The market for trail cameras has increased during the past couple of years with manufacturers competing for both the upper and lower end of the buying spectrum. Higher end cameras are loaded with features and upgraded picture quality that makes hunters think twice about the camera that they are purchasing.
In light of this, makers are also making significant improvements to their basic products that would cost much less than their more nifty brothers. Expensive trail cameras can have a little too much features and can really do some damage on the pocket. This is why some hunters choose to invest on cheap trail cameras. But why?
Pros and Cons of Affordable Trail Cameras
Being affordable doesn’t make cheap trail cameras any lesser that their expensive counterparts, they have their own merits that are worth looking at. Before deciding which camera to buy and how much to set aside, take a look at the following pros and cons of owning a cheap trail camera.
- Features
Cons – models on the higher end of the price range often carry more features like better camera lens, time lapse videos and infrared flash. Some of these are optional and does not affect the overall hunting strategy.
- Quality of Output
Cons – some base models though would have good lens but the pictures are grainy or blurry and even worse when it comes to night pictures.
- Battery Life
Cons – some users have reported that certain models drain the batteries much faster than usual often capturing only 10% of the optimum number of pictures per battery pack.
- Value for Money
Cons – one drawback when buying cheap trail cameras is that might not be as durable and dependable as the more expensive models. This is not always the case but reviews show that cheaper models tend to break down faster.
- Impact to Strategy
Cons – deploying several units can be beneficial to the overall hunting strategy but maintaining them can take time and given that the window for venturing into the hunting area is limited, it may take days to check all units and ensure that they are working properly.
- Peace of Mind
Cons – thieving may not be much of a factor when it comes to owning several cheap units but experience says that owners often worry about the quality of the picture, if the cameras are working properly, if the detection circuit is capturing the right image, among others. These are a few things that can easily be prevented through proper trail camera care and maintenance.
Conclusion
Careful consideration should be taken when purchasing trail cameras, regardless of the price. Some models would offer features at a much lower price but it cannot deliver while more expensive ones would claim to have this and that but some mid-range units can do better. Ample testing is advised to really get the best product for its price.