Trail cameras for a special purpose

H Wally

H Wally

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Location
Canada/New Zealand
I'm wanting to get a dual purpose trail camera:
1) 90% of the time as a security camera at the cabin
2) 10% for a game cam

So, requirements are:
IR/no flash or light that would provoke human interest
Silent
Long battery life, or can be wired to a solar panel
Cost below $200
Good trigger speed/image

We can do a pretty good job of securing and hiding the camera as long as it doesn't draw attention to itself.
So, what would you guys recommend and why?


I've read these forums, but none really touch on the silence and security aspects of these cameras much.

- http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=398764&highlight=trail
- Discusses using external light source for camera http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=643830&highlight=trail&page=2

- Starting to read here, so far lots of info :D http://www.chasingame.com/
- http://www.trailcampro.com/
- Security cams - http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=565802&highlight=trail
 
Pretty tall order for under $200, especially the no flash, no visible IR... The only one that I am aware of is Reconyx, but it's not anywhere near $200... Here's a link, have a look at the reviews.

http://w w w.trailcampro.com/reconyxreviews.aspx

WRT long life, I now use Energizer Ultimate Lithium AA batteries (expensive) & they have been working with no issues. Oh ya, I recently went with SpyPoint IR6 cameras because of price point & they take AA size batteries so I can use Lithium batteries as my old cameras with C format batteries were crapping out... The Lithiums are supposed to operate down to -40...

Cheers
Jay
 
I do not think you will find one for under $200. Regular IR flash gives off a soft red glow, so what you are looking for is a Black Flash which only has only been on the market for a couple years, and the prices are still quite high. ($300ish)

Check these guys out.
http://w ww.trailnsecuritycameras.ca/uway_nighttrakker_nt50b.html
 
Spy Points are quiet , but unless you want to stick with the Plain IR , you will be hard pressed to find one for under the 200.00

The Tiny W is ranging in the $300.00 but still runs on IR , The Black light cam's only get higher in price...
 
I don't think you'll get what you want for $200 or less. Save up for a couple more months and get one of the upper end Reconyx cameras. HC500 or 600 is what I think the models are called.
 
These are neat

http://www.hammacher.com/Product/79372?promo=search
http://www.aartech.ca/camsvsp919-smoke-detector-cctv-camera.html

I always thought these might work...I thought the trouble with teh game camera is that they are pretty big and might be diffiicult to conceal



H Wally said:
I'm wanting to get a dual purpose trail camera:
1) 90% of the time as a security camera at the cabin
2) 10% for a game cam

So, requirements are:
IR/no flash or light that would provoke human interest
Silent
Long battery life, or can be wired to a solar panel
Cost below $200
Good trigger speed/image

We can do a pretty good job of securing and hiding the camera as long as it doesn't draw attention to itself.
So, what would you guys recommend and why?


I've read these forums, but none really touch on the silence and security aspects of these cameras much.

- http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=398764&highlight=trail
- Discusses using external light source for camera http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=643830&highlight=trail&page=2

- Starting to read here, so far lots of info :D http://www.chasingame.com/
- http://www.trailcampro.com/
- Security cams - http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=565802&highlight=trail
Click to expand...
 
Scoutguard make a very small model that sells for $159.00. There is a steel security box available for them, and they seem to work just fine.
My advice is to steer clear of the bushnells, between myself and 1 buddy we have had 7 bad or defective Bushnells.
I'm not too familiar with any others under the $200 range.
 
Jay said:
Pretty tall order for under $200, especially the no flash, no visible IR... The only one that I am aware of is Reconyx, but it's not anywhere near $200... Here's a link, have a look at the reviews.

http://w w w.trailcampro.com/reconyxreviews.aspx

WRT long life, I now use Energizer Ultimate Lithium AA batteries (expensive) & they have been working with no issues. Oh ya, I recently went with SpyPoint IR6 cameras because of price point & they take AA size batteries so I can use Lithium batteries as my old cameras with C format batteries were crapping out... The Lithiums are supposed to operate down to -40...

Cheers
Jay
Click to expand...

Hmmm - that's certainly a nice looking camera - just need to find a way to legitimize the price:p Odds are it won't be as necessary to operate the camera in the winter as our place is so inconvenient to get to that thieves seldom show up any other time than the summer or early fall.

Cranky Pants said:
It's over your budget but I would take a look at the Tiny W from spypoint. It has a seperate unit that the SD card goes in and transmits the info wirelessly so you can hide that unit real good.

If they steal the camera, you may still have their pics.
Click to expand...

Hmm - that's certainly a nice thing to have. I'm going to look into things more... didn't notice if it uses IR or flash, have to check again. Decent price.


heavyBullet said:
I do not think you will find one for under $200. Regular IR flash gives off a soft red glow, so what you are looking for is a Black Flash which only has only been on the market for a couple years, and the prices are still quite high. ($300ish)

Check these guys out.
http://w ww.trailnsecuritycameras.ca/uway_nighttrakker_nt50b.html
Click to expand...

Fair enough - I wonder if the LED's could be disconnected on the trail cam and a separate IR light setup nearby to distract the person. If they destroy the lights, whatever... they're cheaper than a camera and can be more easily replaced. I'd almost say this is my prefered route as the camera has to be semi exposed to get a picture, and odds are anyone breaking into houses will remove it from a secure lock box piece by piece to get at the memory.

Adrian J Hare said:
Spy Points are quiet , but unless you want to stick with the Plain IR , you will be hard pressed to find one for under the 200.00

The Tiny W is ranging in the $300.00 but still runs on IR , The Black light cam's only get higher in price...
Click to expand...

