Moultrie M-880 Low Glow Game Camera

Moultrie M-880 Low Glow Game Camera..

Special Price Moultrie M-880 Low Glow Game Camera By Moultrie

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191 of 191 people found the following review helpful.
Moultrie M-880 beats Bushnell Trophy HD
By David Humphries
I own several game cameras: Bushnell Trophy 8MP HD, Primos Truth Cam 35, and now a Moultrie M-880. I have been operating the Moultrie for 10 days so far. I've used the Bushnell for about 6 months. I've used the Primos for almost one year. The Moultrie clearly beats the Bushnell in several characteristics. (The Primos does not rank against these two cameras.)

1. In the field, and I know there are lab results that claim differently, but in the field, the Moultrie triggers faster than the Bushnell. This was easily noticeable in the first set of pictures I downloaded. I have had both cameras in the same position monitoring the same section of my driveway (we have a long driveway). The Bushnell often catches the very end of the rear quarter panel as a car is exiting the field of view. The Moultrie catches the front quarter panel as a car enters the field of view. Wow! Then it catches pictures of the entire car as it passes by. I knew that was significant at first glance.

2. The imitation bark housing works surprisingly well. This camera completely dissolves into summer woodlands. Unless someone steps right up to it, they're not going to see it. The Bushnell, in brown, looks like just what it is: a game camera strapped to a tree. You can pick it out from 250 feet.

3. The Moultrie has motion freeze for night pictures. It is an improvement over the Bushnell's night shots, but that's about all can be said. The feature itself is nothing spectacular.

4. The Moultrie costs about $25.00 less.

5. In night photos, the Moultrie reaches further. Moultrie claims 100 feet. I think they're reaching that (see Update below). Bushnell claims 80 feet and I think that is true also.

6. The thumb latches on the Moultrie can be released with gloves on. This is not possible with the Bushnell. However, no other functions on either camera can be operated with gloves on, so this issue may be unimportant. (See Update below)

For the above reasons, the Moultrie I have beats the Bushnell I have.

Cons:

1. The Moultrie uses a double-ring locking hasp which makes it too wide. It requires a lock with a minimum shank length of one inch. This length is predominately available on big, honking padlocks that are overkill for the application, and since they are usually finished with bright zinc, they compromise the very effective bark camouflage. I wish the hasp was smaller. (See Update below)

Other comments:

Daytime picture quality is comparable between the two. No noticeable difference. (Wrong. See Update 9-23-2013 below.)

Given these differences and assuming there are no future reliability problems, my next camera will be definitely be another Moultrie.

UPDATE (9-8-2013):

1. The night distance illumination continues to impress me. I am using the "image freeze" feature for night shots, which is a faster shutter speed and consequently, less light, but my night time photos are well lit as far out as 90 feet (measured). It's probably better than that, but for my camera placements so far, 90 feet is as far as foliage will allow me to see anyway.

2. I really don't like the latches on the Bushnell. I have medium sized fingers, but it's always a struggle to pull the latches on the Bushnell. I have to use my limited fingernails and if the tree is big, which limits the space behind the latches, then it's a real struggle to get my fingers behind the latch.

3. In case anyone is interested, I came up with a solution to the wide double hasp on the Moultrie, which requires a lock with a minimum 1" long shank. I cut the loop end off of a 3/16" steel cable just behind the ferrule. I flattened the ferrule to make sure it could not pass through the hasp on the Moultrie, and I squeezed the cable loop with pliers to make it narrow enough that it will pass through the hasp. I drop the loop through the hasp till it sticks out the bottom (the ferrule stops against the hasp), and then I pass a small padlock through the exposed end of the cable loop and lock it. Done. (See two photos in Customer Images)

The more I use this Moultrie, the more I like it.

UPDATE (9-23-2013):

I swapped the cameras a few days ago. Now the Moultrie is strapped to the same exact location where the Bushnell was and vice versa.

1. The night illumination of the Moultrie is a whole lot better than I even realized. Now I can see that, at 90 feet, the Bushnell has reached its maximum distance and the field of illumination is a flashlight effect, roughly 15 feet wide and falling off rapidly after that. The Moultrie easily reaches 90 feet and floods an area at least 40 feet wide.

