Scout Guard SG 550. Next Best Camera?
09-16-2008 | 09:22 PM
#121
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 93
Likes: 0
From:
RE: Scout Guard SG 550. Next Best Camera?
buy a Moultrie I40 and don't worry about battery life
And..that you would, I purchased an 08' I40 a week ago that I am currently selling, the trigger is no where near satisfactory in a $200 camera. I know the 07's are quicker but they are still at least 1.5-2sec
Overall the Scoutguard SG550's edge out the I40 (07 or 08).
09-16-2008 | 09:44 PM
#122
Giant Nontypical
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 5,195
Likes: 0
From: PA.
RE: Scout Guard SG 550. Next Best Camera?
got my I-40 back today, they tested it to death and found NO PROBLEMS.
YES,mine is 2008 model.
my pictures were GRAINY, guess what they found.
they figure that i looked at pictures on a LARGE SCREEN TV,they were right, my samsung is 61 inch dlp.
they said,YOU CANT VIEW THE PICTURES ON BIG SCREEN TV.
might pass this on to others.
they said smaller tvs and computer is where to look at pictures.
so, i guess my i-40 was not broke,it was my TV.
sorry for getting off the 550 .
YES,mine is 2008 model.
my pictures were GRAINY, guess what they found.
they figure that i looked at pictures on a LARGE SCREEN TV,they were right, my samsung is 61 inch dlp.
they said,YOU CANT VIEW THE PICTURES ON BIG SCREEN TV.
might pass this on to others.
they said smaller tvs and computer is where to look at pictures.
so, i guess my i-40 was not broke,it was my TV.
sorry for getting off the 550 .
09-16-2008 | 10:27 PM
#123
Giant Nontypical
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 5,195
Likes: 0
From: PA.
RE: Scout Guard SG 550. Next Best Camera?
ORIGINAL: Bee Busy Outdoors
I understand your pain
My I-40s have been working good but they are pre 2008 models. Are your models 2008? The 2008 models went backwards with slower trigger times of 3.5+ sec. and more whiteouts. Thats why I have backed off from it until they resolve those issues..................
Joe
ORIGINAL: sproulman
for what we pay for these cameras,you would think they would work.
ALL from what i read are having problems.
my MOULTRIE i-40 is broke again taking awful pictures, thats 2 in 1 month new.
camera industry SHOULD warrranty the junk they are selling for 3 years,maybe that would wake them up .[:@]
for what we pay for these cameras,you would think they would work.
ALL from what i read are having problems.
my MOULTRIE i-40 is broke again taking awful pictures, thats 2 in 1 month new.
camera industry SHOULD warrranty the junk they are selling for 3 years,maybe that would wake them up .[:@]
My I-40s have been working good but they are pre 2008 models. Are your models 2008? The 2008 models went backwards with slower trigger times of 3.5+ sec. and more whiteouts. Thats why I have backed off from it until they resolve those issues..................Joe
MOULTRIE is coming out with something new that they feel will be exciting .
cant find out as it is being kept quiet,for now.
09-19-2008 | 05:51 PM
#124
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
From: Oklahoma USA
RE: Scout Guard SG 550. Next Best Camera?
The cam was purchased after 7/21. I tested every battery with my meter and they were all low. Just this week a buddy purchased a SG550 and when he put his batteries in he noticed the IR LEDs were glowing and would not go out. This with the power switch off. He took it back and got a new one that is working fine but it shows they do have a few glitches. I still love mine. I checked the same camera that had the dead batteries last night. After being out for 3 days and after only 84 pictures, the batteries were at 2/3. My other camera has had over a thousand pics still with 2/3 on the battery. Not sure why this cam has a higher drain.
How do you determine what firmware you have?
How do you determine what firmware you have?
ORIGINAL: Bee Busy Outdoors
On the first part, I am assuming your cam was purchased after 07/21? That symptom of the battery is 2 things. First is the cams purchased before 07/21 do not have the firmware and this was one of the major glitches, battery drain. If this is the case, you need to download the new firmware. If it has the firmware, it could be a bad battery or 2 or 3. Even though they are brand new, they can still be defective. I like to test my batteries with a volt meter before I place them in the cam and out in the field.
