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What The Shootout Tells Us
The 2008 Trail Camera Shootout was designed to test which game cameras do a better job of capturing photos in the field. Let's take a look at some of the attributes that allowed some hunting cameras to perform better than others.
Detection width - Game 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 into the center of the picture. Deer browsing on the edges of food plots are a great example. Models from Reconyx, Leaf River, Stealth and Scoutguard all have wider detection zones than their competitors.
Detection 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 trap with a long detection range can effectively double the area it covers. Models from Buckeye, Reconyx and Predator were able to detect motion out past their competitors.
Trigger speed - Finally, Trail Cameras which were able to capture a picture quickly scored well across the board. Interestingly enough, some cameras with incredibly fast trigger times were incapable of scoring better than a 4 or a 5. This is because some 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 photo.
For a better understanding of the relationship between a camera's trigger speed and detection zone please view our Detection Zone Test
How the Shootout Works
We lined up a fair representation of every brand of scouting camera available at the time of the shootout. Game Camera models within a manufacturer's line that display the same performance characteristics were not duplicated. For example, we tested a Moultrie I60 but left out the I40, M40 & M60 because they all use the same detection and triggering circuitry and would perform nearly identical. The same can be said about other brands unless noted in the test. With each unit mounted to a board as pictured above, we walked across the row of trail cameras at 10' intervals from 10' out to 80'. Each camera was then awarded a score (1-8) at each distance based on how quickly it was able to capture a photo of the test subject. Below, please find the scores for each camera at each distance. Aggregate scores are posted at the far right.
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10'
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20'
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30'
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40'
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50'
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60'
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70'
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80'
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Total
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8
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8
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7
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7
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6
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6
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6
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5
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53
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6
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7
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7
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7
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7
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5
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3
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0
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42
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Buckeye Cam Apollo
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5
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5
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5
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5
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5
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5
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5
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5
|
40
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|
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7
|
7
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8
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7
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5
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0
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0
|
0
|
34
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|
|
0
|
4
|
5
|
5
|
6
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6
|
6
|
0
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32
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|
|
2
|
3
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4
|
4
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5
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4
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4
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3
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29
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|
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0
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4
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5
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7
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6
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2
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0
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0
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24
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|
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5
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5
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5
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4
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4
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0
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0
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0
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23
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|
|
1
|
2
|
4
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4
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4
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4
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0
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0
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19
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|
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0
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3
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4
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4
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4
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3
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0
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0
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18
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Timber Eye
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0
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0
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1
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1
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0
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2
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0
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0
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4
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A Summary of the Results by Brand
Click links for more on the cameras!
Reconyx
Reconyx Trail cameras have the fastest trigger times in the industry accompanied by an enormous detection zone. Reconyx has sized their detection zone to precisely match the angle of their camera lens. This combination allowed the RM45 to detect and capture a photo (see below) of the test subject the instant he walked into the camera’s field of view. Although not shown, the RM45 using its Rapid Fire technology also captured 4-6 additional photos of the test subject at each distance. Often, cameras do well in one performance category, but fall short in others. Reconyx cameras consistently receive top scores in all performance categories and this is why the RM45 won the shootout the 2nd year in a row. Also available from Reconyx, but not tested are the RC55 & RC60. The RC55 & RC60 test virtually identical to the RM45 with the exception of trigger time. While the RM45 has a 1/10th second trigger, the RC55 & RC60 have a 1/5th second trigger due to their larger mpxl rating. The 55 & 60 would produce a marginally lower score in the shootout if tested.
Leaf River
Leaf River Scouting cameras have always scored well in past shootouts due to their wide, 5-zone detection area. What held them back in previous testing was their slow trigger times. Leaf River engineers worked hard to improve their trigger speed and it shows. The 1.6 second trigger time on this year’s models along with their proven detection zone allowed the Leaf River IR7-SS to capture 2nd place in the 2008 Shootout. Other 2008 models available, but not tested are the IR5, DV7SS and DV5. All Leaf River models use the same detection and triggering circuitry and should perform similar to the DV7SS.
Buckeye Cam
By design, Buckeye has chosen to use a very narrow detection zone. This allows their detection circuitry to reach out well past 100’ but only cover about a 5’ wide area. There are pros and cons to using a narrow zone. Proponents will assert narrow zones always produce pictures with the animal perfectly centered in the photograph. Critics will point out that narrow zones are incapable of capturing images of animals that never wander into the center of the camera’s field of view. For testing purposes the narrow zone used by the Buckeye Apollo penalized it in the 2008 Trail Camera Shootout. The Apollo’s lightning fast trigger captured a photo of the test subject immediately upon entering the narrow zone (see pictures below). However, it is the narrow zone that prevented the Apollo from scoring any higher than 5 points at any given distance. The Apollo is an extremely well built camera and works flawlessly. The integration of a wide detection zone would clearly have this unit competing for the top position.
Scoutguard
Scoutguard cameras popped up for the first time in spring of 2008. Ever since, people can’t stop talking about this little camera. For years, Scoutguard’s parent company manufactured trail cameras in China for several well-recognized brands. For 2008, they decided to market their own model, the Scoutguard SG550. This unit incorporates a wide detection zone with a fast trigger and a 6 second recovery time. The combination produced incredible scores out to 50’. If Scoutguard could have extended the SG550’s detection range just a bit, this little $200 camera would have also been competing for the top spot.
