Another tip:

If you hand screw (not too tight) the screw on the back of the battery backpack, and lock the camera on the tree with a python cable, the "theft" cannot take the front part of the camera away. He has no access to the screw when the cam is hung against the tree. However, you must remember to unscrew the screw when you try to open the backpack. Sometimes a customer forgets that, uses all his strength trying to open it, and ends with a broken backpack.

OldBoys Outdoors Team

Ya know, I tightened that screw also, and then I forgot and was really miffed when I went to check the menu settings. Had to unstrap it from the darn tree...LOL

But since it was a loaner cam, I didnt try to horse it off the backpack.

_________________
Always believe you will see a tremendous buck when you go hunting..sooner or later, you'll kill one...

3 Reconyx Hyperfire HC600 (1 on Texas road patrol)
1 Browning Recon Force
1 Browning Special Ops
1 Moultrie M-990I
1 Moultrie Panoramic 150 (on order)
1 Ltl Acorn 5210A
?
1 Sony S600 Homebrew

I went and checked the cameras today and was dissapointed. The Ltl Acorn took 61 pics. The HC600 only took 9.
The HC600 had snow built up on the PIR. The Acorn did also, but only on 1 out of the 3 sensors. There may be a great advantage to those side PIRs. I know that those deer hung out in front of the cameras, so the HC600 should have captured more pics. Either the snow built up and prevented the triggering or maybe my batteries (still 99%) or something else is wrong?
I dunno. I cleaned them out and swapped cards in both. I reset the cams to 1 pic per minute instead of 30 seconds. I also upped it to 12MP on the Acorn. I then increased to high sensitivity on the Reconyx.

The good news:
The Acorn night pics were outstanding. I had forgotten how much less motion blur there is on a straight IR cam.
I only wish I had angled it up a little more. I think I cheated the flash range capability. Sorry, no daytime pics yet.
Here is a sample:



The Con:
Even though I set it to 1 pic every 30 seconds, it seemed to vary between 6-9 seconds between triggers at first. Eventually it started coming in at around the 30 second mark though. This run through is not over by any means. If I have a problem with the Reconyx again, I will charge up some NIHMS and set the RC60HO next to the acorn. I simply can't afford to buy 12 more Lithiums for the HC600 at this time of year.


I kinda like this little camera so far, it allowed me to capture a few picks of a buck that dropped half his rack. Kinda neat.



Stay tuned for more.....

_________________
Always believe you will see a tremendous buck when you go hunting..sooner or later, you'll kill one...

3 Reconyx Hyperfire HC600 (1 on Texas road patrol)
1 Browning Recon Force
1 Browning Special Ops
1 Moultrie M-990I
1 Moultrie Panoramic 150 (on order)
1 Ltl Acorn 5210A
?
1 Sony S600 Homebrew

Slay, appreciate you doing the test and want to thank Joe at BBO for lending you the cam.


I don't make much of these results just yet but I have a feeling that the Acorn cam is going to be running right along with the Reconyx. If the results turn out well, I just might have to buy 1 or 2 of these little fellas.

What's the approx distance to the tree in the center of both pics?

_________________
(1) Bushnell 456
(3) Uway Xtendir-B's
(2) Covert Red 40's
(2) Bushnell 476's



America, Born 1776-Died Election Day 2008

Any pics from the 600 to look at? David

_________________
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.

Without pacing it off, I would say a little more than 10 yards...so 30 feet or so?
I will pace it off next trip. I sure wish the snow had not covered the HC600's PIR sensor.
I will say this though, it is a cold climate test (-3 degrees F at one point) so the Ltl Acorn is holding it's own so far.
Here is a sample of the HC600 for comparison:



Here's the thing, I didnt include a pic from the HC600 earlier because if you look at the array of TOMPS Avatar, you will see those little plastic LED guard that helps the LED's to not standout so much (Theft prevention I think)
Turns out that they also catch a lot of snow and reduces the amount of flash. With a normal smooth array glass, it would have either blown away or melted off. So in effect, the sensor was covered in snow, and maybe 40% of the LED's were covered up somewhat by snow.

