I went on the internet to do a search for the Tacticam 5. Sportsman's guide has a large write up on specifications.
Here are a couple things they list:
1)Low light sensor for use in less than ideal conditions.
2)Rechargeable Lithium battery provides up to 2.5 hours of record time.

My concern is #2. I would change that battery out to a good quality alkaline as a test. If you decide to go this route, test the new battery and even the recharged Lithium with a digital meter. You will have to either check the camera manual or the battery may have the voltage stamped on it.

The reason I mention the lithium batteries, if your camera takes a fair bit of power to operate (may depend on what settings you use), batteries can drop their voltage quicker. Lithium batteries will not go down to a lower voltage like alkaline will and still operate a camera properly.

I realize I am talking possibly a higher voltage battery but here is an example that happens with my trail cameras. Lithium Ultimate batteries test 1.79 to 1.83 volt whereas good quality alkaline test 1.55 to 1.60 volt. Lithium are recommended for colder weather.
What I have been finding is when the Lithium voltage drops to 1.60 volt my cameras malfunction. Several cameras have been tested as well as different brands. Installing the new alkaline which is around the same voltage the Lithium failed, the camera will function until the voltage drops to 1.30 volt area.

I have the Shot Trak which uses the CR123 battery. I have tested this one in my shop against my Go Pro Hero 3 with minimum light. My test arrow has the lighted nock. My target was 17 1/2 feet from the front of my crossbow stirrup. The Go Pro Hero 3 drove the picture back so far the lighted nock was not visible when viewing the picture or video, which ever setting I tested it with. Using the similar setting with the Shot Trak, the lighted nock was clearly visible.
The main difference was in the design of the lens.
The Shot Trak uses a CR123 alkaline battery. In these tests, I did not leave either camera turned on very long.

I have taken the Go Pro on a motorcycle trip where it was turned on for maybe an hour or so. The big disappointment I had with it was how it drove the picture or video away back. This is why I purchased the Shot Trak which I use occasionally target shooting.

If you are around home, try the alkaline battery and see if this helps. If it works, you could pick up a package of spares to take hunting, then leave the camera off until something shows up.

**Just make sure not to try to recharge the camera with an alkaline battery in it.

Wishing you all the best with what ever you try.

 

I went on the internet to do a search for the Tacticam 5. Sportsman's guide has a large write up on specifications.
Here are a couple things they list:
1)Low light sensor for use in less than ideal conditions.
2)Rechargeable Lithium battery provides up to 2.5 hours of record time.

My concern is #2. I would change that battery out to a good quality alkaline as a test. If you decide to go this route, test the new battery and even the recharged Lithium with a digital meter. You will have to either check the camera manual or the battery may have the voltage stamped on it.
.

Where do you think you can get an alkaline battery that will fit the Tactacam?
.

 

Thanks for the reply. Joe posted a link on the other site and this is about what it looked like except mine was even worse. Not going to work well as is for my hunting. Doubt I fiddle with batteries. Guess it's to be expected with the small camera but I'm still disappointed. I won't be buying another one I guess it's good if you are killing deer at 12 noon LOL

 

Thanks for the reply. Joe posted a link on the other site and this is about what it looked like except mine was even worse. Not going to work well as is for my hunting.

Unless you pay the price of a new truck for a high tech camera like the TV cameras they use for showing golf tournaments just before dark, I think expecting low light quality videos is a big ask for a $400 cam.

The diameter of the Tactacam’s aperture lens looks to be maybe 3mm - dividing it by 5 or 8 to get the exit pupil diameter should explain the reason.
.

 

I have the 4.0 and I started filming and it looked great the video was about 6 minutes. By the time I took the shot you couldn't see the buck any more. All you saw was the lighted knock then arrow in the ground.

 

You can use ShotCut video editing software to lighten your video up.

The beginning of this video taken with my Tactacam was so dark before editing that you couldn’t see anything on playback. Still not great but good enough to see what’s going on.

 

You can use ShotCut video editing software to lighten your video up.

The beginning of this video taken with my Tactacam was so dark before editing that you couldn’t see anything on playback. Still not great but good enough to see what’s going on.

