Cameras are so expensive it's hard to have multiple areas covered. Cheap cameras that work well?
Cheap camera that works?
Highcountry
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lot of people love Browning,but I have had problems with them. Pretty much going Moultrie after trying many brands. Have two Bushnell that have been okay.
I know Bushnell and another name brand made by same company. Probably most are by a few places.
I know Bushnell and another name brand made by same company. Probably most are by a few places.
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24,014 Posts
I just had a Browning Trophy Cam HD 14 mp go bad on me at 2 years old. It will not bring up the menu anymore and justs takes pics ever 3 or 4 minutes till the card is full. I have 2 and the other is still working fine. I also have 2 of the old models 2009s I think and they are both still working.
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Well looks like I spoke too soon. Turns out that brand new batteries lasted less than a week. I just tried some different ones and the camera is working fine again. We shall see as I am going to go hang it back out. Go figure that Energizer Alkilines went bad with a date of 2027 fresh out of the box. They usually last most of the year.
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pretty much a Durcell person. The red batteries and Energizers Lithuim batteries in cold weather.
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I’ve had bad luck with Moultrie cameras , well heck, just about every camera company.
I’m buying the cheapest cameras I can find because they all turn out to be junk!
The Bushnell was $86 and the Browning was $100
Next try will be the cheaper “ never heard of “ cameras from who knows where.
I was going to buy a 4 pack of CuddeLink but $ 700 is just to much to take a chance. The reviews on those stink too.
I’m buying the cheapest cameras I can find because they all turn out to be junk!
The Bushnell was $86 and the Browning was $100
Next try will be the cheaper “ never heard of “ cameras from who knows where.
I was going to buy a 4 pack of CuddeLink but $ 700 is just to much to take a chance. The reviews on those stink too.
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11,787 Posts
Did you test your batteries with a digital meter? The older Bushnell cameras failed if a battery voltage dropped to 1.0 to 1.2 volt. The newer cameras shut down at 1.3 volt.
Running Lithium Ultimate batteries work good in cold weather (1.79 to 1.83 volt) providing you do not run over as 8 GB SD card. I was running 32 GB SD cards and the Lithium shut down at 1.6 volt where as putting in the alkaline would fire the camera up. Switching back to 8 GB as I did not have 16 GB the camera worked down to 1.3 volt.
All the best.
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I’m trying these this year I have the Evo and link w and they work great I hope these do to![Image]()
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That looks cool.
Can you tell us yet on battery life and how much will the monthly cell plan cost after the 30 day freebie.
Can you give us an update on how it’s working.
Thanks
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Nope. no battery tester. I put 4 of the batteries straight from the pack in another old model Bushnell Wednesday and hung it. It was showing 3 bars when I put it out. I checked it today and it would not even light up the start screen and had no pictures even though I walked straight up to it. I brought it home and put 4 more batteries in it and it is working fine. These batteries are showing good and then just failing. Going to go buy new batteries again.
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They have different monthly plans and they come out in April and I will post a review then
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There is an internal short in that camera or a software problem that is draining the batteries.
A digital meter in the long run is a cheap investment. I check all the batteries, fresh out of the package and once in a while have found a faulty battery. When I check my cameras that I have set up remotely, I carry the digital meter as well as spare batteries and formatted SD cards to swap out. Some cameras allow one to format the card in the camera. Some of these cameras are 45 to 55 miles one way so they may get checked every two to three weeks.
I do not rely on the battery bars in the camera, due to the fact that one battery can be weak, while the others try to cover up for it.
Putting a wee dab of Lithium grease on the battery contacts help to prevent corrosion. The older Bushnell cameras have very thin springs, which a slight bit of corrosion and they break. A few of these cameras, I have replaced the springs with heavier ones robbed from electrical battery hobby boxes.
All the best.
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24,014 Posts
I disagree BR. I have now had 2 sets of the batteries go bad in two different cameras in a week. I took a couple a little while ago and put them in a GPS that has a battery meter on it and watched as the voltage fell on the meter. I then put the batteries in a camera and they will not even boot the camera up. Bad batteries and they have a good thru date of 2021.
David the monthly plan is $15.00 a month for the 1 year plan + this is unlimited photos a month, $25.00 month for hunting season with unlimited photos a month and $5.00 month 1 year plan with a limit of 250 photos a month. I have both the Link EVO-V and the Link-W. They have excellent pictures day or night. Very fast trigger speed. The best part is all of your photos go directly to the app on your cell phone or computer app! No more going into the woods to recover sd cards! I average about 476 photos a month and the batteries are 5 months old and still have 82% of battery life left. The camera app tells you the temperature, how many photos that have been uploaded and battery life. Good luck!
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I am glad you had a way to test the batteries.
Possibly a manufacturing fault in that brand of batteries.
Try a different brand to see if that works.
All the best.
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19 Posts
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07K53KL1G/ref=dp_cerb_1
I ordered one of these.
I ordered one of these.
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104 Posts
I have a couple Browning Dark OPS and work good also trying a Strike Force and so far been good clear video. Also trying a Stealth G42NG and think day video and (best one)sound very good but like Brownings better for night video. Moultrie good cams but ones I have were A20i 's and no sound . What I read the M-40i that highoctane has would be good picture quality. I use the video on all and do as a hobby to see what I can see. So far Brownings seem to have best battery life, but still trying the Stealth.
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4,432 Posts
Let us know how this one works out for ya, has great reviews and a great price !!
Just ordered one and it arrives tomorrow. I'll let everyone know how mine works also.
Take care, MC.
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864 Posts
I like the Moultrie M40i and now the M50i. Both are not made anymore but you still get them. The M50i has exceptional sensor range I never seen before and very good quality pictures.
Had two Bushnell and very dependable but took false pictures until I taped sides of sensor field. Field was too big. Sensors noticed activity and than picture taken no animal in picture field yet. A bear swatted one of my Bushnell's this week. It is now caput. Lot of bear in my area-a lot.
Tried this last month the Stealth 45NG and Compark camera and both had very poor sensor range-30 feet Max. Took both back.
I wonder sometimes I look at some cameras like Campark and Victure they have like 500 reviews and almost 5 star rating. Than brand names like have 30 reviews and get 2.5 stars. doesn't figure? Wonder how many fake reviews put in?
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