Best Cellular Camera?

Ahuntin1 · Jun 8, 2021

I need to upgrade my fleet of cameras and need suggestions of the best cameras. I tried a few of the spypoints last season and decided that cellular is worth it but I need much better cameras (mainly reliability but quality too).
What are the best mid tier and top tier cameras?

BSK · Jun 8, 2021

Personally, I don't use cell cameras in my fleet of cameras, but I don't think you can go wrong with Browning cameras. They are pretty close to top-of-the-line pricewise, but from what I'm hearing from users of their cell cameras, they are worth it. I'm slowly upgrading most of my cameras to Browning models, and they are great systems. Not one failure yet.

AM84 · Jun 8, 2021

I tried 4 SpyPoint cameras and I'm not impressed with them after just 2-3 months. They worked great for the first couple weeks and then have gotten worse since.

i recently ordered a few Browning defender Pro Scout cameras and so far they've been very impressive. Great video and good pictures. I tested them at the house and they will send pictures immediately after they take them and watching traffic didn't miss 1 picture. Hopefully they will continue to work that well.

Andy S. · Jun 8, 2021

From all of my research, this is my answer:

Budget friendly - Reveal Tactacam ($125/camera)

Mid Range - appears to be Browning ($200+)

Mid/High Range - Spartan ($300-400)

Top Tier - Reconyx ($600)

I run Reveals and they have been flawless thus far (12 months). My buddies run Spartan and Reveals and they like both, but their Spartans appear to be feature rich when compared to Reveals.

TheLBLman · Jun 8, 2021

Andy S. said:
From all of my research, this is my answer:

Budget friendly - Reveal Tactacam ($125/camera)

Mid Range - appears to be Browning ($200+)

Mid/High Range - Spartan ($300-400)

Top Tier - Reconyx ($600)

I run Reveals and they have been flawless thus far (12 months). My buddies run Spartan and Reveals and they like both.

Very good analysis, but keep in mind there is more to compare than just the up-front cost of the cam.

For me, I'm getting a better overall value with the Browning cell cams than my Reveal Tactacams.

FredRog72 · Jun 8, 2021

I've got one Moultrie cell cam that was around $100 (it was a gift) and it's okay at best. Picture quality has improved as Moultrie has improved their server but still lacking. The data packages are where they get you. So my question is, what are the cost of the data packages that Andy mentioned above because I'm in the market for maybe one or two more cell cameras.

JCDEERMAN · Jun 8, 2021

FredRog72 said:
The data packages are where they get you. So my question is, what are the cost of the data packages that Andy mentioned above because I'm in the market for maybe one or two more cell cameras.

That has been what has deterred me from going cellular. You may have a $100 camera working well, but how long will it last? Another thing - you're paying $10/month for up to 1000 pics.....that's $120 data + $100 camera = $220 that first year, plus taxes. $120/year thereafter.

Not too bad ($220) for when you're comparing that against a quality non-cellular camera for around $200..... you have the benefit of going cellular being only $20 more. BUT all of these cameras in the $100 range are sub-par IMO (Spypoint, Moultrie, etc....). Other than quality and customer service, longevity is what I look for. I love the concept, however, just not for my investments for now.

One more thing, say that $100 camera lasts 3 years and works flawlessly. That's 3 X $120 just for the data = $360. I'd take 2 more quality $200 cameras instead! You're just paying $40 additional dollars. So, in that 3 year period, you have 3 quality cameras instead of just one. That's just me - I always factor in the following years.

AM84 · Jun 8, 2021

JCDEERMAN said:
That has been what has deterred me from going cellular. You may have a $100 camera working well, but how long will it last? Another thing - you're paying $10/month for up to 1000 pics.....that's $120 data + $100 camera = $220 that first year, plus taxes. $120/year thereafter.

Not too bad ($220) for when you're comparing that against a quality non-cellular camera for around $200..... you have the benefit of going cellular being only $20 more. BUT all of these cameras in the $100 range are sub-par IMO (Spypoint, Moultrie, etc....). Other than quality and customer service, longevity is what I look for. I love the concept, however, just not for my investments for now.

One more thing, say that $100 camera lasts 3 years and works flawlessly. That's 3 X $120 just for the data = $360. I'd take 2 more quality $200 cameras instead! You're just paying $40 additional dollars. So, in that 3 year period, you have 3 quality cameras instead of just one. That's just me - I always factor in the following years.

I agree with this line of thinking to an extent though I have 7 cell cams now. I don't intend to pay for the service for the entire year on all 7. 4 of the 7 are the spypoint cams and though I'm not impressed with them at all I'm going to stick them on trails where maybe I only get 1 to 2 max pictures of each deer that would walk by and take advantage of the free 100 pics a month deal. I will put the Browning cams I've bought on mineral/scrapes for videos and pictures. For about 6-7 months out of the year.