Tiny W seems like a good setup. Any idea if it can operate without the use of the separate receiving unit? Just thinking if I'm acutally using it as a trail cam, lots of areas I'm in don't have any human traffic whatsoever.

Big Jon said:
I don't think you'll get what you want for $200 or less. Save up for a couple more months and get one of the upper end Reconyx cameras. HC500 or 600 is what I think the models are called.
Click to expand...

You're probably right, just figured I'd put the limit in to see if there were things that would be otherwise overlooked.

canuckchap said:
http://www.hammacher.com/Product/79372?promo=search
http://www.aartech.ca/camsvsp919-smoke-detector-cctv-camera.html

I always thought these might work...I thought the trouble with teh game camera is that they are pretty big and might be diffiicult to conceal
Click to expand...

In our area we can always hide a game cam under a junk pile :D Mainly what I'm looking for requires function in periods of damp, cold and without any regular maintenance, hence why I went with trail cams. The others might work inside, but generally we're trying to get the people that're snooping around the property.

Fire306 said:
Scoutguard make a very small model that sells for $159.00. There is a steel security box available for them, and they seem to work just fine.
My advice is to steer clear of the bushnells, between myself and 1 buddy we have had 7 bad or defective Bushnells.
I'm not too familiar with any others under the $200 range.
Click to expand...

Much obliged - Bushnell seems the most popular, but that doesn't always mean anything. We can easily make a good security box, even disguise it as a air duct or dryer outflow or something, it's just a matter of selecting the right camera for the job... and preferably running the fine line between being too cheap and just right:D
 
Don't forget that any electronic viewing device like digital cameras, video cameras, cell phone cameras and some kids toys "see" that ir light just as well as the trail cam's do. Many of trail cam has been stolen thanks to the ease of detection. Put it high where it can't be stolen or use that wireless setup.
 
You can use motion lights as a distraction without issue.... Hate to be a salesman here but I have a cheap wildview IR cam for sale in the EE..... it's nowhere as good as what these fellas are showing you but if you want something with IR to experiment at a price that makes it semi disposable it may be a good option....
 
I wonder if the LED's could be disconnected on the trail cam and a separate IR light setup nearby to distract the person. If they destroy the lights, whatever... they're cheaper than a camera and can be more easily replaced.
Click to expand...

The only place I have seen separate IR LED's is from the same place I mentioned in my other post. The regular IR is $60 and the black IR is $110 and they only have a 3ft. cable. At that price its not that cheap if they are destroyed, and the cable is not really long enough for your idea.
 
Superbrad said:
You can use motion lights as a distraction without issue.... Hate to be a salesman here but I have a cheap wildview IR cam for sale in the EE..... it's nowhere as good as what these fellas are showing you but if you want something with IR to experiment at a price that makes it semi disposable it may be a good option....
Click to expand...

An LED motion detector setup doesn't sound like a bad idea. Low power useage, distracting etc. Might even be worth making a dummy setup... I've got a buggered up old webcam that could be badly hidden under the LED setup in a poorly designed protective box to draw attention away... make it so you still had to look for it, but would find it more easily than the real camera.

heavyBullet said:
The only place I have seen separate IR LED's is from the same place I mentioned in my other post. The regular IR is $60 and the black IR is $110 and they only have a 3ft. cable. At that price its not that cheap if they are destroyed, and the cable is not really long enough for your idea.
Click to expand...

I sourced this for another project a great while back and components are pretty cheap if you're good at basic electrical work. Probably $30 total for a big setup with multiple lights and long cables... going to go over things again, since I never checked on blacklight components.
 
H Wally said:
Hmmm - that's certainly a nice looking camera - just need to find a way to legitimize the price:p Odds are it won't be as necessary to operate the camera in the winter as our place is so inconvenient to get to that thieves seldom show up any other time than the summer or early fall.



Hmm - that's certainly a nice thing to have. I'm going to look into things more... didn't notice if it uses IR or flash, have to check again. Decent price.




Fair enough - I wonder if the LED's could be disconnected on the trail cam and a separate IR light setup nearby to distract the person. If they destroy the lights, whatever... they're cheaper than a camera and can be more easily replaced. I'd almost say this is my prefered route as the camera has to be semi exposed to get a picture, and odds are anyone breaking into houses will remove it from a secure lock box piece by piece to get at the memory.



Tiny W seems like a good setup. Any idea if it can operate without the use of the separate receiving unit? Just thinking if I'm acutally using it as a trail cam, lots of areas I'm in don't have any human traffic whatsoever.

You're probably right, just figured I'd put the limit in to see if there were things that would be otherwise overlooked.



In our area we can always hide a game cam under a junk pile :D Mainly what I'm looking for requires function in periods of damp, cold and without any regular maintenance, hence why I went with trail cams. The others might work inside, but generally we're trying to get the people that're snooping around the property.



Much obliged - Bushnell seems the most popular, but that doesn't always mean anything. We can easily make a good security box, even disguise it as a air duct or dryer outflow or something, it's just a matter of selecting the right camera for the job... and preferably running the fine line between being too cheap and just right:D
Click to expand...

Yes it will work without the reciever. Both units take a sd card...
 
Look at some cellular trail cams. I'm pretty much sold on them for next year. You can get them online for about $250 and $10/month with a PAYGO plan.
 
Best by far is the Scoutguard SG580M celphone camera. Excellent pics that can be sent instantly to up to 4 phones/email addy's. So what, they stole the camera. You can still send their pics to the police. :evil: You will know within seconds when someone or something is in front of the camera. It does everything you want except come in under $200. They retail around $350 plus cost of sim card. If you're already a Rogers customer, simply clone your current card.

http://www.uwaycanada.ca/hco_sg580m.html

-Jason
 
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