#328639 - 08/06/07 07:46 AM
Trigger speed test
|
BSK
Jerkasourous of the non-typical kind
Non-Typical
Registered: 03/11/99
Posts: 59668
Loc: Nashville, TN
|
Offline
|
|
Most trail-cam users (at least the ones who actually use their cameras on trails) realize how important a cameras trigger time is (the time it takes the camera to take a picture once the unit senses movement). However, just looking at these trigger time numbers can be deceiving. The important factor is, how do these trigger times work in the field?
I set up an experiment to test real-world trigger times on three cameras. I attached all three cameras to the same square fence-post (to ensure they were all pointed in the same direction). One camera was a Stealth I-450, the second was a narrow sensitivy cone (0.65 fresnel lens) homebrew with P41 camera, and the third was a wide sensitivity cone (0.90 fresnel lens) homebrew with S40 camera.
At night, I then walked across in front of the cameras from both the left and right at a fast pace to see which camera took a flash picture first. Surprisingly, the I-450 camera flashed and beat the two homebrews by a considerable margin. After a noticeable delay, the P41 then flashed followed closely be the S40.
The I-450 has a trigger time of 2.0 seconds, but it has such a highly sensitive motion sensor and the sensitivy cone is so wide that it begins triggering long before the homebrews, even the S40 with its wide-angle fresnel lens. The I-450 has the most sensative motion sensor of any unit I've tried, trigger at night over 90 feet, and over 60 feet even on a hot day.
Now the wide-angle S40 homebrew will match or beat the narrow cone P41 in daylight, as it takes longer to take the picture at night than in the day (powering up the flash and focusing delays it a bit).
_________________________
"Know where you stand, and stand there" --Jesuit Father Daniel Berrigan
"There is no reasoning someone out of a position he has not reasoned himself into." --Clive James
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#328646 - 08/06/07 07:51 AM
Re: Trigger speed test
[Re: BSK]
|
MUP
Non-Typical
Registered: 08/01/07
Posts: 36553
Loc: Just North of Chatt-town
|
|
Offline
|
|
Thanks for the info BSK.
_________________________
MUP
Amateurs: Built the Ark
Professionals: Built the Titanic
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#328649 - 08/06/07 07:53 AM
Re: Trigger speed test
[Re: BSK]
|
Wes Parrish
16 Point
Registered: 06/12/02
Posts: 17068
Loc: Knoxville-Dover-Union City, TN
|
|
Offline
|
|
Interesting.
Under different circumstances, such as angling in or away, but never crossing the center of aim, you might find very different results.
My DC-200 film cams are the fastest triggering cams I have --- and they're what I used to watch trails (where trigger speed is most important, and where having only the ability to take 24 pics isn't usually a problem).
However, I've noticed that sometimes I'll get pics with the slower triggering Leaf River that are totally missed by the DC-200's and Cuddeback digitals, even though if I duplicated your above test, the DC-200 would beat out everything mentioned thus far.
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#328668 - 08/06/07 08:06 AM
Re: Trigger speed test
[Re: Wes Parrish]
|
BSK
Jerkasourous of the non-typical kind
Non-Typical
Registered: 03/11/99
Posts: 59668
Loc: Nashville, TN
|
|
Offline
|
|
Very true Wes. Also remember that the old DC-200s have a very narrow sensitivity cone. If the animal does not walk nearly dead-center in front of the camera, it will not trigger. I bet the Leaf River has a wide-angle sensitivity cone.
The I-450 has such a wide-angle sensitivity cone that it will trigger even when the animal is out at the very edge of the picture frame.
_________________________
"Know where you stand, and stand there" --Jesuit Father Daniel Berrigan
"There is no reasoning someone out of a position he has not reasoned himself into." --Clive James
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#328806 - 08/06/07 10:22 AM
Re: Trigger speed test
[Re: BSK]
|
Wes Parrish
16 Point
Registered: 06/12/02
Posts: 17068
Loc: Knoxville-Dover-Union City, TN
|
|
Offline
|
|
I bet the Leaf River has a wide-angle sensitivity cone.
I've not "tested" as scientifically as you, but here are some serious field observations comparing the Leaf River 6.3 mp vs. The DC-200 35mm film vs. the Cuddeback No Flash.
On faster moving deer (anything beyond a fairly slow walk), the DC-200 is the only one of these three that I can absolutely count on to get a clear pic. Which is why I mainly use the DC-200's for "trail" monitoring, where I'm less likely to run out of film and less likely to miss the pic on a faster moving deer. The DC-200 will also typically get a 2nd pic much faster than either the Leaf River or the No Flash --- which is particularly important when a buck is trailing a doe.
When I've set all three models up in the same location, sometimes the Leaf River will get a great pic when the Cuddeback totally misses (doesn't even go off). Sometimes the Cuddeback will get a good pic when the Leaf River triggers too slowly; but more frequently, if the deer is moving fast enough (and perpendicular to the cam aim), the Cuddeback just gets a worthless blurry image, while the DC-200 produces a very crisp worthwhile image.
If you're sitting up over salt licks and food plots, trigger speeds and the angle of sensitivity generally don't matter much. But since I generally get my best buck pics on trails, I expect will be a long time before I stop using the DC-200's, even though I do not enjoy having to process film.
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#329301 - 08/06/07 04:14 PM
Re: Trigger speed test
[Re: Wes Parrish]
|
richmanbarbeque
16 Point
Registered: 07/17/03
Posts: 12771
Loc: Middle, Tn
|
|
Offline
|
|
Good stuff! Thanks for the info.
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#329346 - 08/06/07 04:55 PM
Re: Trigger speed test
[Re: richmanbarbeque]
|
ol 'rube
8 Point
Registered: 01/26/07
Posts: 1826
Loc: goodlettsville
|
|
Offline
|
|
TO HIGHTECH FOR ME
_________________________
patience will always payoff !!!
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#329676 - 08/06/07 08:50 PM
Re: Trigger speed test
[Re: ol 'rube]
|
megalomaniac
10 Point
Registered: 10/28/05
Posts: 4887
Loc: Mississippi
|
|
Offline
|
|
We're having a little trouble with our I-450's triggering even before the whole deer makes it into the frame! Getting pics of pieces of deer with the first trigger, then set to take another pic in 2 sec and will have the whole deer in it.
So far I've been more than pleased with my $119.00 (after rebate) I450's
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#329920 - 08/07/07 12:54 AM
Re: Trigger speed test
[Re: Tenbears]
|
outdoorbob
10 Point
Registered: 09/09/06
Posts: 3011
Loc: Grundy County
|
|
Offline
|
|
The key is the wide angle fresnels. They really make a big difference in any cam. Like I said BSK, I use 'em even in the P41s. At a normal walk rate I can't make it to directly in front of the cam. I know I walk faster than most deer that I see traveling through the woods. Only negative is you get a lot of just head and neck shots and can't judge things like body size and age which I know you are very interested in. That's why I give my customers a choice of the wide angle or regular fresnel.
_________________________
Use a trailcam and make it deer season year around.
GO VOLS!!!!!!!
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
Moderator: RUGER, gtk, Unicam, CBU93, stretch, Bobby G
|
12168 Members
39 Forums
117630 Topics
1428341 Posts
Max Online: 756 @ 11/20/12 09:10 AM
|
|
|
The TnDeer.Com Deer Talk Forum is for Tennessee Deer Hunters by Tennessee Deer Hunters. If you enjoy using our Talk Forum and would like to contribute to help in it's up-keep. Just submit your contribution by clicking on the DONATE button below and paying with PayPal or a major credit card. Any amount is much appreciated. Thanks for your support!
|
|
|