2. The daytime pictues of the Bushnell have a lot more image blur. When people pass the Bushnell, their legs are a complete blur, whereas on the Moultrie only their feet are completely blurred.

3. The Moultrie absolutely positively triggers faster. I was jogging past the cameras and the Moultrie caught me when I was about 1/4 of the way into the field of view. The Bushnell did not snap a photo until I was 1/2 way into the field of view. In each case I was passing perpendicular to each camera and the same distance away, give or take 5 feet.

One last UPDATE (12-5-2013):

1. I have noticed that the Bushnell triggers on motion at a greater distance than the Moultrie. This is a mixed blessing. In daytime pictures, it's a plus, hands down, but in night photos the Bushnell will trigger on subjects further away than its night illumination will reach. Even with photo enhancing software I cannot make out what the subject is, but by switching between pictures I can tell that something is there. In contrast, if the Moultrie triggers, I can tell what it is. Regardless, I do wish the Moultrie triggered on subjects further away. It seems to reliably trigger to about 60 feet. (A little hard to pin down, because it is dependent on ambient temperature.)

2. There are two big issues with the Bushnell that I have not mentioned so far because I thought they might be user error, but now I know they are not.

Issue 1: For some reason one or more batteries will pop loose. When this happens the camera shuts down. I have no idea why the batteries pop loose, but I know from the 12 to 15 pictures recorded that the camera worked fine for a while and then suddenly stopped. I have had two instances of this happening. This may have been addressed on new versions of the camera, as I have seen pictures that show the batteries mounted differently.

Issue 2: When we returned home from Thanksgiving travel, the Bushnell had taken over 1500 photos! Normally it takes about 60 per day with us home, so it should have recorded less than 240. This has happened on several more occasions since then and it appears to be getting worse. On one occasion it took over 3300 photos! I can't sort through 3300 photos. At this point, the camera is all but useless. I'm here to buy another Moultrie to replace it.

3. Batteries last longer in the Bushnell, but that stands to reason. The Moultrie puts out more nighttime illumination, so it uses more energy. I just changed the batteries on the Moultrie and the meter showed 40% remaining. I use alkalines. I ran the batteries in the Bushnell till they completely died and got about nine months. Extrapolating the 40% left on the Moultrie, if I ran its batteries until completely dead I guess I would have gotten about six months. For me, the increase in nighttime illumination on the Moultrie is worth the shorter battery life.

After four months of using both cameras in the same locations, for me, the Moultrie is still the clear winner. I'm buying another one.

***************************************************

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful.
Best value out there!
By 1ontheleft
All things considered this camera is a super buy. I'm sure there are better cameras out there if you want to hang $600 on a tree and walk away. The only negative is that with the "freeze" motion thing on some of the detail is lost at night. This camera is well worth the money.

42 of 46 people found the following review helpful.
Cheap Home Security
By Gavin Anderson
I can't afford, nor do I want, the infrastructure of a CCTV or security system at my home. Additionally, I rent so the return on long term investment isn't there. I've had three windshields broken in the past 6 months. I installed this product on the roof of the home and the pictures it takes are crystal, even at night the facial recognition is remarkable. I also hunt, so it's a win-win. Highly recommend this product.

Weakness - You have to purchase an SD card separately. You have to download and install software.

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ViewSonic VX2252MH 22-Inch LED-Lit LCD Monitor, Full HD 1080p, 2ms, 50M:1 DCR, Game Mode, HDMI/DVI/VGA, VESA

ViewSonic VX2252MH 22-Inch LED-Lit LCD Monitor, Full HD 1080p, 2ms, 50M:1 DCR, Game Mode, HDMI/DVI/VGA, VESA..

Grab Now ViewSonic VX2252MH 22-Inch LED-Lit LCD Monitor, Full HD 1080p, 2ms, 50M:1 DCR, Game Mode, HDMI/DVI/VGA, VESA By ViewSonic

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44 of 45 people found the following review helpful.
Very Good For FPS Gaming
By tomcat9
I purchased this monitor primarily for first-person shooter (FPS) gaming, and then for use with my desktop computer, second. This monitor has three video input ports: one HDMI; one VGA DE-15; one DVI. Straight out of the box, the screen is set screamingly bright, so you will have to dumb it down.

