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2011 WGI Z6 (Flash 6) strobe white flash 6 MP
digital camera review
This is a carry over style from last year and many found favor with this
design. It is a mini camera compared to the old
cameras but compared to today’s cameras it is
just classified as being small and not mini or
micro. The strobe (white) flash cameras are
slowly gaining another following because of
those who like the night color pictures. The
loss of not being able to do video at night is
sometimes a problem for those who like it but
the strobe flash does not allow it. The
resolutions are 6, 4, 2 MP’s and I am assuming
that the day time video is 640X480. The
sensitivity is adjustable from High, Medium down
to Low which should match about any condition
that you may have. Delay is down to 15 seconds
and up through 30s, 1m, 2m, 5m, to 10 minutes.
Card size is up to 16 gig which is a plenty for
a 6 MP camera. Power is supplied in tube
magazines (4 C cells) under the bottom door near
the SD card slot. External power port is on the
right side of the camera.
Programming was simple and easy (except for the tiny buttons) to do but
the thin lines on the LCD were somewhat hard to
see unless looking strait on during programming.
They say that the camera should last about a
month on a set of batteries which we found last
year as being a bit of a stretch so we will re
evaluate that and hope that has been fixed.
My in lab basic tests made me feel that trigger was somewhere
approaching 2 seconds. The color night pictures
and color daylight pictures turned out to be
above average and somewhat better than what we
had seen with an equivalent Moultrie. The 15
second delay will be re tested but I think it is
closer to 20 seconds but that guess is un
official. The dead pixel test come out slick and
clear with no snow storm happening with the
sensor. This little camera so far seems to
function well but it has not grabbed me like the
little N-2 camera did but it was red flash.
Somewhere around five inches square and a couple inches thick it should
hide well with the satin black finish. There are
no back belt loops but each corner has a loop
that can take a bungee (supplied) or a belt if
you have one. Top front center is a good sized
strobe with the lens and PIR in line below that.
The LCD and outside on/off switch are located at
the bottom front. There is a drop down door that
has two latches and when open there is battery
compartment, card slot, and USB port. There are
the three programming switches up in the corner
and very near the lip which makes it a bit hard
to get big old fingers into the buttons.
The book has a specification chart and well written and graphics to aid
in the programming. With the LCD located on the
front of the camera and the switches located
under the door in the corner, it requires that
the camera be off the tree to service. The
switch labels are written in white ink so that
is a big plus for old eyes and makes it nice and
easy to read. One thing that makes this camera a
little hard to handle and that is the lack of a
flat bottom. There is no setting this camera
down on a flat surface and do a thing. It can
only be laid down on its back because of those
pesky latches on the bottom of the camera
prevents it setting upright. So to do simple
tests it has to be tied to something. I know it
is designed that way but for a tester it still
makes it aggravating. There is no obvious means
of security other than size and color. Small and
fairly easy to hide camera selling for about $70
this camera would still be a target if the wrong
bad guy found it in the woods not secured or
well hidden. I have just had yet another bit of
aggravation that has happened twice today. This
is a case where the on off switch located on the
front is easy to bump when handled and when I
went back to the camera I found it turned on and
if I had not had a need when I did it could have
been there for days that way. This made me think
that those who transport there cameras a long
way and have several days prior to deploying
them might have this happen in a pack or ATV
box, so take care how the camera is packed so
the switch is protected. The bottom door is
somewhat warped across the back and appeared to
not close completely but my tests showed no
leaks in that area even though it is a little
out of shape.
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.
We will get this into the lab as time allows and
get on with the testing.
08-08-2011 update:
Trigger times came out a little better than
previously thought with .93 for day and 1.36
with flash. The day range and sensing came out
to 50 feet for 85 degree temperature. This
camera also showed up with some picture quality
that is pretty good for a $70 camera. The night
color pictures had the flash reaching out past
60 feet. This is the third WGI camera this year
and the first one just did not make the grade
but the N2 and this camera have done well. The
delay set for 15 seconds was clocked just over
20 seconds which is a 6 second slip. I can live
with that as long as I have the less than one
second trigger and decent pictures. Let’s hope
it holds its own in the whiteout department
where the 8 mini failed.
08-09-2011 update:
We were not to careful or the aim slipped
because this setup the aim was a little low so
this is not a good evaluation of this cameras
potential. We will re set and try to gather some
more and better aimed pictures. Please view the
few samples we did get to get a general idea of
picture quality.
08-10-2011 update:
Got a little moisture on the lens but these came
out better. Most every one of the WGI cameras
tested so far has been well above average in
picture quality. Please view these new samples
to evaluate.
08-12-2011 update:
The video mode (day only) came out pretty good.
They were smooth and fluid. The color was good
and natural. These little flash cameras are
going to give some people a case of the “I wanta”
to fill that certain need for those nighttime
color pictures plus maybe grab some daytime
videos also.
09-21-2011 update:
Both picture and video quality were not to bad
and being this camera costs so little it sure
makes those looking at the ill fated problematic
Capture camera think twice before they pay that
amount and having to put up with that kind of
customer service. We have had good reports about
this company’s customer service and direct
exchange and sometimes upgrade without cost to
the customer. They even answer the phone which
is toll free. We are going to shelf this camera
in a position where we can run out the battery
testing which will be reported on later. This
review is closed.
10-29-2011 update:
Battery
life lasted 42 days with 1942 pictures and 28
videos taken.
Trigger Tests
( without flash )
( with flash )
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