New Reconyx cameras

[Boone 58]

No Reconyx camera is worth 1/2 the price they charge. I can buy 4 $150 cams and get WAY more pics out of them.

I am NOT gonna pay a Reconyx price for any cam..........my limit is around the 100~120 mark............so I am watchful for a deal. Also, I am not using anything but AA batteries, no more c or d's................ :whistle:

 

[BSK]

I also have hope that eventually the competition of the free-enterprise system will raise the quality control, make the innovations sizzle, and lower prices = all equaling much greater value to the end consumer.

It's just that the progress has been remarkably slow compared say to regular cameras and computers.

Agreed.

All we need is a company like Nikon or Sony to simply start putting together something similar to what homebrewers are currently doing, using their proven real cameras (instead of those cheap "image processors" used by the Chinese), and they could corner the market overnight.

I've wondered the same. The explanation I've heard is that the trail-cam market is too small for the big digital camera makers to get involved. Personally, I question that, considering the millions of trail-cams that are bought each year.

 

[BSK]

Also, I am not using anything but AA batteries, no more c or d's................ :whistle:

Good point Boone 58. I really do hate having to buy C-cells for my Reconyx cameras. I like cams that use AAs. Lithium AAs last a long, long time.

Any Reconyx users out there that use the C-cell to AA adapter? I wouldn't mind loading my Reconyx cams with 12 Lithium AAs instead of 6 C-cells. I bet 12 Lithium AAs would last all season.

 

[BSK]

Reconyx cameras may be great but for the price, I'd rather build 5 homebrews.

If someone could build truly black-flash homebrews, I would be interested.

 

[Mike Belt]

BSK---I do and have been for the last 4 years but mine takes the same number of AA's as it did C's. The only difference is the sleeves. They're the same size (diameter) as the C's but the AA's fit into them and stack just like the C's do inside the unit. I can run about 1 1/2 years off a set of Lithiums running cameras 4-5 months a season. The only thing I have to watch for is since the AA's are smaller diameter than the sleeves and the opposite terminals of the batteries have to make contact there is a chance they will separate just enough in the sleeves to lose that contact. You just have to remember to check on that after setting the camera up and walking away and you're good to go.

I'm not sure what the sleeves are made of. It looks like some kind of composite material. I got mine from ReconyX but I'm betting you could make them from anything if they were the same size diameter.

 

[TheLBLman]

All we need is a company like Nikon or Sony to simply start putting together something similar to what homebrewers are currently doing, using their proven real cameras (instead of those cheap "image processors" used by the Chinese), and they could corner the market overnight.

I've wondered the same. The explanation I've heard is that the trail-cam market is too small for the big digital camera makers to get involved. Personally, I question that, considering the millions of trail-cams that are bought each year.

IMO, a big company like Sony or Nikon has really missed this opportunity --- but I'd sure welcome them to PLEASE jump in first thing in the morning.

Look at it this way.
They are already making the cameras, which are superior to everything being sold commercially as "trail cams". In the regular camera market, big as it is, a company such as Nikon or Sony has not dominated it, as they have broad competition from other quality companies such as Canon, Olympus, Pentax, Fuji, Leica, Ricoh, etc.

Let's say Nikon decided to offer "trail cams" using any of their regular "point & shoot" cameras in the 12 to 16mp range, costing around $100. Within a year, I believe they would sell more trail cams than Bushnell has sold in the past year. What would that do to their "market share" in the camera business?

I think Nikon has overlooked a tremendous opportunity for themselves, particularly since Nikon is already a popular "brand name" for binoculars, cameras, and riflescopes among those who are also purchasing trail cams. And unlike Bushnell, Nikon makes a quality camera. Just would be so easy for them to pair one of their cameras with a quality box (such as SnapShotSniper), have a similar price point to Bushnell, while providing superior quality for that price, even far superior image quality to Reconyx (for half the price).

 

[JCDEERMAN]

Also, I am not using anything but AA batteries, no more c or d's................ :whistle:

Good point Boone 58. I really do hate having to buy C-cells for my Reconyx cameras. I like cams that use AAs. Lithium AAs last a long, long time.

Any Reconyx users out there that use the C-cell to AA adapter? I wouldn't mind loading my Reconyx cams with 12 Lithium AAs instead of 6 C-cells. I bet 12 Lithium AAs would last all season.

I don't know about the adapter for the AA's, but my newest Reconyx uses AA's. I used it all for one season (aug-jan 2011), then again the next season (aug and sept 2012). Surprisingly, it stayed at 99% until around October, then started fading and had to change them. But for 12 lithium AA batteries to last 1 1/2 years and over 15,000 pics, I couldn't believe it!

 

[BSK]

BSK---I do and have been for the last 4 years but mine takes the same number of AA's as it did C's. The only difference is the sleeves. They're the same size (diameter) as the C's but the AA's fit into them and stack just like the C's do inside the unit. I can run about 1 1/2 years off a set of Lithiums running cameras 4-5 months a season. The only thing I have to watch for is since the AA's are smaller diameter than the sleeves and the opposite terminals of the batteries have to make contact there is a chance they will separate just enough in the sleeves to lose that contact. You just have to remember to check on that after setting the camera up and walking away and you're good to go.

