gun nut
Well-Known Member
Looking into buying 3-4 new cams regular not cellular what's everyone's favorite I'm looking strongly at Browning's camera
Everyone’s favorite trail camera
- Thread starter gun nut
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I have owned dozens and dozens of cameras from Bushnell, Covert, Primos, Moultrie, Spylink, Wildgame, Recon, and maybe more I'm forgetting. The best cameras I've ever owned, and it's not even close, were made by Covert. As a matter of fact I'm sick of spotty performance from my Moultrie and Spypoint cell cams and considering stepping up to Covert there as well.
Browning and Spypoint for the $100-ish range.
Worked with Reconyx cams in Campeche (not mine, another researchers) but they were phenomenal.
Worked with Reconyx cams in Campeche (not mine, another researchers) but they were phenomenal.
JCDEERMAN
Well-Known Member
Reconyx are the best cameras out there. I have 3 and combined years I've been running those 3 cameras add up to 34 years (9-14 years each camera). Sent them each back one time for a repair, paid $40-55 and they sent back fixed.
As far as cheaper cameras, the Brownings have treated us very well. I've heard very good things about Covert. I would go with one of those two for the cheaper option
As far as cheaper cameras, the Brownings have treated us very well. I've heard very good things about Covert. I would go with one of those two for the cheaper option
Which covert cams in particular do you all recommend
Crappieaddict
Well-Known Member
I am super cheap! I like the Wildgame Innovations.
Safari Hunt
Well-Known Member
I recall seeing a package deal on 3-4 cameras but can't remember where. Bass Pro or Sportsman's Warehouse?
I have had a few WG cams. Some lasted for years and years.
Also, watch Goodwills online auction. They have used cams from time to time.
I have found some good deals there.
I have found some good deals there.
holstonangler
Well-Known Member
Browning strike force and dark ops for me so far. running 3-4 years strong, good day and night pics. Crappy customer service though
BSK
Well-Known Member
So much depends on what you're using trail-cameras for. If you just want to know if certain size bucks are working through a given area and when, just about any camera will do, even the cheap ones. And if you hunt in somewhat flat terrain, cell cameras work fairly well. However, if you're hunting in very hilly terrain, or trying to monitor big open spaces like fields or food plots, or monitoring scrapes close up, or running a photo census, then all sorts of considerations come into play, such as lack of cell signal in valleys, flash distance, visibility of flash, image quality, etc.
Lincoln Co Archer
Well-Known Member
Mr.Bro
Well-Known Member
All my Coverts and Brownings were built from 2017 and newer. All are black flash. Coverts are MP8s. Brownings are Dark Opt models. All continue to work as expected. Never needed customer service on either brand. All were under $100.
Southern Sportsman
Well-Known Member
Not to derail the thread, but this just made my day. I've never met you but there have been so many times over the past few years I've thought "I really wish we hadn't run off BSK. I'd love to hear his input on this." Hope you stick around.
As to the question at hand, I haven't used as many as some, but I've used most of the common brands at one point or another. Minus reconyx - too pricey for what I'm wanting. Covert is my favorite and it's not close. They're not flashy but they do absolutely everything I need. Most all of the cameras are made in China and they are pretty complex devices in the $100 price range so you can always find a bad review. But Coverts come with a 2 year warranty and have customer service based in Kentucky. I have a Browning and I broke the latch on it once and needed a new part. I was blown away by how good the customer service was. Got a new part in a few days with no fuss and no charge. Not even shipping. I don't have anything bad to say about the Browning camera. But side by side in that price range, I'll take the covert every time.
I got three new coverts this year. MP16 Black. It is the exact same camera as the predecessor MP8 Black, but you can now select 8, 12 or 16 mp resolution. I don't know why Coverts aren't as easy to find in stores but I typically just get them through ebay and can find them for under $100.
little highriser
Well-Known Member
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- Dec 9, 2014
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Browning Dark Ops
BSK
Well-Known Member
Considering what I use trail cameras for, mostly photo census work, I've fallen in love with the new Browning trail cameras I just picked up this year (their dual lens black flash versions). Amazing day and night video. Jaw-dropping daytime picture quality, and great trigger (distance and speed). Their one weakness is less than stellar nighttime still images at distance. Although few black flash cameras take great pictures at night beyond 40 or 50 feet.
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U know for super cheap they work well
Crappieaddict
Well-Known Member
I have five now, and a couple of other brands.....all cheap. The Wildgame is the best of the cheap!
Shed Hunter
Well-Known Member
I seek reliability. Covert has proven to be the most reliable
bushnell also have worked well and the only Browning I've owned is doing fine
Not a fan of any other camera I've used. Including Tactacam, but that's simply because I don't like getting pictures of deer butts sent to me because it only sends the SECOND photo of the sequence
bushnell also have worked well and the only Browning I've owned is doing fine
Not a fan of any other camera I've used. Including Tactacam, but that's simply because I don't like getting pictures of deer butts sent to me because it only sends the SECOND photo of the sequence
megalomaniac
Well-Known Member
WGI hands down. If they work right out of the box, they seem to really last. I have 3 that are 3 years old and have taken over 100,000 pics and still working perfectly.
