knowledge on other cams. I bought this one based on the reviews of "others". Hope this helps and I will try to put some cool photos along with this since I save them all.
I tried to attach photos and am having problems. I will send this in fear of losing it and then reply again with photos- hopefully.
10-24-2005, 06:06 PM
#5
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Iowa, Dubuque
Posts: 67
RE: Cuddeback vs. Leaf River
MatthewG,
I am NOT a computer guy. I had to move them to my desktop, shrink them, then attach them. I have no idea how these will go through. If they do the two nighttime pictures were taken on the lowest resolution setting and the daytime on on high resolution.
I am NOT a computer guy. I had to move them to my desktop, shrink them, then attach them. I have no idea how these will go through. If they do the two nighttime pictures were taken on the lowest resolution setting and the daytime on on high resolution.
10-24-2005, 07:32 PM
#6
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: cazenovia, NY USA
Posts: 2,973
RE: Cuddeback vs. Leaf River
I've been plugging Cuddeback quite a bit this summer. It has really good trigger speed - and OK digital quality. Some of my day pics look washed out, and some of the night pics have too much flash. But... the good pics - are really good. Here are a few - mine is the older version 1.3 mpx.
Seems Photobucket is SLOW tonight - check back if the pics don't show.
FH
Seems Photobucket is SLOW tonight - check back if the pics don't show.
FH
10-24-2005, 07:48 PM
#7
Typical Buck
Join Date: May 2005
Location: SE PA
Posts: 657
RE: Cuddeback vs. Leaf River
overall the cuddeback has been great its real quick to trigger as you'll see it catches these walking deer, battery life is great, flash is great....i would have to say id rather get nightime photos then daytime
