Trail Cameras?
 

I am looking to purchase a trail camera to observe grain feeders and food plots. I would like input on digital vs 35mm and brands that have worked well and not so well. What problems should I watch out for? This is new territory for me so any help would be appreciated!

RE: Trail Cameras?
 

I have 2, one of each type and I have'nt even put the 35mm out this year, if you plan on taking many pictures and have the equipment already to view the digitals with it is the only way IMO, I have the Cuddeback and taken about 3500 pictures this year and just on my 3rd set of batteries, I knew when I bought it that they said you could get up toward 1500 pictures out of 1 set of 4 d-cell batteries but I did'nt think they would do near that. The benefits of a digital are numerous, For one thing you don't have to buy any film and pay for developing it. Another thing is when I used the 35 mm I had it set to where it would'nt take anymore than 1 picture every 10 minutes, I was missing alot of good pics. Probably the thing I like best is there is no waiting, just pull the card out and stick it in your computer and you have your photos, delete what you want, save what you want and print the best ones. The Cuddeback has paid for it self already in savings, not to mention the other benefits. IMO a Digital is the only way to go, I wish I had bought one a few years earlier.

RE: Trail Cameras?
 

I have used several different cams including a few Digis. The Stealth 3MP Digi I was not happy with at all, the main reason was the fact that it ate the 8AA's batteries every 4 to 5 days! I also found MANY of my pics just had deer rumps exiting the photo. I then exchanged these for Cuddeback units. They, IMO, are a much better unit and batts last for about a month. There are just a few things on the Cuddeback that I would like to see changed however. I have also tried a Leaf River Digi and this unit, IMO, is THE best one I've tried. In fact, I sent our other units back to Cabela's in exchange for more Leaf Rivers! These units have 2 month battery life, excellent features and options, incredibly easy set-up, and just flat out takes a high quality pic. The only thing I do differently with my LRs is add a MasterLock Pyton to secure and theft proof the units. http://www.jesseshunting.com/site/if...FosCommerce%2F has the LR models with the LCD screen for $319. That's a great buy on a great cam!

Compare the features of the Leaf River with any cam out there and decide for yourself?

Features:

Camera: Digital camera gives you instant picture display on a 1.6" LCD screen. The display screen has a 1X to 4X digital zoom and gives you the option to delete unwanted pictures immediately. Select low, medium or high resolution settings: low is 1.3 megapixel, medium is 2.1 megapixel and high gives you a possible 4-megapixel resolution with the use of software interpolation. Internal 18 Mb memory stores up to 50 still pictures, and you can even choose to record three or 90-second video clips. Memory full icon.
Camera Storage Media: Uses removeable Compact Flash (CF) Cards to store pics. System will support CF card capacity up to 3 GB. Number of pics depends on card capacity.
Independant Camera Use: No, you cannot take the camera out of the unit to use.
Camera Exposure: -1.5EV to +1.5EV and is user adjustable
Camera White Balance: 5 settings of Daylight, Horizon, A Light, Office and Old Picture
Camera Wakeup Delay: 3 to 5 seconds
Outputs: TV Out connection port for viewing pictures on a TV. RCA connectors to TV
Camera Flash: Oversized flash for increased nighttime range. Flash range is 30 feet. Forced flash option if you want flash during daytime to fill in shadows
Manual picture mode: Use this to take a test pic to see what your camera sees. 10 second self timer for manual picture.
Self Picture Mode: Yes
Power Requirements: Uses 4 "D" and 3 "C" cell alkaline or rechargeable batteries
Battery Condition Indicator: Yes, 2 battery-strength icons to view battery condition of camera and sensor
Battery Life: Approximately 2 months.
Data Imprinted On Picture: Yes, day and time
Operation Settings: Choice of Day, Night or 24 hour operation
External Picture Count Observation Window: No.
Picture Delay: Can be set to take one, two or three pictures before entering adjustable pause setting (1-90 minutes). 8 Pause settings of 1, 3, 5, 10, 20, 30, 60 and 90 minutes
Event Counter: Yes, records date and time of 400 events
Detection Method: Passive infrared motion detector which is designed to detect heat in motion within a conical area. Generally speaking, the cooler the air the greater the detection distance (this characteristic is true for all passive/motion sensors).
Sensor Sensitivity: Infrared motion-detection system has a sensitivity adjustment to adjust sensor range
Waterproof: Yes, gasket sealed housing
Case: ABS plastic
Walk Test Light: Walk test LED light for set up
Display: Backlighted viewing and control display to help you see at night when setting up cam
Lock or Antitheft Capability: Steel mounting bracket and steel bar for mounting and securing the unit. User must supply lock and cable.
Sound Insulation: Not needed for digital cameras
On/Off Switch: External On/Off rocker switch
Camo: Mossy Oak Break-Up Camo
Temp range: -20 Deg. C (-4 Deg. F) to 60 Deg. C (140 Deg. F)
Size: 6 1/4" w x 7 1/2" h x 4 3/4" d
Weight: 4 lbs. 1 oz. with batteries and lock bar
Includes: USB cable for computer compatibility, RCA cable, green mounting strap, user manual and picture-editing CD-ROM software.
Warranty: 1 year parts and labor limited warranty

