Best Trailcam when on a budget

[Schlash]

Just wondering who's had good/bad experiences when purchasing a lower end trailcam? Any brands I should be targeting/avoiding? Sorry in advance if this topic has been beat to death. If it has could someone point me in the direction of older threads?

[ARC]

I bought a Tasco 5MP trail cam as it was the cheapest infrared one I could find (around $100). It is small, takes good quality pictures and is not hard on batteries at all (4 AA last several months).

The only major drawback is that the range is horrible (at least on mine). When I first got it I had it set up on heavily used game trails, yet wouldnt get any pics. I tested it a bit and found you had to be within about 12-15 feet to trigger it. I went online and found some forums of others complaining about the same issue.

I still get pictures of animals, but I have to place the cam right on the edge of the trail. Since it is so close, nearly every animal notices it.

[Blockcaver]

I really like the low priced Tasco 5 meg mini cameras. Have nice photos of grizzlies and wolves last spring plus deer, and human visitors to our yard for the cameras set up here. 4AA batteries last for months. One of nine cameras went back to Ontario and was replaced by Tasco as it's shutter went crazy and took thousands of photos in a couple of days.

Cabelas US had them for $69 last spring, but they are more $ at Wholesale Sports. Wish I had purchased more than 8 cameras at that price. The shutter is quiet as one camera took about eight photos of the same wolf, some at a foot or two. The night performance of the infra-red flash in B&W is fine too for looking at the deer around the apple tree.

[ianwuzhere]

ive got a few of them tasco 5mp-short range, and often have fuzzy pix of the animals walking by-my trophy does not have this on same tree.. the nite pix are crappy- compared to bushnell trophy as well- but for $120 its very small, AA batteries are great and dont care as much when someone seals em or bear eats em... -they work- good luck!

[todbartell]

Tasco is a good value

http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/s720x720/316114_10150296630847992_512917991_7978853_1441717 399_n.jpg

http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/s720x720/311293_10150278033897992_512917991_7830136_8314248 _n.jpg

http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/s720x720/303120_10150296633267992_512917991_7978896_4031984 31_n.jpg

that being said I will not buy another. Many pics are quite blurry, but you can usually make out what it is. I just prefer a bit better pic quality, and my favorite cam used thus far is the Bushnell Trophy 8.0mp

[BimmerBob]

My buddy bought a couple on eBay for around $40 each which is almost a throw away and they worked amazingly well. I have a pretty pricey UWay that I like but given the ones my buddy got, I think I will pick up a few of them in future. I think they were called Wildgame Innovations or something of the sort.

[papaken]

I picked up a moultrie 5mp from Cantire on sale for $89.00, it did not function properly. Partial picts and whited infrared. Plus could not seem to download the upgrade. Returned it. Picked up a a red6 from wildgame innovations from walmart down south also did not function as it should. Emailed and called their tech services. They told me it sounded like a lens was not working properly, take batteries and sd card out let stand for 5 minutes then reload and try again. Said if this did not work call 1 800 number and get a RMA #. Didn't work called number no one answers phone, no one returned message. Will return it as well. I guess I need to save up for a better quality camera. Looked a uway but they are pricey and by the time you add the metal box and freight I'm not sure they are worth it. I know they are a sponsor here but I don't see any local distributors listed. Will continue to watch this thread and check other reviews before I buy another camera.

[dave_fras]

ive got moultires too... and i love them!... never had any kind of prob!!! we even use them on our jobsite

[NorthShoreX]

I just ordered a Bushnell Elite 6500 from Cabela's Canada and it comes with a Tasco IR Digital Game Camera, 2mp B&W night pictures and 5mp colour day pictures plus short videos. It's a $119 value for free, pretty cool. I hope to have it by the end of next week.

The Bushnell 8.0 MP Bone Collector Trophy Cam w/ Viewer is on sale for $219.99.

[Jal]

I want to bump this thread up. I am so confused by all the products out there.
i want to buy a camera for less than $150.00.
If you have one. Tell me your experience. It will help me to chose a working camera.

