Alpha Cam Dual Lens No Glow Trail Camera Review
The Alpha Cam Dual Lens No Glow takes an average photo but has spectacular picture battery life and great detection capabilities. Hard to argue against this camera for just $100 - TCP Staff
Model # 13301 | Alpha Cam Dual Lens Manual
Trailcampro Comprehensive Score:
90/100
Alpha Cam Dual Lens No Glow Review
Pros
- Great detection circuit
- Incredible battery life
Cons
- Hard to remove SD card
Be Wary Of Megapixel Ratings
Megapixel ratings for trail cameras seem to increase more & more every year. In reality, the native resolution of 99% of all trail cameras is 5 megapixels or less. Manufacturers artificially inflate megapixel ratings for advertising purposes through a process called interpolation. Interpolated photos are enhanced by software to mimic the file size of a higher megapixel photo, but seldom offer additional clarity or resolution. The result is an exponentially larger file size photo which takes longer to load and slows down the speed of your camera. We always program our cameras to capture photos at the image sensor's native resolution. This allows our cameras to operate as efficiently as possible and store more photos to memory. With shorter load times, this also allows us to review photos at a much quicker pace. To put things in perspective, the trail camera widely considered to be the "Gold Standard" and used by more professional researchers than any other unit is just 3 megapixels.
Photo resolution: 32 mpxl (interpolated)
Video resolution: 1920 x 1080
Flash Type: No Glow IR
Picture & Video Resting Power (on): 0.39 mW
Picture Daytime/Nighttime Power Consumption: 0.9 Ws | 2.4 Ws
Video Daytime/Nighttime Power Consumption: 15.1 Ws | 72.6 Ws
Picture Mode
If this camera were to take 35-day and 35-night pictures every 24 hours, the Alpha Dual Lens would last 29 months in the field on a set of 8 AA lithium batteries. We consider this to be absolutely outstanding.
Video Mode
If this camera were to take 15-day and 15-night videos (10-second videos) every 24 hours, it would last 3.2 months in the field on a set of lithium batteries.
Picture Trigger & Recovery Speed: 0.3 s. | 0.7 s.
Video Trigger & Recovery Speed: 0.58 s. | 0.3 s.
Detection Range & Angle: 40 ft. @ 41.5° (42° night field of view, 55.2° day field of view)
There is no shortage of speed in the Alpha Cam. This camera is capable of detecting out to 90 ft. with a perfectly matched detection angle and field of view. Long detection plus fast trigger/recovery speeds equals an excellent detection circuit.
The Alpha Cam has a very sensitive detection zone and tends to false trigger from moving grass.
Dimensions: 5" x 4" x 2.5"
Battery Type: 8 AA
External Battery Jack: 12-volt
Case Design
The Alpha Cam has a very familiar case design. There is a large latch for opening and closing this little unit and a fixed battery tray that accepts 8 AA batteries. The large screen on the inside of the camera makes picture playback and setting adjustments a cinch. The SD card inserts with the label facing away and can be difficult to remove.
There is a tripod insert on the bottom of the camera and a python bracket on the back. Overall, case design is solid and looks exactly like many other camera models on the market.
Camera Setup
Setting up the camera is super easy and done with backlit buttons and a large 2.4" screen. Programming is easy & intuitive. The Alpha Cam has popular settings like hybrid mode (photo + video) and programmable start/stop time.
Durability
The vast majority of consumer-grade trail cameras are inexpensive, imported devices exposed to harsh conditions 24/7/365. Most manufacturers only offer a one-year warranty. We stock only the most durable units and provide an additional year of warranty at no extra charge. The Trailcampro exclusive 2-year warranty allows you to deal directly with Trailcampro avoiding long wait times on hold with the manufacturer and prolonged periods without a replacement camera. We turn around most warranties in just one business day!
All test results are achieved through the use of proprietary equipment used exclusively by Trailcampro. Any re-publication of this data without prior written consent is strictly prohibited by law. COPYRIGHT TRAILCAMPRO, L.L.C. 2023, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
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