Trail Cam Newbie
02-17-2008, 04:25 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Stillwater OK
Posts: 2,944
Trail Cam Newbie
I haven't ever used a trail cam before but I am going to start this year.
Im wanting some suggestions as to what I should buy...Is there more diffucult cameras to operate that a "trail cam rookie" shouldn't get?
I would like to keep it pretty affordable...between $100-$150
Im thinking about the Moultree D40...is this a quality camera? how does it perform?
Thanks for any help!
Im wanting some suggestions as to what I should buy...Is there more diffucult cameras to operate that a "trail cam rookie" shouldn't get?
I would like to keep it pretty affordable...between $100-$150
Im thinking about the Moultree D40...is this a quality camera? how does it perform?
Thanks for any help!
02-20-2008, 09:24 PM
#5
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 5,062
RE: Trail Cam Newbie
I just picked up the Moultrie D40, it takes pretty good pics, but I am not very happy about the battery life so far, but then again, it has been below 0 alot around here lately. Here are some pics I got off mine so far.
02-21-2008, 09:48 AM
#6
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Isle, MN
Posts: 1,469
RE: Trail Cam Newbie
You may want to keep the price low ($100-$150), but in the long run cameras in that price range are going to cost you more money. Look at the moultrie I-40 or M-40. They will cost a little more but are better on batteries then just about anything out there. In a year you will have saved money.
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[/align]I'd stay away from the D-40. It's not in the same class as the I or M 40's. It's pretty good on batteries (not as good as I or M), but there are a lot of negatives to that cam.
[/align]I actually got a I-60 and I-40 in the cabelas bargain cave - each for under $150! The I-40 was under $100.[/align]
[/align]
[/align]I'd stay away from the D-40. It's not in the same class as the I or M 40's. It's pretty good on batteries (not as good as I or M), but there are a lot of negatives to that cam.
[/align]I actually got a I-60 and I-40 in the cabelas bargain cave - each for under $150! The I-40 was under $100.[/align]
02-23-2008, 10:52 PM
#7
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Trussville, AL
Posts: 171
RE: Trail Cam Newbie
ORIGINAL: RackLuster
You may want to keep the price low ($100-$150), but in the long run cameras in that price range are going to cost you more money. Look at the moultrie I-40 or M-40. They will cost a little more but are better on batteries then just about anything out there. In a year you will have saved money.
[/align]
[/align]I'd stay away from the D-40. It's not in the same class as the I or M 40's. It's pretty good on batteries (not as good as I or M), but there are a lot of negatives to that cam.
[/align]I actually got a I-60 and I-40 in the cabelas bargain cave - each for under $150! The I-40 was under $100.
[/align]
You may want to keep the price low ($100-$150), but in the long run cameras in that price range are going to cost you more money. Look at the moultrie I-40 or M-40. They will cost a little more but are better on batteries then just about anything out there. In a year you will have saved money.
[/align]
[/align]I'd stay away from the D-40. It's not in the same class as the I or M 40's. It's pretty good on batteries (not as good as I or M), but there are a lot of negatives to that cam.
[/align]I actually got a I-60 and I-40 in the cabelas bargain cave - each for under $150! The I-40 was under $100.
[/align]
I have two of the D40s and one I60. I have not had a problem with either (1000s of pictures between the three). As a matter of fact, one of my D40s was purchased for $25 due to being returned as defective. I did nothing with the camera other that put batteries and an SD Card in and setup. I have now taken over 400 pictures with that camera and had two "white-outs" the rest of the pictures have been good. I'll admit that the quality is not the greatest, but my purpose for using game cams is to get an idea on the wildlife...not looking for professional photos.
The battery is good (six D-cell batteries last around 45 to 60 days) before being changed. Moultrie cameras have a port that allows you to put it on an external 12-volt battery (can be setup with rechargeable and solar panel). I will be purchasing these for my cameras in next month.
I have been very pleased with the D40 in all aspects.
02-25-2008, 12:14 PM
#8
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Isle, MN
Posts: 1,469
RE: Trail Cam Newbie
ORIGINAL: Mossy_71
Please tell.
I have two of the D40s and one I60. I have not had a problem with either (1000s of pictures between the three). As a matter of fact, one of my D40s was purchased for $25 due to being returned as defective. I did nothing with the camera other that put batteries and an SD Card in and setup. I have now taken over 400 pictures with that camera and had two "white-outs" the rest of the pictures have been good. I'll admit that the quality is not the greatest, but my purpose for using game cams is to get an idea on the wildlife...not looking for professional photos.
The battery is good (six D-cell batteries last around 45 to 60 days) before being changed. Moultrie cameras have a port that allows you to put it on an external 12-volt battery (can be setup with rechargeable and solar panel). I will be purchasing these for my cameras in next month.
I have been very pleased with the D40 in all aspects.
Please tell.
I have two of the D40s and one I60. I have not had a problem with either (1000s of pictures between the three). As a matter of fact, one of my D40s was purchased for $25 due to being returned as defective. I did nothing with the camera other that put batteries and an SD Card in and setup. I have now taken over 400 pictures with that camera and had two "white-outs" the rest of the pictures have been good. I'll admit that the quality is not the greatest, but my purpose for using game cams is to get an idea on the wildlife...not looking for professional photos.
The battery is good (six D-cell batteries last around 45 to 60 days) before being changed. Moultrie cameras have a port that allows you to put it on an external 12-volt battery (can be setup with rechargeable and solar panel). I will be purchasing these for my cameras in next month.
I have been very pleased with the D40 in all aspects.
The D40 is more like the '05 and '06 moultries then it is like the '07 (I and M lines), which is exactly why I say it's not in the class of a I40 or M40.The case itself is a very good indicator of this.
Some of the issues:
1) terrible flash range. I've put many different trail cameras on the same tree, next to the same tripod feeder. the d-40 is the ONLY camera I've used that cannot show animals under that feeder. Terribly dark pictures.
2) grainy pictures - i've NEVER seen 4 megapixel pictures look so bad! Daytime pictures are so much better on a I40 then a D40. You'd swear the d40 pictures were from a bad1 mp camera. It's not always about the megapixels. Mossy, you may not mind that the pictures are bad with this camera, others might feel differently.
3) internal clock loses a couple minutes every day. This is an issue that moultrie is working on, I believe at this point they have a fix for it. Not sure how you'd be able to tell if you are getting one w/ the fix or not.
4) Battery life is good, but not nearly as good as the M and I line. It's going to cost more to keep running!
5) Missing pictures. I tested my d40 (along with the I40 and I60) and the d40 often missed me walking in front of the camera.Often, Icould walk directly up to the camera to check it and it wouldn't take a picture.
6) no time/date stamp on videos. You actually have to look at the little thumbnail that gets taken with the video to see when the video was taken.
7) video flickers from light to dark. Although the resoultion is pretty good on the video, the changing from light to dark make watching them very annoying. I don't even use the video setting anymore, even though that was one of the biggest reasons I bought the d40.
8) no upgrades. Moultrie fixed a lot of the problems with the I and Mlines, but they can't do anything to the D40's unless you return them for service.
OKBowhunter20 - If you can stomach spending a little morethen get the I40 or M40! You will save money in the long run (and you'll get better pictures and an upgradeable camera). Either way, good luck!
