I received the Bushnell Trophy Cam for testing this past week, and I am honestly kicking myself for not picking this game camera up sooner.  Overall it is a very good camera, with just a few drawbacks.  I'll elaborate on these details, but for a complete review of the Bushnell Trophy Cam, see the link to my YouTube video at the bottom of this post.

I love the compact size, at just over 3" x 5".  I also love the fact that they step right out there with claims of a 1 year battery life.  While this remains to be seen, since I have only had this camera for a short time now, I am excited at the possibility of owning a game camera that doesn't chew through batteries.  One caveat with this battery life though, is that you must use lithium AA batteries to get the one year battery life.  If you use alkaline batteries, the standby operation time drops to 6 months.  That is still a lot longer than any other game camera I have owned recently.

I also like the ease of programming.  One thing that took me by surprise is that the LCD panel and programmable options are very similar to the Scoutguard SG550.  So similar, that I think they are using the same components.  What is different though is the series of buttons on the inside of the game camera's housing used to program the camera.  The Scoutguard requires the use of a programming remote control that you connect to the camera.  Without that remote, you cannot change any of the camera's options.  The Bushnell Trophy Cam has these buttons and LCD embedded in the camera.  The use of the Up/Down, Left/Right, and OK buttons makes this programming a breeze.  The picture quality is decent, and the video quality is acceptable.

A couple of things that I don't like about the Trophy Cam are the lack of added security measures.  The lock hole is small, requiring the use of a small gauge lock.  It is recommended that you pick up a security lock box to protect your Trophy Cam.  I'd also like to see the ability to add a master password and owner identification.  As game cameras become more expensive, theft becomes more of a concern.

I don't like the weak buckle that came with the mounting strap.  I broke mine as I was hanging it, so don't cinch it too tighly to the tree.  This wasn't a big deal for me though, because I have accumulated numerous camouflage straps through years of hunting.  I plan to have a lock box for this game camera soon, so I won't need the strap at that point.

I also thought that the videos appeared to be a bit grainy.  It's too early to tell, and I need to collect a few more samples under different lighting conditions.  Video on game cameras is one of the features that I desire the most, so I may be a little picky when it comes to this.  I get a lot more out of studying an animal via video that I do out of a still pic.  While I say the video was a bit grainy, it wasn't bad enough to where I would complain about it.

After testing the Bushnell Trophy Cam, I can tell you that I'll be keeping this one, and maybe picking up another (to two).  I was a little leary about purchasing the Trophy Cam after hearing about some comrade's past experiences with Bushnell game cameras, but I think that Bushnell hit the mark with this one.

Looking for a new game camera that comes with a price tag under $100.00? Then check out the new Wildgame Innovations IR4. This 4.0 megapixel game camera shoots still pictures, as well as 30 second video clips. It is another low cost infared digital game camera that has hit the market, and with the number of high priced game cameras on the market today, it is nice to see new low cost offerings.
The trigger speed on this camera was timed at around 2.5 - 2.8 seconds. Not bad for a $100 camera. While it might not be the best camera for a trail with passing deer, it would do just fine on a food plot, feeder, or corn pile. For use on trails, it is recommended that the IR4 be placed facing down the trail, instead of facing across it. This will give the PIR time to acquire the deer and fire the pictures or video.
The battery life is decent from the 4 C-cell batteries. This compact camera has 19 infared emitters that reach out to around 30 feet. The handy mounting eyes make it easy to attach this camera to a tree with the included bungee cords. It also has a lock hole for added security.
It has 16 MB of onboard memory, but will accept standard SDRAM memory cards for expansion. The setup and configuration is pretty easy, using the onboard LCD.
This isn't a top of the line camera when it comes to features and performance, but what do you expect for $100.00. I'd put this camera in the same class as similar low cost offerings from competitors like Wildview. If you are in the market for a cheap game camera, this one is worth a look.

If you use a feeder in conjunction with your game camera, then listen to what happened to me today.
I had just set a game camera in a new location, and decided that I wanted to place one of my feeders in the vicinity of it. There are some intersecting trails here, and it looked like a good spot to get some pictures. The trigger on this model StealthCam is a little slow, so I like to use the feeder to get the deer to linger and give the camera time to do its work.
I was placing a new feeder when I realized that I was missing the top to it. I have another feeder still in the woods that is out of commission so I decided to go take that feeder down, and grab the top off of it. As I was walking out of the woods, I got buzzed by a couple of wasps. No big deal, the woods near me are loaded with them. I got back to the garage and took the top off this feeder. As I flipped it over, I noticed a wasp nest attached on the inside of the lid, and it had wasps on it. One flew off as I was holding it, and I pitched it to the ground.
I think I set a new record for the 40 yard dash, as I high tailed it away from these angry wasps.
So if you have your feeders out in this hot weather, use caution when removing the lids to refill them with corn. You might be met with a nasty surprise.

Not only are their digital game cameras for deer hunters ... But now there is a digital bird camera on the market. It's called the Bird Cam, and it is made by a company called WingScapes. This digital bird camera measures 9" x 3 5/8" x 5 1/2" and will shoot pictures or video.

It will produce JPG picture files in one of three settings, High res, Medium res, or Low res. The video is produced in AVI format, with 640 x 480 resolution, and outputs 10 second video clips at 10 frames per second.

Four operational modes are available.

