Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 15 of 17

Thread: Motion cameras....help please

  1. #1

    Motion cameras....help please

    I am not a hunter, so even after doing a search I'm not sure which one to get. I am in quick need of an inexpensive motion camera that will actually work.

    Our house was egged and we know by who. This person's career choice would shock many on this board and yes, we are 100% percent sure who did it, not 99%. My kids are frightened because their windows were hit. Thanks!

    David
    Life is a gift, not a guarantee.

  2. #2
    Ask this on a hunter's forum. They use these to track game. Stamps imgs with date and time.

    http://www.cabelas.com/trail-cameras-1.shtml

    I'm from NJ. We are taught in grade school how to hide a body. Nobody eggs houses in NJ for long.
    .
    Last edited by Mitchell Andrus; 08-02-2010 at 5:17 PM.
    "I love the smell of sawdust in the morning".
    Robert Duval in "Apileachips Now". - almost.


    Laserpro Spirit 60W laser, Corel X3
    Missionfurnishings, Mitchell Andrus Studios, NC

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Athens, Alabama
    Posts
    197
    Bushnell make a small, passive infr-red camera that works quite well. We have had ours for the last three months and we have been impressed with its performance a lot more than the Moultree camera we did have. The only issue we have with the Bushnell is that it does not have a view screen, but for what you want to use it for, that isn't much of an issue, where you can just remove the memory card and download the images right away. If you have to drive several miles to retrieve the card, then it is more of a hassle. In our case, we bring an empty card and swap it out each time we go to our hunting land, unless we forget to bring the extra card.

    Regards, Colin
    Where's the beef.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Front Royal, Va.
    Posts
    1,480
    I've purchased a few trail cameras in the past. Even the cheaper ones I have take excellent pictures. All are at least 4 megapixels. They take black and white photos at night and color pictures during daylight hours. Some even have an option to take videos as well. It's not necessary to spend lots of money here.

    Tony
    Tony

    "Soldier On"

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    Glenelg, MD
    Posts
    12,256
    Blog Entries
    1
    David,

    My wife's car was egged the night before last, and this is only a month or so after installing 4 more lights in the carport. Several months ago, my S2000 had the crap beat out of it in the middle of the day while we were at the movies... and we live in a "good" area of town!

    So, I ordered a video surveillance system from NewEgg... 320GB DVR, 7" LCD, 2 wireless cameras, 2 wired... $500 shipped. It's not my ideal system, but I just want enough evidence to put the little bastiches behind the 8-ball when I sue their parents for damages, emotional distress, etc.
    Hi-Tec Designs, LLC -- Owner (and self-proclaimed LED guru )

    Trotec 80W Speedy 300 laser w/everything
    CAMaster Stinger CNC (25" x 36" x 5")
    USCutter 24" LaserPoint Vinyl Cutter
    Jet JWBS-18QT-3 18", 3HP bandsaw
    Robust Beauty 25"x52" wood lathe w/everything
    Jet BD-920W 9"x20" metal lathe
    Delta 18-900L 18" drill press

    Flame Polisher (ooooh, FIRE!)
    Freeware: InkScape, Paint.NET, DoubleCAD XT
    Paidware: Wacom Intuos4 (Large), CorelDRAW X5

  6. #6
    Join Date
    May 2008
    Location
    Peshtigo,WI
    Posts
    1,395
    I'd probably go Dan's route. The problem with a trail camera is that unless it takes a picture during daylight hours you'll have either a flash or the giant red glow from the IR light. That'll tip off the offending scallywags as to the location of the camera and they'll probably steal it or smash it.
    both of which will piss you off even more than you are now.
    Good Luck
    Jerry
    Confidence: The feeling you experience before you fully understand the situation

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    Glenelg, MD
    Posts
    12,256
    Blog Entries
    1
    Oh, I'll also add the cameras can be set up to be motion-activated, so you're not filling up the DVR with useless images.
    Hi-Tec Designs, LLC -- Owner (and self-proclaimed LED guru )

    Trotec 80W Speedy 300 laser w/everything
    CAMaster Stinger CNC (25" x 36" x 5")
    USCutter 24" LaserPoint Vinyl Cutter
    Jet JWBS-18QT-3 18", 3HP bandsaw
    Robust Beauty 25"x52" wood lathe w/everything
    Jet BD-920W 9"x20" metal lathe
    Delta 18-900L 18" drill press

    Flame Polisher (ooooh, FIRE!)
    Freeware: InkScape, Paint.NET, DoubleCAD XT
    Paidware: Wacom Intuos4 (Large), CorelDRAW X5

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Location
    Western Maryland
    Posts
    5,548
    Or, you could do what we just did...add a 16 camera system with a 500 gig dvr...hook it up to the internet so you can watch from anywhere! But not sure if you want to drop a grand to find an egger.

