Hey 12 point. How do you make a home brew trail cam? Anyway, I've had at least 4 Cuddies The total cost over the years have been 1,000 dollars. How many are still working? 0 . I could have bought 2 Reconyx and they'd both be in the woods today. I went and bought a Moultrie m80x and it lasted 2 years. Now I'm up to 1,100 dollars and still no trail cam. So, I buy a Reconyx 500. It's only been a year but 20- 30,000 pics and only no second set of batteries. The most expensive is the cheapest. For 150 bucks home brew though I'd give it a try.