As you can see, the Leaf River is most certainly worth a very serious look!

RE: Trail Cameras?
 

I am happy with this one, can't beat the price for a digital game camera!
http://www.sportsmansguide.com/cb/cb.asp?a=162084

RE: Trail Cameras?
 

Yeah Dicks sporting goods has that same cam on sale for $99 bucks.....may have to get one as a back up to my Leaf Digital of which I think is the best bang for the buck....hard to beat the Leaf it is an excellent cam !

RE: Trail Cameras?
 

Do you have any more pix from that digital??? The one you posted isn't a good pic to judge any sort of quality. In fact, the flash looks extremely week? The deer appears to be practically on top of the cam yet the flash barely lit it up? Also, is there any sort of time date stamp or any way of telling the viewer when the pic was taken?

RE: Trail Cameras?
 

Do you see the doe in the background on the first pic? I have the date time stamp turned off cause I check the pics each day. Lets see $100.00 verses your $300.00 cam. Pics look pretty good to me for the money especially if it gets stollen. I agree there are better cams out there but all I am trying to do is see what is on my property not submit pictures for national geographic. Heres another pic!

RE: Trail Cameras?
 

Geeeee, you're defensive man? BUT,.... in all honesty, I'm looking at your pix through a 17" flat screen and dude they really suck! CHEAP is certainly the name of that cam. I say when I pay my hard earned money on ANY cam I want to SEE the pix! Yours are waaaayyy to dark and it is obvious that the deer are right on top of the unit and we can still barely see 'em? Imagine all the feedback and serious scouting/observation info that you are missing simply because you want to save a dime. I admit, that it is an option for someone not wanting to spend any money but I certainy wouldn't want to suggest the thing to to many folks?

LR photos





Here's one at the first minutes of legal shooting light


Here's one from a good distance away of our white/blonde 'yote

RE: Trail Cameras?
 

Here is some pictures from my Cuddeback.

RE: Trail Cameras?
 

Cool pix, thanks for posting! Here are a couple more from my Cuddeback.

RE: Trail Cameras?
 

Does anyone have any pics with their Cuddeback's with snow on the ground? My pics are so white you can hardly see anything unless they are real close, flash just must be to good.

RE: Trail Cameras?
 

That's what I was saying in some of my posts about the Cuddeback? It seems that the flash "washes out" alot in many of the pics? I actually had to add some color in the Cuddeback pix that I posted because the deer looked nearly "white". The Leaf River seems to capture the "natural" colors much better, IMO.

RE: Trail Cameras?
 

After reading the imput from everyone I decided to purchase the Leaf River Digi. I just want to thank everyone for their imput, I can't wait to get my camera next week and start seeing what's running around the property. I have a friend who has one and it's almost as much fun looking at the pictures as it is seeing deer while hunting. I think it's great motivation to hunt when you know what kind of deer are running around the property. Thanks for the information!

RE: Trail Cameras?
 

One little warning Booney, Game Camera's can be habit forming. You will really enjoy your new LR, and you are right, they are a tremendous help in getting to know whats really out there.

RE: Trail Cameras?
 

IL-Cornfed, Wow a 17" flat screen? You went top of the line there! Looks like your pics are taken while it is still somewhat light out. What program did you use to doctor the pictures?:D

RE: Trail Cameras?
 

