Hate the cams I own. Looking to buy a few new ones

[Tap]

I now own 3 cameras. One is a home-brew that preforms nicely but it's camera settings are complicated, battery life isn't that great, and I hate the Sony memory card.
My other 2 cameras are older Bushnell Trophy Cams...great battery life, only needs 4AAs, daytime pics are decent, but night pics and blur is terrible and they have been giving me fits for a few years now...Don't you hate it when you set them up in a world-class buck area 1,000 miles from home and anxiously check them 6 months later and they failed to take pics? One constantly misses taking pics and the other misses the animal. It missed a 170" buck that was in front of it a few weeks ago. I was there to witness it The bruiser taunted me at 25 yards! Man, what an animal! 2nd best buck I've ever seen. No bow shot and no pics either
So, I've come into a little mad money and I'm considering buying a few cameras and I'd like to hear some opinions. It's either time for some new cams or it's time to throw 'em all in the trash.
I started looking at some of the Chasinggame reviews, but I thought I'd ask you guys what you like (or hate).

A few things on my mind...
>I'm not looking for a cellular camera. I don't need another cell phone bill.
>I'd like to stay under $200. Really like to be in the $150-$175 range.
>Is there a camera that stamps time and date on videos?
>Some cameras will be set-up half-way across the country and they won't be checked for several months, so
good battery life is a huge plus.
>Small size in order to help hide from thieves.
>Any advice deals?
>I'd rather spend money 4 decent, mid-cost cameras than get one or 2 high-end cams. Can't believe what some of the cost.
Thanks for any input!

 

[Chainsaw]

I don't like the 4 Cuddebacks I have cost* in the $150 range each; sometimes they work and sometimes they come up empty. They are five years old but have been that way since day 1. Still, newer models could be different, I have no idea. The three Wildlife Innovations (three years old but barely used)cost $39.95 each and take two or three good pictures and then shut off for the remaining days they are out. Maybe it's operator error as they all do the same thing.

The six Plotwatcher Pros cost $175 each, some are two years old, some three and they continue to function very well. They do not show details well enough to check out bucks real good or even well enough past thirty yards to tell if the pictures are of bucks or does. They do however flawlessly perform the function of showing amount and times of all daytime deer movement on roadways, plots, fields and other long distance views which is what I use them for. They have an excellent computer program provided with purchase that video plays on my computer an entire day of a picture taken every five seconds in about five minutes. It allows you to play one frame at a time, high speed or low speed and allows you to play backwards as well. Easy to use!

Our two Reconyx 600 cost about $525 each, and have continued to work perfectly for at least five years so far for during the day but the night pictures out past fifteen yards are not so good. Battery life is extra good. Also it is worth noting--wherever we put the Reconyx they capture more animal pictures than all of the Cuddebacks and Wildlife ones combined. I need some additional cameras also and as of right now I'm thinking of purchasing one Reconyx versus 3 or 4 of the same or any other brand for the same total money.

I plan on continuing to use the Cuddeback and Wildlife cameras more for possible trespassers than deer and the opposite for Reconyx.

*costs were at time of purchase and usually bought on sales.

 

[Jack Terpack]

ON the recommendation of one of the members here, I just got a Exodus Lift II. I am super impressed by the quality of the pictures, both night and day. I think it was 183.00 but I am even impressed with the layout of the camera.

 

[X-farmerdan]

I think in the price range you specify it's still pretty much a crap shoot. I run Bushnell Trophy Cams - with 8 AA batteries. I can't rave about them, but they have been really reliable out in the elements now for five years, 24-7. Compared to cheaper, the things have paid for themselves in superior battery conservation.

 

[Doe Shooter]

After the new year is a good time to shop for bargains. Trailcampro is a great site for honest testing and recommendations and research. I bought several browning cams under $70 just before the new models hit the market in the spring. Check Ebay ,but know exactly what you want . I got several bargains by setting my price and going no higher and bidding a lot.

 

[Tap]

Thanks to everyone so far.
Keep the comments coming. Much appreciated.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

[dogghr]

Used to praise Moultrie and still have some that work well. They took amazing pics and I still have some great shots saved from them. But Starting about 3 years ago, they are the worst on the market. I'll give you a bag full. I've gotten 2 Reconyx as gifts. Expensive. Work year+ on Lithium batteries. Probably get more pics not missed on them than any I've had. But they miss pics. I watched a buck in my field this past weekend while he danced around for an hour and the camera never caught him. No sense in that.
Best camera I still run and love and hate is a Covert. Quite, deer never hear it, runs forever on batteries, and takes good pics except they tend to be darker and a little harder to see unless looking on the computer. Have had it for years and it won't die. Only camera that stays up year round. Anymore, best to just close your eyes and buy some, as whats good today sux tomorrow depending on which Chinese is making them that day.

 

[DocHolladay]

So far I have been impressed with the Browning trail cams. Sometimes they are almost to fast with the trigger speed. I have it set for a 30 second delay and will get a nose and then a rear end. 99% of the time, they get the pics I want. I think they make exceptional night time pics, but nothing compared to a high dollar cam though. The distance they pick up movement is great and I have gotten a picture where the deer are so far from the camera, you can't tell what they are. The flash isn't so bright it washes the picture out either. They only make one camera over $200 and you can usually shop around and find a good deal on them. It has long battery life as long as it isn't in video mode. Video mode(20 seconds) gives me about 3 months of battery life and single picture mode gives me close to a year. Multi-shot pictures gives me roughly 7 months of battery.

