Which Wildlife Camera?

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Discussion

The Mad Monk

Original Poster:

10,594 posts

123 months

Saturday 2nd May 2020
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A wildlife camera like this:-

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07H7D83PZ/ref...

or one of these?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/APEMAN-Activated-Waterpro...

The idea being that I can set it up in the garden and leave it, take the card out from time to time and see what's on it.

Good idea - or what?

nigelpugh7

6,139 posts

196 months

Sunday 3rd May 2020
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The Mad Monk said:
A wildlife camera like this:-

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07H7D83PZ/ref...

or one of these?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/APEMAN-Activated-Waterpro...

The idea being that I can set it up in the garden and leave it, take the card out from time to time and see what's on it.

Good idea - or what?
We’ve been thinking about one of these for years.

We first noticed them at boaters world in Florida, where of course good old mericans use them to get a better view of what ever game they are hunting before shooting, as In dead, not for a decent picture.

Seems there’s a whole host of options of Chinese tat versions on Amazon.

But a quick look here recommended none of those.

https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/buying-guides/b...



nigelpugh7

6,139 posts

196 months

Sunday 3rd May 2020
quotequote all
nigelpugh7 said:
We’ve been thinking about one of these for years.

We first noticed them at boaters world in Florida, where of course good old mericans use them to get a better view of what ever game they are hunting before shooting, as In dead, not for a decent picture.

Seems there’s a whole host of options of Chinese tat versions on Amazon.

But a quick look here recommended none of those.

https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/buying-guides/b...
Sorry it was actually from the Bass Pro shop we always loved to visit.

https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/SearchDisplay?cate...



nigelpugh7

6,139 posts

196 months

Sunday 3rd May 2020
quotequote all
nigelpugh7 said:
Sorry it was actually from the Bass Pro shop we always loved to visit.

https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/SearchDisplay?cate...
And now look what you have done, sent me done this internet shopping rabbit hole!

https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/ravin-crossbows-r1...



Zirconia

36,010 posts

290 months

Sunday 3rd May 2020
quotequote all
I tried cheap ones, and depending on your attitude to quality, I found then naff. Both in daytime and night time.

In the end went for one from here
https://shop.naturespy.org
Batteries can be interesting, I am using lithium AA's.

Edit. The infrared LED's will light up when activated. No problem for wildlife but if it is where someone could see it and nick it, no glow ones are available.

Bill

53,918 posts

261 months

Sunday 3rd May 2020
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We have a Bushnell trail cam that's 8 years old and still going strong. We even got Father Christmas on it one year for the kids! wink

Evoluzione

10,345 posts

249 months

Sunday 3rd May 2020
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I've just got into this and can dig out the link if you want, but I just bought one for about £80 on Wish with a huge memory card, it came surprisingly quickly, about 4 days I think.
I knew there was 'stuff going on' after dark, but it's very busy out there in my back garden.
I put 8 normal AA batteries in and it flattened them in one night there was so much activity. I've now got some rechargeable 2.4ah ones to cure that. I think really the annoying thing about it is it has no internal memory once the batteries have been taken out, this means you have to set the time/date up every time the batteries get changed.

Zirconia

36,010 posts

290 months

Sunday 3rd May 2020
quotequote all
Evoluzione said:
I've just got into this and can dig out the link if you want, but I just bought one for about £80 on Wish with a huge memory card, it came surprisingly quickly, about 4 days I think.
I knew there was 'stuff going on' after dark, but it's very busy out there in my back garden.
I put 8 normal AA batteries in and it flattened them in one night there was so much activity. I've now got some rechargeable 2.4ah ones to cure that. I think really the annoying thing about it is it has no internal memory once the batteries have been taken out, this means you have to set the time/date up every time the batteries get changed.
The problem is driving the IR stuff, it eats the juice.

Mine is Browning from the link above and will keep all the info. Many come with a DC input if people have the means to run a DC supply to the camera, some also have a video connection as well.

Lithium batteries will run at a higher voltage and keep going till they die but there is no warning, however I get a good few months out of them but £15 for 8. Not tried the rechargeable ones, how long do they last for you?

