I was wondering if anyone has experience with the cheaper trail cameras from Amazon? Both of my 5 year old stealth cams are acting up and would prefer not to pay 2-300$ to replace them. One of the cams will take night pictures but not illuminated, all I get is a black screen and the other will take a picture every 30 seconds regardless if there is motion or not.
Cheaper trail camera options?
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I have two Hawkray 20mp mini cams from Amazon. Used them last year . No problems with them, pulled them after deer season in December. Were still working then. Haven't put them out again yet, but will in the next couple of weeks. 65.99 currently(just checked) I guess you get what you pay for, but I will not pay a couple of hundred dollars for something that might be stolen be it on public or private property.
I’ve got some CamPark T40’s 3 years ago from Amazon without issue. I like there’s a display, no cell and adapter ect required. SPYPOINT micros were just $120ish @ bass pro so I picked one up. Made a few early afternoon trips to check bear bait that was still full during this springs season, with fuel where it is, the damn camera should pay for itself.
Keep the old cameras for decoys.
Keep the old cameras for decoys.
One of the generic ones with one forward and two side facing motion sensors at 45 degree angles is currently my longest running camera. It has been in the same spot for (I think) 5 years now and still works well. These have been sold under numerous brand names over the years and pretty much all look the same from the front - although I think I have seen 3 or 4 obviously slightly different sets of firmware running on them (and likely different megapixel sensors, etc - I don't pay too much attention to specs beyond ensuring they are no glow LED though now).
Right now I am running 18 trail cams year round in all weather conditions from -40 to +40 (maybe ~6 are the 'generic' cheap ones), and to be honest I think they are some of the better value out there when compared to most everything else in the <$200 price range - at least when they used to be able to be picked up for ~$60/ea and you could buy 3 or 4 versus the price of a mid-range name brand camera. I've found an absurdly high percentage of even name brand trail cameras either fail outright or start getting glitchy (randomly resetting the date/time, corrupting SD cards, not taking pictures sometimes even after you turn them 'on', missing me when I know I have went by it, etc...) in my environment after 2 or 3 years so have started thinking of them more as an expense than an investment.
In terms of criticisms I have one of the newer generation ones installed fairly close but perpendicular to a deer trail and I have noticed in lots of the pictures the animals are looking at it compared to other cameras I've used. I suspect the IR filter shutter on it makes more noise when it gets switched on/off than other cameras. This may not be a big deal if you are just trying to pattern does or something, but I feel like mature bucks avoid it after the first time past and it needs to be placed further back and maybe up higher this year.
I have also had a couple of them where the screen dies or gets a vertical line down it within the first few months and them had replaced under warranty no questions asked.... which is better than support I have received from one major manufacturer when I tried to get help on two different models of cell cams that just randomly shut themselves off before the warranty expired.
Right now I am running 18 trail cams year round in all weather conditions from -40 to +40 (maybe ~6 are the 'generic' cheap ones), and to be honest I think they are some of the better value out there when compared to most everything else in the <$200 price range - at least when they used to be able to be picked up for ~$60/ea and you could buy 3 or 4 versus the price of a mid-range name brand camera. I've found an absurdly high percentage of even name brand trail cameras either fail outright or start getting glitchy (randomly resetting the date/time, corrupting SD cards, not taking pictures sometimes even after you turn them 'on', missing me when I know I have went by it, etc...) in my environment after 2 or 3 years so have started thinking of them more as an expense than an investment.
In terms of criticisms I have one of the newer generation ones installed fairly close but perpendicular to a deer trail and I have noticed in lots of the pictures the animals are looking at it compared to other cameras I've used. I suspect the IR filter shutter on it makes more noise when it gets switched on/off than other cameras. This may not be a big deal if you are just trying to pattern does or something, but I feel like mature bucks avoid it after the first time past and it needs to be placed further back and maybe up higher this year.
