In recent years, perhaps no other element in the hunting world has had the impact of surveillance cameras. These little tools have essentially changed the way we spot and model euros, to a large extent.
But, given the sheer number of surveillance cameras available, choosing the right one is not an easy task. However, if you consider the following options, you are sure to find the best surveillance cameras for you.
-
DIGITNOW! Hunting Camera 16MP 1080P IP65 Waterproof, Surveillance Camera with 42Pcs LED Infrared Night Vision Up to 80FT and Wide Angle 120 °
- High quality day and night camera: 9 megapixel CMOS sensor, 16 MP HD color resolution (interpolation) and 1080P HD video, multi-take modes available. Game & Trail Camera captures all the amazing moments that cannot be easily discovered by people in times of surprise.
- Quick Trigger and 120 ° Angle: Provides surprising faster trigger speed in 0.3 seconds with PIR sensor. Every detected moment will be recorded instantly and guaranteed never to miss a shot. 120 ° viewing angle lens captures more abundant view and intuitive object, Flextime + Time Lapse / Redux Anti-Blur to provide photos and high quality videos.
- Low Glow Infrared LEDs: 42Pcs 940NM low glow infrared LEDs provide 25m / 80ft range in the dark, they never produce a bright flash which makes this outdoor camera a stealth unit that does not interfere in the dark. ‘natural habitat.
- IP65 Waterproof Function: The trail camera can work in extreme temperatures between -20 ° C to 60 ° C, which makes it perfect for safe use, including garden security, wildlife monitoring, surveillance and scouting.
- Learn more: 2.4 “LCD screen for viewing battery life, viewing videos and recorded images, customizing your own settings, up to 8 months Long battery life with 8 AA batteries (not included) Support SD card up to 32 GB (not included). function use, please see the user manual. If you have some other problem with it, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
-
COOLIFE 21MP 1080P HD Hunting Camera Waterproof Surveillance Camera 49 LEDs Wide Angle 125 ° Night Vision 25m IR Tracking Infrared Night Game Camera
- 【HIGH SENSITIVITY】 Induction design: maximum detection range: 125 degrees. IR flash range 20m / 65ft. Lateral induction angle: each about 60 ° and impressive detection 0.2 second shutter speed which ensures every detected movement is documented in real time
- 【HIGH IMAGE QUALITY】 COOLIFE Hunting Camera is a 21 megapixel, 2.4-inch digital surveillance camera. The camera uses heat-sensitive and human-sensing technology, comes with infrared illumination. 8 Megapixel CMOS sensor, can use infrared photography to get black and white images and videos in the dark. 49 IR LEDs provide the light needed to take photos or videos, without overexposing the object
- 【LOW POWER DESIGN】 The trail camera is in power saving mode when no animal or human body is detected. It can be on alert for a long time. As soon as the animal (the human body) is in the detection area, its camera function immediately starts taking photos or videos. (The start time is 0.2 seconds). Quickly capture important moments.
- 【RANGE OF APPLICATIONS】 Camera trap for hunting. Animal, plant or incident observation. PIR Automatic Fire Mode: Activate PIR (Passive Infrared) sensors, the camera will detect the sudden change in ambient temperature caused by moving the game to a region of interest, trigger taking photos / videos. Time-lapse photography is perfect for observing flowering plants and birds’ nests, even sunrise and sunset
- 【Use reminder】 Use 8 1.5V alkaline AA batteries (not included) up to 16 months standby (Note: do not mix old and new batteries). Support Micro SD / SDHC memory card up to 32 GB
-
SUNTEKCAM 36MP 2.7K HD Hunting Camera Waterproof Surveillance Camera 28 LEDs Wide Angle 120 ° Night Vision 25m IR Tracking Infrared Night Game Camera
- 【2.7K ultra HD video resolution and 36 MP photo resolution】 SUNTEKCAM hunting camera offers 2.7K pixel video with sound and still image resolution of 36 megapixels, which allows excellent image quality with excellent precision detail and excellent color reproduction. All the images can be easily categorized, as they can be added with date, moon and time.
- 【25m trigger distance and 0.2s trigger speed】 Coolife night hunting camera trigger distance up to 25m. Once the animal is within the trigger range of the hunting camera, the PIR sensor can immediately detect and trigger the hunting camera to shoot in 0.2s. Compared to other hunting cameras, SUNTEKCAM hunting cameras can capture all the creatures around the camera faster and more widely
- 【Night vision and 65ft flash range】 With 28 invisible infrared LEDs (940nm) without light that does not alert animals, this motion sensor hunting camera can capture excellent image quality of wild animals night in a detection zone of 25 meters.
- 【IP66 waterproof and low power consumption】 Using high quality IP66 materials and better waterproofing to increase the water resistance of the trail camera, you can use it in the rainy days or Even in snow, the trail camera can extend its usage time up to 6 months, as it consumes extremely little power in standby mode. (Note: batteries are not included)
- 【Multifunctional and reliable service】 The trail camera is easy to install and use. You can also use it for hunting, wildlife monitoring, farm burglars, and object monitoring. Professional customer service will endeavor to resolve any problem within 24 hours. You will enjoy the best shopping experience
The best hunting camera isn’t always the most expensive
Let’s face it, for most of us, money is at the top of the list when it comes to buying new hunting equipment. Tracking cameras included. Yeah, I would love to have one of the $ 700 models but I can’t afford it. And even if I could, I’m not sure it would be a good investment. After all, a less expensive tracking camera might be all I need to get the job done. It really depends on my needs . The main thing is to decide on your budget and then start the elimination process using the criteria below. You might surprise yourself which model is best for you.
