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Leupold RCX-1 Review
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Bottom Line: If you are looking for a trail camera that takes excellent quality pictures, has a fast detection circuit and want to look at the pictures in the field; this is your camera.
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Quick Facts
• Price:
• Trigger Time:
• Recovery Time:
• Detection Range:
• Flash Range:
• Battery Type:
• Dimensions:
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$229.95
0.937 s
2.8 s
45 ft.
40 ft.
8 AA
7" x 4" x 3"
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Purchase through us a receive:
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3.8 stars
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Pro's
- Fast detection circuit
- Good day pictures
- Easy programming
- Wider field of view
- Nifty remote options
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Con's
- Occasional pink pictures
- Short detection range
- 40 ft. flash range
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Trailcampro Analysis
The RCX-2 and RCX-1 are the first camera traps built by Leupold.
Exceptional picture quality, easy programming with a nifty remote and a
quick detection circuit make this an exceptionally unique camera useful
in a variety of situations.
Detection Circuit
 3.5 stars
The detection circuit on the Leupold RCX-2 does not disappoint. A
sub-1 second trigger and a recovery time of 2.7 seconds, puts the RCX-2
among the elite.
The detection width is different from the RCX-2 as the RCX-1 operates at a 45° angle and detects out 45 feet. The detection width is not adjustable like the RCX-2's.
Picture Quality
 4.5 stars
The picture quality is very good and as you can see in the pictures to the right, both the color and clarity is excellent. You can also adjust the megapixels anywhere from 0.3 mpxl to 10 mpxl. Obviously, the more megapixels in each picture, the less pictures can be stored in a card (and the slower the recovery time). We always test recovery time @ 3 mpxl when given a choice.
The RCX-1 has 36 infrared LED's and is not adjustable like the RCX-2.
Battery Life
4.3 stars
The RCX-2 operates off 8 AA batteries. Looking at the data below, it
is easy to see why the camera should have great battery life. The day
current draw and the night current draw are minuscule. These are some
of the lowest current draws of any camera. The resting current draw is a
little high, but a 2 second duration of photo is excellent. This is
truly impressive raw data.
Resting Current Draw
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Day Current Draw
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Night Current Draw
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Duration of Photos
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0.28 ma
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74 ma
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71 ma
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2 s
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s = seconds
ma = milliamps
Utilizing Tenergy Nimh Rechargeable batteries will save you a lot of money on this camera. Plus, your camera will run longer in the cold, winter months.
 Ease of Use
 2.8 stars
Normally, using a remote to program a
camera is a negative, however, with all the options the Leupold remote
gives you, we are going to consider it a positive. The remote has a
built-in 3" viewer, making scrolling from picture to picture a breeze.
Zooming in on each picture is very easy, you can even zoom down to see
the date/time. It is one of the quickest responding viewers/remotes we
have ever used.
Programming the camera is very easy and
intuitive. However, you can customize the camera to just about every
specification imaginable. You can make it as simple to setup or you can
go the extra distance and set the camera to your exact needs. You can
take it as far as programming the camera differently for daytime
operations vs. nighttime operations.
The fit and finish of the camera is excellent, you will not be disappointed with the quality of this camera. The shape of the camera is unique, which we believe helps break up the camera in the outdoors, making it easier to conceal. We have had some durability issues with early models. This has brought the ease of use score down almost a full point.
The RCX-1 does not comes with a lock-plate (the RCX-2 does).
In conclusion, Leupold has done an exceptional job in its first year on
the market. The picture quality, nifty remote, fast trigger/recovery
times and easy programming make this a very valuable camera. This
camera could be positioned on nearly every setup imaginable, with the
exception of a camera trap station that needs a long detection range.
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Leupold RCX-2 Photos
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