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Cheap trail cam?
#497056
11/30/08 09:21 PM
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,729
Exbellicus
OP
Pro Tracker
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OP
Pro Tracker
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,729 |
Anyone have any suggestions for a low-priced game cam? All I really want is a time/date stamp and for everything to be stored on an SD card.
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Re: Cheap trail cam?
[Re: Exbellicus]
#497057
11/30/08 09:30 PM
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 13,735
helomech
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 13,735 |
You can get the one at walmart for 90 bucks. The moultrie 4.0
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Re: Cheap trail cam?
[Re: helomech]
#497058
11/30/08 10:39 PM
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 599
redraider99
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 599 |
I got the 4.0 and have liked it. I did not need one that was going to give me pics that I expected to frame. I too wanted one that would tell me time, date and what was coming to the feeder. So if you want a cheap one then I would go with the 4.0.
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Re: Cheap trail cam?
[Re: redraider99]
#497059
12/01/08 12:06 AM
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Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 4,200
dawaba
Extreme Tracker
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Extreme Tracker
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 4,200 |
If you go to chasingame.com and read their reviews on trailcams, you'll see that all current cams have some problems. But their go-to, Eveready bunny that just keeps on ticking is the Moultrie D-40 (not the M-40 or I-40, which are good cams in their own right). Academy has the D-40 for less than 100 bucks. My guess is that after Christmas, they may be cheaper. They use SD cards, up to 4 GB, but they work better with 2 GB cards as the larger capacity cards slow down the function of the camera.
"For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple.....and wrong." H. L. Mencken
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Re: Cheap trail cam?
[Re: Exbellicus]
#497060
12/01/08 06:01 PM
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Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 608
Skinner0_2
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 608 |
I was a Moultrie fan until i bought my last one. I bought the D40 and set it up and it would go to sleep mode and not wake up. It got worse and worse until finally it wouldnt take pics at all. Went to take it back and get a new one and was turned on to the Stealth Cam 590. Its the same price, $99, and takes pictures clear enough to frame. The first picture below is the Moultrie, the second one is the Stealth Cam. Notice there are no pixels in the second picture. For the money you cant go wrong. Skinner
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Re: Cheap trail cam?
[Re: Skinner0_2]
#497061
12/01/08 07:32 PM
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 5,575
Leonardo
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 5,575 |
Skinner I have had the same problem with my D40. The first one I bought was a Moultrie and it lasted almost 4 years. I bought a D40 last year which is going to sleep like you mentioned and the one I bought this year is not working at night. I really had success with my first then I read all the reports at chasin game and decided I should buy another. But in all honestly I won't buy another one. 2 $100 cheap cameras out the window.
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Re: Cheap trail cam?
[Re: Leonardo]
#497062
12/02/08 01:42 AM
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Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 608
Skinner0_2
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 608 |
Yap, thats what happened to me. The original Game Spy with the two posts on the side for a solar panel, and ran on a 6v battery, where the where awsome for the price. The new and improved version with a new name sucks. And in order to utilise a solar panel you have to spend enough money on there kit that you could actually almost buy another camera. They really improved themselfs into a cheap and worthless corner. They had a good thing going and should bring that design back. Skinner
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Re: Cheap trail cam?
[Re: helomech]
#497063
12/15/08 07:10 PM
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 466
Smoker1
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 466 |
Quote:
You can get the one at walmart for 90 bucks. The moultrie 4.0
This is what I have and it has been in use for about 5 years. I would buy another one!
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Re: Cheap trail cam?
[Re: Smoker1]
#497064
12/16/08 06:12 AM
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 167
Pitman
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 167 |
I bought the d40 last year and it quit taking night picks after about 2 months. I sent it back and got a new one which I am using this year. Battery life stinks (6 d cell) and it only seems to take sporadic pics when the temps get cold. Last weekend I watched a nice 8 point hang around my feeder for 30 minutes. When I checked the card it did not take a pic of it but did of me walking up to the camera. WTF!! My buddy has been letting me use his stealth cam this season on one of my other feeders. It has worked flawless. Much better picture quality and battery life (6 weeks so far on 6 c cell) I do not know the model # but i think it is the one they sell for around $140. It is much better in my opionion. I will not buy another cheap moultrie digital again.
