I had high hopes for this camera because I figured I could couple it with the Uway Xtendir B and have just what I wanted, a good quality HD video and sound rig with a fast trigger time and black flash, at a decent price.
So far, I am pretty disappointed.
Right out of the box it had a bunch of dead pixels and noisy sound (Firmware V.7270). I contacted Uway and they said that was the latest firmware "fix" for that model, but they were working on another that might be better. They also said that there was a fix for the dead pixel problem too. Ok, so I figured I'd wait, and in the meantime, do some tests of my own using a 2009 BTC, and a Sony homebrew, as well as the NX80HD to compare. Nothing scientific about the test. I aimed all three of them at my outdoor fountain for a couple of nights because I know small animals come to drink there.
They all have freshly charged batteries and the sensor on the BTC was set to normal. The NX80 does not have a sensor setting, it is what it is, which isn't very sensitive I found out. The sensor firing my Sony is a hacked Driveway Alert™ and is very sensitive. The Uway did not record a single movie of the fox which eventually showed up while the other two cams had multiple videos (BTC) and images (Sony). Later that morning
I did a walk through myself and all three recorded it fine.

Anyone else notice this sensitivity issue with small animals? The camera was, at most 15-20 feet away from the fountain.

This my third new cam (467(returned),466C(returned), andNX80HD (headed in the same direction).
I am coming to the realization that if you want HD video and sound there isn't a reliable commercial camera out there.

your problem on the uway would most likely be aim. i have heard that they are VERY sensitive, captureing deer out to 100 feet in summer heat.

_________________
Thanks,
Anthony
Trail Camera Review: http://www.chasingame.com
Our store front: http://shop.chasingame.com
Scouting Assistant Software: http://www.scoutingassistant.com

Disclaimer: For those who do not understand any of my posts, I have good intentions so plz do not take it the wrong way. If in doubt, just pm me. Seems I am considered "unpolished" when it comes to "talking nice & politely"

Anthony, I was only 15-20ft away. My daughter has a small white dog about 7 lbs. The thing was invisible to the Uway with a set of fresh batteries,
Ok the dog was at the bottom of the frame, but he stood up on the lip of the fountain and the thing didn't record it. I've caught pack rats on my BTC 2009. Do you think the beam on the PIR is so narrow it might have missed the animal? That doesn't sound good. If I am after small game, are you suggesting this might be the wrong camera? I'm running out of trail cams to try!

I am not sure.... I am not saying its not malfunctioning either. How high was the camera mounted ?

From experience that was my gut reaction on it....I do know in the past we have test various cameras that required them to be tipped a bit forward to make the sensing cone pick up small animals like that.

_________________
Thanks,
Anthony
Trail Camera Review: http://www.chasingame.com
Our store front: http://shop.chasingame.com
Scouting Assistant Software: http://www.scoutingassistant.com

Disclaimer: For those who do not understand any of my posts, I have good intentions so plz do not take it the wrong way. If in doubt, just pm me. Seems I am considered "unpolished" when it comes to "talking nice & politely"

About 3 feet on a tripod. and tipped a bit downward.
I'm sending it back to HCO for a check.

My NX80 has no problem sensing deer at long distances.I have mine on time lapse and am constantly having deer trip the camera after the set time in so much I thought the time lapse was messing up.
But it will miss deer 10 feet in front of it because of the way the ground drops off and how high I have the camera.I have an S600 under it to catch the close critters.First time for time lapse and have decided to use the NX80 for videos.To good of a camera to waste it on time lapse.
I do know that aim is very critical on both the NX80 and the NX50.

_________________
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I am a Pro Tester & User of;
Uway,HCO,LtL Acorn,Primos,Spypoint,Covert,Bushnell & Scouting Assistant.

Wildlife Reduction Specialist.

So I would probably get better results from higher up at close range pointing the camera downward? How do you aim it?
It must have a very narrow beam.
I'll try it when I get it back from HCO.

I see you test a lot of cameras. I think I need a camera that shoots day vids like a 467, night vids like a NX80HD, fast trigger and reliability of any Reconyx, sound quality of a 466C, and black flash power of a Uway XtendrB. Can't be all that hard!

