Trail Camera help?

buckhorn · Jun 7, 2020

I have been thinking about getting some trail cameras and doing some research reading the top 10 reviews and checking the prices.
One of the questions I have is about the Stealthcam G42NG One of the negatives is that it has a slow response time.
What does that mean?
Is that a problem taking pictures of game animals?
Are there better cameras in that price range?
Thanks

deerkiller · Jun 7, 2020

I run a bunch of those. I don’t know what they mean by slow response time, but I haven’t noticed it. I’d get that same kind again, no question. They are awesome

scandalousbob · Jun 7, 2020

I have 2 Stealth Cams. One works great. The other is a very basic model that doesn't have many features. My favorite are Browning cameras. I've used their Spec Ops & Strike Force models for years and have never had any problems with them. You can get the Strike Force Extreme 16 MP on Amazon for $110. Or Strike Force Gen 5 22 MP for $140. Gen 5 lets you adjust the trigger speed and detection range. Gen 5 were on sale on MidwayUSA over Memorial Day for $100. There's always good deals on trail cams around the major holidays.

A few other thoughts on trail cams in general, just my opinions...
- use good quality memory cards & lithium batteries
- I like smaller cameras that only take 6 batteries instead of 8; they're easier to pack around and over time this will save you some $ on batteries
- if you're comfortable pointing a camera, there's no need for the small viewing screen that comes on a lot of them; it just adds more size and cost to the camera
- I like to have 2 SD cards for each camera and then rotate them; if you want to look at pictures while you're at the camera, get an SD card reader that plugs into your phone; HME makes a bunch of these for under $20
- most cameras now come in higher resolution than you really need; unless you plan to blow them up and frame them, 8-10 MP is plenty to get a good clear picture; I always set mine to low or medium quality; this also helps fit more pictures on your memory card

When you get some good pictures, post them up!

buckhorn · Jun 7, 2020

Thanks deerkiller that’s good to know.
From what I understand with trail cameras there are three different speeds.
1. Response time
2. Trigger speed
3. Recovery time

Could someone please explain what these terms mean?

What about field of view and distance capabilities?
Is that a case of you get what you pay for as in the more it cost the better the functions are?

buckhorn · Jun 7, 2020

scandalousbob said:
I have 2 Stealth Cams. One works great. The other is a very basic model that doesn't have many features. My favorite are Browning cameras. I've used their Spec Ops & Strike Force models for years and have never had any problems with them. You can get the Strike Force Extreme 16 MP on Amazon for $110. Or Strike Force Gen 5 22 MP for $140. Gen 5 lets you adjust the trigger speed and detection range. Gen 5 were on sale on MidwayUSA over Memorial Day for $100. There's always good deals on trail cams around the major holidays.

A few other thoughts on trail cams in general, just my opinions...
- use good quality memory cards & lithium batteries
- I like smaller cameras that only take 6 batteries instead of 8; they're easier to pack around and over time this will save you some $ on batteries
- if you're comfortable pointing a camera, there's no need for the small viewing screen that comes on a lot of them; it just adds more size and cost to the camera
- I like to have 2 SD cards for each camera and then rotate them; if you want to look at pictures while you're at the camera, get an SD card reader that plugs into your phone; HME makes a bunch of these for under $20
- most cameras now come in higher resolution than you really need; unless you plan to blow them up and frame them, 8-10 MP is plenty to get a good clear picture; I always set mine to low or medium quality; this also helps fit more pictures on your memory card

When you get some good pictures, post them up!

Thanks Bob that’s a lot of good info there

scandalousbob · Jun 7, 2020

The website TrailCamPro.com has some good info that will answer a lot of your questions.

Trail Camera Tests: Detection Range, Field of View & More

We created an objective set of criteria to test the quality of any trail camera. Read about our detection range, field of view, and other tests today!

www.trailcampro.com

buckhorn · Jun 7, 2020

scandalousbob said:
The website TrailCamPro.com has some good info that will answer a lot of your questions.

Trail Camera Tests: Detection Range, Field of View & More

We created an objective set of criteria to test the quality of any trail camera. Read about our detection range, field of view, and other tests today!

www.trailcampro.com

Great website!
Answered all my questions and even has reviews on many cameras.
The recovery time is what I was mainly concerned about on the Stealthcam.

I really like the internal viewer screen on some of the cameras but it comes at an additional cost.
I think I have all the info I need to make an informed decision. Now I just need to figure out how much I want to spend and what features I can live with or without.
I will be using these cameras on public land so I’m thinking I will want security lockboxes as well.
Any opinions or suggestions on that?
Thanks

scandalousbob · Jun 7, 2020

At a minimum I'd put a python cable and a small padlock on each camera. That will keep most people from bothering them. Lock box would be even better. Just make sure it fits your specific camera.

On public land you always run the risk of having them stolen. Even with a lock box or python cable, if someone wants it bad enough, it's not hard. I think putting them in spots that already have other cameras helps keep them safer. Then if someone wants to steal your camera, they have to steal all the other cameras that just took a picture of them stealing your camera.

buckhorn · Jun 7, 2020

scandalousbob said:
At a minimum I'd put a python cable and a small padlock on each camera. That will keep most people from bothering them. Lock box would be even better. Just make sure it fits your specific camera.