First, my Xbox 360 is connected to the single HDMI port. I have been playing Halo: Reach and for a long time had difficulty seeing opponents' shields pop on my old Samsung SyncMaster 940mw. With this monitor, I can easily see when opponents are taking damage and their shields are beginning to glow up to when their shields burst. Since I began using this monitor, my headshot ratio has been trending up.

These are my monitor settings for Halo: Reach:

Contrast: 65
Brightness: 65
Response time: Advanced
Color Adjust: Native
Dynamic Contrast: Off
Eco Mode: Standard (must be in standard to activate Game Mode) (See Note 1.)
Game Mode: Off (See Note 1.)
Audio: 100 (w/ X11 Turtle Beach headset plugged into the blue audio out jack) (See Note 2.)

Secondly, video for my old desktop computer is connected via the VGA DE-15 port. I use external speakers and don't bother with the built-in speakers. The monitor settings stay as above except that I set Eco Mode on Optimize to further lessen the brightness of the screen without having to mess with the monitor's contrast/brightness controls. Just remember to set Eco Mode back to standard if you want to play video games in Game Mode.

Conclusion:
I like this monitor. I believe it performs as advertised and very well for my application. The speakers, whose sound is directed through the ventilation holes on the top rear of the monitor, are weak but they do their job. Even though it is barely noticeable, my monitor came with one defective pixel that is colored pink when it is lit. Because I believe every brand-new monitor should not have a single defective pixel fresh out of the box, I am giving the ViewSonic VX2452mh four stars. As an affordably priced gaming monitor, I would say that this one is a keeper and would recommend to a friend.

Notes:
1. Game Mode is good for dimly lit games like Dead Space. Game Mode does not affect response time. It is not necessary to play Halo: Reach with Game Mode active because it only makes the images look washed out; also, set Halo: Reach's screen brightness setting (not the monitor's) to High.

2. For whatever reason, Halo: Reach audio via HDMI is at a level too low to sound any richer off the built-in speakers.

24 of 27 people found the following review helpful.
Stellar monitor for the money.
By Griffin Bean
This monitor is clearly a winner among mid-sized entry priced displays.
Don't expect studio or production quality image reproduction at this price point, but enjoy the crisp, clear and ghost free images this unit produces.

After some initial setup and calibration using AVS HD 709 the picture looks very good in a moderately lit room.

Before questioning the quality of this display, consider the following:
1- Monitors and TV's come out of the box set to be on in a very bright, harshly lit showroom/sales floor.
2- Consider the equipment you are connected to and the age of its video processing componentry.
3- Your video settings on the playback device may not be optimal.

As a certified and industry employed professional installer I can tell you this is not quite near the big money commercial grade picture quality a few officionados seek, but for everyday use it is very good, especially at the street price available.

46 of 58 people found the following review helpful.
Disappointing
By NCF8710
To put this review into perspective, I purchased this monitor to replace a 6 year old HP LP2065 20" LCD monitor which is not HDCP compliant. On installing this monitor, I noted that the image was bright and lacking in contrast. Brightness and contrast are adjustable in the manual mode in the menu. Adjustments made the image better, but was still lacking in black level performance. Fine text was definitely softer than that on the HP monitor. When scrolling text, a yellow smear was visible trailing the text. This effect was mostly eliminated when switching to the "Game" mode. However, switching to this mode sets the brightness and contrast to fixed values. They are no longer manually adjustable. I had attended a wedding and took pictures with my digital camera. I processed the raw files and adjusted them the best I could based on the monitor's image. I had trouble getting them to look right. The color accuracy of this monitor is definitely sub-par. When I printed some of these pictures, they were dark and dull looking, not at all how they looked on the screen. I put back the old HP monitor and looked at the processed images. They were dark and dull on the screen, exactly how they printed. I reprocessed the raw files and now have good looking prints. At this point, I packed up the monitor for return. It cost me just under $15 to ship it back. Lesson learned. Here is a summary:

Pros
HDCP compliant
Inexpensive
Light weight
Bright image
No hot or dead pixels
Good horizontal viewing angle
Comes with a complete set of cables

Cons
No height adjustment
Mediocre black level
Poor vertical viewing angle
Inaccurate colors
Scroll smear
Very limited image adjustments
Unsuitable for photographic image processing
Soft fine text

This monitor would be suitable for non image critical applications or gaming where its fast response and bright image would be a plus. As for me, I'll be shopping for something better.

