You guys with Brownings need to leave some reviews on the Cabela's website. Rated 1 STAR!!!! Most comments are about eating batteries.
Cell Game Cams
- Thread starter MCO8891
- Start date
Worth mentioning, I would never encourage anyone to try or stay away from a certain brand IF I had only used 1-2 models of a particular brand, over last 5+ years. Generally speaking, each offering each season (2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, etc) is somewhat different than previous model, and sometimes a lot different than prior year models. Sometimes this is for the better, and sometimes this is for the worse. I have seen some older models (2018) be okay, where as newer models (2022) are 10x better, regardless of the brand name, and vice versa. I like to talk brand name, exact model and model #, and year purchased/used. Wholesale statements leave a lot to be desired IMO. My .02
Well I am by far no cell cam expert but I thoroughly love it. So I started with SPYPOINT got away from them about as quick as I got in them.
Tactacam came out with the original reveal I bought several of them and now have gen1,gen2, and x pro models my favorite being the x pro. My only complaint is they like the batteries 12aa per camera add up.
But the last two or three years my favorite hands down have been the browning pro scout fantastic battery life. Picture quality maybe not as good as others but what it lacks in photo quality it makes up in everything else.
Buddy of mine runs a crape ton of moultrie edge on some out of state ground we hunt and they do good on photo and battery quality I think just a little pricey on the data bill compared to Tactacam and browning
Tactacam came out with the original reveal I bought several of them and now have gen1,gen2, and x pro models my favorite being the x pro. My only complaint is they like the batteries 12aa per camera add up.
But the last two or three years my favorite hands down have been the browning pro scout fantastic battery life. Picture quality maybe not as good as others but what it lacks in photo quality it makes up in everything else.
Buddy of mine runs a crape ton of moultrie edge on some out of state ground we hunt and they do good on photo and battery quality I think just a little pricey on the data bill compared to Tactacam and browning
TheLBLman
Well-Known Member
Yes, the Browning Pro Scouts have been fantastic, especially on battery life.
What's more they only take 8 AA's compared to 12 AA's for some many other brands/makes.
I don't really see much difference in pic quality between the Brownings & Tactacams. Tactacam's thumbnails (initial uploads) are of a higher megapixal than Brownings, yet what's on the sd card, and what you can subsequently request from Browning (HD uploads of worthy pics) are little different.
I also have the Tactacam Xpro, and my biggest complaint is its slow trigger speed.
Yep! I agree with everything you just said as well the HD uploads and sd pictures are perfect.
Have you got any of the new browning scout cameras Lbl man without the antenna it's literally just a little built in bump for a antenna I bought 4 on the cyber Monday sale but not going to deploy them this year.
My concern is cell reception but I really am excited hoping the bears can't screw them up by snapping the antenna's off
I have a few of the Moultrie Edge and have had no problems with them... They are affordable if you find them on sale 2@$150... They use multiple carriers and have a simple setup. Image quality is good IMO and videos are good as well.
they will run on 8 or 16 AA batteries so they run all season + without a battery change.
One con is that you only get a 15 second video, I would like a longer video option and would love to have the option to take an immediate test photo instead of having to schedule one.
Someone mentioned you have to wait 24 hours for the download of the video but that's when you set it to immediate check in, if you set it for say 3 hour check in it will get your video to you on that check in... it would be nice to be able to request the video immediately but maybe they'll address that.
Many of the negatives that cell cameras have can be addresses with firmware upgrades.
Moultrie has a scaled plan that you can purchase if you have multi cameras that will save some money, that's a plus for me.
These cameras have no SD card so everything is managed by the app.
I agree with Andy that you can't really judge a brand by a couple of models, I had some bad luck with a different Moultrie model, that's why I've purchase more of these Edge models because I know mine have worked without issue... I have other brands but these are the ones I've repurchased.
There are better cameras I'm sure but how much better can you get than having the camera take the picture or video when a deer walks by and then transmit it to you with an image quality that you can use to determine if it's a deer you want to pursue? That's all I'm looking for in a cell camera, I'm not watching Dolby HDR videos on it... just my opinions.
they will run on 8 or 16 AA batteries so they run all season + without a battery change.
One con is that you only get a 15 second video, I would like a longer video option and would love to have the option to take an immediate test photo instead of having to schedule one.
Someone mentioned you have to wait 24 hours for the download of the video but that's when you set it to immediate check in, if you set it for say 3 hour check in it will get your video to you on that check in... it would be nice to be able to request the video immediately but maybe they'll address that.
Many of the negatives that cell cameras have can be addresses with firmware upgrades.
Moultrie has a scaled plan that you can purchase if you have multi cameras that will save some money, that's a plus for me.
These cameras have no SD card so everything is managed by the app.
I agree with Andy that you can't really judge a brand by a couple of models, I had some bad luck with a different Moultrie model, that's why I've purchase more of these Edge models because I know mine have worked without issue... I have other brands but these are the ones I've repurchased.