[Stone Sheep Steve]

Some damn fine sales to be had. Be patient and never pay full price. Watch the Canadian tire flyers.

lots go for half price

[Squire]

Some damn fine sales to be had. Be patient and never pay full price. Watch the Canadian tire flyers.

lots go for half price

Good advice. Also, you can mitigate some of the problems with less than HD quality cameras with your setup. This was my first season putting out trail cams after my son got his LEH elk tag. I had one of a better quality as a prior gift from him and I bought three more all under $100.
At first I had them all set up at 90 degrees to the trails and got a lot of blurry pics from animals moving through. I used no attractants to hold them so they were mostly just passing through. I learned to face them up or down the trails instead and improved the pics dramatically. I set one on video mode right before I pulled them all and I will be doing that more often as well.

[Stone Sheep Steve]

I just picked up a 2pk of moultrie game spy cams for $110 regular $220.
Sorry I can't give you a report quite yet but I was willing to take a chance for that price

[Sitkaspruce]

Good advice. Also, you can mitigate some of the problems with less than HD quality cameras with your setup. This was my first season putting out trail cams after my son got his LEH elk tag. I had one of a better quality as a prior gift from him and I bought three more all under $100.
At first I had them all set up at 90 degrees to the trails and got a lot of blurry pics from animals moving through. I used no attractants to hold them so they were mostly just passing through. I learned to face them up or down the trails instead and improved the pics dramatically. I set one on video mode right before I pulled them all and I will be doing that more often as well.

Squire

Put a log or two across the trail about 5m before the camera to get them to stop or slow down.

Cheers

SS

[Jal]

Thanks!
I got the $89.99 model from Canadian Tire.
I'm in the process of setting it up on my balcony.
The next purchase will be a card reader for my laptop.

[scotty30-06]

Tasco Walmart 60 bucks...little big but works great....and for the price can't complain

[Piperdown]

Thanks!
I got the $89.99 model from Canadian Tire.
I'm in the process of setting it up on my balcony.
The next purchase will be a card reader for my laptop.

Check your laptop most have slots for sd cards so you dont need the card reader!!

[mastercaster]

I just picked up a 2pk of moultrie game spy cams for $110 regular $220.
Sorry I can't give you a report quite yet but I was willing to take a chance for that price

Where were they selling these at?

[5jackz]

ScoutGuard SG570 from ebay - 12Mp
I have 4 of them . Paid under $40 US per unit and they take excellent pictures .
Got them 2 years ago and they still work .

[Stone Sheep Steve]

Where were they selling these at?

Canadian Tire. Had to get mine on a raincheck as they were sold out.
That was a couple weeks ago

[Cyrus]

ebay ebay ebay. lots of cdn sellers

[Stone Sheep Steve]

I just picked up a 2pk of moultrie game spy cams for $110 regular $220.
Sorry I can't give you a report quite yet but I was willing to take a chance for that price

First small review for the gamespys.

Sensitivity is good. Actually need to use a less sensitive setting. 950 pics in 4
days is just a few too many. Lol

Flash isn't very strong. Was having issues with my moultrie missing activity so i swapped it for a game spy on the exact same tree. Flash is about 2/3 as strong as the moultrie

[DeepJeep]

Recently bought Stealth Cam® PX14 8 MP Trail Camera - Twin Pack on sale at Cabelas. 2 for $149
Also bought their stealth Cam® Memory-Card Viewer for iOS

Short Review:
They work ok, not the greatest in pic quality but 2 for $149 is a good deal to me. They are too sensitive though. Starts recording video even when its snowing. Dont seem to have a setting for that. Either way.. not complaining. We have been getting -20C to -22C at night and its been performing ok.

Now the memory card viewer worked good the first time I tried it and never worked after.

Here's a video from my back yard :)
View My Video (http://tinypic.com/r/2r71xdj/9)

[Backwoods]

[QUOTE=DeepJeep;1865914]Recently bought Stealth Cam® PX14 8 MP Trail Camera - Twin Pack on sale at Cabelas. 2 for $149
Also bought their stealth Cam® Memory-Card Viewer for iOS
Short Review:
They work ok, not the greatest in pic quality but 2 for $149 is a good deal to me. They are too sensitive though. Starts recording video even when its snowing. Dont seem to have a setting for that. Either way.. not complaining. We have been getting -20C to -22C at night and its been performing ok.



-A friend of mine bought the twin pack from Canadian tire for $249 plus tax with memory card etc, not sure the exact model but after seeing his pics, heck im buying the twin pack for the price!! I have gone through two other trailcams from theft, even way off the beaton path, lock box too lol so I don't want to spend abunch of money on them! stealth twin pack it is!