one weakness of at least some game cameras

[jmc]

the length of time it takes the motion detector to make the cam shutter trip.

let me explain:

if your target animal is moving at a +/- 90 angle to your camera's detection range, it may very well happen--maybe alot--that you will get pictures of NOTHING at all, just nice scenery, but no 'critter'.

Why? Because the critter moving at a right angle to the detection range was already out of the field of view by the time the motion sensor detected it, and sent the message to the cam. shutter to 'take a pic!'

This could be more of a problem, the closer to the camera the 'critter' is. At further distances, you may get the critter in the picture, but due to the time it takes the motion sensor to get the message to the cam shutter to 'take that pic!', you may only get the critter just before it passes out of range, OR only part of the critter.....

It seems that at least some game cams will get more pics of critters if the path of the critter is at some oblique angle to the detection range of the camera. Another way of saying this all, could be:

If your camera is at a 90 deg. angle to the path you think critters are taking, you might get less 'empty pics' if you put the camera facing at some angle 'down' or 'up' the trail........................

so panel of experts, whaddya hafta say?

at least for some cameras this seems to be the case for sure........

 

[The Lazy L]

You are are correct.

Coworker has his set to snap 3 pictures when triggered. At right angles first 2 pictures are of nothing and the 3rd you can see him just leaving the picture frame.

Some of the newest Trail cams have address this by having a wider detect sensor angle then the lens angle.

 

[jmc]

You are are correct.

Coworker has his set to snap 3 pictures when triggered. At right angles first 2 pictures are of nothing and the 3rd you can see him just leaving the picture frame.

Some of the newest Trail cams have address this by having a wider detect sensor angle then the lens angle.

thanks for the reply. interesting what you say about some of the newest trail cams 'remedy'. what kind of cam might your coworker have, if i may ask?

 

[fishman65]

instead of taking 3 or 6 shot burst(pics) set the camera on AVI setting and get videos that play on your pc. they are usually 15-30-45 sec videos of whatever is in front of the camera. just remember to double your memory chip size.

 

[The Lazy L]

thanks for the reply. interesting what you say about some of the newest trail cams 'remedy'. what kind of cam might your coworker have, if i may ask?

Bushnell. I don't know what model.

 

[moetrout]

I have a Bushnell Trophy cam and what you say is true. However since you already know that just setup your camera correctly so the expected entrance/exit of the animal you are expecting is in line with the camera and not perpendicular. This is what I do and it works!

 

[jmc]

I have a Bushnell Trophy cam and what you say is true. However since you already know that just setup your camera correctly so the expected entrance/exit of the animal you are expecting is in line with the camera and not perpendicular. This is what I do and it works!

great to have your corroboration, moe!

and fishman, may i ask what kind of cam you have?

 

[jmc]

instead of taking 3 or 6 shot burst(pics) set the camera on AVI setting and get videos that play on your pc. they are usually 15-30-45 sec videos of whatever is in front of the camera. just remember to double your memory chip size.

on further thought, it seems this could only work if the 'critter' turned around and came back into the field of vision of the lens. Otherwise, due to the lag time between motion detection (see above) and shutter-tripping, you would probably end up--at best--with a video of 'something' going out of the field of view, followed by several seconds of 'videoed scenery'

ya folla?