Finally got a new NX80HD from HCO. Elena, a tech at HBO in Norcross, said she could adjust the "focus" (her words, not mine) of the sweet spot where the IR detection zone is to favor closer in game. I didn't know that this was possible and don't quite understand how, but I will see if it makes any difference with smaller animals at close range (10-30ft). The people at HBO were very nice but seemed overwhelmed by returns during hunting season. Sound is still the old firmware NX81107270, that is to say some static at low levels. I've been in touch with Chase at Uway in Canada who has been promising a firmware sound fix for some time now. If that gets sorted,I'll be a happy camper. Here is a vid from last night. http://www.eyesinthewoods.com/videos/15 ... d-fox-test
Looks pretty sharp to me.

Great video. I to have the NX80 with the sound problem. Let me know if the update works for you.

That is sure a nice video.

_________________
DLC Covert Prostaff
https://www.covertscoutingcameras.com/

Monster Raxx Field Staff
http://www.monsterraxx.com/

I am a Pro Tester & User of;
Uway,HCO,LtL Acorn,Primos,Spypoint,Covert,Bushnell & Scouting Assistant.

Wildlife Reduction Specialist.

I bought one and sent it back after trying 3 different cams. I could not get it to work with anything but class 2 cards. With HD video i would have had to spend another 75 dollars for 2 cards. I have plenty cards and didnt want to spend anymore $. I had these cams detecting cars passing on the road at 75 yards. Yes that is yards.

_________________
Tim
bowhtr1



(4) Bushnell Trophy Cam HD Max 119476C
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(1) Bushnell Trophy Cam HD 119447c

I've had my NX80 back for a week or more and want to ask anyone who have a problem with the sound to email Uway and tell them about it..
Its the only way to get some kind of a fix on the sound problem .
Otherwise the still images and video both day and night are the best in its class by a longshot. Trigger time is around 1 sec. or so. Time lapse works great too. As has been stated by others here, small animals down low and close up don't seem to be detected as easily.
I have a homebrew still camera camera that catches animals the NX80 is blind to at close distances within 15 feet or so.
I think this may be a matter of camera placement and angle but I haven't done enough tests to satisfy myself as to what the problem is.

Sounds like the fresnel lens that they are using

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Ok, here is an update.
I have to say this, the folks at HCO have done everything they can to please.
Will, Charlene, and Elena have given it their all.

After my 2nd NX80 also had bad sound I decided to swap it in for a NT50B
I had seen a video from the camera on Eyes, and the sound seemed good, so I figured, what the heck.
They charged me another $30 for the NT50B upgrade, and I said ok.
The first night I set it out and noticed a couple things I didn't like. Firstly the thing takes 4 C Cells and I was loaded down with rechargeable AA's. So I needed to purchase some Tenergy C Cells and a charger for about 70 bucks, if I liked this camera. But first I figured I'd check it out with some alkalines. A fresh set lasted about 4 days in the field. Couple of other things I didn't like. The longest clip it would record is 30 seconds, no timelapse, and no HD. Ok, I could live with that. Lets see about the sound and video quality.
Sound was good and video quality, although only 640X480, is more than acceptable. Next I put the camera out with a fresh set of alkalines right next to an old BTC 2009 model to see how it performed against it.
Well, consistently the NT50B would have less than half the captures on my side by side test, so that was it for me- too many compromises. Back this baby goes.
I had heard that they fixed the sound on the NX80 so I asked the folks at HCO to swap back the NT50B for a NX80 with the new firmware, keep the $30 bucks, and they obliged.
Got it the other day and did some tests. I have this to report.

If you stand in front of the camera while it is recording and speak into it, you can hear yourself just fine when you play it back at maximum volume. Out in the field I couldn't hear much at all.
No night sounds or animal sounds at 15 feet.
I think what they did is turned the gain way down so you can't hear the static anymore. I put it into iMovie and goosed the sound 200% and, through a set of earphones, all I could hear is the familiar static sound that the old firmware would make. I think the reason the sound may be poor might be that the pinhole for the mic outlet is hidden underneath where the strap goes on the side of unit , unlike the forward facing mic on the NT50B. I mean it is buried under where the strap goes. So, in my opinion, any fiddling with the firmware won't accomplish too much.

So, the good things:
Nice daylight HD
Good Night HD
Timelapse works a treat
Good trigger times
HCO people are great.

The bad:
Sound remains an issue.
Access flap (hides LCD, controls, and card) is ill fitting and hard to open and close.

In conclusion, would I buy this camera again?
Probably not...
Then again, I have yet to find the one trail cam that has a fast trigger time, good HD video, and clean sound, that is acceptable, not to mention dependable
Some have good video, some have fast triggers,some have good sound. but none have all three.