I will check into that on my home laptop. Can't download it to my work pc

 

Did some low light testing this morning. We can shoot 30 mins before sunrise so at 6:33 i was on the porch no outside lights what so ever.At 6:33 i could shoot but identifying a button or small spike from a doe would have been a job. At 6:38 i could see good.At 6:43 i could see great. At 6:48 tectacam started working it wasn't great grainy and a little dark. But you could have seen the deer and shot.

So it looks like you giving up 15 mins of your hunt as far as filming goes. But without the tactacam your giving up 100% of filming your hunt. Unless you use different cameras.

 

Here you go, I think it will be a bit tough to find one that’s 3.7 volts with 3 contacts in an Alkaline with this contour.

 

Here you go, I think it will be a bit tough to find one that’s 3.7 volts with 3 contacts in an Alkaline with this contour.


View attachment 154584 View attachment 154586

Thank you.
All the best.

 

In my searches, so far I have not found a alkaline battery for the Tactacam.
The Lithium batteries for the Tactacam are manufactured in China.

I did find some information that may be included in the manual as follows:
1)Always charge the battery before the hunt (or using).
2)Replace the battery every season.
3)In cold weather, carry an extra battery in your pocket.
4)Power on and pause your camera when you get to the stand. Your camera will power itself off after 3 minutes. Repeat the process as needed while hunting in cold temperatures. This will allow your camera and battery to warm up and perform better.

Tactacam 4.0 only when using WiFi battery life will be greatly reduced do to the extra battery consumption. At this time, maybe there was no Tactacam 5.0??

Lithium rechargeable batteries basically do not take on a memory. Partial discharge cycles are better. Recommend after 30 charges to almost completely discharge. This allows for the battery power gauge to recalibrate.
Another site stated that the voltage dropping below 2.5 volt, the battery may not recharge on some battery chargers.

I did another search looking for high capacity batteries. the 1350 mHa is the maximum I found and this battery is specially designed for the Tactacam. The reason I did this search, for some electronics there are higher capacity batteries available. They are the same physical size but with these batteries the electronic device will perform longer.

As an example, a vehicle battery with a higher cranking amp will last longer when trying to start a vehicle in colder weather, operating a winch etc. Some of the older winches drew a lot of power. The higher cranking amp batteries are heavier in weight as they have more plates. The next time one goes, say to WalMart where batteries are on display, lift the different cranking amp batteries of the same physical size (ones for a ride on lawn mower, golf cart etc.). The lower the cranking amp, the cheaper the battery price will be and the lighter its weight.

All the best.

 

In my searches, so far I have not found a alkaline battery for the Tactacam.

I did another search looking for high capacity batteries. the 1350 mHa is the maximum I found and this battery is specially designed for the Tactacam. The reason I did this search, for some electronics there are higher capacity batteries available. They are the same physical size but with these batteries the electronic device will perform longer.

My Tactacam batteries are 1350 mAh, I have 5 of them for the 5.0 cam and remote, plus I have the 2 battery charger as well. I’m good.
.

 

The diameter of the lens is very small. I charge mine every week and it was purchased back around February. Whole unit was new. It is what it is. That small of a camera lens it's not going to pick up great in low light. I'll still use it when I can shoot something in better light.

 

I got a response from Jessica at Tactacam and she confirmed my guess of 3mm aperture was right on the money.

So, at 5x that’s 1 / 5= .2mm exit pupil, at 8x it’s 1 / 8 = .125mm exit pupil. It ain’t going to work very well in low light.
Anyone know the specs for other cams?
.

 

Thanks bunch for the info guys!!!

 

Ok so this is my first time using the Tacticam 5 in the woods and the video was horrible. It was about 15 minutes before dark. The video is so dark you can't see squat.

Are these cameras only good for strong daylight filming or do I have something set wrong?

My new F150 has a backup camera in the tailgate. My wife babysits for a family and I have to let her out of the driveway about 6:45 am (before 1st light) and even with the backup lights on, the picture is legible but grainy as well. It looks to have a small diameter lens as well so it’s not large enough to let in a sufficient amount of light when it’s dark.
.