Trail camera advice

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Discussion

Toilet Duck

Original Poster:

1,329 posts

186 months

Monday 6th September 2021
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Evening all smile

This is technically a garden post so thought I'd try my luck in this section.

I've recently borrowed a cheapo trail camera from a friend and discovered that I have a badger visiting every night, say hello to Boris:



I want to buy one for myself but it seems a minefield. I would like WiFi control for setting up and viewing remotely if possible, and want good quality video and audio. I am prepared to spend as much as is necessary within reason, I want something at the top end as I am fascinated by the wildlife and want to get real high quality footage.

I would be grateful for any help and advice.

On a side note, I put dog food down for Boris but he didn't go near it. He prefers eating the fat ball and seed that falls off the bird feeders.

Simpo Two

85,595 posts

266 months

Monday 6th September 2021
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Maybe one for the Photography & Video forum?

S6PNJ

5,183 posts

282 months

Monday 6th September 2021
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From a precious thread - https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&... and within that thread, I've linked another PH thread where I provided a link to a deer stalking forum where they use trail cams (only go there if you are not squeemish...) which might offer some suitable cams. Bushnell spring to mind as good cams.

LeadFarmer

7,411 posts

132 months

Monday 6th September 2021
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Having done research I've just ordered a Browning Recon Force Elite HP4 from Nature Spy

https://shop.naturespy.org/product/browning-recon-...

I'll be using it next to my new wildlife pond, to see any wildlife that visits etc.
I chose this one as it can run off rechargeable batteries (above 2500mAh) as most trail cams can't, and has good video quality. I decided against the £50 jobbies that are all over Amazon.

They also do a solar panel powered trail cam that sends the photos to your phone, but unless you subscribe to their photo service I understand they are low quality images.








Edited by LeadFarmer on Monday 6th September 22:29

Gareth79

7,698 posts

247 months

Monday 6th September 2021
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If it's in your garden then I'd definitely suggest something hard-wired and wifi, possibly even a CCTV camera with adjustable motion detection. If it's for casual use I think you'd get tired with checking the card and switching batteries etc.

I've been messing around with Frigate CCTV software, it has some interesting object detection, although it's quite complicated to train new detection models. Currently it's detecting cat, dog and bird for me biggrin






Bodo

12,378 posts

267 months

Monday 6th September 2021
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Toilet Duck said:
On a side note, I put dog food down for Boris but he didn't go near it. He prefers eating the fat ball and seed that falls off the bird feeders.
Boris would enjoy a frozen sausage hammered in your lawn.

sherman

13,376 posts

216 months

Tuesday 7th September 2021
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Bodo said:
Toilet Duck said:
On a side note, I put dog food down for Boris but he didn't go near it. He prefers eating the fat ball and seed that falls off the bird feeders.
Boris would enjoy a frozen sausage hammered in your lawn.
He would probably eat it if you put sone fruit and nuts in with the dog food.

eldar

21,806 posts

197 months

Tuesday 7th September 2021
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I've had a cheapo Amazon non wifi trail camera for a couple of years.

Picture quality is excellent, both still and video, day and night. It runs for between a week and 10 days on 8 x AA rechargeable batteries.

Good bit of kit.



Toilet Duck

Original Poster:

1,329 posts

186 months

Tuesday 7th September 2021
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Simpo Two said:
Maybe one for the Photography & Video forum?
Bloody hell, I didn't even notice that section!! Cheers cool

Toilet Duck

Original Poster:

1,329 posts

186 months

Tuesday 7th September 2021
quotequote all
S6PNJ said:
From a precious thread - https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&... and within that thread, I've linked another PH thread where I provided a link to a deer stalking forum where they use trail cams (only go there if you are not squeemish...) which might offer some suitable cams. Bushnell spring to mind as good cams.

Thank you, I will have a read through!

Toilet Duck

Original Poster:

1,329 posts

186 months

Tuesday 7th September 2021
quotequote all
LeadFarmer said:
Having done research I've just ordered a Browning Recon Force Elite HP4 from Nature Spy

https://shop.naturespy.org/product/browning-recon-...

I'll be using it next to my new wildlife pond, to see any wildlife that visits etc.
I chose this one as it can run off rechargeable batteries (above 2500mAh) as most trail cams can't, and has good video quality. I decided against the £50 jobbies that are all over Amazon.

They also do a solar panel powered trail cam that sends the photos to your phone, but unless you subscribe to their photo service I understand they are low quality images.








