Spartan or Tactacam?

[BSK]

My sister wanted to replace one of my BIL's dead Spypoint cell cameras for Christmas, so she asked for my advice. Anyone tried both the Spartan and Tactacam cell cameras? Which is better? pros, cons?

 

[Andy S.]

Better, more feature rich, etc, Spartan no doubt, but more costly as well.

 

[Antler Daddy]

The newest Tactacam's also will send HD video if wanted. Price is less than 150. You can also choose the solar version for 179.

I think that sportsman warehouse has the cameras. I also seem to remember that there is a $20 off $100 coupon in the TN hunting guide.

I'm going to get one soon to add to the Reveal X herd.

 

[UCStandSitter]

Love my Tactacams. I have an X and an XB. XB sends vid. Works well. Worth the money. Spartans are on a whole other level.

 

[AM84]

Why limit it to those two brands?

I know you love your Browning HP4's, so why not consider the Browning Pro Scout? I have several and so far they've been very good. I intend to increase my assortment with 3-4 more this year.

 

[BSK]

Why limit it to those two brands?

I know you love your Browning HP4's, so why not consider the Browning Pro Scout? I have several and so far they've been very good. I intend to increase my assortment with 3-4 more this year.

I've heard terrible things about their app. Plus, I looked at the night-time images they provided as examples (on trailcampro.com) and was very unimpressed.

 

[Antler Daddy]

Both the Xb and the sk show in stock in Murfreesboro and Chattanooga. The coupon can be printed from the online hunting guide and is good at those stores.

 

[Andy S.]

IMO, daytime photos are Reveal's weakest feature. Nighttime photos are solid, daytime photos leave a lot to be desired. I am strictly speaking photos transmitted over the air to the app, not retrieved from the SD card. If your deer are 95% nocturnal, maybe not a problem, but daytime photos are overly pixelated and grainy for my liking. For a single camera with better photo quality, get a Spartan and be done with it.

 

[AM84]

I've heard terrible things about their app. Plus, I looked at the night-time images they provided as examples (on trailcampro.com) and was very unimpressed.

Fair enough. I have a friend who uses a tactacam and has good photos and likes them.

As for browning. All I can compare the app to is spypoints but it has worked very well for me. I am only really using video on mine so I can really comment on the images either. However, the video/audio (night and day) in my opinion are very good. I don't want to derail your original post any further but would be glad to share examples of videos with you if you are interested.

 

[BSK]

As for browning. All I can compare the app to is spypoints but it has worked very well for me. I am only really using video on mine so I can really comment on the images either. However, the video/audio (night and day) in my opinion are very good. I don't want to derail your original post any further but would be glad to share examples of videos with you if you are interested.

Funny thing, as much as I LOVE the HP4 videos, both night and day, I'm still unimpressed with the HP4's night-time still images. How can their night-time video be so good and their night-time stills so grainy?

 

[AM84]

I have one of the older defender wireless cams and had it set for pictures and they were terrible. I haven't ever had my pro scout set up for anything but videos. Another one maybe to check out is the wise cam setups. They seem very nice and I've heard excellent things from someone who has them. He says they get service where nothing else does. If I weren't 5 cams deep into the Brownings and in their plan I would look into them.

 

[Mr. Hawk]

I've got both. The tactacams are better than SPYPOINT, I've had no issue with my two. They are affordable and have good pics. The Spartans take much clearer and higher quality pics but are at least 2x more expensive. You get what you pay for in this case, it depends on the need and budget.

 

[TheLBLman]

I have mostly Brownings, and actually prefer their app.
Once you have a cam set up, the app is great.

I have two of last year's Tactacams.
They are not as good as any the Brownings,
and they will not upload but 1 pic when the cam takes 3!
I want to see every pic the cam takes, not just 1 of 3 or 1 of 2, etc.

Right now, I'm adding Ridgetecs.
They have more features than the Brownings,
including dual antennae (a plus in poor service areas).
Their 12mp pics appears to be a full 12mp
(not interpolated from just a 4mp to a 24mp "interpolated" pic).

Also, for those running fewer than 6 cell cams,
Ridgetec has the lowest cost monthly service plans,
particularly true if only running a single cell cam.
(Browning has a "sweet spot" for running exactly 6 cams)

P.S. You can easily spend more in monthly service fees
than the upfront cost of a Tactacam.
The lower up front cost cell cams
tend to have the more expensive monthly service plans (cost per pic uploaded).

One thing in particular I do not like about Tactacams
is they can ONLY be used with a smart phone.
And I prefer to look at pics on a computer --- can't do that with Tactacam.

 

[Antler Daddy]

I have mostly Brownings, and actually prefer their app.
Once you have a cam set up, the app is great.

I have two of last year's Tactacams.
They are not as good as any the Brownings,
and they will not upload but 1 pic when the cam takes 3!
I want to see every pic the cam takes, not just 1 of 3 or 1 of 2, etc.

Right now, I'm adding Ridgetecs.
They have more features than the Brownings,
including dual antennae (a plus in poor service areas).
Their 12mp pics appears to be a full 12mp
(not interpolated from just a 4mp to a 24mp "interpolated" pic).

Also, for those running fewer than 6 cell cams,
Ridgetec has the lowest cost monthly service plans,
particularly true if only running a single cell cam.
(Browning has a "sweet spot" for running exactly 6 cams)

P.S. You can easily spend more in monthly service fees
than the upfront cost of a Tactacam.
The lower up front cost cell cams
tend to have the more expensive monthly service plans (cost per pic uploaded).

One thing in particular I do not like about Tactacams
is they can ONLY be used with a smart phone.
And I prefer to look at pics on a computer --- can't do that with Tactacam.

You can also view Tactacam on a Tablet.

I agree that the tactacam daylight pics could be better. Even the HD pic sent does not improve what I want to see sometimes. Night also has some movement blur, but I think they all do.

 

[TheLBLman]

You can also view Tactacam on a Tablet.

Even the HD pic sent does not improve what I want to see sometimes.

Tablets, like Smart phones, are "Android" based.
I inventory all my pics on a regular computer,
and can view them all immediately with all my cell cams,
except for the Tactacams.

If you request an HD pic from Tactacam,
there will be an additional charge for that, too.
Some other plans (such as Browning's) include a set number of HD uploads monthly
for no additional charge.

With the cell cams I have, except for Tactacam,
all allow me to view pics immediately
from both a computer or a smart phone (or a tablet).
Like having all as options,
but for serious viewing,
nothing compares to the big screen of a computer.

 

[Lincoln Co Archer]

Tablets, like Smart phones, are "Android" based.
I inventory all my pics on a regular computer,
and can view them all immediately with all my cell cams,
except for the Tactacams.

If you request an HD pic from Tactacam,
there will be an additional charge for that, too.
Some other plans (such as Browning's) include a set number of HD uploads monthly
for no additional charge.

With the cell cams I have, except for Tactacam,
all allow me to view pics immediately
from both a computer or a smart phone (or a tablet).
Like having all as options,
but for serious viewing,
nothing compares to the big screen of a computer.

I think this might have recently changed with Tactacam. I think you can login to your account through the website. I could be off base though.

 

[Hillbilly Hunter]

I love my Reveal X, i have not dropped the money on a Spartan.

 

[Hillbilly Hunter]

 

[Hillbilly Hunter]

These are the low resolution pictures that get sent to app.

 

[Hillbilly Hunter]