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Moultrie M-990i No Glow Game Camera

Moultrie M-990i No Glow Game Camera..

Special Price Moultrie M-990i No Glow Game Camera By Moultrie

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173 of 175 people found the following review helpful.
Does the job, but could do it a lot better.
By John H. Meyer
Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R6NFOTJ6PNM2C The following review has been updated seven times since I originally posted it. Each update is identified below. Also, I uploaded a nighttime video that you can view.

[update]I just raised my rating back to three stars after first lowering it to two stars. I lowered it because the videos suddenly developed a terrible buzzing. I did a little research and found lots of other people reporting the same problem. I tried contacting Moultrie via email, but it took them three weeks just to send a "we received your email" response. I then called tech support. I got through quickly and talked to a helpful tech. She explained how to do a "factory reset," but that didn't fix the problem. So I returned the camera (January 7, 2014) for repair. I'll report further on what happens next.[/end update]

[update]I received a brand new camera on January 22, 2014. The buzzing is fixed. All the other good and bad things I describe below are still present in this newest version.[/end update]

[update]After one week in the field, the buzzing has returned, although only on some videos. I called Moultrie tech support and the tech said that I need to use a Sandisk memory card and that no other card is recommended. In addition, I should not use the microSD card (the little chip that then fits inside a full-sized SD card adapter). Finally I must use Duracell alkaline batteries, and no other. So, when I next return the camera to the field I will do as he suggested, but only after doing a full factor reset, something he also recommended. [/end update]

[update]I bought a Sandisk full-sized SDXC card, as recommended by Moultrie, did a factory reset, and used Duracell batteries. The overwhelming audio buzzing is still on most videos.

I reluctantly must conclude, based on my own experience and on reports in various forums, that the Moultrie M-990i has a design defect that affects their audio.[/end update]

I originally purchased a Bushnell 8MP Trophy Cam HD Max, but the trigger sensitivity was extremely poor, and the pictures and video were disappointing. I returned it. I have now used this camera for several days, and have explored all the options and settings. I like this camera much better, and at 2/3 the price of the Bushnell it does just about everything that the more expensive camera claims to do (although the Bushnell does provide more setting combinations).

However, while this camera does the basic job of triggering when motion is detected and then capturing either stills or videos (but not both at the same time), there are several things it could do a LOT better, and there are several important issues that are not mentioned in the reviews at various trail camera sites.

Trigger Sensitivity

The first thing I tested was how far away the M-990i would detect me as I walked across the field of view. The Bushnell was unable to detect me any further than twenty feet away, which is why I sent it back. By contrast, using the exact same test at the same outdoor location (same time of day and temperature), I was able to get fairly repeatable detection up to seventy feet away during the day. This is quite good.

[update]I placed the camera on a California grassy hillside, in video mode, and retrieved the card after a few days. I ended up with about three hundred twenty-second daytime videos of grass waving back and forth and nothing else. This is the downside of having a sensitive trigger. I much prefer having a trigger that is too sensitive, so I don't mind this, but it does mean that you must take the time to do some tests before you leave the camera unattended for weeks or months at a time in order to make sure that the placement doesn't result in false triggers.[end update]

Still picture quality

The still pictures are a little noisy, but the amount of detail they can resolve is better than the Bushnell.

Video quality

Like the Bushnell -- and I suspect this is true of most other trail cameras -- the "HD" video quality is not even close to being HD. Yes, it is 1280x720 (720p) at 24 fps (sort of -- more on this below), but the ability to resolve detail is not much better than SD video. I suspect that the sensor is probably not capable of 1280x720, and the video is being "up-res'd" from some lower resolution.

