Panther2006: If you have your camera at home or close by, try setting the delay for say 15 seconds or even 30 as you mentioned. Cameras at night take more battery power and often need more recovery time before the next picture or video. If you have access to a digital meter, test your batteries. If battery power drops to 1.0 to 1.2 volt, your camera may not fuction properly. All one needs is one battery to drop in power or even a low battery fresh out of the package. If the batteries are working properly, the voltage reading, new or used should be very close to each other. Good luck.