_________________
Always believe you will see a tremendous buck when you go hunting..sooner or later, you'll kill one...

3 Reconyx Hyperfire HC600 (1 on Texas road patrol)
1 Browning Recon Force
1 Browning Special Ops
1 Moultrie M-990I
1 Moultrie Panoramic 150 (on order)
1 Ltl Acorn 5210A
?
1 Sony S600 Homebrew

That’s a good observation on the snow collecting on the “honeycomb”. Those are easily removable, may be a good idea to take them off during winter? I do think they help to break up the IR array some, but unless the camera is in a place where you need as much concealment as possible for theft reasons then I don’t see a reason not to remove it, what do you guys think?

I have both my HC600's in a custom one heavy steel lock box we just had days of heavy snow I had no build up of snow both cams took 2000+ pictures in that week. The box may have helped keep the snow off I did notice snow had built up on two of my 580M's for a day or so.

I can see where that would collect snow the way the wind drives the snow around these parts.If it was facing the storm direction it would pack in there for sure.
Have you noticed if the honeycomb makes a difference in how the deer react to the IR's ? My deer are really getting touchy with my IR cams.Even over feed.David

_________________
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.

The honey comb looks to be more for helping break up the outline of the IR housing agaist deer or people looking direct at the cam. I can't speak for deer but it does work when I look at the cam from a distance really a simple idea that works. Its easy to remove it just pops right out for cleaning. Looking at the comb I could see were it could gather snow I haven't had the issue but anythings possiable. Its sort of funny to me you would think Black Flash would be best for security work and it is best for covert night time pictures but on the same note I have noticed the black IR lens makes hiding the camera in day light harder it just stands out when I look direct at the cam. This is where the the honey comb grid helps out some I think other black flash cam makers should use something like it to help camo the cams totally.

Ummm...gee, I dunno
Oh that's right. it's a black flash camera so I reckon NOT.

_________________
Always believe you will see a tremendous buck when you go hunting..sooner or later, you'll kill one...

3 Reconyx Hyperfire HC600 (1 on Texas road patrol)
1 Browning Recon Force
1 Browning Special Ops
1 Moultrie M-990I
1 Moultrie Panoramic 150 (on order)
1 Ltl Acorn 5210A
?
1 Sony S600 Homebrew

In light of the fact that this camera is a loaner I feel compelled to complete this test in a timely manner. I was seriously dissapointed in the HC600 being locked up by snow and possibly running into a degraded battery condition. Therefore I recharged my Nihm batteries and loaded up the RC60HO right above the Ltl Acorn. So now I have all 3 running off the same tree set to thier maximum capabilities at 1 pic per minute. I raised the angle up slightly on the HC600 and the Ltl Acorn to achieve a better flash range. I thought that was totaly fair to all 3 cameras.

Sadly I noticed that my RC60HO fogged up on the interior of the lenses and even the LED array and the sensor. I could not wipe them off. I guess I should have acclimated it first. Hopefully it wont freeze that way and will be alright in a day or so. I plan on leaving them out for a week this time, with 1 or 2 more trudges up that snow covered hell, er I mean hill to deposit some more shelled corn.

The weather has been brutal here. Temps in the sub-zero range at night. 25-39 MPH winds and blowing snow.
This can only be called a cold climate test as you are aware that some cams perform lots better in milder temps.
I myself have been suffering with a bad cold for a few days and my wife just shakes her head when she sees me load up a backpack with 25 Lbs of corn with a camera in one hand and a Heineken in the other. (homeopathic remedy)

I dont know if I should just start a new thread as this one is getting very longwinded. Whatcha think?

_________________
Always believe you will see a tremendous buck when you go hunting..sooner or later, you'll kill one...

3 Reconyx Hyperfire HC600 (1 on Texas road patrol)
1 Browning Recon Force
1 Browning Special Ops
1 Moultrie M-990I
1 Moultrie Panoramic 150 (on order)
1 Ltl Acorn 5210A
?
1 Sony S600 Homebrew

Start a new one and have everyone stay off it so we can get JUST the results.

I kinda like folks to comment myself. It brings potential limitations and solutions I may not have considered to the forefront.
After all, we are chasin game with our cameras here.

But I may start a whole new thread so as to not have to weed through my deficiencies.

_________________
Always believe you will see a tremendous buck when you go hunting..sooner or later, you'll kill one...

3 Reconyx Hyperfire HC600 (1 on Texas road patrol)
1 Browning Recon Force
1 Browning Special Ops
1 Moultrie M-990I
1 Moultrie Panoramic 150 (on order)
1 Ltl Acorn 5210A
?
1 Sony S600 Homebrew