Reconyx Hyperfire HC600 Trail Camera

To be honest, I should have started my recent game camera series with this camera. The Reconyx HC600 and HC500 are the gold standard for picture taking trail cameras.

The Hyperfire HC600 was technologically so far ahead of its time that 5 years after it was released (2011), it is still our highest rated trail camera (of the wildlife cameras).

Coyote and badger square off

By now, if you follow trail cameras at all, you know that the only real negative the HC600 has is that it does not take videos - only pictures. Outside of that, this game camera is practically flawless, 5 years after it was released! Most trail cameras last a year before the manufacturer decides to revamp them for the next year to "create excitement." Reconyx spends YEARS just in R&D on their new models. Hence, the reason their cameras come out with technology that takes everyone else YEARS to catch up to.

Italian bear in the Dolomites

This isn't without one big, obvious sacrifice. Price.

The HC500 is their least expensive model ($449.95) while the HC600 costs $549.95. Not cheap, not cheap at all.

Whitetail deer in snow

These aren't "throw away" cameras if something goes wrong, though. Chinese made cameras have a tendency of lasting about 2-3 years. If you bought the very first HC600 or HC500 that came off the assembly line in Holmen, Wisconsin, they could still fix anything that goes wrong with that camera now, or in the foreseeable future.

Listen, nobody is denying that you can go out and buy 3 or 4 other cameras for the price of one Reconyx HC600. I'd even say if you just need a camera for a couple years, need to cover multiple spots on a small budget, or place game cameras in areas thieves roam - you would be better off purchasing less expensive models (of which there are plenty of really good options among our top selling trail cameras).

However, if you want to buy a high-quality trail camera that will last a decade or more - a camera that doesn't miss a single photo opportunity - Reconyx is your only option.

Two bears fighting at night

Furthermore, every news outlet in this country is talking about the loss of American manufacturing and "what we can do to bring manufacturing jobs back to the USA..."

This isn't rocket science, there isn't a magic formula. Do you want to bring back American manufacturing jobs? Buy American-made products. Pretty simple. Specifically, in the case of owning a Reconyx trail camera, you not only support American workers and products, but you get the best product in the industry.

I'm not making a statement that you should ONLY buy Reconyx.They are not practical and are out of the price range for some folks - and I don't blame you. However, if this doesn't take food off your dinner table, and you have a need for a spectacular trail camera that will last for years (and you promise me it won't get stolen!), the Reconyx HC600 & HC500 won't let you down. If it does, we have a 90-day return policy and we will give you a full refund.

If you don't believe me, then take a glance at all the pictures our customers sent in from their Hyperfire cameras.

Mountain lion - photo from Reconyx camera traps