On public land you always run the risk of having them stolen. Even with a lock box or python cable, if someone wants it bad enough, it's not hard. I think putting them in spots that already have other cameras helps keep them safer. Then if someone wants to steal your camera, they have to steal all the other cameras that just took a picture of them stealing your camera.

Good advice thanks for the replies fellas.

Bwht4x4 · Jun 8, 2020

buckhorn said:
Good advice thanks for the replies fellas.

Hey Jeff,

Shoot me a PM or a text and we can chat about trail cameras. I run a lot for both hunting and for my work (I'm not a guide) and I process over 80k photos a year. I can give you my $0.02 on what I know.

buckhorn · Jun 9, 2020

Nice pic!
I see it’s a Bushnell cam.
Text sent
Thanks

buckhorn · Jun 9, 2020

I’m really starting to worry about thieves stealing my cameras. How bad of a problem is it? Are the python cables easy to cut?

buckhorn · Jun 9, 2020

I found this on a Google search. Anybody familiar with Mieranl?
Looks too good to be true.
Thanks

downhill · Jun 9, 2020

From what I could dig up they are probably a scam from China? Or at least possibly a scam cause no one had gotten there products as of yet that they had ordered. That’s all I could find.

SanPitch · Jun 10, 2020

buckhorn said:
I’m really starting to worry about thieves stealing my cameras. How bad of a problem is it? Are the python cables easy to cut?

I have a decent amount get stolen and I even had one with a cable and lock on it and someone tried to bash it up with a rock and I’ve even had cards get stolen, maby I just need to put them in more remote and hidden spots but That’s why I just use cheap stealth cams like the 50 dollar QS12s and stuff like that, they seem to do just fine for me and I don’t have to worry so much about them getting broke or stolen.

buckhorn · Jun 10, 2020

MuleyHNTR said:
I have a decent amount get stolen and I even had one with a cable and lock on it and someone tried to bash it up with a rock and I’ve even had cards get stolen, maby I just need to put them in more remote and hidden spots but That’s why I just use cheap stealth cams like the 50 dollar QS12s and stuff like that, they seem to do just fine for me and I don’t have to worry so much about them getting broke or stolen.

Do the QS 12s take good pictures at night? How about the range and quality? Does the python cable prevent it from being opened by someone trying to steal the sd card?

scandalousbob · Jun 10, 2020

On most cameras, the python cable just secures the camera to the tree. Then you'd need another small padlock to lock the front cover. This part is plastic on most cameras and it doesn't take much to break it. One bump from an elk antler usually does the trick.

If you put cameras on public land, I think you should do everything you can to secure them. Python cables, padlocks, and lock boxes will discourage most people from bothering them. But at the end of the day, none of these are foolproof.

I've had one memory card stolen, with the padlock cut. And one camera stolen, with the python cable cut.

SanPitch · Jun 10, 2020

buckhorn said:
Do the QS 12s take good pictures at night? How about the range and quality? Does the python cable prevent it from being opened by someone trying to steal the sd card?

I will post some picture below of some I recently got on one of my QS12s. And I think the python cables help since they make it hard and inconvenient for a thief to get in but if they really want to they can cut it but I do believe they help a lot.

As you can see the quality is pretty good, it’s nothin compared to some of the higher end cameras but it’s more than enough to see what you got

The night quality is good other than it doesn’t seem to have a very long range when it’s dark

The daytime range seems to be pretty good as it picked up the little movement of the deer back there

buckhorn · Jun 10, 2020

scandalousbob said:
On most cameras, the python cable just secures the camera to the tree. Then you'd need another small padlock to lock the front cover. This part is plastic on most cameras and it doesn't take much to break it. One bump from an elk antler usually does the trick.

If you put cameras on public land, I think you should do everything you can to secure them. Python cables, padlocks, and lock boxes will discourage most people from bothering them. But at the end of the day, none of these are foolproof.

I've had one memory card stolen, with the padlock cut. And one camera stolen, with the python cable cut.

That’s good to know thanks. After what MuleyHNTR said in his post above I looked into the qs12s and I could buy those for $40 each but not sure if they’re capable of doing the job or not.
I noticed there are three or four different versions of the 42NG but not sure what those differences are or what that amounts to?
Lots of uncertainties still.
Thanks again you’ve been a big help.

buckhorn · Jun 10, 2020

MuleyHNTR said:
I will post some picture below of some I recently got on one of my QS12s. And I think the python cables help since they make it hard and inconvenient for a thief to get in but if they really want to they can cut it but I do believe they help a lot.

As you can see the quality is pretty good, it’s nothin compared to some of the higher end cameras but it’s more than enough to see what you got
View attachment 8189
View attachment 8190
View attachment 8195The night quality is good other than it doesn’t seem to have a very long range when it’s dark
View attachment 8192
The daytime range seems to be pretty good as it picked up the little movement of the deer back there
View attachment 8194

Good stuff there MuleyHNTR!
I think where I would mostly want to set my cameras would be on Waters that bucks will be using at night so that’s why I’m concerned about the quality of nighttime pics. Thanks

Bluehair · Jun 10, 2020

Buy a box if they aren't well hidden. I had someone last year cut a lock, pull the chip and download (?!) it, then close it back up. Broke the plastic latches as mentioned above.