Stealth Cam
All Stealth models use a unique domed lens cover that produces an incredibly wide detection zone. So wide in fact, the angle of the detection zone is considerably wider than the field of view of their camera lens. This gave the Stealth Prowler DVS a head start on the triggering process relative to the other models in the Shootout. Even so, the Prowler DVS produced only average results due to its slow, 4-second trigger time. Stealth Cam engineers claim all Stealth models use the same detection and trigger circuitry. However, you’ll notice the Stealth I540IR didn’t do quite as well in the Shootout. I would attribute this more to variance in overseas production than an intended performance difference between the two models. Other models available from Stealth are the I550, I590, I430IR and The Jim Shockey “Sniper” edition. I would expect all Stealth models to test somewhere in between the I540IR and the Prowler DVS, but probably closer to the performance of the I540IR.
Predator
The Predator Xtinction has a fast trigger but is handicapped a narrow detection zone. In the limited amount of testing we conducted, we noticed some erratic behavior from the Xtinction. I think the test results are a good representation of this. At times the camera triggered immediately while others it seemed to lag behind a bit. Overall, the Xtinction did very well for a scouting camera with a narrow zone. Predator also manufactures the less expensive Evolution XR. While the Evolution XR is not as “Feature Rich” as the Xtinction, it should perform identically in testing.
Cuddeback
This year Cuddeback introduced the Capture as an inexpensive alternative to their existing No Flash, Expert and Excite models. The Capture model was designed to be easy to use and work out to 40’. In fact, it works quite well out to 50’. Although the Capture has a fast trigger, it utilizes the same narrow detection zone all Cuddeback cameras use. As a result it didn’t do as well as other models in the Shootout. Cuddeback will also manufacture the Capture IR with similar test results anticipated.
Bushnell
All Bushnell models incorporate narrow detection zones with medium-fast trigger speeds. The Trail Sentry 11-9305 scored 19 points as a result of this combination. Other models available from Bushnell include the Trail Sentry 11-9204 and Trailscout 11-9907. Based on our testing, these models would produce similar Shootout scores with a small margin of variance.
Moultrie
Battery life and picture quality have made Moultrie Trail Cameras a favorite of deer managers for census work. Their narrow detection zones and medium trigger speeds don’t fair well in the Trail Camera Shootout, but they are very reliable. The I60 we tested scored 18 points. I would also expect the I40, M40 & M60 to produce similar results.
Timber Eye/Remington Ghost
This camera developed a lot of interest at the trade shows and its release was eagerly anticipated. Unfortunately, the test score says it all. While we had originally planned on selling this model, we have since pulled it from our website and sent our remaining inventory back to the manufacturer.
Photos Captured At 10'
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Reconyx RM45
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Leafriver DV7SS
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Buckeye Apollo
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Scoutguard SG550
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Stealth Prowler
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Predator Xtinction
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Stealth I540IR
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Cuddeback Capture
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Bushnell 11-9305
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Moultrie I60
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WGI Timber Eye
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Photos Captured At 20'
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Reconyx RM45
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Leafriver DV7SS
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Buckeye Apollo
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Scoutguard SG550
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Stealth Prowler
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Predator Xtinction
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Stealth I540IR
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Cuddeback Capture
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Bushnell 11-9305
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Moultrie I60
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WGI Timber Eye
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Photos Captured At 30'
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Reconyx RM45
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Leafriver DV7SS
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Buckeye Apollo
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Scoutguard SG550
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Stealth Prowler
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Predator Xtinction
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Stealth I540IR
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Cuddeback Capture
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Bushnell 11-9305
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Moultrie I60
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WGI Timber Eye
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Photos Captured At 40'
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Reconyx RM45
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Leafriver DV7SS
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Buckeye Apollo
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Scoutguard SG550
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Stealth Prowler
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Predator Xtinction
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Stealth I540IR
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Cuddeback Capture
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Bushnell 11-9305
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Moultrie I60
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WGI Timber Eye
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Photos Captured At 50'
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Reconyx RM45
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Leafriver DV7SS
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Buckeye Apollo
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Scoutguard SG550
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Stealth Prowler
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Predator Xtinction
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Stealth I540IR
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Cuddeback Capture
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Bushnell 11-9305
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Moultrie I60
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WGI Timber Eye
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Photos Captured At 60'
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No photo taken
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Reconyx RM45
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Leafriver DV7SS
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Buckeye Apollo
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Scoutguard SG550
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No photo taken
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Stealth Prowler
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Predator Xtinction
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Stealth I540IR
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Cuddeback Capture
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Bushnell 11-9305
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Moultrie I60
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WGI Timber Eye
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Photos Captured At 70'
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No photo taken
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Reconyx RM45
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Leafriver DV7SS
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Buckeye Apollo
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Scoutguard SG550
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No photo taken
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No photo taken
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Stealth Prowler
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Predator Xtinction
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Stealth I540IR
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Cuddeback Capture
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No photo taken
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Bushnell 11-9305
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Moultrie I60
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WGI Timber Eye
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Photos Captured At 80'
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No photo taken
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Reconyx RM45
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Leafriver DV7SS
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Buckeye Apollo
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Scoutguard SG550
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No photo taken
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No photo taken
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Stealth Prowler
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Predator Xtinction
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Stealth I540IR
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Cuddeback Capture
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No photo taken
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No photo taken
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Bushnell 11-9305
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Moultrie I60
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WGI Timber Eye
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