I have also had a couple of them where the screen dies or gets a vertical line down it within the first few months and them had replaced under warranty no questions asked.... which is better than support I have received from one major manufacturer when I tried to get help on two different models of cell cams that just randomly shut themselves off before the warranty expired.
manbearpig
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I'm not a trail camera expert but it's not a bad idea to keep an eye on Cabela's - they'll often put ~$200ish trail cams on sale for $100, and they always have a free shipping promotion going on for either >$50 or >$150.
They also have free shipping back in case there's a problem with it.
Just make sure you read the reviews.
They also have free shipping back in case there's a problem with it.
Just make sure you read the reviews.
Thanks for all the replies, seems like the cams they are making today are of poor quality and don’t last. I had some older bushnell cams years ago that took 4 D batteries. Never failed me but I was going broke always replacing the batteries. I will keep checking the sales although if my local Costco is selling them I may grab those due to their excellent return policy on faulty items.
Spypoint has a 2 year warranty. I have so far only needed it once, all that was involved was going online to their website and using their chat help assistant. Explain the issue to them and they send you a new camera, you take the new camera out of the box, put the broken camera in, slap the return label onto the box and drop it off at a UPS place (or maybe it was canada post, i forget)
Very happy with this last season. Still on the first batteries
GardePro A3 Trail Camera 20MP... https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B07YTRR837?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
GardePro A3 Trail Camera 20MP... https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B07YTRR837?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
I ordered 4 of the Apeman cameras for 70 dollars each right off of the Apeman website. They are extremely sensitive but take decent pictures. They have adjustments for sensitivity etc. so I am confident I can get them working even better. I believe the senor is slightly wider than the camera lens capture so you get quite a few blanks. One of the 4 took a bunch of night time pictures that were blank but then corrected itself. They are true black out and do not seem to bother game. These are very easy to operate and have a ton of features for the price. They were only out 2 months and not in extreme cold but so far I really like them.
I also received 4 of the Browning Dark Op cameras for Christmas. They were on sale for $129 each at Cabelas. They do not take good night time images without snow on the ground and the daytime images are just okay. They seem much more robust in construction than most cameras, are small and have a very good camo pattern. They are much easier to hide than the other cameras I have. These too are easy to operate and have great features. Time will tell but even on sale they seem a little over priced.
CT was closing out their Tasco cameras for cheaper than dirt. I believe you could still find some from 60 to 100 dollars for a pair. These are made by Bushnell I believe and the new ones they carry (probably the same) are under the Primos name which is also owned by Bushnell IIRC. These are not black out cameras but are very easy to operate and take really decent pictures for the price. They are excellent for knowing what is around but you are not able to enlarge the pictures for extreme detail. They are very limited in features; 1 pic, 3 pics or video but they work every time.
I tried a couple of the Wildgame Innovation 20mp blackout cameras. Again at CT on sale for under 100 dollars. They come with SD card and batteries though so a decent value. Great picture quality and video but no features and a pain to operate. I can't see if they are on or off and they have no features except for 1 picture or 1 video. I got some of my best images on these but every time I walk away from them I wonder if they are on and working, a couple of times they were not and nothing is more frustrating.
Lastly, my son tried a couple of the cheap Stealth Cam cameras. They are unreliable and I would never buy another although I am sure the more expensive ones are better.
I also received 4 of the Browning Dark Op cameras for Christmas. They were on sale for $129 each at Cabelas. They do not take good night time images without snow on the ground and the daytime images are just okay. They seem much more robust in construction than most cameras, are small and have a very good camo pattern. They are much easier to hide than the other cameras I have. These too are easy to operate and have great features. Time will tell but even on sale they seem a little over priced.
CT was closing out their Tasco cameras for cheaper than dirt. I believe you could still find some from 60 to 100 dollars for a pair. These are made by Bushnell I believe and the new ones they carry (probably the same) are under the Primos name which is also owned by Bushnell IIRC. These are not black out cameras but are very easy to operate and take really decent pictures for the price. They are excellent for knowing what is around but you are not able to enlarge the pictures for extreme detail. They are very limited in features; 1 pic, 3 pics or video but they work every time.
