MY RESULTS: Ltl Acorn VS HC600

slay · **Posted:** Sun Feb 13, 2011 2:22 pm

I have completed my own personal testing of the Ltl Acorn 5210A against the HC600. I placed these 2 cameras on the same tree at a feeding location. This was what I would call an extremely cold climate test of these cameras. Temperatures were in the sub-zero range at times with 20-30 MPH winds. I would call it downright brutal. Both cameras performed excellent considering the elements they were in. I am no expert at cameras or anything, I am just a guy that loves to hunt and use trail cameras, those are my only credentials. So if you don’t like my results, you may gather your own data in the manner you see fit.

Both cameras were set to maximum sensitivity with an interval of 1 picture per minute. The side or “prep” sensors on the Ltl Acorn were turned on and set at 12 MP. The Reconyx can only go as high as 5 MP. My results were really astounding to me. Firstly, here is the total picture count:

HC600 - 696
Ltl Acorn - 151

Don’t let the numbers fool you though. The Reconyx triggered immediately when the subject entered the edge its PIR range. If you read up on the Ltl Acorn’s “prep” sensors, it states that those side sensors detect movement and will activate the camera so it will take the picture immediately when the game enters the main PIR. If the game roams away after entering those prep sensors, the camera will power off and enter standby mode. So basically, it doesn’t trigger unless the animal steps into the main sensor range. In reality, most of the extra pics taken by the HC600 were mostly photos that I would probably have discarded as they only show the part of the animal entering the frame. The real advantage with the HC600 is that sometimes I may need to see that portion of a deer’s rack to confirm something from a prior or later pic. That’s the benefit of the paying for a Reconyx. It truly does not miss a thing.

Now, when it comes to picture quality, the Ltl Acorn simply blows away the competition. I have never seen better quality in any digital trail camera. This little camera captured birds in motion. It is unbelievable. I attribute it to those prep sensors getting the camera ready to trigger. All the daytime pics were crisp and have exceptional contrast. Being a true IR camera, it’s night pics were much better than it’s black flash competition. Less motion blur and a sharper image. I would say it’s flash range is equal to or maybe slightly less than the HC600.

Overall, I know that the Ltl Acorn is THE best IR camera I have ever used. In reality it is probably way under priced for it’s capabilities/performance. If you are on the fence with this purchase…don’t be. This camera is a little dynamo. I can't attest to its longevity or customer service record, but all things being equal you would be hard pressed to match it’s performance.

I will post some pictures as I know that is what everyone really wants to see. The angel was probably slightly different on the corn pile, but close enough for this novice. The tree in the center is exactly 30 feet. The next tree back is 47 Feet. I measured these with a ruler, so these aint guestimations.

DAYTIME - Ltl ACORN

DAYTIME - HC600

NIGHT - Ltl ACORN

NIGHT - HC600

MOTION _ Ltl ACORN

MOTION - HC600

Lastly, I am now testing the pic/video on the Ltl acorn now on it’s own as the HC600 does not have video capability. Does any camera allow you to do both simultaneously?? I expect it will not let me down in that arena either. It is set to 1 pic and a 15 sec video per trigger. I will post those results’samples in a few days on another thread.

A very big thanks to Joe at Beebusyoutdoors for loaning me the Lt Acorn for testing purposes.
He’s a hell of a guy. I trust him with all my non-Reconyx business. Call him if you wanna make a purchase. He’s a top notch vendor along with a few others on Chasingame.

P.S. ( I have info on the Ltl Acorn VS the RC60HO VS the SG550, VS the NT50B)
But there is only so much can be said on one thread without being confused….LOL

Let the comments roll.

shenriver_man · **Posted:** Sun Feb 13, 2011 2:37 pm

So how many of the Reconyx pics were unuseable? Did the Ltl. Acorn miss any deer or other critters that the Reconyx "caught"?

Roscoe · **Posted:** Sun Feb 13, 2011 2:37 pm

slay wrote:

Firstly, here is the total picture count:

HC600 - 696
Ltl Acorn - 151

Don’t let the numbers fool you though. The Reconyx triggered immediately when the subject entered the edge its PIR range. If you read up on the Ltl Acorn’s “prep” sensors, it states that those side sensors detect movement and will activate the camera so it will take the picture immediately when the game enters the main PIR. If the game roams away after entering those prep sensors, the camera will power off and enter standby mode. So basically, it doesn’t trigger unless the animal steps into the main sensor range. In reality, most of the extra pics taken by the HC600 were mostly photos that I would probably have discarded as they only show the part of the animal entering the frame. The real advantage with the HC600 is that sometimes I may need to see that portion of a deer’s rack to confirm something from a prior or later pic. That’s the benefit of the paying for a Reconyx. It truly does not miss a thing.

Thanks for putting in the effort slay! :mrgreen:

I was hoping for a closer result, but the better than 4 to 1 ratio at a 1 minute delay is a pretty severe butt whipping. I would guess it would have been even worse ratio on a short delay.

slay · **Posted:** Sun Feb 13, 2011 2:57 pm

Mostly the pics in the Ltl Acorn were all centered in the frame. I would geuss that maybe a third of the HC600 pics were redundant. A much better test would occur on a trail with moving animals to eliminate multiple triggers with useless information. But this is a tough time of year to do that.