I will say though that I now look forward to getting an update from my cameras each day to see what's been happening. It's usually a nice surprise to get that notification as it happens.

TheLBLman · Jun 8, 2021

Also don't overlook battery life, which becomes an even larger issue with cell cams because all cell cams drain batteries quicker than non-cell cams.

For quite a bit last year I ran a Reveal Tactacam beside a Browning Scout Pro.
The Tactacam requires 12 AA batteries; the Scout Pro requires 8.
The Scout Pro runs approximately twice as long on 8 as the Tactacam on 12.

Also, it's almost a necessity to ONLY use lithium batteries in cell cams,
whereas I often use rechargeable batteries in non-cell. Situation, timing, and settings will greatly effect battery life. I've gotten as little as 5 weeks and currently have some Browning Scout Pros at 9 months and still going.

Keep in mind there are lots of issues to consider, this is just one, but one that's bigger on cell cams for these reasons in particular:

1) We typically are using cell cams because we want to visit the cam site less often;
2) We may be using cell cams because it's much harder to visit the cam site often.
3) Cell cams drain batteries much faster than non-cell cams.

TheLBLman · Jun 8, 2021

Also, most of the cell cam data plans do allow you to start & stop, remove cams, add cams, etc. Not running them all, say between March & June, can reduce your annual operating expenses significantly.

AM84 said:
I will say though that I now look forward to getting an update from my cameras each day to see what's been happening. It's usually a nice surprise to get that notification as it happens.

Yes, it can add some quality moments to every day

Frequency of uploads is another setting that greatly effects battery life.
If you set to upload immediately with each event, you may be very disappointed in how long your batteries don't last.

BSK · Jun 8, 2021

Wasn't familiar with the Spartan cams, so I looked them up. Appears they are the first trail-camera to offer Live Streaming. How interesting.

Reviews show they take great pictures, especially No Glow night pictures (long flash range and clear images). However, they tend to be battery hogs, and their detection circuitry isn't the best.

Chiflyguy · Jun 8, 2021

I use Barn Owl.
I can watch my Tennesee house from 480 miles away.
So far so good. Bought the one with the solar panel.

Antler Daddy · Jun 8, 2021

I just use any brand that I find in the woods and along fields edges. People just leave them everywhere without a name or phone on them!
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JCDEERMAN · Jun 8, 2021

AM84 said:
I will say though that I now look forward to getting an update from my cameras each day to see what's been happening. It's usually a nice surprise to get that notification as it happens.

That's another reason why I don't need these cell-cams. I don't want to be glued to my phone all the time. I wouldn't be able to resist it

TheLBLman · Jun 8, 2021

JCDEERMAN said:
That's another reason why I don't need these cell-cams. I don't want to be glued to my phone all the time. I wouldn't be able to resist it

Much of the time, I have to change the settings frequently (something easily done remotely with a few mouse clicks) so that my cell cams only send me pics early am and at bedtime. Otherwise, their coming in is just too much a distraction. If using for security purposes, you may want "instant", but at least in that application, shouldn't be going off often.

Andy S. · Jun 8, 2021

I run 12 Energizer Lithium AAs ($16) in my Reveals and they typically last 5-6 months on 3 shot burst and unlimited transmission to my app. I pay $13/month for the unlimited data plan, but could probably get by on the $8/month plan for 500 pics per camera per month. You can also pay up front for one year and save 20% or so. With that said, I may go this route for my more stationary cellular cameras just to see how it all works out.

PickettSFHunter · Jun 8, 2021

I use Spartan and Tactacam. Spartans are definitely nicer but of course cost more. I don't worry about the data cost so much because I'm sure it actually saves me money to not being be burning fuel going to all of these properties checking normal cameras. My choice without cost being a factor: Spartan. I get great battery life out of both brands with lithium's.

Andy S. · Jun 8, 2021

My want/need for cellular cameras is different than most. I have 6 Reconyx cameras that are 10-15 years old still going strong, and 4 Browning Dark Ops that have been good to me for 3-5 years. I have more than I can use with traditional trail cameras, and just like tinkering with the Reveal cellular cameras, at a cheap price point. I "want" a Reconyx cellular camera to play with, but I am too tight to spend $600 just to experiment. Thus far, the $125 Reveals have done everything I have wanted, and been fun to tinker with.

Andy S. · Jun 8, 2021

PickettSFHunter said:
I don't worry about the data cost so much because I'm sure it actually saves me money to not being be burning fuel going to all of these properties checking normal cameras.

Amen! My "time" alone is worth more than the monthly data plans.

Hogman43 · Jun 9, 2021

The Spypoint cameras I've had were all junk. I made the switch to Spartan last year and they've been great. They're pricey but in the long run worth it.

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