Edited by LeadFarmer on Monday 6th September 22:29
That looks a good camera, I would be interested to hear how you get on with it once you've had a play smile

Toilet Duck

Original Poster:

1,329 posts

186 months

Tuesday 7th September 2021
quotequote all
Bodo said:
Boris would enjoy a frozen sausage hammered in your lawn.
The frozen sausage thing just isn't funny rolleyes

Toilet Duck

Original Poster:

1,329 posts

186 months

Tuesday 7th September 2021
quotequote all
sherman said:
He would probably eat it if you put sone fruit and nuts in with the dog food.
I've put down some peanuts (from the bird feeders) and an egg for him tonight to try, I will give the dog food another go smile. According to Google badgers apparently eat pretty much anything so I was surprised he didn't touch it.

Bodo

12,378 posts

267 months

Tuesday 7th September 2021
quotequote all
Toilet Duck said:
Bodo said:
Boris would enjoy a frozen sausage hammered in your lawn.
The frozen sausage thing just isn't funny rolleyes
It's not meant to be funny, it's a magnet to animals of all sorts.

LeadFarmer

7,411 posts

132 months

Tuesday 7th September 2021
quotequote all
Toilet Duck said:
LeadFarmer said:
Having done research I've just ordered a Browning Recon Force Elite HP4 from Nature Spy

https://shop.naturespy.org/product/browning-recon-...

I'll be using it next to my new wildlife pond, to see any wildlife that visits etc.
I chose this one as it can run off rechargeable batteries (above 2500mAh) as most trail cams can't, and has good video quality. I decided against the £50 jobbies that are all over Amazon.

They also do a solar panel powered trail cam that sends the photos to your phone, but unless you subscribe to their photo service I understand they are low quality images.


That looks a good camera, I would be interested to hear how you get on with it once you've had a play smile
It's just arrived, I'm giving the batteries a charge and then I;ll be having a play with it..



eldar

21,806 posts

197 months

Tuesday 7th September 2021
quotequote all
I'd be fascinated to see the results as well, are they better than my cheap one. Specs look similar.

Mr.Fox with breakfast.


Toilet Duck

Original Poster:

1,329 posts

186 months

Thursday 9th September 2021
quotequote all
LeadFarmer said:
It's just arrived, I'm giving the batteries a charge and then I;ll be having a play with it..


Have you had a play with it? What's the quality etc like?

LeadFarmer

7,411 posts

132 months

Thursday 9th September 2021
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Toilet Duck said:
Have you had a play with it? What's the quality etc like?
Sadly haven't got any further than charging the batteries, due to working 12hr shifts. But my days off are approaching so will be setting it up.

LeadFarmer

7,411 posts

132 months

Wednesday 22nd September 2021
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Toilet Duck said:
LeadFarmer said:
It's just arrived, I'm giving the batteries a charge and then I;ll be having a play with it..


Have you had a play with it? What's the quality etc like?
Only just got around to setting this up yesterday, I bought the camera to see what wildlife visits my new wildlife pond, and these are some of the photos taken yesterday..


Delighted to discover my pond is attracting miniature black and white tigers...




I often notice a film of dirt on the surface of the pond and guessed it was the woodies..








I need to reposition the camera to get the whole of the pond in, this is a bit tricky as although there is a live view on the camera screen, to see it you have to stand in front of the camera and you end up blocking the view!!

Need to play with the settings as I noticed there were no nighttime photos. There are quite a few options in the settings such as only taking photos between set times, burst photo, sensitivity, video, number of photos taken when triggered, minimum pause time between each photo etc...




Edited by LeadFarmer on Wednesday 22 September 16:55

Toilet Duck

Original Poster:

1,329 posts

186 months

Saturday 25th September 2021
quotequote all
LeadFarmer said:
Only just got around to setting this up yesterday, I bought the camera to see what wildlife visits my new wildlife pond, and these are some of the photos taken yesterday..


Delighted to discover my pond is attracting miniature black and white tigers...




I often notice a film of dirt on the surface of the pond and guessed it was the woodies..








I need to reposition the camera to get the whole of the pond in, this is a bit tricky as although there is a live view on the camera screen, to see it you have to stand in front of the camera and you end up blocking the view!!

Need to play with the settings as I noticed there were no nighttime photos. There are quite a few options in the settings such as only taking photos between set times, burst photo, sensitivity, video, number of photos taken when triggered, minimum pause time between each photo etc...




Edited by LeadFarmer on Wednesday 22 September 16:55
Only just seen this, many thanks for the update! Photos look good, I think I'm going to bite the bullet and order the same camera. How is the night time footage? Are the night videos good quality?

Cheers