We designed the 2007 Trailcamera Shootout a little bit different than the 2006 test.  First, we set up walk paths every 10' all the way out to 80'.  This gave the cameras with long-range detection capabilities a chance to shine above the rest.  Next, we increased the amount of time between each walk test.  This penalized cameras that used sleep modes to conserve battery life.*  Finally, we increased the walking speed from slow and deliberate to a medium pace.  This allowed models with superior trigger times and wide detection zones to stand out.  Below, please find scores based upon how quickly a camera was able to capture a picture of the test subject.  You'll find points awarded at each distance as well as an aggregate score at the far right.   
 

 Test Conditions = 81 degrees, Sunny

Results

 

 10'

 20'

 30'

 40'

50' 

 60'

70'

 80'

Total 

Reconyx RM-45

8

8

8

7

7

6

6

6

56

Leafriver IR-3BU

0

4

3

5

5

5

0

0

22

Moultrie I60

 0

2

4

5

4

3

3

0

21

Bushnell Trailscout 11-9905

0

0

2

2

4

3

4

4

19

Cuddeback No Flash

3

4

0

5

0

1

1

3

17

Stealth Prowler

0

3

4

5

5

0

0

17 

Wildview IR

0

3

5

0

0

0

0

0

8

Bushnell Trail Sentry 11-9302

2

0

5

 0

 0

0

0

7

Recon Talon Basic

 0

0

1

1

0

3

 

Comments

   First of all, let me say that this test is designed to evaluate cameras which will be used on trails and others areas where animals will be moving quickly.  If you plan on placing a camera overlooking a feeder or bait pile, any of the cameras we offer on this site will do just fine.

   Let's look at the factors that allowed some cameras to score better than others in this test.

  • Detection width - Cameras with a wide detection zone were able to sense the test subject and start the trigger process more quickly than others.  Out in the field this not only allows the camera to take quicker pictures, but also enables models with wide detection zones to capture photos of animals that never wander in to the center of the picture.  Deer browsing on the edges of food plots are a great example.  Models from Reconyx, Leafriver, Stealth and Wildview all have wider detection zones than their competitors.
  • Sensing Range - Models that were able to sense the test subject out past 50' picked up points their competitors missed out on.  In the field a camera with a long detection range can effectively double the area it covers.  Models from Reconyx, Bushnell and Cuddeback are consistantly able to detect motion out past their competitors.
  • Trigger speed - Finally, cameras which were able to capture a picture quickly scored well across the board.  Interestingly enough, some cameras with incredibly fast trigger times are incapable of scoring better than a 4 or a 5.  This is because often times cameras with fast trigger times are handicapped by very narrow detection zones.  Even though many of these models snap a picture almost instantaneously, they can't take that picture until the subject is in the middle of the picture.

 

Conclusion
   So why did the Reconyx out score its nearest competitor by 250%  If you've read some of the articles on this site you've heard me say most trail cameras do well in one area, but fall short in others.  The Reconyx RM-45 is the one exception.  It excells in every area of testing while the majority of its competitors are only able to excell in one.

 Pictures captured at 10'

 

Bushnell Trail Sentry 9302 

Bushnell Trailscout 9905

Cuddeback No Flash 

 Moultrie Gamespy I60

Leafriver IR-3BU

Reconyx RM-45

Stealth Prowler

Wildview Infrared

 

 Pictures captured at 20'

 

 

 Bushnell Trail Sentry 9302

Bushnell Trailscout 9905 

Cuddeback No Flash

Moultrie Gamespy I60 

Leafriver IR-3BU

Reconyx RM-45

Stealth Prowler

Wildview Infrared

 

 Pictures captured at 30'

No Image

Bushnell Trail Sentry 9302 

Bushnell Trailscout 9905 

Cuddeback No Flash

Moultrie Gamespy I60 

Leafriver IR-3BU

Reconyx RM-45

Stealth Prowler

Wildview Infrared

 

 Pictures captured at 40'

 No Image

 

 Bushnell Trail Sentry 9302

Bushnell Trailscout 9905 

 Cuddeback No Flash

Moultrie Gamespy I60 

Leafriver IR-3BU

Reconyx RM-45

Stealth Prowler

Wildview Infrared

 

Pictures captured at 50'

No Image

No Image

Bushnell Trail Sentry 9302

Bushnell Trailscout 9905 

 Cuddeback No Flash

 Moultrie Gamespy I60

No Image

Leafriver IR-3BU

Reconyx RM-45

Stealth Prowler

Wildview Infrared

 

 Pictures captured at 60'

No Image

 Bushnell Trail Sentry 9302

Bushnell Trailscout 9905 

 Cuddeback No Flash

 Moultrie Gamespy I60

No Image

Leafriver IR-3BU

Reconyx RM-45

Stealth Prowler

Wildview Infrared

 

 Pictures captured at 70'

bushnell trail sentry scouting camera pictures

 Bushnell Trail Sentry 9302

Bushnell Trailscout 9905 

 Cuddeback No Flash

 Moultrie Gamespy I60

No Image

No Image

No Image

Leafriver IR-3BU

Reconyx RM-45

Stealth Prowler

Wildview Infrared 

 

 Pictures captured at 80'

No Image

No Image

 Bushnell Trail Sentry 9302

Bushnell Trailscout 9905 

Cuddeback No Flash 

 Moultrie Gamespy I60

No Image

No Image

No Image

 Leafriver IR-3BU

Reconyx RM-45

Stealth Prowler

Wildview Infrared



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