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2010 Moultrie D-50 5MP
white flash Camera Review
I am not going to spend a lot of time on the description of this camera.
All dimensions and programming remain the same as last
years #1 Moultrie pick the D-40. We have has several
request to do some reviews on the D-50 and D-55 and
other white flash cameras. We have the cameras but not
the time in the schedule to fit them all into one week.
We have already tested the Spy Point that has white
flash and will soon be testing a new MINI CAM white
flash camera from one of the popular companies soon
after the samples are through with at the current
shows.
This is the same old hunk of a cam measuring about 8 inches wide and 10
inches tall in a plain Jane black plastic case. From the
flash, lens, PIR, and LCD layout it appears that the
D-55 is the same camera in a different plastic case but
a little fancier. This is a standby camera that has been
very popular for those who are into the night color
pictures. Ranging from 70 to 90 dollars in price
depending on where you shop. This is the camera in a
case design like the Spy Point. Mount the camera and
achieve the aim and at battery change you turn two thumb
screws and the camera comes out of the case and make the
change and reinsert the camera back into the case and
turn it on and the aim should still be the same. They
have a 12 volt external battery port at the bottom and
also a Tri Pod mount so it is compatible with those
heavy duty Custom One mounting brackets that use the
Tri-Pod insert to mount the camera.
Programming was easy and
the same as previous years cameras. The booklet was
complete and easy to follow. There are no strap loops on
the back of this camera only the tiny corner holes for
the mini bungee cords included in the box. This is a big
heavy camera so some small ratchet strap would be
better. The latches on this camera are just terrible. I
can only close the bottom latch but the top latch does
not want to close. It takes an extreme amount of
pressure to close that latch and to open it. My thought
is that if it was very cold weather it would just snap
off with that amount of pressure. My first function test
will be for a sleep mode. When I set it up with the new
batteries it seemed to be about 3 to 4 seconds for the
first trigger. Then every trigger after that was fairly
fast. The one minute delay is a pain in the back side
for testing but we will make it through it. We need at
least one good Moultrie to be available this year so we
have our fingers crossed for this review. I have it
pointed at the wall in a dark spot and in about an hour
I will trigger it and measure the time to capture. My
little trip of sneaking up on the cam and several tests
shows that it does have a sleep period and the first
picture takes nearly 3 seconds and those just after are
much faster. On the bench it tested 3+ seconds for sleep
and the un official trigger time after that of 2+
seconds. Running out side and grabbed a few quick snaps
and the picture quality is just ok but not great. Day
range and samples may show better, we will see.
07-26-2010 Update: Trigger time was measured
and found to be 1.13 seconds with flash and .96 seconds without
flash. We did determine that there is a sleep mode on
this camera after some minutes. The first trigger
waking up from sleep is 2.2 seconds. We then moved to the day range/8 plate/sensing
range and found that the pictures were weak in color and
fuzzy but the night color seemed to be a little better
and the flash was good to 50+ feet. Sensing was tested
but due to the high temperatures we are discounting that
information until we maybe get some cooler weather.
08-07-2010
update: Sample pictures, not great, fuzzy, grainy, is
about how we are going to have to describe their
quality. I know this camera is low dollar in the trail
camera scheme of things but the competition is slipping
in some pretty impressive images for the same price.
This is a massive heavy camera with its load of
batteries so there should be more room inside that case
for a system that can produce a little better quality
picture. A real surprise, was the night color pictures
with flash turned out readable and ok but still just not
anywhere as good as what we saw last year from the
D-40.
08-15-2010
update: Well we managed to get the needed day videos
and they were readable and that is about it. Just not
very good at all, so this concludes the review on this
camera. From day one we have not received a single query
on this camera for some reason. Last year this was one
of the most popular even being one MP lower.
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Trigger Tests
(first
trigger from sleep mode 2.21 seconds)
(without flash .96 seconds second trigger after
wake up)
(with flash
1.13 seconds - second pic after wake up)
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Flash Range |
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