I bought 4 more the following year, and all still work great.
Of course I bought 3 more the year after that (newer model), and none of them worked out of the box.
I've had 6 or 7 coverts. I seem to get between 1-2 years out of them, moisture gets into the case, then I return them and get a replacement or pay the discounted price for a replacement when out of warranty.
I bought 4 more the following year, and all still work great.
Of course I bought 3 more the year after that (newer model), and none of them worked out of the box.
I've had 6 or 7 coverts. I seem to get between 1-2 years out of them, moisture gets into the case, then I return them and get a replacement or pay the discounted price for a replacement when out of warranty.
BSK
Well-Known Member
WGI cameras are one of those products that, when they work, they really work well.
TheLBLman
Well-Known Member
My current "go-to" cams for most applications are the Browning Dark-Ops series. These are true black flash cams, great for using over scrapes and trails. IMO, they are the best bang for my buck, feature-rich, allowing up to 8 pics per triggering event.
For inventorying fields and larger food plots, I prefer the top models from both Bushnell and Moultrie, mainly because I prefer their field scan modes over the Browning models.
As I replace some older units, I see the Browning Patriot model coming into play.
Among the cellular cams, I'm currently using both Browning models and the Tacticam.
The Tacticam is not a bad cam for the price, but I believe over a couple years, the Browning Scout will cost no more simply because is has longer battery life.
The Tacticam is not as feature-rich as the Brownings, and I believe I'm missing a lot of activity that typically gets captured by the Brownings. No matter how you program the Tacticam, it will only send 1 pic per triggering event. I have my Brownings typically set to send at least 2 pics per triggering event, and the Brownings send all pics, not just 1 of 3, etc. like the Tacticam.
I'm adding more Browning cell cams, but don't plan to add any more Tacticams.
For inventorying fields and larger food plots, I prefer the top models from both Bushnell and Moultrie, mainly because I prefer their field scan modes over the Browning models.
As I replace some older units, I see the Browning Patriot model coming into play.
Among the cellular cams, I'm currently using both Browning models and the Tacticam.
The Tacticam is not a bad cam for the price, but I believe over a couple years, the Browning Scout will cost no more simply because is has longer battery life.
The Tacticam is not as feature-rich as the Brownings, and I believe I'm missing a lot of activity that typically gets captured by the Brownings. No matter how you program the Tacticam, it will only send 1 pic per triggering event. I have my Brownings typically set to send at least 2 pics per triggering event, and the Brownings send all pics, not just 1 of 3, etc. like the Tacticam.
I'm adding more Browning cell cams, but don't plan to add any more Tacticams.
JCDEERMAN
Well-Known Member
Speaking of which, I just posted in the Deals thread, that Academy has a deal online for Browning Dark Ops cameras for $79.99.
BSK
Well-Known Member
Love the Brownings! The new Patriot is the BOMB!
Thanks for the recommendations on field/food plot cams Wes.
Hunter 257W
Well-Known Member
I started with the film cameras and don't even recall the brand but it was the same company that made the timers that used sewing thread across a deer trail to time something walking over the thread which pulled it out of the timer clock switch. Those old film cameras worked well but you were limited to only 36 shots and film, developing and batteries ran into a lot of money. Can't hardly believe I was willing to spend that much back then. I've tried several of the cheapo digitals. Wildgame Innovations and Primos being the two I recall that gave good/decent service. One of those however used C batteries and consumed 4 new batteries every 3 weeks. Fortunately somebody stole that one - being a thief , they deserve it. 
This year I saw a sale at Midway on the Browning Strike Force Explorer Trail Camera 18 MP for $99 and bought 2. I love that camera so much that I ordered another last week but paid regular price of $149. They have a sensitive trigger so you'll get every chipmunk that runs by literally but since we aren't using film that doesn't cost anything but a little time to delete some pictures. I use 32MG cards so have no problem with the cards filling up before I get back to the camera. I had one camera in the past that had video capability but they were very grainy. These Browning's have very good quality videos and the sound is good too. I should have bought 5 of them at that $99 price.
This year I saw a sale at Midway on the Browning Strike Force Explorer Trail Camera 18 MP for $99 and bought 2. I love that camera so much that I ordered another last week but paid regular price of $149. They have a sensitive trigger so you'll get every chipmunk that runs by literally but since we aren't using film that doesn't cost anything but a little time to delete some pictures. I use 32MG cards so have no problem with the cards filling up before I get back to the camera. I had one camera in the past that had video capability but they were very grainy. These Browning's have very good quality videos and the sound is good too. I should have bought 5 of them at that $99 price.
Stealth cam at tractorsupply 2 for$100 I've got six now probably will have 6 more for next year. I've not had any issues. They take 8AA used the same batteries from July until now