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Re: Cheap trail cam?
[Re: Pitman]
#497065
12/19/08 06:09 AM
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 26
mikeee
Light Foot
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Light Foot
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 26 |
Do a search for a Scoutguard 550. It is a great little camera. It is a bit higher priced (200) but it is the best camera I have used and it is about the size of a soda can so it is easy to mount. I had a Moultrie d40 and returned it because the seals get messed up and I hated to have to open the front and the battery panel just to take the card out. Plus you have to use tweezers just to get the card out. It took good pics but was just poorly designed.
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Re: Cheap trail cam?
[Re: mikeee]
#497066
12/19/08 05:34 PM
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 45
fun4uoc
Light Foot
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Light Foot
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 45 |
Here is a link to some inexpensive ones on ebay. Code:
http://shop.ebay.com/items/_W0QQ_nkwZtrailQ20camQQ_armrsZ1QQ_fromZR40QQ_mdoZ
North Valley Guide Services
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Re: Cheap trail cam?
[Re: fun4uoc]
#497067
12/31/08 02:44 PM
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Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 958
NETxHunter
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 958 |
I have 4 Moutlrie camera's but...
There's a camera at Walmart for 49.95 It's called the Timberview. It takes very good pictures for a 1.3 metapixel camera. I'd say that it takes better pictures than the newer 4.0 Moultrie Camera's. The buttons are a little tricky, because sometimes you will push them and they wont work and other times you push them once and they act like you hit them several times. I bought one to try it out. It takes 4 c cell batteries and the camera doesnt last long at all with them in it, but I retrofited the camera to accept a 6 volt lantern battery. I had several of them at them house. I put the camera out Christmas eve with the 6 volt and will be checking the camera tomorrow. If anyone is interested I will post results here, but the camera may not have any pictures on it, because I put it in a new location that may not be a high traffic area. The flash seems to be equal if not better than the moultie cameras, and the reaction time for pictures is about 2 seconds. The camera has a time and date stamp, but you do have to set the time and date everytime to set it out, because there is not a seperate power source for the clock. When you turn the camera off the time stops. If you change the battery quick enough the time and date will remain accurate and not reset. But for 49.95 I thought that I would give it a try. It's definitely a much better camera than the Bushnell Trail Sentry camera that my wife bought me a couple of years ago from Academy for 49.95. There is also a review and sample pictures for this camera on the above mentioned website.
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Re: Cheap trail cam?
[Re: NETxHunter]
#497069
01/08/09 05:06 PM
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 3,478
KBTXHunter
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 3,478 |
I'm not trying to come across the wrong way, but why would anyone want to buy a "cheap" camera. Alot of the times I've found that if I would have just bucked up and bought the good stuff i would have been better off. we have a guy on our lease that has been through 3 or 4 cameras in the last year. All ranging from $50-$150. they all quit working and some take crappy pics even when they do work. This same guy has probably bought 5 or 6 if not more of the Remington feeders at Wal-mart. I have all-seasons with the varmint proof spinner and have no probs. He has spent more money on "cheap" equipment because of the price. It may seem cheap at the time but may end up costing more in the long run. Just my 2 cents.
Low Expectations Championship Smokers "Look Good Doin' It..."
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Re: Cheap trail cam?
[Re: KBTXHunter]
#497070
01/15/09 06:42 AM
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Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 958
NETxHunter
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 958 |
Cheap cameras are good for public land and places where thieves are likely running around. I wouldn't put a good camera on public ground. Obviously you have never had anything stolen from your place, or you have an abundance of money to keep replacing the hi dollar cameras.
Last edited by NETxHunter; 01/15/09 06:46 AM.
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