Digital Scouting Cameras, anyone??

[MrsReber]

DH is a hunter. For a couple of years, he's been wanting a scouting camera. I spent hours looking up reviews and all of them seem so conflicting.

Just wondering if anyone out there has any knowledge or has ever used one? Seems that the $400+ models are the best ones out there, but I was hoping to spend a bit less. Bushnell has a couple that got great reviews on one site, but horrible reviews on another site (might have been Cabela's). They were selling for around $150-$200, which is more in my price range.

Help???

[Hammster]

I've seen binoculars with digital camera built in. Is that what you are thinking about? Seems they were less than $400, but were low MP resolution at the time I saw them (like 2 or 3 mp?).
I can't imagine they would be as good as a full blown digital camera, but maybe good enough to get an idea of the area.

[MrsReber]

It's actually a camera that you can attach to a tree and leave out for days. I'd like one with an infrared flash. They have motion sensors so they can go to sleep mode if nothing is moving.

My problem is that there are so many factors- how long it takes the camera to get a shot once it's "woken up," some of them have a red motion sensor light which can scare the deer off, some of them are too sensitive and detect minor motion (thereby getting shots of nothing) and some of them can't shoot fast enough to get a picture of something walking by.

I'm very confused! I found a great site that tested a bunch of them. I made my decision right then, but when I went to order one, I saw that everyone who bought that one hated it and returned it.

It was a long shot, but I figured I'd see if anyone here had any experience with a scouting camera.

Interesting about the binoculars with built in camera. I always come up with these great gift ideas for DH and then read way too many reviews and end up not getting the "great gift idea." I torture myself with this twice a year (brithday and Christmas).

[sneezles]

Susan,
Are you looking at the Cuddeback (http://www.nativeoutdoors.com/scoutingcameras.html) ones? I know it's a bit above your posted spending price but friend's of our have used one for years. Though they mostly get pictures of raccoons raiding the corn!

[MrsReber]

I have looked at those. They were a bit expensive, but part of me is starting to realize that I may have to spend a bit more to get something that is actually useful.

DH doesn't have any corn or anything. I think he's really curious to see what's out there since we've only been here a year. There's so much room around here that there's just got to be some big bucks out there.

[Chefzhat]

Susan, take it from me. Spend the $$$$. Cuddeback is the best and well worth the money. Bushnell's cameras are "late shoots" and are also quite noisy. Cuddeback takes great pics every time.

We have 4 of them situated around our 10 acres and enjoy looking at the photos we get!

Debie