I'm not sure what the sleeves are made of. It looks like some kind of composite material. I got mine from ReconyX but I'm betting you could make them from anything if they were the same size diameter.

Mike, I was under the assumption that the adapters used 2 AAs to replace each C-cell. Is that not the way it works?

[Added]

Just looked them up on Reconyx's website. You're right; one AA per C-cell. I might have to invest in some of those adapters.

 

[Anonymous]

Spypoint!

 

[nodog]

Reconyx cameras may be great but for the price, I'd rather build 5 homebrews.

No reason not to if your getting what you want. It would be interesting to see what would happen if you'd put yours up against a reconyx. Just find a place that takes returns and give it a shot.

Don't know if it still works but I bought and returned mine at BassPro. Didn't know it at the time but even after returning them I built up points, bout 20 bucks worth. Won't cost you much to see how good your cams are. No one wants to spend that much for a cam to set out and be stolen.

 

[Mike Belt]

nodog...Just curious....Why'd you return it?

 

[sneakybow]

I think my next investment will be in a Reconyx. Still made here in the States and the quality shows. That trigger speed and dependability is something hard to put a price tag on.

 

[JCDEERMAN]

I think my next investment will be in a Reconyx. Still made here in the States and the quality shows. That trigger speed and dependability is something hard to put a price tag on.

You won't regret it

 

[Solo Hunter]

I think my next investment will be in a Reconyx. Still made here in the States and the quality shows. That trigger speed and dependability is something hard to put a price tag on.

You won't regret it

X2

 

[JCDEERMAN]

I think my next investment will be in a Reconyx. Still made here in the States and the quality shows. That trigger speed and dependability is something hard to put a price tag on.

You won't regret it

X2

Probably gonna get another one off your buddy

 

[BSK]

I think my next investment will be in a Reconyx. Still made here in the States and the quality shows. That trigger speed and dependability is something hard to put a price tag on.

You won't regret it

X2

X3

Last year, my oldest Reconyx RC60 (from the first year the model was offered) developed a problem with the daytime camera lens. I called the company and they asked me to ship it to them (which I paid for). A few weeks later I received the camera back (no charge), the camera had been fixed (new camera lens at no charge), and included was a letter apologizing for the problem I had had with the camera--a 6 or 7 year-old camera! That's a company that stands behind its products.

 

[Mike Belt]

I can't vouch for the RecoynX customer service. After 7 years I still haven't had a single problem.

 

[nodog]

nodog...Just curious....Why'd you return it?

I never returned the reconyx cam, I did return 3 different ones before trying a reconyx. A bushnell was the best of the 3, only took a few pics (the reconyx took hundreds in the same spot when tried), but the reason I returned the bushnell was when I went to upgrade the firm ware it sent my computer into fits. I didn't at that time know how much better a reconyx was but I did know the bushnell didn't work right.

The worst of the 3 was a cuddy IR. It was total junk taking one daytime pic of a squirrel at about 10 yards. That cam was about $280 with tax and batteries.

 

[nodog]

I think my next investment will be in a Reconyx. Still made here in the States and the quality shows. That trigger speed and dependability is something hard to put a price tag on.

You won't regret it

X2

X3

Last year, my oldest Reconyx RC60 (from the first year the model was offered) developed a problem with the daytime camera lens. I called the company and they asked me to ship it to them (which I paid for). A few weeks later I received the camera back (no charge), the camera had been fixed (new camera lens at no charge), and included was a letter apologizing for the problem I had had with the camera--a 6 or 7 year-old camera! That's a company that stands behind its products.

Probably because customer service is just dying for something to do and were so happy when they finally had one returned. :)

 

[JCDEERMAN]

I think my next investment will be in a Reconyx. Still made here in the States and the quality shows. That trigger speed and dependability is something hard to put a price tag on.

You won't regret it

X2

X3

Last year, my oldest Reconyx RC60 (from the first year the model was offered) developed a problem with the daytime camera lens. I called the company and they asked me to ship it to them (which I paid for). A few weeks later I received the camera back (no charge), the camera had been fixed (new camera lens at no charge), and included was a letter apologizing for the problem I had had with the camera--a 6 or 7 year-old camera! That's a company that stands behind its products.

Probably because customer service is just dying for something to do and were so happy when they finally had one returned. :)

:D your probably right. In any company, if that's the worst thing they have to worry about, they will be in business a very long time :)

 

[TheLBLman]

The worst of the 3 was a cuddy IR. It was total junk . . . .

Wow. Who woulda ever thunk it.

 

[landman]

Why do they now only offer a 2 year warranty ?

 

[BSK]

landman,

I often wonder why too, as the few people I know who have experienced problems seem to always get their cameras fixed free of charge no matter how old the units are.

 

[TheLBLman]

I would speculate limiting warranties to 2 years helps with their financial ratings. While they may CHOOSE to repair or replace units beyond 2 years, big difference in being legally "obligated".