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2011 WGI N2 16 count red flash 2 MP IR digital
camera review
We originally had considered just doing the M8 camera only this year but
we now have several in line to be done so let me
get going on this. I picked this camera to be
next because it is the one that sticks out on
the isles of the local sporting goods store.
Ever since the time when Non Typical used to
make good cameras I have been a fan of the low
MP cameras as long as they produce good pictures
as did the old Non Typical 1.3 camera. This is
just a plain satin black plastic camera that
sells in the 50 to 60 dollar range. It only
takes pictures with no video capabilities at all.
The front has a small 16 count array at the top
with the PIR sensor and camera lens just below
that. There are two indicators (PIR
status/capture and capture indicator) below the
main lens. There are no strap loops on the back
of this camera and only four corner holes for
the supplied bungee cords to hang the camera.
There is an external 6v power port on the bottom
back of the camera. Inside there is just the LCD
fro programming and the 4 associated buttons.
The SD card (up to 8 gig) port is at the bottom
front just under the programming buttons. There
is a full weather gasket on the door for
moisture control. The battery compartments take
two C cells on each side of the LCD. Our choice
for this review was 4 pre tested Ray O Vac pro
cells.
The booklet has all the needed data on programming and a specification
chart. It is easy to read and follow with good
graphics as to buttons and such. Being many have
high risk areas that they hunt but still have
the need to capture some pictures of the local
population, this low dollar camera might be a
good choice if the picture quality holds up in
our tests.
With the tank full and an empty card I did a quick check on trigger time
and it looks to be under 2 seconds and both dark
room and day light photos are surprisingly good.
When compared to a high dollar camera with a
remote that we just tested these pictures are
maybe as good or better. The “with flash” (dark
room) were only at about 30 feet and there were
more than enough light down range for that.
Close in pictures have some IR burn. There is a
sizable filter clunk during the transition time
but not with each motion detection event.
There was something that caught my eye as I did the lap dance with this
camera and it was taking very close in pictures
of me and my face. This camera does a great job
of this and I now have taken it out to the old
bird bath and set it up to see how it does on
the “small game” that comes to that watering
hole. There may just be a niche there for this
camera also if it works out. I should know
something in about an hour because this time of
year those feathered critters flock there for a
bath and a drink.
  
 
So far this little camera has elevated my hopes
somewhat and I think we may have a winner if the
field tests and battery life hold together. The
one thing that did not impress me was that the
minimum delay was 30 seconds which kind of sucks
because there also is no burst mode. Just cant
expect all those frills in a $50 camera.
Ok, this applies to all the
WGI cameras. This is the two small indicators
that they use to show PIR function and also the
write to card after capture. Both are very
useful but can also give away the cameras
location. I tried some of the self adhesive dots
from the office supply store and they work well
and can be bought in different colors. They do
leave residue when removed, unless you find the
removable variety. Of all the things I have
tried I found that a small cheap role of black
electrical tape (not the shiny type) with the
dull finish works best. It can be lifted and
moved to the side during setup and once all this
is done they can be replaced back over the
indicators and because the tape is opaque no
light shines thru.
Well as I moved on to a
couple other cameras I had this little camera
watching my bird bath at about 3 feet. It did
two days work for about 400 pictures of my
visitors and I was pleased with the results of
the close up picture quality. Those that have a
feeder on their deck and would like to record
the visitors this cam could pull that duty also.
08-08-2011 update:
Time allowed for us to get some lab time on this
camera and the trigger time came out at 1.06 for
day and 1.43 with flash. We had some good sun so
the day range came out to be as expected and the
little two MP file size and 30 second delay made
things go fairly fast. This morning I had
someone point out yet another issue with the day
range pictures on the Leupold cameras. I switch
from looking at those pictures straight over to
this camera's pictures and I can say that being
that was fresh in my mind, it is my opinion that
this little $60 camera will kick some Leupold
butt when it comes to picture quality. You could
have 5 of these cameras and enough money for a
years worth of batteries for the same price of
that camera. This camera also proved to have
better sensing at 50 feet at 85 degrees and its
trigger times are nearly identical to the
Leupold. The big difference is that this is a
very basic camera that just takes pictures, but
it is a finished product and not a work in
progress, with that problematic remote control
and fuzzy pictures.
We moved on to the night range and “wow” it just
is doing a real good job. The flash reached on
out to the end of the range and the pictures
were sharp and clear. I had this camera on the
list to be the first candidate to use with the
wireless flash booster slave from another
company but from the looks of things I may have
to look elsewhere. With its great night pictures
I may just go ahead and see what happens. This
test will probably be sometime later this week,
if I can arrange it. After that first little
adventure with my bird bath/fountain I have been
very impressed. The minimum recovery time
at 30s delay was 34.85s.
08-09-2011 update: Being this is only
one resolution and picture only it was first on
the hill to get the samples. The disappointment
that we did not want to see just happened. We
did get some white out pictures at transition.
The night with flash and the day color are
really good but this tough area was not handled
very well when it came to the transition time.
View the samples and see the extent of the white
pictures.
09-21-2011 update:
Being this camera only takes pictures and has no
video we have completed the testing with the
exception of the battery life tests which will
be reported on later. This review is closed.
03-10-2012 update:
This camera took 2213 photos over a period of 19
weeks.
Trigger Tests
( without flash 1.06s)
( with flash 1.43s)
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