This is a discontinued model. You can shop new Covert Scouting Cameras here.
Covert Red Viper Review
The value of the Red Viper comes down to whether detection speed is important to you. This camera is slow to trigger and sluggish in recovery time. If that doesn't concern you, the Covert Red Viper takes a really nice picture, has a great case design, and is extremely battery efficient. -TCP Staff
Model #5397
- Very nice picture quality both day and night
- Great battery life in picture and video mode
- Exceptional case design
- Very slow detection circuit
Photo resolution: 12 mpxl (interpolated)
Video resolution: 1280 x 720 w/ audio
Flash Type: Red Glow IR
Day pictures stand out for being very clear with good depth to each photo. We find there appears to be a red tint to most pictures, but other than that, day pictures are very good.
Night pictures have excellent clarity and contrast. There is some white-out on close animals, but overall, the night pictures have left us very impressed.
[powr-image-slider id=c5234316_1504887365]
Video quality is average, both during the day and night. Audio seems a little muffled but audible. Night videos appear to have the IR flash concentrated on the center of the video, resulting in white-out and somewhat dark edges of the video. Overall, the video quality is middle of the road.
Picture & Video Resting Power (on): 1.1 mW
Picture Daytime/Nighttime Power Consumption: 2.66 Ws | 3.39 Ws
Video Daytime/Nighttime Power Consumption: 16.18 Ws | 59.7 Ws
Picture Mode
If this camera were to take 35-day and 35-night pictures every 24 hours, the Covert Red Viper would last 11.7 months in the field on a set of 8 AA Lithium Batteries. This is 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 2.9 months in the field on a set of lithium batteries.
Picture Trigger & Recovery Speed: 0.92 s. / 4.7 s.
Video Trigger & Recovery Speed: 2.35 s. / 5.3 s.
Detection Range: 60 ft
This detection circuit is well below average in almost every category. Slow trigger speed, and below average recovery times across the board.
Detection range is decent at 60 ft.
Dimensions: 5" x 4" x 2.75"
Battery Type: 8 AA Batteries
External Battery Jack: 6-Volt
The case design is small, smooth, sturdy and minimalist. The latch is big, strong, and works perfectly. The battery compartment is particularly impressive as the batteries load, unload, and reliably stay in place.
The Red Viper has a bracket on the back for the Python cable lock and an insert on the bottom for a Slate River Angle Mount.
Overall, we LOVE the case design. If we were to be picky, the setup screen is a little small but that is really nothing to concern yourself with.
Programming the camera is quick and easy. It surprisingly has start/stop time, SD card overwrite, and PIR sensitivity.
We have had no reason to worry about durability, if something arises, we will update the Covert Red Viper review.
The value of the Red Viper comes down to whether detection speed is important to you. This camera is slow to trigger and sluggish in recovery time. If that doesn't concern you, the Covert Red Viper takes a really nice picture, has a great case design, and is extremely battery efficient.
Enjoy our reviews? Please consider purchasing your next trail camera from us.
FAQ's: Covert Red Viper Scouting Camera
Q: How do I view the pictures?
A: There are a number of ways to do this. Pictures/videos are stored on the SD card you place in the camera.
- View pictures on your computer. Plug the SD card in a desktop computer or laptop via the built-in SD card reader or use a USB reader if your computer doesn't have one. This method works for most tablets as well. With this method, we recommend having two SD cards per camera so you can swap them in the field.
- View pictures on your smartphone. Choose between the iOS Reader for iPhones and the Android Reader. Phone readers require an app to access the photos, you can read more about these via the previous links.
- Trail Camera Viewers. While more expensive, handheld viewers are useful if you don't have a smartphone or run multiple trail cameras.
Q: Will this trail camera trigger on small animals (birds, rodents, etc.)?
A: Trail cameras detect on a combination of heat and movement, so, yes, small mammals will trigger the camera. However, if you are going after smaller warm-blooded mammals, we recommend getting the camera closer to your target. For best performance, place the camera in an area that would enable picture detection from 3 - 20 ft.
Q: Can animals see the infrared flash on this camera?
A: Yes. This is a red glow trail cameras, meaning it has a faint red glow when taking pictures or videos at night. Humans and animals can see this if looking at the camera. This does not "light up" the woods, though.
Read Reviews From All the Game and Trail Cameras
Manufacturer Specifications
- 6-Volt External Battery Jack
- 1.5" Color viewer
- 1-10 Photo Burst
- Requires 8 AA batteries
- 12 interpolated mpxl
- Red Glow IR
- Accepts up to 32 Gig SD card
- Free UPS Economy Shipping on all orders over $99
- Free shipping applies only to the lower 48 states and will be shipped via the most economical method.
- Orders placed before 3 p.m Central Standard Time are usually shipped the same day
- We are happy to offer expedited shipping options. Prices are shown during checkout.
Dear International Customer:
International rates vary by country and postal code. Please click here for detailed international rates.
Trailcampro L.L.C.
3048 S. Clifton Ave
Suite 108
Springfield, MO 65807
1-800-791-0660
Trail Camera Accessories
Here are a few of the accessories we like to use in the Trail Camera.
Energizer Ultimate Lithiums | 8 Pack
$19.95
- There is no downside to using lithium batteries. Long battery life, extreme durability and better night pictures. You will be happy you did.
$19.95
- Use this with the security case, or just the camera itself. The Viper has brackets on the back specifically for this lock.
Start at $5.95
- SD cards store your pictures and videos for easy removal. We give you a free SD card with the Red Viper, but most people use a second card. If you have two cards, you can swap them out when you retrieve the pictures.
Verified Customer Reviews
We ensure that every customer review comes from one of our real customers and not someone who works for the competing trail camera manufacturer. These are verified customer trail camera reviews that you can trust.
We would love your feedback if you purchased this trail camera from us. We want your honest feedback, these reviews are a vital part in helping consumers choose the right game camera.