Have you updated the firmware on your Reconyx game camera? If not, you will want to head on over to Reconyx.com and download it. Their latest firmware update can unlock many new and beneficial features.

So how do you know if you need the firmware update? Access the "Camera Info" option on your game camera. The top line of this display will list a series of numbers. This is your currently installed firmware version. The latest shipping version is V:3.0.0.20091014. You will notice that the last 8 digits of this number represent a date format. If you have an earlier version listed, you will want to download and install the new firmware. This will contain all of the cumulative updates since the Reconyx scouting cameras were originally released.
By installing the new firmware, you can gain access to these features:

1. 1080p Widescreen HD Mode
   On the RC55, RC60, PC85 and PC90 trail cameras, you will have access to this HD widescreen mode that is perfect for viewing images on the newer HD TVs and widescreen monitors.  After updating the firmware on the RC55 and RC60, this mode will be set to the new default mode of operation.  The 1080p widescreen mode will become a selectable option on the PC85 and PC90.
2. Night Mode Settings
   The new night mode settings are a welcome addition.  They allow you to have better control over the quality of your night time images, the range, and the camera's shutter speed.  There are four night mode settings.  Default mode offers a good balance between infrared range, the speed of the shutter, and the quality of the images.  The High Quality mode will produce a higher quality image, but will sacrifice some of the infrared range.  The Fast Shutter option is great for reducing blur with fast moving game, but again will sacrifice some of your infrared range.  The Max Range option will increase the IR range, but will sacrifice some quality and you may have more grainy images.  Each of these options can have great applications depending upon the conditions that your camera is placed in.
3. New Quick Settings
   The Trail Setting is the default.  This mode will fire off 3 pictures  upon each activation of the passive infrared sensor.  After a 1 second delay, an additional 3 pictures will be taken.  No delay is set on the trigger.  This will provide you multiple images of an animal moving along a trail.
   The Scrape Setting will fire off 5 pictures upon activation of the PIR with no delay on the trigger.  This mode will ensure that you capture all of the activity of that big buck that shows up to work that scrape.
   The Feeder Setting is designed for scenarios where your game may linger for a period of time.  This is designed to ensure that you capture a good amount of activity without filling up your CF memory card too quickly.  With the feeder setting, 3 pictures will be taken upon activation of the PIR, with a 5 second delay between each picture.  Then a 15 second delay will be incurred before the sensor will trigger again.

Updating the firmware on your Reconyx camera is a breeze.  All you need to do is take a blank CF memory card, download the firmware update, and place it on the memory card.  Turn your Reconyx camera off, and insert the card.  Power on the camera, and it will read the firmware update file from the memory card and automatically start the update process.  Once the update is complete, the camera will delete the firmware update file from the memory card, and will boot up like normal.

I love how easy Reconyx has made this firmware update process, and how they continue to enhance the quality and features of their existing line of scouting cameras.   So check your firmware and update it if necessary to unlock these features and get even more out of your Reconyx camera.

Reconyx RM45

The RM45 RapidFire is Reconyx's entry level camera. It has the lowest price point of any of the game cameras that Reconyx offers, and is retail priced at $499.99. They can often be found online for about 10% off in the $449.99 range.

If you know anything about Reconyx's game cameras, you know they are top notch. If you own other brands of game cameras, you might think it's crazy to spend this much money for an entry level camera. Owning one will change your mind though.

So what makes Reconyx so much better than the others? How can they offer their cameras at such a high price, and still have people lining up to buy them? The answer is simple... Performance.

The Reconyx RapidFire technology uses an InstaOn motion sensor and has a 1/10 of a second trigger speed. You can put Reconyx up against any other game camera on the market and they will beat them. I've always thought that Cuddeback cameras had a fast trigger. Well check out one of my previous posts showing a Reconyx vs. Cuddeback in a head to head. The video might change your mind. It changed mine. Their slogan for their game cameras is "See what you've been missing". This video makes that very appearent.

Reconyx also has a superior BatterySaver technology, so your battery life is measured in months instead of days. I've owned many digital game cameras, and the battery life on most of them has left something to be desired.

