Cuddeback my Dad bought me for Christmas 5 years ago crashed last year, I'm in need of another. I see plenty of options, many on sale, but I don't want to blow money on something that lasts just a few seasons. I realize this has been posted many times before, so I don't need any replies that require a ton of time and effort - just tell me what to do and I'll get it done.

FYI - this will only be used casually - not in need of crystal clear images or anything - just reliability and longevity.

Thanks guys

Bushnell Trophy Cam HD Max

Send it back to their Customer Service shop. You still have it?

If you don't want to do that and still have it, bring it next month and I'll take it off your hands.

Cheap Moultrie from Wal-Mart. Going on 4 or 5 seasons now. Great pics and great battery life. Get them on sale for 50 bucks.

I'm a big believer in the reliability of Primos

I've never researched these much but was at my local sporting goods and saw like 10 models, some marked down. I would like to just use it for now in one location to monitor the area around my pond and probably will mount it by my power box. Does any model provide possibility of an AC adapter? Do any take a rechargeable battery pack? If so, perhaps I could modify a AC adapter that has similar V and amps and wire into the prongs where the battery pack would make contact? Are most units 6V?

I see moultrie battery packs but they look to only be for the feeders. I don't need solar as I have access to AC power.

Also can someone explain the emphasis on high, low and no glow as advertised prominently in the title?

Even better I see wifi ones now that could allow me to monitor from the house Not necessary in my situation though...

Thx

Typical game cams use a white flash when triggered at night.

There are infrared cameras that don't flash white, but still give off a red glow when triggered at night.

The no glow ones don't have a visible to the human eye red glow.

Go to http://www.chasingame.com/index.php?id=1 Thay have all sorts of reviews, tips and hints on how the cameras work, tips on adding an extended battery pack, etc.

Scott,
You say an infrared gives off a red glow... Can a human see the "subject" of the photo when an infrared flash is triggered?

I don't know. I can see the red glow of the Cuddieback that I have, but the only time I've looked at the subject is when it's on the SD card.

Moultrie is probably not for you if you want all the bells and whistles. They are cheap and thats why I use them. On the same note, I have not replaced one yet, they are durable. I am on my second set of batteries this year so far since maybe September, I cant really remember. There is a hole on the side of one of mine that might be for an AC adapter. I am hunting tomorrow so I will check. My final thought on Moultrie cameras is that quality is great, you can tell by my pics, the battery life is pretty good and I get hundreds of pics weekly, there cheap enough that if some POS steals one its no big loss, and the dependability has been second to none for me.

P.S. Moultrie cams do not make the audible click that some people say scare off the deer. Also, mine are white flash and the deer walk right up to the lens and stare at it so I assume it does not bother them at all.

I too have a Moultrie and also a Bushnell. What I like about the Moultrie is that it will take video AND snapshot, whereas the Bushnell is one or the other (at least with mine).

Sorry about the 2nd post on the vid and pic but they were handy, and kinda cool IMO
Top one is a video, bottom one a still shot


Note the date on the still shot (below) that was captured 30 minutes prior.

Awesome! Thanks for the link with all the reviews that really helped! I don't need bells and whistles, I probably will do mostly stills or I like the idea of 60sec video clips just to get a better view of 'what it was' I worry a bit about lots of false triggers with leaves and passing 2 legged critters.

It appears that some moultrie and some primos have AC adapter plugs for 12V power supplies (battery, solar or the AC type all should be good)

For those who liked the Moutries, what models? I'm thinking $100 or less should be good.

I'm not worried about the red or white glow as I'm not looking to photo trophy bucks, just curious what roams the edges of the pond at night.

I see the Primos has fairly easy controls (switches) and has an AC adapter.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AU6D...d=ATVPDKIKX0DER

I have a local guy on CL that has 3 for sale for $60 each. I might try them.

I'm tempted to get higher MP for better shots but some of the postings you all have posted are very clear, clearer than posted in the link above that reviews all the game cams for the various models discussed above.

I'm not sure how the setting for photo delay helps me though. If something triggers it, don't you want a picture right then? Why the need for delay?

Sorry if that is an obvious answer, I haven't explored these yet.

Thanks

Delay is for placing the camera at a feeder, where a picture a second would burn up batteries and memory. Also, some place the camera and don't come back to the property for a few weeks or even longer (absentee landowner or people who lease property away from home).

With my Cuddie set on 30 sec delay I can get well over 1,000 pictures per month. Lots to go through at one time!

The "popularly priced" cameras seem to take a lot of pics of blowing grass, etc.

And, a lot of them are borderline junk. Actually, most are a 50/50 crapshoot.

I would really recommend a Primos 35. They've been around for awhile and get good reviews. I picked one up at WalMart a week ago for $79.00.

Dave, I've got 4 35's and they're solid units. I made the mistake of putting one up by a PVC gravitational feeder once, and I got a zillion pics. Everytime a breeze swung the feeder, I got a shot. But, they're well worth the money.

Thanks guys for the guidance.

Al, I use a weedeater and trim all of the close branches. I also use 4 to 6 inch pipe feeders so they don't blow around much.

I have the Cuddeback Ambush IR. And I love it, takes great pics. I have only had it for about a year though. Very easy to use and I like the guard duty mode for watching a field all day for deer and turkey. You can view the field all day very fast and see exactly when and where they come out into the field.

I have 2 of the cudde's. Of course, after 2 years, only 1 still works.