Unlike the aforementioned models, the W513D has a bottom-opening door that exposes the display and controls to set the time, date, and choose between 5-megapixel still images and 30 seconds of video, as well as to access the SD card slot. Purchased online from Dick’s Sporting Goods on sale for $50 (original price $80), the Micro W513D was the odd duck of the bunch-in a good way. For me, I’d go with two Tascos providing similar performance and twice the coverage. The Primos Bullet Proof trail camera provides some enhancements over the Tasco 3 Megapixel however, approaching twice the cost of the latter, one has to question if it’s worth the price. Still, the user can easily discern the animals bypassing the camera-covered area. As you’ll note, the nighttime images of the close-in predators are somewhat grainy. As for trigger speed and the auto sensor, during testing the Bullet Proof easily captured images of deer, a coyote and a red fox-again, no half-deer shots. However, this could be attributed to the Tasco being employed primarily during sunny weather and the Primos during an unrelenting foggy and rainy period. Given its 6-megapixel camera, the Primos Bullet Proof had better image quality than the Tasco 3 Megapixel model-but not by much. Lastly, the compact unit has auto white balance, an automatic IR filter, and comes with a mounting strap. The Bullet Proof, however, has a 6-megapixel camera and 14 low-glare LEDS for better images. The unit also has a trigger time of 1 second or less, is powered by four or eight AA batteries (user provided) with upward of a 9-month life span, and 30’ night range. Like the Tasco, the photo-only Bullet Proof has no display or controls on the unit itself, and it “Timetool” application to imprint the time, date, and moon phase. Selling for $60 on the shelves at Wal-Mart, Primos’ Bullet Proof trail cam is a virtual clone of the Tasco 3 Megapixel aesthetically, dimensionally, and feature-wise-remember, both companies are under the Vista Outdoors umbrella-but there are some improvements. With a price tag of $35, I consider the Tasco 3 Megapixel to be to be a good purchase for those hunters on an especially tight budget, need multiple cameras, or there exists high potential for damage from bear (it’s cheaper than most trail cam protective cases) or being lifted by thieves. It easily captured full body deer, turkeys and a coyote. Employed in temperatures less than the suggested 15° F lower temperature limit, the Tasco captured all quarry that passed it-including an oversize fox squirrel-indicating that the auto sensor worked well and trigger time was sufficient. But, you’ll know that a buck is there and, if set, the time and date it was in the area. Depending on the animal’s distance from the camera, background, and whether it’s a daytime or nighttime image, counting kickers and stickers on bypassing buck could prove difficult. Sporting a 3-megapixel camera, which is similar to what cellphones had around 2006, image quality is okay but not spectacular. The Tasco’s other features include: 3 5/8”x1¾”x4 13/16” size upward of 9-month battery life with eight AA batteries (not included) day and night auto sensor 1-second trigger speed 12 low-glow LEDS flash distance of 30’ SD card slot (card not included) 15° F to 120° F temperature range and an adjustable web belt. If only a survey into the animals utilizing the area is desired (sans time and date), simply insert the batteries, hang the unit, and then turn it on-that’s it. Concerning the latter, the date and time must be set using “Timetool” software on a PC or Mac computer. Its photo-only mode, low megapixel images, and lack of a display and controls, among other things, contribute to its minimal cost. Purchased at a local Wal-Mart for $35, the Tasco 3 Megapixel trail cam was the least costly model in this roundup. Despite my initial trepidations about putting down hard-earned cash on “value-priced” trail cams, in the end I was glad that I did. Foremost, I need to know that the quarry is present, its size, and the date(s) and time(s) that it passed the camera-nothing else.Īs such, I located and field-tested three readily available trail cams costing less than $80-most being significantly less. Neither do I need museum-quality images of game animals sent to my cellphone nor full weather reports and solar-charging capability. Personally, I don’t have that kind of dispensable income to strap to trees for thieves to snatch or bears to use as chew toys. In fact, some models chock full of the latest (and mostly unnecessary) frills can exceed $500. As with most sporting equipment, trail cam prices can run the gamut. The always-ready devices provide the hunter with unparalleled reconnaissance this enables him or her to strategically plan a hunt, not leave it to chance. That trail cameras are invaluable tools for hunting goes without saying.
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