I tried a couple of the Wildgame Innovation 20mp blackout cameras. Again at CT on sale for under 100 dollars. They come with SD card and batteries though so a decent value. Great picture quality and video but no features and a pain to operate. I can't see if they are on or off and they have no features except for 1 picture or 1 video. I got some of my best images on these but every time I walk away from them I wonder if they are on and working, a couple of times they were not and nothing is more frustrating.
Lastly, my son tried a couple of the cheap Stealth Cam cameras. They are unreliable and I would never buy another although I am sure the more expensive ones are better.
X2 on the Apeman trail cameras I have half a dozen H55 and the oldest is about 2 years and still going strong (I have several out all winter long without an issue until the batteries ran out in March in Ontario weather) think I paid $55 for the first one and they since increased a slight bit.
Deer in the pic is about 12 yards to the camera and a night pic to show picture quality barrels are about 10 yards from the camera
Deer in the pic is about 12 yards to the camera and a night pic to show picture quality barrels are about 10 yards from the camera
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I read the reviews on Trailcampro to see what features each camera has and how those features are rated. For me its picture quality, battery life and trigger speed. The rest of the features don't matter to me. I won't buy no glow cams anymore regardless if they don't spook the deer. As the pics on the one I had were too dark to make out anyway and consequently it was the most I ever paid for a camera. I buy the low glow models, have had good luck with Spypoint over the years. Long battery life and improved trigger on more recent models. Night pics can still be blurry if the animal is moving but better than they used to be. Also use Primos proof cams, taken over by Bushnell, take the nicest pics of any cam I've ever used but a bit harder on batteries than the Spypoint. This year I added a Browning to the group. Often $129 at Cabela's on sale so thought I'd try one. Have always been rated high for battery use and trigger speed. It's been out for a month but haven't been able to check it to give any reviews on that one. I just hope its working.
Wasnt impressed with the 2 brownings i own. They are super sensitive and have no option for sensitivity settings. They end up taking a ton of pictures of nothing so make sure you not only clear every stick and weed within 50yrds but also make sure the cam is mounted to a giant tree that will not move with the wind. One cam now takes red daytime pics, something wrong with the colour system in it. Overall id buy another spypoint cell for 20$ more any day of the week.
- Location
- The Conservative part of Ontario
I have a number of the apeman cameras working well for several years now, and three of the newer ones. I have an old Primos that's more than 15 years old. and a few of the unbranded Ebay types. My cameras are all out all year long, winter and summer.
The hunt camp has some older spypoints. Two of them are having issues with the door seals, and one was eaten by a bear. I have one Tasco here as well.
Yes, I'd buy more of that old Primos, but of course, it's no longer made. Their new models? I don't know.
All the cheaper cameras have minor issues of some kind. One of the unbranded ones for example has no ability to select video on or off. You get 3 photos and a video every time. If it's a busy spot that can take a lot of viewing time. God help you if you've missed a waving branch in front of the sensor. Be sure you check features before you buy.
The Tasco, has shorter battery life than any of my other cams, and I have relegated it to rechargeable batteries.
None of the cheapies have terrific photos, particularly at night, but all I want is to know where and when game passes, and watch for A holes on my property. Of the newer cheap cameras I like the Apeman models I have. Not knowing how long they will last however.
The hunt camp has some older spypoints. Two of them are having issues with the door seals, and one was eaten by a bear. I have one Tasco here as well.
Yes, I'd buy more of that old Primos, but of course, it's no longer made. Their new models? I don't know.
All the cheaper cameras have minor issues of some kind. One of the unbranded ones for example has no ability to select video on or off. You get 3 photos and a video every time. If it's a busy spot that can take a lot of viewing time. God help you if you've missed a waving branch in front of the sensor. Be sure you check features before you buy.
The Tasco, has shorter battery life than any of my other cams, and I have relegated it to rechargeable batteries.
None of the cheapies have terrific photos, particularly at night, but all I want is to know where and when game passes, and watch for A holes on my property. Of the newer cheap cameras I like the Apeman models I have. Not knowing how long they will last however.
