Camera traps/trail cameras

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Camera traps/trail cameras
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roobarb

Joined: 15 Apr 2008
Posts: 139
Location: Carmarthenshire

Posted: Mon Nov 14, 16 5:45 pm Post subject: Camera traps/trail cameras

Not sure if this is the right section to put this query in, but I guess people who are interested in the environment may be able to help...

I'm thinking of getting the OH a camera trap for Xmas (although in reality it would be joint present as I'm quite interested as well

). They seem to range wildly in price from around ï¿½100 to anything over. Any advice from anyone who has got one as to what to buy, what to look for when buying, and what to avoid?

We would like to see what is visiting our garden at night, so night vision is important. Do they all come with sound, or is that an optional extra? Have looked on Amazon etc. and when I think I've come across one that looks okay, a scroll through the reviews shows up various faults and issues with many of them, particularly the reaction speed for sensing something to actually taking a picture/video.

Thanks

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 46249
Location: yes

Posted: Mon Nov 14, 16 6:14 pm Post subject:
the one bodger uses takes pretty good N V photos

Bodger

Joined: 23 May 2006
Posts: 13524

Posted: Tue Nov 15, 16 6:14 am Post subject:
I've had my Bushnell trail cam for a few years now and I can really recommend it. You can set it to take three still photos, or a short video and then down load your captures onto the computer.

Mistress Rose

Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15998

Posted: Tue Nov 15, 16 7:20 am Post subject:

We have a Bushnell camera that we got from a company called Naturespy. It contains a chip which we can take out and download onto the computer and takes stills and short videos. It uses standard AA batteries. Pictures are colour during the day and black and white as it uses IR at night.

We have it mainly as a security camera, but we see quite a lot of wildlife crossing the yard particularly at night. We have found it works quite well, and no major problems.

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Tue Nov 15, 16 8:46 am Post subject:

They start at less than ï¿½100 from Aldi and Lidl, if they get them in before Christmas.

I would start by looking at some of the trail cam review sites, mostly in the US and many seem to sell them so are not going to be that unbiased but a place to start. They will list trigger and recovery times.

Many don't record sound, I would guess they will be more expensive. I would also try and get a good image resolution as once you get over the excitement of seeing animals you start to wonder if it's the same animal visiting each night so better image quality is useful.

buzzy

Joined: 04 Jan 2011
Posts: 3708
Location: In a small wood on the edge of the Huntingdonshire Wolds

Posted: Tue Nov 15, 16 10:52 am Post subject:

I use Ltl Acorns, which I get from the South American river site. They are between ï¿½80 to ï¿½90. They take quite good pictures, though sometimes you have to tweak the exposure. The previous one to the two I have now lasted two years and then stopped working after taking a picture every 15 seconds till the battery ran out (I didn't ask it to do that), but since it had been outside permanently for that two years, I was not too bothered. When I have time I'll put up some pictures, but Jaki came home from hospital yesterday so it won't be right away.

Henry

roobarb

Joined: 15 Apr 2008
Posts: 139
Location: Carmarthenshire

Posted: Tue Nov 15, 16 5:46 pm Post subject:
Thanks all. I will check out the ones you have suggested. Bushnell seem to do a range of cameras, and I guess it boils down to what we want the camera to do, and how much we're willing to pay.

Mistress Rose

Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15998

Posted: Wed Nov 16, 16 8:06 am Post subject:
I think so. The Bushnell we have gives good clear pictures, useful as we have it mainly as a security camera. If animals come through when it is light, I think you would be able to identify individual animals. There is sound on it too.

Bodger

Joined: 23 May 2006
Posts: 13524

Posted: Wed Nov 16, 16 11:32 am Post subject:
I've had some brilliant colour photos of my ducks when I've forgotten to switch it off before letting them out. Very clear pictures indeed.

buzzy

Joined: 04 Jan 2011
Posts: 3708
Location: In a small wood on the edge of the Huntingdonshire Wolds

Posted: Thu Nov 17, 16 5:49 pm Post subject:
Here is one from one of my cameras: This Roe Deer (Capreolus capreolus) appeared on the first night I put the new camera out. I had not seen one in the garden before, though they have been nearby. Not all the pictures are as good as this one. The image is slightly cropped and edited for contrast/gamma. Will post some more later when I can. Henry

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 46249
Location: yes

Posted: Thu Nov 17, 16 11:22 pm Post subject:
really nice photo, considering it is from a auto snap camera with a bit of tweaking it is a very good looking image ( i tweak most of my" for show" snaps even from a camera that is pre adjusted at button press for lighting conditions ,contrasts etc etc )

Mistress Rose

Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15998

Posted: Fri Nov 18, 16 7:34 am Post subject:
Nice picture Buzzy.

SteveP

Joined: 23 Jan 2008
Posts: 155
Location: North Devon

Posted: Fri Nov 18, 16 2:06 pm Post subject: Re: Camera traps/trail cameras

roobarb wrote:

We would like to see what is visiting our garden at night

If it is two legged visitors then you need one with a sim card that sends the pic to you as soon as it is taken.

Mistress Rose

Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15998

Posted: Sat Nov 19, 16 8:24 am Post subject:
We had some 2 legged visitors, which is why we have our camera. They would have been easily identifiable from the pictures, which we gave to the police, but they weren't known to them. Didn't take anything but had a look around in a few places. In some ways it is better to just identify them as some can be a bit nasty.

wellington womble

Joined: 08 Nov 2004
Posts: 15051
Location: East Midlands

Posted: Mon Nov 21, 16 9:37 am Post subject:
I'm reasonably certain I also had some two legged visitors on Saturday night. Nothing taken, I don't think, but I'm sure I didn't leave the garage open, and I heard a lot of dragging noises in the night (at least partly due to wind, but not entirely I don't think) Roughly how long do the batteries last?

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