 

[swat1018]

Get browning. I don't know about the newest models, just bought a couple. Go to Amazon and get BTC5HDE. 2016 model strike force. Unbeatable. I have 15, they are bulletproof. Super-fast trigger, clear photos, easy to use.

 

[Mennoniteman]

I say upgrade with new Bushnell's, those are my favorites over Moultrie, stelthcam or cuddiback. Bushnell has great function and good battery life. I hear a lot of good things about the Brownings too, never had any.

 

[SwampCat]

https://www.trailcampro.com/collections/wildlife-trail-cameras/products/browning-strike-force-hd-pro

 

[Cedar Ridge]

Get browning. I don't know about the newest models, just bought a couple. Go to Amazon and get BTC5HDE. 2016 model strike force. Unbeatable. I have 15, they are bulletproof. Super-fast trigger, clear photos, easy to use.

Second this on the StrikeForce mentioned. I have 5 or 6 of them and they stay out 24/7/365. Love them. Just today I ordered my first StrikeForce HD pro and they are supposed to be the shiznit. I’ve pasted a review from a site that I use specifically for reviews (hope this is allowed). Can’t wait to test drive it. Good luck.

https://www.trailcampro.com/collections/trail-camera-reviews/products/browning-strike-force-hd-pro

 

[John Ray]

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1220007-REG/browning_btc_6hde_dark_ops_elite_hd.html
I have a few of these and really like them. Plot watcher mode is user friendly, battery life is fair, but to be fair I use eneloop rechargeables and they don't last like lithium-but are much cheaper. This model doesn't have the ability to preview photos/videos but I just switch out cards and look at them at home anyway. It does have the infared (invisible) flash(the strike force is low glow) which I really prefer. I also run a Moultrie m990i and a Bushnell Trophy Cam. Like the Brownings much better!

 

[Chainsaw]

Thanks for starting this thread Tap; I had thought that all of the foreign made cameras were all the same, apparently not. You guys have woken me up to the idea that the Browning strike force elite HD might be a good deer camera as it has worked good for each of you. I checked prices and ordered a few earlier today. Here is the best price found ($89.95) after checking lots of places. Ordered them today so I can check them out before hard winter sets in, don't expect Reconyx perfection but they sure get high ratings from a lot of people. It looks like what many of you suggested; hope it is the right one.

https://ads.midwayusa.com/product/4...-_-Hunting+-+Game+Cameras-_-Browning-_-449257

I liked the description of the new model but am more than happy to go with the proven Elite model and I like the discounted prices which apparently is because it is being replaced by the new pro model. The pro model seemed to be priced at $159 about everywhere. The only deal I saw on the new pro model was a Cabela's deal of 10% off everything and free shipping today only for club members.

And everyone thanks for the Trail Pro link. His reviews were right in sync with what I found for the camera models I have tried.

 

[Bigeight]

I wish i had more for a bigger sample size to really recommend them, but our best cam is the IR Cabelas camera. Best night pics/and daytime ones are about frameable.
I've had it for 4 yrs and had zero issues and battery life is good. I'll have to email them to You, posting pics has been a struggle since photobucket got all their fancy upgrades

 

[Tap]

Hmmm, The thing that I see with the Elite vs the new pro model is detection range.
Am I correct...the Elite has only a 55 foot range and the pro has a 100 foot range?

 

[Tap]

I wish i had more for a bigger sample size to really recommend them, but our best cam is the IR Cabelas camera. Best night pics/and daytime ones are about frameable.
I've had it for 4 yrs and had zero issues and battery life is good. I'll have to email them to You, posting pics has been a struggle since photobucket got all their fancy upgrades

Got the email. Those are some nice pics. Thanks Mark.
BTW, Tapatalk is super easy for posting pics.

 

[HB_Hunter]

I run only bushnells now. Most are the trophy cams and I bought 4 last year on sale.

Great battery life and good pics. I've had really good luck with them.

I'll never buy another moultrie or wildgame.


Sent from my iPad using Deer Hunter Forum

 

[Chainsaw]

Hmmm, The thing that I see with the Elite vs the new pro model is detection range.
Am I correct...the Elite has only a 55 foot range and the pro has a 100 foot range?

Bringing up reviews from Trail Pro of the elite and Pro version shows the pro version to have additional improvements besides range detection. In addition to showing the Elite detection range at 50 ft. and the Pro range at 100 ft., they also showed improvements in battery life and day picture quality and improvements to aid in mounting the camera and aiming it. Evidently the Pro has improvements over Elite in most aspects.
I had not seriously looked at Browning trail cams before, with all of the different models there was a lot to absorb.

 

[Fish]

And my one and only Bushnell is junk ..........moisture problems from day one.
Wildgame cams are throw away. Do an adequate job for a couple years, then might need replaced. I buy them knowing that.