I'm just saying that I have your pix enlarged to full screen and they are just way to dark to really be clasified as effective scouting pix with any sort of quality, even when ran through different programs??? Seriously, I paid more for this monitor than most folks do for their weapons JUST so I could view trail cam pix with the absolute highest quality possible. To each his own, I guess? You would be very surprised what you would/could learn with good quality images and dates however. Good luck

RE: Trail Cameras?
 

Timbercreek, He wasn't trying to rip on you, he was just stating a fact. You pictures are hard to view. What good is a $100.00 camera if the pics look like that??

If you don't want to spend a lot of money build your own. They show you how to do it at Hag's House.com. Maybe you can do something to beef up your flash. Those pictures are way to dark, actually I haven't ever seen pics that bad. As with anything, you get what you pay for. It probably works in the day light.

I use the new Penn's Woods 3.2 digital. I bought 12 of them from Cabela's when they had them marked at $367.00. Awesome pictures and the camera can be used independently of the unit. I have gone through one set of C batteries in each unit since July. I average 5 to 10 pics a night.

Here is a sample of mine from about 15 feet

RE: Trail Cameras?
 

Good luck with the new cam booney. They are definitely habit forming. I have both a 35mm and a digital and the digital is without a doubt the way to go. Not evern sure where the 35mm is right now.

I have an Eagleeye and have taken over 1200 pictures with it in 3 months. I haven't been able to check it in a week so that figure should be about 1400 by now. I figured that would have been over $500 in film and processing.

Here is a sample.

John

RE: Trail Cameras?
 

Cybersniper, those Penns Woods models are very impressive! I've seen several on the forums post their pics and they are always great! I wish I would have seen that deal that you got instead of needing to pay $700 for a unit now!!! I would LOVE to have one! Thanks also, for seeing what I was trying to state in my post. The guy didn't want me to just come out and say... "Dude, those pics absolutely suck!!" Like you said, you most certainly get what you pay for and cheap is exactly that.... CHEAP!!! ;)

RE: Trail Cameras?
 

I agree, $700.00 is too much for those, but they are worth every penny of the $367.00 I paid.

The next one I'm going to build the guys from Hags house are getting just as good, if not better pics from their "home brew" cameras. Most of them use the same camera as the Penn's a Sony P-32. Camtrackers new digital also uses this camera. The newer home brew are using the Sony P-41, which is 4.1 megapixels.

I forgot to add that those pictures are on the 1.2 megapixel setting. The quality is good enough, I can fit more on the memory card, and 3.2 are too hard to email because of their size.

Cyber

RE: Trail Cameras?
 

I've also been following along with the many folks that are building their own. It's something that I'm also considering also. One thing is for sure, quality Digitals are extremely addciting!! I've noticed that the lower megapixels don't matter a bit for most of the uses I have for them. As you mentioned, you can send to 'em to folks alot faster and you can't tell a bit of difference when they are downsized for posting on the forums. I've found that the higher resolution isn't neede that much for most applications. I only use my Leaf Rivers at 2MP but with software intropolation they claim I can get 4MP from the unit.

RE: Trail Cameras?
 

Which LF do you prefer DC-1 or DC-2? What's the difference?

RE: Trail Cameras?
 

The DC-2 features the LCD screen, the DC-1 is without. I seen that the DC-1 models are only going for $265 on Jesses. That's a heck of a buy on a quality digi.

RE: Trail Cameras?
 

Is there a cheap device or way to view the pics from the flash card in the field? then you could buy the unit for 265 and have one devise to view the cards...

RE: Trail Cameras?
 

I know I seen on another post once that a guy had went to Radio Shack and bought a lager haldheld viewer to plug into his LR for a larger viewing screen (2.5") and I'm pretty sure it costs around $50 or $60. Of course, IF you alredady have a Digital camera that takes CF cards then you can use that with excellent results. I generally take along my Nikon Coolpix so I can zoom and pan the images while in the field. As a matter of fact, I often times will collect the CF cards in my cams on the way to my stand and then review the pics during any slowtime! :)

RE: Trail Cameras?
 

Has nobody tried the moultrie digital camera

RE: Trail Cameras?
 

from what I hear it sucks.
Im just going on what im told. It looks ok

RE: Trail Cameras?
 

bucky i almost got one but everyone told me how much they suck so i just went out and but a cheap stealth cam instead. its working fine so far