Evoluzione

10,345 posts

249 months

Sunday 3rd May 2020
quotequote all
Zirconia said:
Evoluzione said:
I've just got into this and can dig out the link if you want, but I just bought one for about £80 on Wish with a huge memory card, it came surprisingly quickly, about 4 days I think.
I knew there was 'stuff going on' after dark, but it's very busy out there in my back garden.
I put 8 normal AA batteries in and it flattened them in one night there was so much activity. I've now got some rechargeable 2.4ah ones to cure that. I think really the annoying thing about it is it has no internal memory once the batteries have been taken out, this means you have to set the time/date up every time the batteries get changed.
The problem is driving the IR stuff, it eats the juice.

Mine is Browning from the link above and will keep all the info. Many come with a DC input if people have the means to run a DC supply to the camera, some also have a video connection as well.

Lithium batteries will run at a higher voltage and keep going till they die but there is no warning, however I get a good few months out of them but £15 for 8. Not tried the rechargeable ones, how long do they last for you?
This was the one: https://www.wish.com/product/5df06ef6b5b5d800bfdca...
It does have a socket for a 6v in plug, but one isn't supplied and we don't have one hence the batteries.
As a total amateur I can't offer much more advice other than it works and what I said above, I chose as it seemed popular and was about what I wanted to spend, not by actually knowing anything about it!

I bought some JCB branded 2400 ones off Ebay: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/JCB-Rechargeable-Batter...
I'm thinking they may be NOS, but do the job. I can't be very precises on how long they last as it depends on how much activity the camera records, I just know as per above that they still have a charge left in them after a nights work and the others died well before that.

Zirconia

36,010 posts

290 months

Sunday 3rd May 2020
quotequote all
I already have rechargeable for other devices but I didn't have 8 of the same age and same capacity, usually two required for the mouse or whatever.

Usually I find the Lithium (1.5 volt not the usual 1.3) will get me 2-4 months night duty depending on activity, mainly hedgehogs. The decider when they are failing is they will stop the IR LED's and the 20 second will become 4 IR lit and the rest in the dark.

Vintage Racer

624 posts

151 months

Monday 4th May 2020
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I use an 'APEMAN H55' 20mp

Here is a blog that I wrote about mine a few months ago, which you might find helpful: https://imageweaver.blogspot.com/2020/01/why-trail...

The Mad Monk

Original Poster:

10,594 posts

123 months

Monday 4th May 2020
quotequote all
I have bought one of these, with the battery pack and stuff

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07H7D83PZ/ref...

It might be here Thursday.

I have been looking to see if I can find a plain colour camera to use as a security camera at the front of the house. No luck, so far.

Zirconia

36,010 posts

290 months

Tuesday 5th May 2020
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Hope it works OK for you. The two makes I tried from Amazon were naff and returned. Hence I went pricy but known workers.

Do you know what you might be capturing? Reason being you need to think how the sensor is aimed and what height etc. I have an old camera clamp that takes the threaded socket at the base of the camera but they usually come with a strap, a garden fork provides a good post for the strap.

The Mad Monk

Original Poster:

10,594 posts

123 months

Tuesday 5th May 2020
quotequote all
I am expecting the normal stuff for a garden in South East England.
Foxes, squirrels, rodents, etc. Curiosity really. I want to see what is taking the spills from the bird feeders.

Who knows? I might spot the Surrey Puma!

Zirconia

36,010 posts

290 months

Tuesday 5th May 2020
quotequote all
I wasn't careful first set up and didn't aim for what I was expecting is all. After a few frustrating nights I twigged and altered the aim for what I was expecting and it turned in the results.

Hedghogs for my garden. The fox out the front has been elusive.

ChrisnChris

1,424 posts

228 months

Sunday 31st May 2020
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Just a bump on the thread.
Does anyone who made a recent purchase have any feedback they'd care to share?

The Mad Monk

Original Poster:

10,594 posts

123 months

Sunday 31st May 2020
quotequote all
ChrisnChris said:
Just a bump on the thread.
Does anyone who made a recent purchase have any feedback they'd care to share?
The Victure that I bought has been fine. The details are in my post on May 4th. It does what it says on the tin.

Zirconia

36,010 posts

290 months

Sunday 31st May 2020
quotequote all
Mine is out of date now but nature spy are easy to talk to for a good choice from what they sell, they also use their own product in various projects around the UK and euros and have capture examples on their web site.