There are better cameras I'm sure but how much better can you get than having the camera take the picture or video when a deer walks by and then transmit it to you with an image quality that you can use to determine if it's a deer you want to pursue? That's all I'm looking for in a cell camera, I'm not watching Dolby HDR videos on it... just my opinions.
I had two of the moultrie edges. My biggest complaint about them is the flash range was shorter than advertised. I put a moultrie and a tactacam on the same post and the tactacams flash covered alot more area.
TheLBLman
Well-Known Member
Browning's 1st entry (original Ridgeline with no antennae) did not perform very well for me in even "fair" cell service areas. My understanding is the subsequent versions do well, but may not be as well as those with an antennae. I wouldn't try them unless have decent cell service where used.
Browning's original Ridgeline was a true black-flash, so that's what drew me to them. I have since replaced those 4 with 4 more Pro Scouts, which if the low-glow flash is set to "economy", seem to serve my purposed about as well as most black-flash units.
I've been pondering trying some of the newer versions which have no antennae, but currently have more cams deployed than can keep up with already!
RedDawg
Well-Known Member
I'll throw a bit of a curveball here. I have one spot on my farm that has cell coverage of any kind. I went with Cuddeback. With their Cuddelink system, only one camera has to have a cell connection. Up to 23 other cameras can connect to it. I'm not enough of a camera savant to really compare this system to all the rest. However I like the idea of one data plan. In addition to the D cell batteries I put in each camera, I put one of their Sun and Shade Panels on each one so it's not the cheapest solution. I've been running some of these cameras for 329 days without changing a battery of even visiting the camera. How do I know this? I get a health report of each camera every day which includes 'Battery Days'.
I don't get instant pictures, I can set how often I want to receive batches of pictures and the batch level. If the batch fills up before the time internal, it come in early. Nice thing is, the cameras will daisy chain. I have one spot about a half a mile from the Home camera that I cover. It leap frogs 4 cameras to send its pictures. Note, the highest resolution pictures stay on the camera. What I get are lower resolution pictures but acceptable to me. If I want the highest resolution pictures I have to go the camera and pull the card (which I did on one camera to see some particular detail). There is no video available. You get the pictures via email, text and/or on their Camp website.
Not the cheapest solution out there but I like the lack of hassle and hands off nature. I deployed the first cameras almost a year ago and have added to my network in intervals of 2 at a few times. I'm built out for now. Just testing spots and seeing how to best use these units.
I don't get instant pictures, I can set how often I want to receive batches of pictures and the batch level. If the batch fills up before the time internal, it come in early. Nice thing is, the cameras will daisy chain. I have one spot about a half a mile from the Home camera that I cover. It leap frogs 4 cameras to send its pictures. Note, the highest resolution pictures stay on the camera. What I get are lower resolution pictures but acceptable to me. If I want the highest resolution pictures I have to go the camera and pull the card (which I did on one camera to see some particular detail). There is no video available. You get the pictures via email, text and/or on their Camp website.
Not the cheapest solution out there but I like the lack of hassle and hands off nature. I deployed the first cameras almost a year ago and have added to my network in intervals of 2 at a few times. I'm built out for now. Just testing spots and seeing how to best use these units.
Last edited:
bjohnson
Well-Known Member
I don't have a cell camera yet, I asked my wife for one for Christmas. WCB podcast had the owner of Black Gate trail cameras on and I liked what I heard on there from him about his cameras. So we'll see what happens when I get it out.
Have you had any issues with them?
RedDawg
Well-Known Member
Nope, they just keep sending pictures a few times a day.
holstonangler
Well-Known Member
You guys are having better luck with your browning cams than I have, I've probably sent 4 back, with issues of no connection, hyper sensitive pir, excessive battery drain. They do have great customer service and have updated and fixed the cameras issues in a timely manner. The newest HD cell camera has a visible flash that every animal stares at and the pictures really aren't HD quality. The older ridgelines are much better with the dark flash and not spooking game.
Where are you buying your browning cams at ? I ve always went straight through browning or trail cam pro and haven't had a dud yet
holstonangler
Well-Known Member
I bought most of mine direct through browning
Creek
Well-Known Member
Can you tell the model?
Im asking because I just bought two Defender Ridgeline Pro.
holstonangler
Well-Known Member
I have 3 orignial defender ridgelines, pro scout hd, and a defender vision
Creek
Well-Known Member
You're having issues with all of them?
I asked because of concern you expressed in post #43
Sorry I wasn't clearer with my question.
All of mine are the original pro scout and the second gen I am not familiar with the defender version's
bjohnson
Well-Known Member
holstonangler
Well-Known Member
Only the rideglines and their new HD cell cam. The HD wouldn't turn on and the battery case wouldn't stay in the unit.
