Trail Camera Advice needed

rob-nikon

rob-nikon

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I'm looking to purchase a trail camera as I want to scope out some private land I have access to. I'm hoping to pinpoint the whereabouts of a fox as there are several well used paths and I have seen a fox close by in daylight too. I'm hoping it could cut down many many hours sitting and waiting.

I'm looking for advice on what to look for in a trail camera, what brands are good and whether to go with red or black IR LEDs. I know bushnell is one of the well known brands but I was wondering what acorn trail cameras are like.

Any help would be very appreciated. I've posted it in nature forum as I thought the question would be better answered by wildlifers rather than gear people. Cheers Rob
 
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I have seen Aldi's trail camera get reasonable reviews, they were about £70, might be able to find out if they were rebranded?
 
A quick search found someone saying he had one, though it was branded Acorn

This aldi video might help ID a rebranded version
 
We use a Bushnell trail camera (model 119446). I think it may be discontinued now but I think most are pretty similar unless you spend huge amounts.

The resolution on ours is not going to win any prizes but it is easily good enough to record what animals are around down to the size of mice. The range is less than claimed but is good for 20 -25 feet with ease. As there is no auto exposure control animals that come very close to the camera get bleached out, but this is a minor point and fast moving animals can get detected but move out of shot before the camera is triggered, again only a problem now and again. The maximum length of the video recording is one minute and sometimes the recording ends just when it looks like something interesting is going to happen, but I think most trail camera record for the same time.

I don't know anything about 'black' lights but if the area where you want to use the camera is accessible to the public the 'black' lights may be better option as the red light are noticeable. I have read that foxes are able to see the red lights and are put off by them. In my limited experience in the back garden the foxes we see are not bothered (one came close to the camera and sniffed it while the lights were on). However, these are urban foxes so are probably used to quite a lot of odd things. We have also recorded badgers and pine martens, both of which see the red lights but are also not concerned.


Here is a video from our camera.




Another alternative to find the foxes is to bait an area; put some peanuts down and the foxes (and probably more too) will find them.

Dave

BTW checking the recordings from a trail camera can become addictive.
 
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Just registering my interest on this. I'm pretty sure I've got either a tawny or barn owl visiting the garden, on the basis of the pellets that are being left behind. Quite keen on seeing what visitors I've got!

The only brand I've really heard of is Bushnell, so any experience anyone has with others would be good to hear.
 
MarkE said:
Just registering my interest on this. I'm pretty sure I've got either a tawny or barn owl visiting the garden, on the basis of the pellets that are being left behind. Quite keen on seeing what visitors I've got!

The only brand I've really heard of is Bushnell, so any experience anyone has with others would be good to hear.
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Hi, if you have pellets in the garden or more than likely on your feeder (if its a table size) it more than likely a little owl ,as at this time of the year recent young will have already established a territory and you could have a wandering little owl,not saying it is but I would put money on it being a little owl
 
Tringa said:
We use a Bushnell trail camera (model 119446). I think it may be discontinued now but I think most are pretty similar unless you spend huge amounts.

The resolution on ours is not going to win any prizes but it is easily good enough to record what animals are around down to the size of mice. The range is less than claimed but is good for 20 -25 feet with ease. As there is no auto exposure control animals that come very close to the camera get bleached out, but this is a minor point and fast moving animals can get detected but move out of shot before the camera is triggered, again only a problem now and again. The maximum length of the video recording is one minute and sometimes the recording ends just when it looks like something interesting is going to happen, but I think most trail camera record for the same time.

I don't know anything about 'black' lights but if the area where you want to use the camera is accessible to the public the 'black' lights may be better option as the red light are noticeable. I have read that foxes are able to see the red lights and are put off by them. In my limited experience in the back garden the foxes we see are not bothered (one came close to the camera and sniffed it while the lights were on). However, these are urban foxes so are probably used to quite a lot of odd things. We have also recorded badgers and pine martens, both of which see the red lights but are also not concerned.


Here is a video from our camera.




Another alternative to find the foxes is to bait an area; put some peanuts down and the foxes (and probably more too) will find them.

Dave

BTW checking the recordings from a trail camera can become addictive.
Click to expand...

Thank you for the advice. If red lights are visible then I would really be looking at black lights. It's not a public area but the public can pass nearby and there is nothing stopping people going further, I would rather not attract attention.
 
MarkE said:
Just registering my interest on this. I'm pretty sure I've got either a tawny or barn owl visiting the garden, on the basis of the pellets that are being left behind. Quite keen on seeing what visitors I've got!

The only brand I've really heard of is Bushnell, so any experience anyone has with others would be good to hear.
Click to expand...

I'm currently looking at the acorn brand as a cheaper alternative so any experience of them would be great.
 
den said:
Hi, if you have pellets in the garden or more than likely on your feeder (if its a table size) it more than likely a little owl ,as at this time of the year recent young will have already established a territory and you could have a wandering little owl,not saying it is but I would put money on it being a little owl
Click to expand...