As for the reddish tint. It could be a few things. The IR cut off could be malfunctioning. Also it could be how the cam is placed. Facing the sun? Under a canopy of trees. Lighting could through it off. This can be reset by removing the batteries for a while, then reinstalling it. To test the IR Cut off, you have to be able to see night pics or videos. If not, then its a defective IR cut off. Pretty rare so far.
Let me know how that works for you.............
Joe
On the first part, I am assuming your cam was purchased after 07/21? That symptom of the battery is 2 things. First is the cams purchased before 07/21 do not have the firmware and this was one of the major glitches, battery drain. If this is the case, you need to download the new firmware. If it has the firmware, it could be a bad battery or 2 or 3. Even though they are brand new, they can still be defective. I like to test my batteries with a volt meter before I place them in the cam and out in the field.
As for the reddish tint. It could be a few things. The IR cut off could be malfunctioning. Also it could be how the cam is placed. Facing the sun? Under a canopy of trees. Lighting could through it off. This can be reset by removing the batteries for a while, then reinstalling it. To test the IR Cut off, you have to be able to see night pics or videos. If not, then its a defective IR cut off. Pretty rare so far.
Let me know how that works for you.............
Joe
09-19-2008 | 10:08 PM
#125
Fork Horn
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 247
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From:
RE: Scout Guard SG 550. Next Best Camera?
Here is a test to make sure you have the latest firmware. Take some pics at 5MP with 3 picture bursts by walking in front of it or just wave your hands. Go back and look at the pics. New firmware will show the pics at 3-4 seconds apart. Old firmware will show the pics at 6-7 seconds apart............ If they are 6-7 seconds apart, then you need the new firmware but if you purchased after 07/21 chances are you have the new firmware. Did you purchase it from me or another dealer? If the pics are 6-7 seconds apart, you might have an old stock which is rare but not impossible. Let me know how that goes. Also, what brand of batteries do you use?
Joe
Joe
09-22-2008 | 12:21 AM
#126
Fork Horn
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 262
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From:
RE: Scout Guard SG 550. Next Best Camera?
beebusy, thats not exactly an accurate way to test them. Not all the cams without the firmware upgrade had the slow response between pictures. My first scoutguard took three shots in a total of 3-4 seconds regularly. It displayed none of the problems other than alot of whiteouts. Now that the firmware update has been completed in this camera, I get 3 shots in around 5 seconds regularly and way less whiteouts. My three shot mode actually slowed slightly, but whiteouts were reduced significantly. Everything else seems to have remained about the same.
09-22-2008 | 07:20 AM
#127
Fork Horn
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 247
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RE: Scout Guard SG 550. Next Best Camera?
What is the accurate way to test them? This is confirmed with the reviewers of chasingame and HCO. Whatever it takes to trigger the cams. The cam has been extensively tested and reviewed by chasingame and the cams generally did what I stated. If yours didnt, well then, congrats.
09-22-2008 | 12:47 PM
#128
Fork Horn
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 262
Likes: 0
From:
RE: Scout Guard SG 550. Next Best Camera?
I don't know of an accurate way to test them, I'm just passing on an experience I had with my camera which disproved your theory.I think the problems with the cams before the upgrade were so widely different that there is no single test to tell with every single camera. Wish there was. The best way to tell is to look at your receipt! If it was purchased before7-20-08 then it needs the update. I almost didn't do the update to this camera simply because it was working so well, but decided to anyway. It was shipped from HCO in or around 6-14-08, my first pics were on the 6th.
Dave
Dave
09-25-2008 | 03:44 AM
#129
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 55
Likes: 0
RE: Scout Guard SG 550. Next Best Camera?
Turned unit off hooked up the RC , power on and only back lite was on( no info from unit). Then I seen the blue LED for low power . Took home the cam to test the batteries to find .9,.9,.9,.9 on one side and 1.7,1.7, 1.7,1.7 on the other . Does this seem normal ? Thought this cams were switching automatically?