1. Auto mode activates the camera when motion is detected. This is the normal mode.
2. Time Lapse mode will activate the camera at specified time intervals. This is good for covering a larger area. Motion is not required to activate it.
3. Manual mode allows you to use the BirdCam as a normal camera. Press the button and take a picture.
4. Remote Control mode allows you to trigger when pictures are taken. Using the included remote control, you can trigger the camera by pressing a button from up to 30 feet away. So as you sit on your deck, or in the comfort of your home, you can activate the camera as you watch from your window.

There is 32 MB of included memory in this bird camera, but you have the option to add up to a 4 GB SD memory card. It will focus from as close as 18 inches out to infinity. So you can get sharp close ups.

By using the optional BirdCam Mounting Arm, you can attach your BirdCam directly to your feeder. It will be perfectly positioned to take vivid, close up pictures or video.

I like the BirdCam, and I think it is yet another great implementation of technology. What a great hobby for the bird lover or photography enthusiast! WingScape's BirdCam typically retails for $249.00, but you can find a deal here for much less ==> Bird Cams .

Another new game camera from Stealth Cam will be hitting the market on May 9, 2009. The Sniper Pro, model STC-1850, will come with an affordable $169.00 suggested retail price. This stylish, camouflaged game camera comes with the Jim Shockey endorsement. So what can we expect?

This scouting camera has graduated to 8.0 megapixels with a flash range that reaches out to 50 feet. You will get VGA qulity video clips, as well as the option to shoot images in 8 MP, 3 MP, or 1.3 MP resolutions.

This is a standard flash camera, no infared. It will still have the trademarked BurstMode, which will shoot anywhere from 1 to 9 images upon each activation of the PIR. You have the option of setting a delay timeout of anywhere from 1 to 59 minutes inbetween each activation.

The internal memory will only be 32 MB, but a memory expansion slot is available which will accept up to 2 GB SDRAM cards. On the pictures, you will get the Date, Time, Moon Phase, and Temperature stamping on the images. This camera will also accept the 12 volt external power supply, for long life in the field. It runs off of six C cell batteries. The USB cable and mounting strap are included.

Stealth Cam has 5 new camera models coming out in 2009. This is one of the two 8 MP cameras that they will send to market. I look forward to testing this model.

The Moultrie Game Spy I40 is a popular game camera due to the rich feature set and mid-range price it is offered at. This infared digital game camera has no visible flash, so you won't spook your game. The 150 day battery life from 6 D cell batteries gives you 5 months worth of operation in the field.

This 4 Mega pixel camera has a quick trigger, and the infared emitters can reach out to approximately 50 feet. You have the option of choosing between 3 different picture resolutions and 2 different video resolution modes. Up to 3 pictures can be shot upon each activation of the PIR, with an approximate 13 second delay between each shot. The timeout between activations is configurable between 1 to 60 minutes, so you don't end up with a memory card full of pictures of the same animal. The daytime pictures are in color, and the night time infared pictures are in black and white. Each picture will have the temparature, moon phase, time, date, and camera ID embedded. So you will know when, and under what circumstances the picture was taken. The same image stamping is available on the videos that the I40 captures. The video images can be captured during the day and night. These videos can be 5 seconds, 15 seconds, or 30 seconds in length.

The camera comes with 32 MB of internal memory, but will accept optional SDRAM memory cards. A 1 GB SD card is included with the camera, but it is capable of accepting up to a 4 GB memory card. Depending upon the mode your camera is operating in, you can capture thousands of images or hours of video on a single 4 GB memory card.

As mentioned earlier, the I40 gets approximately 150 days of operation off of 6 D cell batteries. It also has the capability of accepting an optional external power source. The MFH-CPP Power Panel is compatible with the Game Spy I40, and it uses a 12 volt battery and solar panel to give you indefinite battery life in the field. This optional accessory can pay for itself over time.

The weather resistant case comes in a black color, but you can always apply a camouflage kit to make your camera less detectable to would-be thieves. Moultrie also makes tripod mounts and camera security boxes that are compatible with this camera. I highly recommend using a security lock box, either from Moultrie, or a third-party manufacturer to protect your camera from theft. The I40 is a popular model, and there are many security devices on the market for it.

Another great feature of the I40, is the camera ID feature. You can enter in the location fo the camera, and this will be embedded on each photo as well. Moultrie also added an Up/Down angle adjustment knob on the back of the camera. This means no more placing of sticks between the camera and the tree, just to try to get that perfect angle. The Laser Aim feature emits a 'red dot' laser beam to help you ensure that your camera is positioned to cover the desired location. Its added features like these that really make Moultrie's game cameras popular.

There are 3 modes of operation for the I40. SETUP MODE enables you to customize your cameras settings. After 4 minutes of inactivity, the camera will switch from SETUP mode to AUTO mode. When the camera is in AUTO MODE, it is ready to take pictures or videos when the PIR is activated. Once the camera enters AUTO mode, you have 30 seconds to leave the field of view before it will start capturing images. Lastly, is the HANDHELD MODE. In HANDHELD mode, the I40 will operate like a normal digital camera, and you can take pictures by pressing the shutter button. In this mode, it can capture pictures or video.

You have several options for viewing your pictures. You can remove the memory card, and place it in a card reader in your PC or Laptop. You also have the option of connecting the included USB cable from your computer to the I40. This will allow you to view the images on the SD card, or the embedded I40 memory. You can also use the included TV Out cable to view your images on a TV.

So if you are in the market for an afforable game camera that is packed with features and options, then check out the Game Spy I40 from Moultrie.