Reconyx also has a RapidFire NearVideo technology in the RM45 that allows it to shoot up to two frames per second. That is an incredibly fast recovery time.

So what else can the RM45 do? Well, it shoots 1.3 MP monochrome images by day, and 1.3 MP infared images by night. It's infared emitters can reach out to 50 feet. It uses Compact Flash memory cards, and can store up to 15,000 images on a single 2 GB memory card. It is rugged and durable. It can operate flawlessly in temperatures from -20 degrees Fahrenheit to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. It will also print the date, time, moon phase, trigger and sequence number information, temperature, as well as camera label information on each image. The RM45 run on 6 C-cell batteries. An LCD panel, and a series of 3 buttons can be used to easily program the RM45's settings.

One of the best added features that Reconyx puts in their cameras is their theft deterrent technology. They label this right on the front of the camera. Anyone with any sense would not bother even trying to steal a Reconyx camera, because it would be useless to them unless they know the CodeLoc password.

Another great feature of the RM45 is the Programmable Time-Lapse Surveillance. This enables you to configure the camera to take a series of time lapse photos. It can automatically fire off photos every 1 to 30 minutes depending upon how you program it. And this feature can be set to for two different periods per day. What is nice about this, is that you can be guaranteed that pictures will be taken, even if your target is not within range of the motion sensor. Just imagine placing the RM45 in this mode on the edge of a field, and having it fire off pictures every minute at dusk and dawn. It would be really nice to know what's in that field before the opening day of gun season or muzzleloader season rolls around. Well the RM45 can tell you.

Every Reconyx game camera comes with an adjustable bungee mounting strap, a manual, and their BuckView mapping and image management software.

So if you are tired of being disappointed in your game camera's performance, consider a Reconyx.

You've probably heard the Reconyx game camera slogan; "See what you've been missing". Well, I stumbled across a video that demonstrates this. The game camera manufacturer Cuddeback has always been know for the fast trigger speed. They call it a 'hair trigger'. Well check out the following video of a Reconyx Camera placed right next to a Cuddeback camera, and see the difference for yourself. It's astonishing.

The things that amaze me about Reconyx is the way that they innovate game camera technology.  The latest firmware update for the RapidFire and RapidFire Professional series cameras is proof of just that.  The firmware controls the game camera's features, as well as how it operates. Firmware updates can be  released to add new capabilities or resolve any know issues.

Well, Reconyx has set the bar high with this update.  There are some awesome new features that will have your pulling down the update and installing it today.

1. You now have the ability of putting your game camera in full 1080P-HD widescreen mode.  This feature is available for the professional PC85 and PC90, as well as the RC55 and RC60.  This resolution will be perfect for viewing images on the newer widescreen computer monitors and widescreen TVs.
2. The new NightMode settings give you the selection and control over night time operation.  You have the ability to put your camera into 1 of 4 modes.  DEFAULT mode provides a good balance between the quality of images, speed of shutter, and IE range.  HIGH QUALITY mode provides better quality night time images, but reduces the range of the IR.  FAST SHUTTER mode will reduce blur associated with animals on the move, but this also reduces the IR range.  MAX RANGE mode gives you the maximum IR range, but at the cost of image quality.  The choice is yours.
3. Three new QuickSet settings have been added to Reconyx's game cameras.  These modes have pre-set optimal camera settings based on the condition selected.  For example, TRAIL mode is ideal for placing the camera on a trail.  SCRAPE mode is ideal for placing the camera on a scrape.  And FEEDER mode is ideal for placing the camera on a feeder.

Reconyx is doing an awesome service for its customers. So often it is necessary to upgrade to a new game camera model in order to get the new features.  With Reconyx, that isn't necessary.  So upgrade our firmware instead of your game camera!

Here is a video describing the features of the Reconyx RC60. The Reconyx RapidFire RC60 is HOT! The 70 high energy infared illuminators give you clear nighttime images out to 35 feet. See the Reconyx RC60 video and learn more about this HOT Game Camera!