    Before anyone accuses my of being paranoid, this stemmed from a calf that was mutilated (alive) about 4 miles from my house. My wife got a little concerned about our horses, so the camera system is set up all over the barn, with some of the cameras pointed up the driveway, at the house, and at my shop.
    I drink, therefore I am.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    Glenelg, MD
    Posts
    12,256
    Blog Entries
    1
    Mike,

    My selection was based solely upon the ability to transmit wirelessly... if I could have found another system which offered higher resolution (the system I ordered displays at full standard def, but records at 1/4 that so it can record 4 cams at once) while still offering wireless, I would have paid the difference. Even so, I have 30 days to decide and only have to eat a restocking fee...
    Hi-Tec Designs, LLC -- Owner (and self-proclaimed LED guru )

    Trotec 80W Speedy 300 laser w/everything
    CAMaster Stinger CNC (25" x 36" x 5")
    USCutter 24" LaserPoint Vinyl Cutter
    Jet JWBS-18QT-3 18", 3HP bandsaw
    Robust Beauty 25"x52" wood lathe w/everything
    Jet BD-920W 9"x20" metal lathe
    Delta 18-900L 18" drill press

    Flame Polisher (ooooh, FIRE!)
    Freeware: InkScape, Paint.NET, DoubleCAD XT
    Paidware: Wacom Intuos4 (Large), CorelDRAW X5

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    Hill Country Texas
    Posts
    941
    This might be a little more elaborate than what you want but....

    http://hackaday.com/2009/06/26/autom...ntball-sentry/

    You don't have to use paint. You can get some with pepper spray type stuff in them...........

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Location
    Western Maryland
    Posts
    5,548
    Actually, I went with Q-See. They do not make any claims about wireless support. Now I know why. It can be iffy...in the sense that if your signal isn't very strong, or have interference, you can lose your internet viewabiltyness (hehe, sorry, the word just kept growing). We're working through that, though.
    I drink, therefore I am.

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    Glenelg, MD
    Posts
    12,256
    Blog Entries
    1
    Mike,

    This is the Q-See system I just ordered:
    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-134-_-Product

    At $500 shipped from NewEgg, it was the cheapest I could find it.



    Bryan,

    I would love to go with such a system (followed Hackaday for years now), but unfortunately one side of our house is alongside a community path (which causes issues in and of itself).
    Hi-Tec Designs, LLC -- Owner (and self-proclaimed LED guru )

    Trotec 80W Speedy 300 laser w/everything
    CAMaster Stinger CNC (25" x 36" x 5")
    USCutter 24" LaserPoint Vinyl Cutter
    Jet JWBS-18QT-3 18", 3HP bandsaw
    Robust Beauty 25"x52" wood lathe w/everything
    Jet BD-920W 9"x20" metal lathe
    Delta 18-900L 18" drill press

    Flame Polisher (ooooh, FIRE!)
    Freeware: InkScape, Paint.NET, DoubleCAD XT
    Paidware: Wacom Intuos4 (Large), CorelDRAW X5

  13. #13
    Having sold trail cameras in a hunting store for years, and having used a few, Cuddeback is the only brand I would buy. Dependable, easy on batteries, and the quickest trigger on the market. There are several models depending on your needs.

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Location
    Western Maryland
    Posts
    5,548
    Thanks, Dan. I got my system from Costco for 700 or 800 bucks for the 16 cams and a 500 gig dvr. Price was right. Cameras are decent, not the best, but good enough. Even on the highest quality, it can record all 16 cameras contantly for about 2 weeks. That served our purpose. It also connects to the internet, but the iffy part is when you try to do it wirelessly. I think I have the solution, I just have to execute it. Some day, I might upgrade some of the cameras, individually, where I want really long distance night vision (all have it, but only the standard distances), or extra clarity. Oh, and when I mentioned the system being a grand, I was including any installation costs, and incidentals with hooking up to the internet.

    As for the OP's original question, I think a game camera, like what hunters use for spotting (as someone else suggested) would be perfect. You can get a decent one for about $150, but might need to go to $200-300 if you want any of the special features (like shorter than 1 minute between shots). I found one I liked from Cabellas. Haven't ordered it yet, but though it would be nice to see what's scampering around our woods at night.
    I drink, therefore I am.

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    Western U P of Michigan
    Posts
    113
    A friend of mine at work bought one for her husband for a gift. He put it in some property they own and she showed me the pictures. A black bear , each picture was closer, then nothing. the last picture showed the bear just before he ripped it off of the tree. It took him about a week to find it in some underbrush. We all had a good laugh.

    Chris

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •