Trail cam that takes decent pics in low/no light

[masraum]

We've got critters on our property. I'd like to get a decent trail cam or two to put on our property to try to get some photos of the critters. I'm sure most of the activity is at night, and it's DARK here.

I don't need upload or alert via cell since this will essentially be "in our yard." I don't want/need to spend hundreds of dollars either. I'm not going to be submitting to National Geographic.

I think I understand the basics. They have motion sensors and will take a photo (and possibly short video) when they sense motion. They have day and night modes. I assume some may have some sort of IR light to help in low light.

Anything else that I should know and any recommendations?

[KFC911]

I have a few ... all are several years old...back then the best Moultrie, infra/no light, great audio... about 150+... a couple more $50 ones do just fine too. I usually set them on 60/90 sec video mode.

[GH85Carrera]

For night vision cameras you need IR, and a source of the IR, unless you have really deep pockets. Then go big, and get a thermal camera.

Most likely a 150 dollar trail camera will do the job.

[Bill Douglas]

I had a Moultrie trail camera, but it was so unreliable I gave up on it. I've got it set up as a "fake" Now I've got a Bushnell Trophy E3 which is 10x, 100x, better. I mean it works when expected to work. Plus the pic's are better and the batteries last a lot longer. Both did good night time photos too and wrote to a SD card.

I had them setup on a building site hoping to catch two legged predators, but just got a whole lot of pictures of peoples various cats.

[Seahawk]

I have used Wildgame Innovation for years.

NOT top of the line with very few bells and whistles.

I have stored hundreds of pictures from the cameras that have never failed:



Here is their link: https://www.wildgameinnovations.com/

I am sure things have changes...mine are nearly ten years old. Lots and lots of options that drive price!

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by masraum

We've got critters on our property. I'd like to get a decent trail cam or two to put on our property to try to get some photos of the critters. I'm sure most of the activity is at night, and it's DARK here.

I don't need upload or alert via cell since this will essentially be "in our yard." I don't want/need to spend hundreds of dollars either. I'm not going to be submitting to National Geographic.

I think I understand the basics. They have motion sensors and will take a photo (and possibly short video) when they sense motion. They have day and night modes. I assume some may have some sort of IR light to help in low light.

Anything else that I should know and any recommendations?

I have some Bushnell cameras with Spypoint Cell link adapters I'd sell ya for $110 each. The Bushnell trophycams take good day and night pics. The cell link makes the standard camera cell enabled and sends pics to your phone. Beauty is, you get 100 pics per month for free. I've also got 2 Bushnell trophycams that are the camera alone that I'd sell ya for $90 for the set plus shipping.

I put a 32gb card in my cams. They'll do pics or video and have audio as well.

BTW, you want something with good trigger speed.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by cabmando

I have some Bushnell cameras with Spypoint Cell link adapters I'd sell ya for $110 each. The Bushnell trophycams take good day and night pics. The cell link makes the standard camera cell enabled and sends pics to your phone. Beauty is, you get 100 pics per month for free. I've also got 2 Bushnell trophycams that are the camera alone that I'd sell ya for $90 for the set plus shipping.

I put a 32gb card in my cams. They'll do pics or video and have audio as well.

BTW, you want something with good trigger speed.

Thanks, I got busy and didn't see your post. I ordered the Bushnell Core S-4k No-Glow.

[wdfifteen]

I'm having trouble with my Bushnell. It's OK until sometime in the middle of the night and then the lens fogs up with condensation. I've tried Rain-X but can't seem to keep it from fogging up.

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

I'm having trouble with my Bushnell. It's OK until sometime in the middle of the night and then the lens fogs up with condensation. I've tried Rain-X but can't seem to keep it from fogging up.

That's really weird. I've never had the lens fog up on mine. Is this a known issue? Seems if it's fogging that it could be on the inside of the lens cover rather than external? Maybe it has some moisture trapped in it somewhere. You might try opening it and leaving it in direct sunlight to see if it dries up.

[wdfifteen]

^^

Hmmm. I never thought of the possibility that the condensation is internal. It is out on the deck now, hopefully drying out. Thanks.

[cabmandone]

While you have it open, look for some small screws and make sure they're all snug.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

^^

Hmmm. I never thought of the possibility that the condensation is internal. It is out on the deck now, hopefully drying out. Thanks.

Bet that does the trick ....

I have my cams out in the woods and have two cards for each one... when I go to retrieve the cards/insert new ones, I try to make sure it's dry outside... was always concerned about moisture getting inside them, etc.

Never an issue here... good luck!

[wdfifteen]

I put it outside all afternoon yesterday PLUS I raised it up farther off the ground. It had been at 2 1/2 feet and I raised it to 6'. It was sitting over grass, which is always soaked with dew in the morning, so maybe moisture was coming up off the ground.
Something worked.



I got a good clear video of two 'coons walking away from the electric fence.



The response time on this camera is sloowww. The fox clearly strolled across in front of the camera from left to right, but the camera only started recording when it was walking out of the frame.

[KFC911]

Excellent! The "trigger time" on my Moultrie isn't that fast, so when I picked up the others (they might be Bushnells), that's what my criteria was ... a fast trigger. I think they are like 1 sec. ... much faster than the Moultrie for sure.

[wdfifteen]

I'm hoping for a bit longer repeat of last year's best performance. I would love to see another 4 seconds of this one, but the camera timed out at 11 seconds. I have it set on 15 seconds now.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

I'm hoping for a bit longer repeat of last year's best performance.

Just 2-3 more seconds of video would have been perfect!

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by KC911

Excellent! The "trigger time" on my Moultrie isn't that fast, so when I picked up the others (they might be Bushnells), that's what my criteria was ... a fast trigger. I think they are like 1 sec. ... much faster than the Moultrie for sure.

I've had pictures of birds taking off from the post my camera is mounted on. My Bushnell cameras have good trigger speed. I think the ones I have are sub 1 second trigger speed and they aren't expensive.

Somewhere I have a picture of a deer in mid leap that one of my trophy cams took. It's a pretty cool pic.

[Baz]

[Baz]

[masraum]

Some of our night time visitors



This is what I ended up with.
Bushnell Trail Camera CORE S-4K No-Glow
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B096T1FZTW/