Most of the various brands are all manufactured from the same Chinese plants, i.e. essentially same cams are sold under a variety of different "brand" names. Most of the brand differences are either cosmetic and/or relatively small programming differences. It comes down to features, price, AND service. You will likely need service after the sale because of poor quality control beginning with the point of manufacture. Invisible black flash cost more than not invisible red flash; extended flash range cost more than low flash range; and generally, cams that take better images and are more reliable, cost more to manufacture.
Reconyx is an exception to much of the above, and you will initially pay the highest price for anything Reconyx. Ironically, over several years of use, Reconyx can be the lowest cost, factoring in everything, particularly the cost of not getting pics when cams aren't working or not working properly, your transportation costs to service your cams, etc. If you spend "x" dollars for "x" pics over "x" years, what is your cost per pic? What is your cost of a cam not working and not taking any pics? Cost per pic (and/or "usable" pics) can be highest with the cheapest cams.
Regardless of brand, overall quality seems to be improving, and while prices may not be going down much, what you can get for your money is becoming more. Personally, among the Chinese cams, I can only recommend the Covert and Browning brands. This is mainly due to my having good service issues with them on returned (and malfunctioning) cams, initial price point vs. overall features.
Some brands are way overpriced for what they are, and their poor service (after the sale). Experiences vary wildly. Some swear by a brand another curses. I've only had a couple "brand" horrible experiences, and they were with Uway and Cuddeback. I also had a new Bushnell that wouldn't work and Bushnell wouldn't fix or replace it a couple weeks after purchase because I had paid cash for it from Bass Pro and lost the receipt. Needless to say, I have no plans of ever buying another Bushnell, noting that some other brands will simply back their cams for at least a year no matter who becomes the unfortunate possessor.
Bottom line, note how many have recommended Covert and more recently Browning. For around the $150 initial price point, the Browning Dark Ops is what I believe the overall best value, but I'm sure other brands are "packaging" essentially the same cam with some cosmetic and other minor differences for a little less or a lot more. My Browning experiences are limited to two of these, one of which had to be returned, but I experienced Browning customer service that was comparable to Covert's, even had a live person answer the phone before the 2nd ring.
Reconyx, Covert, or Browning ---- just find the features and price point that fit you best ---- then look no farther.
