Since, its introduction, the trail cameras have reformulated the way hunters play their game. From being just a fancy supplement to becoming an important tool in the modern hunter’s arsenal the trail camera had continuous development in its technology.
Like any other gadget you consider to own, you got to be cherry picking when considering buying a trail camera too. And it is good to know what to look for before investing into your first set of cameras. The crux of the matters lies in “where one starts from?”. We have the trail camera market fluxed with many players having us in a tight spot in picking the best out of all.
Well, the solution to button on the right trail camera lies in one liner – “It’s all in the details”. Most of the trail cameras come with same features but it’s the details they vary in and let you figure out the difference and decide which one to buy.
If you are considering buying an entry level model then here you go seeking the following features.
- Picture Quality
If you follow “Higher the megapixels, better the quality of the picture” notion then you are probably on the wrong foot. The picture quality not just counts on the megapixel numbers but also on the color composition and contrasts of the subject. So, check the picture quality of a trail camera by comparing the picture captured with and online picture and judge it accordingly.
- Video Quality
The videos are new addition in the trail cameras and many of them provide the option to select the length of the video. The other cameras might also include the options to go HD or VGA and check the recording in both day and night mode. Make sure the video playback is clear and blur-free.
- Memory
The trail cameras do have small built-in internal memory but ensuring the unit supports at least a 32GB SD card is important. The external SD card serves great advantage over the internal memory when downloading the captured images.
- Night mode
This feature gives the trail cameras an edge when it comes to tracking. It is the ability to capture images and record at night. An ideal trail camera should feature either an infrared or black LED flash. The bulb-type flash probably can scare away your game. It is obvious to expect the lesser quality images in the night but the photos should be crisp and clear within the stipulated range even in the night. Some cameras do provide an option to eliminate the red-eye, but that can probably be an optional feature.
- Power consumption
Almost every trail camera runs on the 8AA batteries but they vary in the consumption rate. Some cameras also feature the power saving option while the other will juice up the batteries at faster rate. Basically, fresh batteries must be able to capture 16,000 pictures before draining out.
- Detection Circuit
Ensure that the detection circuit’s component like trigger time, recovery time and detection zone have enough potential mechanism and features to let you play the track game in a desired way. The faster the trigger and recovery time the better it is for you and the wider the detection zone is, it is ideal for you.
So, these were the standard features you can seek in an entry-level or basic trail camera. But if you desire to won a higher end model then look out for these advanced features.
- Remote Access
This feature provides the hunters with the ability to access and check their captures at their comfort spaces.
- Viewfinder
This feature allows the hunter to view images and videos without them having to connect their unit to the computer.
The Price and Brand factor!
You must be glad to know that as the components get smaller and easier to manufacture the prices goes down for the latest trail cameras. So, you can probably find a good quality trail camera in less than $200. Looking out for the trail cameras from a renowned brand is always a good idea. But if you aren’t much into the brand recognition then online reviews and feedbacks will lend some help.
Wrapping up!
Investing in any gadget is never an easy ride and investing in something like trail camera requires the right picking. And the best buy depends on how closely and thoroughly one considers the details of the product.