However, one problem that is not talked about in any review, but is quite evident in all the video I've taken is that the camera doesn't actually take 24 frames per second, as claimed. Instead, it takes about 10-15 frames per second, and duplicates frames to get to a 24 fps frame rate. This is easy to see if you put the video into a video editing program and go forward one frame at a time. I have written to Moultrie three times, but after several days have still not received any response -- not even a "we got your email" response. I'll update this review if they ever respond. [update] Two weeks later, and they never did respond.[end update]

You can easily see this for yourself if you look at the videos posted online. I don't know how I missed this before I purchased.

[update]I just watched some video the camera took at night, and the frame rate is even lower than the daytime video, probably about 5 frames per second. I suspect that the camera is actually taking a series of flash pictures and then converting them to video. To conserve power (because the flash uses a tremendous amount of battery power), the camera reduces the number of frames per second. I understand this, but it is even further away from the "24 frames per second" spec than the daytime video.[end update]

Time Lapse

Time lapse is very important for my applications.

This camera has a time lapse feature so it will take one still picture every 5, 10, 15, 30, 60, 120, or 300 seconds. However, there are all sorts of issues with this feature that are not discussed in any review or in the manual. First of all, you cannot take high-res photos in this mode. All you get is 1280x720 which is slightly less than 1 megapixel. This is a major disappointment. In addition, the only way the camera will store the time lapse photos is inside an "MLT" file, which is Moultrie's version of a "motion JPEG" (MJPEG) video file. Fortunately, I found out that you can simply rename the file extension from MLT to MPG, and most video editing software will load it, assuming you have a motion-JPEG codec loaded (Panasonic and MainConcept have free MJPEG playback codecs).

I tried using Moultrie's "Plot Stalker" software which lets you play back these video files and automatically search to points in the timelapse where motion is detected (i.e., where something is in the frame that wasn't in the previous frame). Their software is a crude hack that looks and feels like it was done by a high school student. I am a professional videographer and a retired software programmer so I am probably a lot more critical than most, but I am very, very glad that I can use my video editing programs to view timelapse videos instead of this rather poor program.

The next thing about time lapse is that it only runs during the day. It starts fifteen minutes before sunrise and stops fifteen minutes after sunset. The only option you have is to turn it off 1, 2, 3, or 4 hours before sunset and after sunrise. You cannot have different settings for sunrise and sunset; the number of hours you set is used for both durations. You also have the option to leave it on during the entire day, and that is what I chose to do.

Other cameras have a much more configurable setup.

During time lapse, if you have the interval between pictures set to one minute or more, it will take additional photos if motion is detected. However, these additional photos are not saved as JPEGs, but are instead added as additional frames within the MLT timelapse video file. Thus, once you use timelapse, none of your images (except at night, when timelapse turns off) will be high definition.

To put it another way: the Moultrie M-990i timelapse is video, not a series of still images, so all the video specifications and limitations apply.

Hybrid Mode

This mode is the same as timelapse, but instead of taking no pictures at all during the night, the camera will take real still pictures (i.e., high res, saved as individual JPEG files) during the night. I have now used this extensively, and it worked well.

Multi-shot

The camera can be configured to take 1, 2, 3, or 4 pictures each time the motion sensor is triggered. The duration between these images can be changed. The fast speed takes several pictures in about a second, so it is almost like video. If you are using timelapse, and motion is sensed, you will get multiple pictures at the interval you set, so unlike the still image resolution settings which are NOT honored during timelapse, the interval settings ARE used.

Other

The "black flash" works amazingly well. I cannot see any light whatsoever (not even a faint glow), and yet it provides excellent infrared illumination for B&W nighttime photos.

The SD card simply slides in and slides out: there is no spring latch or anything else. This makes it somewhat difficult to pull out the card, and it also means that the card might vibrate loose (when being transported) or work its way loose from thermal changes. However, I have not had either of these things happen, so perhaps this is not a problem. But getting the card out is not easy without a small tool or tweezers. [edit]After about six weeks of constant use, and removing the memory card many times, the spring-loaded latch/un-latch feature suddenly started working. It now works like most SD memory card slots [/end edit].