How long will the camera last?
This one ranks at the top of my list simply because no tracking camera will do you any good if it’s not working. An unreliable camera is a handicap and simply a waste of time and money . In short, it must go. Choose models that have good reviews and very few customer complaints. Sure, there will always be a few bad apples in the bunch, but overall a good camera will have a few scathing reviews.
Whichever camera you choose, make sure it’s the one you can rely on year after year in various weather conditions.
A word on reviews on “unbiased” hunting cameras
Please watch out for websites that offer “unbiased” surveillance camera reviews. Many are Amazon affiliates who write reviews specifically for search engine listings. They get a discount from all the sales you make on Amazon (even if it’s not a surveillance camera), so if you’re reading a review, look at the bottom of the page for “Amazon Affiliate”. If you see that there are chances, there is an ulterior motive.
Other sites may be paid to advertise or promote one camera over another due to special relationships with camera manufacturers. Even if the surveillance camera store doesn’t get a discount for promoting one camera over another, perpetrators can get discounts without telling others that they are sponsored by the camera manufacturer. Also, I am not paid to promote the cameras and DeerLab is not paid to promote the cameras.
So where can you get unbiased advice? These hunting discussion boards can be a good source, but be insightful as the source might be paid for by the manufacturer. Friends who have actual experience with a particular camera are a no-brainer.
Camera trigger speed can make a big difference
This is an important feature that should be based on how and where you plan to use your tracking camera. For example, if you mainly hang your camera over a food source, I don’t think the camera’s trigger speed should be the deciding factor when making a purchase. Also, how fast does a camera have to be to catch a whitetail foraging in a field or above a bait pile? In these cases, the deer are likely to stay for a while before moving away. The super-fast trigger speeds won’t really help you.
However, let’s say you hang your camera on a playing track. The trigger speed suddenly becomes much more important. There is no doubt that deer will be more likely to move quickly in the area; especially if you are talking about a buck after a hot doe. A slow trigger speed might miss that trailing money, while a faster trigger will capture it in all its glory.
So, think about where your camera is located before paying extra for super-fast shutter speed if you don’t really need it. Maybe you do, maybe you don’t.
Did you even get the photo?
Recovery time, the time it takes for a camera to be ready to take another photo after the first photo, is another very important aspect to consider.
Most surveillance cameras take between 1 and 5 seconds to take this second photo, but some take longer than a minute ! Needless to say, if you have a camera with very slow recovery time installed on a track, you might miss a lot of photos. I would even say that you are probably missing pictures of this male following in the distance.
Battery life impacts the time and overall cost of the camera
Personally, I take battery life very seriously. Most of the places I hang cameras are in remote, mountainous terrain and I don’t check them very often. Often times, I will sacrifice some functionality as long as a camera has good battery life. Years ago this was a major problem, but manufacturers really stepped up their game and took battery life as seriously as we do. Over the years I have had great results from Bushnell, Primos, Browning and Moultrie; Just to name a few.
If easy access to your camera is common and you can get by every couple of months or so, battery life might not be as important. However, for someone like me who hangs their camera in early spring and only checks it in late summer, battery life is a big consideration.
Long battery life also means fewer return visits to replace dead batteries and lower lifetime costs. This leads to less pressure on the local deer herd. In my opinion, return visits are the biggest downside to tracking cameras . But that’s another blog.
Battery life is important if you plan to capture thousands of images before your next visit. The more images captured, the shorter the battery life will be. Quick Tip – Lithium batteries will not only last longer, they will extend a camera’s flash range by up to 10% compared to alkaline batteries.
The flash debate. Does it make a difference?
Regular flash, infrared flash, no flash, the debate continues. In my opinion, until there is strong evidence that a standard white flash does not scare mature males, I will choose a surveillance camera with infrared lighting or, preferably, a camera without the flash from the all.
I think mature males are a lot like us in that they each have their own personalities. What can frighten one male cannot disturb another. Infrared and flashless cameras will cost you a bit more, but IMHO, they’re worth it . After all, when you’re hunting for mature males, the devil is in the details.
Gaming cameras are great tools for modeling particular dollars in your area. The key is to extract as much information as possible from each image and organize that information into a useful game plan.
Remember what your Whitetails are doing with Trail Camera software
In addition to finding the right camera, I have found it very important to find the right software for all the images I have accumulated. I recently started using DeerLab trail camera software not only to organize my whitetail trail camera images but also to create specific dollar patterns in my area. No sales pitch – I am very happy with how the whole system works.
Conclusion
Choosing a new game camera might seem like a lot of trouble, but if you take your time and think about what you really need and what not, you will surely make the right choice.
