Game Camera's - What's the best value for dollar out there

frogger

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After 4-5 season's hanging on a tree it seems that my game cam is starting to get tired. It is a Moultrie and I can't remember the model at this point. I like cameras that take D cells for better battery life - Deer season starts on Nov 1 for us and it can get really cold in October and November (easily -20). I am looking for suggestions for a new camera that won't break the bank. I don't need crystal clear pictures but want to be able to pattern the deer and see if and when the big guys are around without having to change batteries every week. Suggestions??
 
The cheapest camera's for sale today are miles ahead of the camera you are replacing in terms of technology and power use.

I don't think you will find a camera today that takes D cells because they are now, such power misers, that AA's will last a least a season and possibly two.

There is nothing we sell at work that doesn't have IR flash, multi-pic options (still, motion), with everything from set "everything" yourself to a couple selections (game camera's for dummies type settings that are a simple click of a switch).

The two things that drive the price are "namebrand" and the number of mega-pixels.

Again, the lowest mega-pixel camera's today would have cost you a grand 5 or 10 years ago - so even the bottom end stuff can take a picture that can be blown up to poster size with great detail.

And namebrand doesn't always equal quality. The most returned "defective" camera's we sell are Bushnell's, the things are just Chinese junk like all the rest, but these seem to break at 5 or 6 times the rate of all the other brands (Simmons, Moultrie, Wildgame Innovation, SpyPoint, StealthCam etc).

I would find something on sale and go with that. If you pay more than 100 bucks you are probably buying technology that you won't need, or paying a premium for a namebrand that was produced in the same Chinese factory, with the same technology, as the lower priced alternative.

Cabela's has a Wildgame Innovations 8 megapixel camera on sale right now for 99 bucks - more than you will ever need...

(personally I use a couple of StealthCam Skout's and a Wildgame Innovation (older version of the Blade 5 now) - bought them on-sale for well under 100 bucks - I'm not brand loyal at all - whatever is cheap so I won't cry too hard if they get ripped off or die after a couple of seasons - I don't need a camera that will email video to my smart phone) :)
 
I purchased a couple Simmons Prohunter 6mp cams from Sail a few years ago. I got them on clearance and with the Bushnell $20 rebate, they only cost $80, down from a regular price of $199. The camera's work very well and the quality of the pictures is fantastic. The camera takes 8 AA batteries, but can run off of 4. A set of 8 AA will easily last a season. The camera has infrared lights for night pictures and it works very well without spooking game with traditional flash cameras. I believe my model has been discountinued, but Simmons replaced it with something "new and improved". Because Simmons is part of the Bushnell group, Bushnell is great honoring the warranty. Also, the Simmons camera I have is designed almost identical to Bushnell's cams so sit fits perfectly into the small Bushnell cam security box....an added bonus. Here are some pics taken with the cam in the 4mp setting. *edit* the quality of these photos are actually of lessor quality then original as they were resized during an email. Either way, the quality is still excellent

66439005-08CF-44C8-9F44-331755973B70_zpsmz3at7d4.jpg

8FF731B6-2410-4C5C-A4B3-CAB62F0F5E4B_zpsdniszoyn.jpg

91A8F678-18D1-4F1E-8C5A-DABDEC3E4499_zpsvepeagcz.jpg
 
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