Remember, the HC600 will trigger at the same deer even if it twitches an ear standing in the same spot. The Ltl Acorn needs for the game to enter the main sensor range. Therein lies the difference in picture count.

catman · **Posted:** Sun Feb 13, 2011 3:00 pm

Thanks for running this comparison! We appreciate it!

Any further comment on if the Acorn missed photos of deer that were centered or if it appears to have shut off as the Scoutguards appeared to? I ask this because if the Reconyx took a few hundred more photos of heads and tails, but the Acorn did not miss centered photos of deer, I would prefer the Acorn as I run a lot of cameras and it takes a while to look through everything.

I would also be very interested in your data on the Acorn vs. SG550 as this is the camera I have the most of and I am looking to buy 10 more cameras of some type in the next month or so.

Thanks again, this is really fascinating stuff.

Bluesman · **Posted:** Sun Feb 13, 2011 3:04 pm

If both were set for 1 pic 1 minute apart what was the 600 seeing and taking pics of that the Lil Acorn wasn't? 4 to 1 is pretty bad.Sounds like there was 3 or 4 minutes in between that the Lil Acorn was sleeping?? David

Bushranger · **Posted:** Sun Feb 13, 2011 4:28 pm

Acorn has perfect sharpness, pics quality is much better than reconyx. I would call it strange:-).

code1 · **Posted:** Sun Feb 13, 2011 5:29 pm

I have two new HC600's I juist recieved last week in my back yard testing and several more in the field running. PIR is way ahead of any other trails cams I own the 600's just trigger on everything that enters the camera picture zone even critters out to 80-90 ft away.You would think you would get false triggers and empty pics alot the PIR sens is so high but it hardly ever happens theres always game of some sort in the pic when you check them maybe even a bird or pack rat alot of times. I agree with the Ltl Acorn being a good cam also I love my SG 550's they are my workhorse cams but put on the same tree as the HC600 or my Rm45's,55's it ends up a blow up as far as pic count goes.

talks2elk · **Posted:** Sun Feb 13, 2011 5:34 pm

Bushranger wrote:

Acorn has perfect sharpness, pics quality is much better than reconyx. I would call it strange:-).

I agree. The Acorn has a much better picture, very clear.

Roscoe · **Posted:** Sun Feb 13, 2011 5:47 pm

slay wrote:

Mostly the pics in the Ltl Acorn were all centered in the frame. I would geuss that maybe a third of the HC600 pics were redundant. A much better test would occur on a trail with moving animals to eliminate multiple triggers with useless information. But this is a tough time of year to do that.

Remember, the HC600 will trigger at the same deer even if it twitches an ear standing in the same spot. The Ltl Acorn needs for the game to enter the main sensor range. Therein lies the difference in picture count.

I don't understand why the Acorn would only get pics centered in the frame. From the pic of the actual unit the main sensor fresnel is a wide angled fresnel??? So the animal HAS to be fairly centered in the cameras FOV to get it's pic taken?

Anthony · **Posted:** Sun Feb 13, 2011 6:20 pm

In order to understand the differences here would require an in depth study of the events.

Basically compare both cameras for when animals show up then leave. Compare the number of events and verify that one camera is not missing some events alltogether. an example might be that RC600 is sensing 10 more feet beyond Acorn. In this case you might get a pic on the Reconyx but at that time there is no pic on the Acorn, etc...

Then study the events where both cams took photos at the same time and try and understand why Reconyx gets more.

I am guessing overall it will be both the distance of the sensing and the shape of the sensing cone and the mounting angle that is creating the differences. One camera may sense in a wider angle than the other too.

I would say at least you would need to repeat the test with the side pir's turned on. This would tell you if they are making much difference. Also the angle the cameras are mounted at may contribute to relatively better/poorer sensing.

It is very hard to draw firm conclusions. I am not being negative though. all you can do is experiment and learn. good work.

Roscoe · **Posted:** Sun Feb 13, 2011 7:28 pm

slay wrote:

The side or “prep” sensors on the Ltl Acorn were turned on

tomp · **Posted:** Sun Feb 13, 2011 7:45 pm

slay wrote:

I would geuss that maybe a third of the HC600 pics were redundant.

Slay, please help me understand how the HC600 can take redundant pics with a 1 minute delay? If I am understanding correctly, the animals stood there for one minute - in the exact same position?

CAM-O · **Posted:** Sun Feb 13, 2011 8:01 pm

Great job Slay, your time on this test was outstanding, thank you for your efforts. :wink:

You deserve a reward for your work! :mrgreen:

Rick!

Bee Busy Outdoors · **Posted:** Sun Feb 13, 2011 8:28 pm

Thanks for the kind words Slay :mrgreen:

Great effort on the testing. Feel free to put it up against everything you got. Gives a good perspective.
I agree with Rick, a reward sounds like a good idea. I appreciate all the hard work you put into the tests.
I would like you to keep the cam as a thanks :mrgreen:

The only catch is you have to keep posting any positives and negatives you find with the cam.

Thanks again,
Joe
BBO

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MY RESULTS: Ltl Acorn VS HC600

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