I'm not sure about the user error. These things are pretty darn simple. I have a DLC version(extremely similar). The first one I got would only take totally whited out pics, day or night. I sent it back to the manufacturer and had a new cam in two days. VERY good service, but there seem to be a lot of lemons going around.

The second one works flawlessly and take amazing pics, but it does make you think that some of those reviews are true.