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2011
WGI W6X (Micro 6) 30 count red flash 6 MP digital camera
review
Once we had managed to get through the Micro 8 review we had not
expected to do more on this series of camera. The
difference in emitter count and the degree of
interpolation is the basic difference between the two.
This emitter count is supposed to reach 50 feet. The PIR
sensitivity is program adjustable in three settings of
High, Med Low to compensate for temperature conditions.
There are three resolutions with the 6 MP on top and down to 2 on the
bottom. Delay goes down to a nice 15 seconds and up
through three more settings to 2 minutes. Being this is
what they call “micro” it operates off 8 AA cells.
Programming is done on a front mounted LCD and that
process is simple but the camera has to be off the tree
to accomplish it because of the button location. The
advertized battery life is a month to a month and a
half. Full bottom door gasket closes up tight and is
weather resistant.
We just finished the 8 series of this camera and we had problems with
whiteout pictures during the transition periods. We have
also seen on the outdoor forums where other cameras in
this same micro series are having like problems. We will
give this camera a fair chance to prove to us that it is
going to do well and not have that issue.
The dark room and out side testing with new pre tested cells showed
there seems to be plenty of flash and the trigger seemed
to come in just under 2 seconds. The 6 MP day pictures
had good color and came in good and clear (some fuzz)
and still not as good as the N2 camera tested earlier.
It is pretty warm today but I did get continuous sensing
of my movement out to about 25 feet judging from the
light. We got a little spoiled by the results of the WGI
N2 which had a pretty fast trigger and very good
pictures. My unofficial look at the delay time seemed to
show that it is pretty close but we will look a little
closer to this.
WGI
offers a standard 1 year limited warranty and their
customer service is fairly easy to get hold of through
their 800 number. We have seen where someone was unhappy
about having to change out a couple of cameras and the
expense of shipping. One of the other companies we
reported on does not even have the 800 number and when
you finally get hold of them and explain your problem
they have a pat answer saying for XX amount of dollars
we will ship you a brand new camera as an upgrade once
you ship in your broken one. So far we have had good
reports on this company’s customer service department.
It is time to get this camera in line to get into the
lab for the balance of the review. It is right now 7th
in line so it will still be a little while before be a
hole open.
08-08-2011 update: Time allowed us to crowd
yet another camera into the line today and being these
were trouble free tests and all went smooth was a
pleasant break after the storm we lived through with the
Leupold cameras. The trigger times were fast 1.09 for
day and 1.53 for the with flash test. The sensing test
at 15 seconds stretched out to 21 seconds which is
probably OK after living with the double treatment for
the same test on the little
Moultrie’s. The day range/8plate
color pictures fell in line with the pictures we got
from the N2 camera. This is saying that they were sharp
and clear with good detail. The night with flash
pictures were also good with the black and white detail
and very little grey casting. Sensing reached out to 50
feet for the 85 degree evening. Flash also reached to
the end of the range. If this camera holds together with
out the reported whiteout issues seen on the outdoor
forums we will have another good camera.
08-13-2011 update: First trip out to get
samples proved that #1 day pictures are great, #2 this
cameras follows the 8X with the white out issue during
the transition. Once fully switched the night pictures
seem to be OK. This problem will probably have to be
handled with some type of firmware upgrade.
08-23-2011 update: The white out issue also
followed us into the video mode. The color day and the
black and white night videos are good but a little
jerky. The non standard encoding is giving some systems
(players) fits when they try to play these videos.
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Trigger Tests
( without flash .109s)
( with flash 1.53s)
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Flash Range
(camera only)
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Day Range/8 Plate
Dead Pixel Test
()
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Video Samples
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