Thanks. I've got a dry stone wall at the end of the garden and they were left on there. In my half asleep state this morning I just chucked them into the field at the back rather than take any photos. I'll have a look again in the morning and see if there's anything new on there. Wex seem to have a decent price for the Bushnell HD so tempted by that.
 
What sort of area are you in Mark/ Barn Owls favour places with open areas of scrubby grass, tawny owl are common in a lot of places - woodland, parks, graveyards. If you have a tawny owl there is a good chance you will hear it, and others, calling/replying. If you play a recording of a tawny hooting others in the area may call back.

Dave
 
Interested in getting one of these as well if anyone has any experience with them.
We've just bought a caravan and plan on lots of weekends away next year and I would like to be able to put a trail cam out to see what's about for any photo opportunities.
Would prefer a black light one due to not knowing what areas I'll be in and don't fancy getting it lifted.
I've got a budget of £100 - £150 so I'm not sure if the Bushnell HD jobbies will fit.

Cheers Lee
 
Bigvin said:
I've got a budget of £100 - £150 so I'm not sure if the Bushnell HD jobbies will fit
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Lee I picked up a New Bushnell 119577C earlier this year for £200 on ebay.
If you can stretch your budget, it's probably worth it, it's great quality, has the colour LCD and the 'black' led's.
 
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Posting to say this also is of interest so looking forward to user experiences and feedback :)
 
RacingSnake said:
Lee I picked up a New Bushnell 119577C earlier this year for £200 on ebay.
If you can stretch your budget, it's probably worth it, it's great quality, has the colour LCD and the 'black' led's.
Click to expand...

Can only find one of these at £217 on ebay.
Have found the 119678 for £170, are they similar in specs?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bushnell-...Cameras_DigitalCameras_JN&hash=item19f58a3277

Or the 119676C for £135

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-Bushn...05&prg=11472&rk=1&rkt=6&sd=111493657207&rt=nc
 
Bigvin said:
Can only find one of these at £217 on ebay.
Have found the 119678 for £170, are they similar in specs?
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Slightly different in specs - this doesn't seem to have a colour viewfinder, only black and white text, but does seem to do true 1080p and has a fast trigger speed than mine. - design looks a little dodgy! lol but it does look like a good camera if you're ok to take the card out to review your images.

Bigvin said:
Or the 119676C for £135
Click to expand...
This only has 720p video (same as mine), but a faster trigger speed and no colour LCD display

....
None of their 'Trail cam' range have colour LCD's any more (mine has been discontinued after less than a year!!!) - but this one looks like the equivalent of mine but with 1080p video 119440.
So... if I was buying now, I'd get this: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-Bushn...Cameras_DigitalCameras_JN&hash=item19eb671d04
If you're not fussed on the screen (or the design) and want to save £15, then the 119678 looks good.
 
RacingSnake said:
Slightly different in specs - this doesn't seem to have a colour viewfinder, only black and white text, but does seem to do true 1080p and has a fast trigger speed than mine. - design looks a little dodgy! lol but it does look like a good camera if you're ok to take the card out to review your images.

This only has 720p video (same as mine), but a faster trigger speed and no colour LCD display

....
None of their 'Trail cam' range have colour LCD's any more (mine has been discontinued after less than a year!!!) - but this one looks like the equivalent of mine but with 1080p video 119440.
So... if I was buying now, I'd get this: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-Bushn...Cameras_DigitalCameras_JN&hash=item19eb671d04
If you're not fussed on the screen (or the design) and want to save £15, then the 119678 looks good.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info, the bushnells was what I've been looking at. After reading several reviews/blogs it seems many have said the new 2014 models are not as good as older models which seems a shame. I think I may try the little acorn 5310A as they look good value at £102 on amazon, if it was stolen it wouldn't be as bad as losing a £185 bushnell trail cam.
 
Although we use a Bushnell trail camera if I was to buy another I would get someting cheaper. There is nothing wrong with The Bushnell - my post earlier in this thread outlines what it is like and shows what it does - but from comments on other forums the cheaper ones are equally capable and as said less of a loss if it goes AWOL.

The quality of the output, whether video or still photos, is not important. The trail camera is, IMO, only for identification and location (both position and time) of the wildlife.

The trigger time is also not significant; last night our camera recorded 19 videos, none were empty. On the previous night 3 of the 35 videos were empty. We do put food out which obviously tends to keep the animals in one place but unless they are chasing something, or being chased themselves most move slow enough to be caught easily by the camera.

Along with a camera factor in the price of a tripod. I think most cameras come with a strap to attach them to a tree, fence, post. Great if you have one of those just where you want it, but a small tripod is a lot more versatile. 7dayshop do some cheap ones (about £10); fine for a trail camera, especially if weighed or pegged down.

Dave
 
Rob, I have one of the Bushnells, I also bought the metal cage and a locking wire rope to attach it round a tree. Not thiefproof, but it will stop a casual passerby lifting it.
 
Which lens version would people recommend? The 55° or 100° lens?
 
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