Gardepro T5CF Review

The Gardepro T5CF is a close-focus trail camera that can produce clear photos of animals as close as 20 cm. All other trail cameras use an infinity focus that produces clear shots of everything beyond one meter. This Gardepro trail camera is perfect for bird watching, various wildlife studies, and much more.  - TCP Staff

Model # t5cf

FAQ's

Trailcampro Comprehensive Score:

93/100

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 Gardepro T5CF Trail Camera Review

 Pros

• Optimized for close-focus photography
• Fantastic battery life
  
• Long detection range
• Easy programming

 Cons

• We're still looking

 

The Gardepro T5CF is a close-focus trail camera that can produce clear photos of animals as close as 20 cm. All other trail cameras use an infinity focus that produces clear shots of everything beyond one meter. This is perfect for bird watching, various wildlife studies, and much more. 

Picture Quality:  95/100

Photo resolution:   mpxl (interpolated)

Video resolution:   

Flash Type:  N/A

This category is under evaluation.

 

What if you purchase from us and aren't happy with the image quality?

This is a common question and we have a very simple solution. Call, email, or chat with us and we can take a look at the images and offer suggestions or immediately tell if something is wrong with the camera. If so, we will warranty the camera for you (with the free 2-Year warranty you receive from us) or return the camera for a full refund (within 90 days of purchase). You have control of the process, remember, we work for you.

Megapixel Ratings:

In the past, many people get confused with the megapixel rating trail camera manufacturers advertise.  Companies inflate the mpxl rating to attract eyes to their products.  They do this through interpolation, which digitally adds megapixels to a photo without actually improving the picture.

The best way to judge picture quality is to look at actual pictures.  You will notice this the most when you zoom in on a full-size image that a camera has taken.  The details of the photo will appear hazy or even digitized.  This is normal, and to be expected.

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Battery Life:    98/100

Picture & Video Resting Power (on):  0.68 mW

Picture Daytime/Nighttime Power Consumption: 1.2 Ws  |  1.7 Ws

Video Daytime/Nighttime Power Consumption:  15.9 Ws  |  31.3 Ws

Here are your best battery options:

Trailcampro Choice: AmpTORRENT Rechargeable AA Lithium

If the T5CF were to take 15 day photos and 15 night photos every 24 hours, this camera would last 17.8 months in the field - per charge - on a set of AmpTorrent Rechargeable AA Lithium batteries. 

If the T5CF were to take 15 day photos and 15 night photos every 24 hours, this camera would last 3.6 months in the field - per charge - on a set of AmpTorrent Rechargeable AA Lithium batteries. 

There are a number of benefits to these batteries. They provide up to 1,200 recharges with the included USB cable, have consistent 1.5 volt operation, are eco-friendly (less batteries in a landfill), and the batteries pay for themselves after two recharges.

Longest Lasting Choice: Energizer Ultimate Lithium

If the T5CF were to take 15 day videos and 15 night videos every 24 hours, this camera would last 27 months in the field on a set of Energizer Ultimate Lithium batteries. 

If the T5CF were to take 15 day videos and 15 night videos every 24 hours, this camera would last 5.5 months in the field on a set of Energizer Ultimate Lithium batteries. 

Ultimate Lithium batteries are the longest-lasting battery choice due to their incredible consistency and capacity. Although we have loved these batteries for a long time, their expense has risen drastically so they are not a cost-effective option. 

 

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Detection Circuit:     89/100

Picture Trigger & Recovery Speed:  .53 s.  |  1.7 s.

Video Trigger & Recovery Speed:  .94 s.  |  2.3 s.

Detection Range & Angle: 100 ft. @ 55° detection angle (48.2°)

The T5CF exhibits some nice speed improvements over the A3, allowing it to join the middle of the pack for detection circuitry. While this is not the fastest trail camera on the market, it's easily fast enough for most setups and boasts a 100 ft. detection range. 

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Quality of Design:     89/100

Dimensions: 6" x 4.5" x 3"

Battery Type:   8 AA 

External Battery Jack:  12-volt

SD Card Size: Full size, Up to 512GB 

Case Design

The case design is simple and intuitive. There have been improvements to the latch design, it is now beefier and easier to open than older Gardepro's. The weatherproof seal has seen some minor improvements as well. 

The camera has a tripod mount on the bottom of the case, but not on the back.

The batteries are snuggly held in a covered battery compartment on the inside of the camera. The camera has a super handy internal viewer that allows for picture viewing and for easy programming. 

Camera Setup

Programming is done on the internal picture viewer and the screen makes reading all the options incredibly easy. It has all the popular options like hybrid mode, photo burst, pir sensitivity, timelapse, and programmable start/stop time. Overall, the setup is very easy and intuitive.

Durability

We have no current concerns over durability and expect the Gardepro T5CF to last 2-3 years in the field. As this is a new camera for us, we will keep a close eye on warranty rates and update this review if anything changes.

Durability

Keep in mind, our 2-year warranty program is your free insurance program in case something goes wrong with a camera you purchase from us. This warranty protects you from any manufacturing defect the camera might experience for two years.

Since 2005, our mission has to been to provide consumers with unbeatable value, advice you can trust, and customer service that exceeds expectations. There are plenty of places you can choose to do business with, if we are lucky enough to earn your support, we promise to give you our undivided attention. Trailcampro has grown each year not only by relying on your happiness but on the assumption that if we blow you away with customer service, you will brag about us to your friends (have you seen our referral/reward program?).

As always, if you have additional questions, feel free to call, email or chat with us. We look forward to helping you find your next trail camera!

Enjoy our reviews?  Please consider purchasing your next trail camera from us.

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FAQ's: Trail Camera

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: This is somewhat controversial. Humans can't see the flash as the nanometer spectrum is above what the human eye can detect. It's also much harder for an animal to see, but that could depend on the species of animal as different species see in different light spectrums.

Q: Where can I purchase this camera?

A: From us! We hope to woo you with our incredible charm, two-year warranty, 90-day returns, free continental U.S. shipping, and technical expertise. 

Seriously, though, we know you have plenty of options of where to spend your hard-earned money. The internet can be the wild, wild, west of too-good-to-be-true deals. If you choose to do business with us, we will go out of our way to make sure you are happy with the camera you select and the service we provide you.

We are passionate about testing and reviewing trail cameras, but most importantly, we are passionate about treating our customers the right way. We do things differently from what you have come to expect from other internet retailers and we hope you give us the opportunity to prove that to you.

 

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