The setup screen shows live video which makes it really easy to set up the camera. I cannot imagine having a camera that doesn't let you see exactly what you are getting before you leave the camera for weeks or months. I really like this feature.

You have to use all eight batteries because this is a 12 volt system. Many other cameras only need four, but then let you load eight or twelve batteries to give you an automatic backup after the first set of four run down. In my application, I am not planning to leave the camera for really long periods of time, but for those who need long battery life, they should make sure that this camera will last a long time.

The manual recommends using alkaline or lithium batteries and does not mention NiMh rechargeables. Since I am taking lots of pictures via the timelapse mode and since the camera is mounted near my home, I opted to try using rechargeables in order to reduce operating costs. It worked perfectly with my Sanyo "Eneloop" batteries, and I was able to get about 1,200 daytime pictures and 200 nighttime pictures before the battery ran down. Since nighttime pics use the flash, that drains the battery much, much faster.

The barometric pressure is not very accurate (I own several real barometers, and the Moultrie is not even close to the correct pressure). However, it does go up and down, so the relative changes may help provide information about pending weather changes. However, I didn't buy this to be a weather station, so this is no big deal.

[update]Several people asked whether this product works with a class-10 32 GB memory card. I have been using a Patriot LX Series 32GB (Model PSF32GSDHC10) without any problems. However, I have seen reports that some people have not been able to get 32 GB cards to work, and that some report that Moultrie recommends using slower than class-10 cards. I have been using rechargeable batteries (NiMH) even though Moultrie does not recommend this practice. However, these batteries can deliver huge amounts of current compared to Alkaline or Lithium one-use batteries. I have a theory (untested) that people who have reported problems are using alkaline batteries and, when taking night photos, the large current required to charge the flash causes the alkaline battery voltage to drop significantly, thus interrupting the write operation, thus losing the picture. For anyone having this problem, try using NiHM batteries and see if that helps. [end update]

Summary

The detection range is the reason that I am keeping this camera. It is quite good during the day, and outstanding at night.

I am very disappointed in the way that timelapse works. I am also disappointed in the video quality, especially the very low frame rate and the way Moultrie is apparently "cheating" on their specs when they claim 24 fps.

Finally, being an engineer, here is what I would like to see in a really good trail cam, but which I have so far been unable to find, even in the very expensive Reconyx.

1. Stills and video with quality equal to a GoPro Hero. This camera is within the price range of trail cameras, so this is not out of the question.

2. Much better motion detection. Even if the detection circuitry within the camera cannot be improved (IR sensors have limitations), I'd like to see an external trigger input. One simple contact closure interface would let me use all manner of external triggers, possibly combining them together. Imagine having several wireless sensors, located at multiple locations around a plot, hundreds of feet away, all sending trigger signals to the camera.

I want quality pictures, and I don't want to miss anything. Compared to my ideal camera, the Moultrie M-990i is good, but it could do the job a lot better.

97 of 98 people found the following review helpful.
Moultrie 990i
By Monster Fan
This camera is phenomenal. I just downloaded the memory card after the camera was in the field for one week. I had 398 images of deer, turkey and coons. There were some "landscape" photos, but we had a major storm move through the area on May 30th.

I set the camera up for a 2 shot burst and it performed flawlessly. The daytime picture clarity is second to none. Some of the night time photos were a bit grainy, but not bad. Be sure to use a Sandisk, class 10, 32MB data card with these cameras. They are a bit pricey, but you can typically find them on Amazon for half of what they cost at Best Buy or other big box stores. You will also want to use Energizer Ultimate lithium batteries.

63 of 67 people found the following review helpful.
GREAT CAMERA
By Mick
Chose this camera because of several great reviews I've read about it. Set it up near my garden hoping to see what critters were taking all my veggies and I found out the very next day after receiving the camera. Got 1 photo of a deer and 18 of my neighbor and her daughter stripping the veggie plants clean. Confronted them with printed photos and haven't seen them since. GREAT PRODUCT. Mick

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