2011 Spypoint Pro-X Plus 46 count red flash 12 Mp digital camera
review
This little camera remained hidden in the maze
of offerings to the market this year. It finally caught
my eye after doing some research about a good camera for
security use. Even though this camera has credentials
that put it close to the high end scouting cameras ($
380), it also possesses the capabilities of being a
first class security camera. It comes in the same box as
the Pro-X we previously tested but this camera has video
with sound. It is still the camera in the case design
that allows for the camera to just be removed from the
case and you can walk over and set down on the 4 wheeler
and make your adjustments and change out the card and
batteries (the battery life has also been improved).
Once the camera is serviced it can be returned to the
case and aim is still the same and can be locked back
up. It is available in both a satin black and camouflage
depending on your needs.
This camera stands a little over six and a half inches tall and is about
four and a half inches wide. The camera lens is at the
top front with the array just below that. The 5 zone PIR
lens finishes out the front view. Two small sensor
indicators are also left and right of the PIR. At the
bottom is the solar panel and external battery ports
also the microphone opening plug when selected in video
mode for sound recording. Inside the removable camera
have a large view screen (zoom) with the standard
up/down, left/right, select buttons. It is a very good
looking camera and is well constructed. The full gasket
and good tight latches keeps things closed up tight.
Drop tests and leak tests passed without issue. Battery
box takes 6 AA cells and they recommend lithium for
extreme cold conditions.
Lets take a trip through the security aspects of this camera. The top
resolution is 12 so that should give enough room to blow
up a picture the size of a wall and still maintain
detail. The electricity mode is where you use an
AC adapter (800 mA) plugged into the battery port and
the internal batteries have been removed. The trigger
time now becomes instant and the burst mode and delay is
disabled. This means this camera will take pictures one
after the other as long as motion is present up to 32
gigs worth. With the ultra fast trigger and if selected
sound on video, this may very well may be the exact
device for security. For those needs around that distant
cabin or even the back yard where AC power is available
this may be of interest to many.
They do not have a specification chart but they have a features chart:
-
12.0 Megapixel
picture quality
-
Very compact (4,5" x
6,8" x 2,8")
-
3.0" built-in viewing
screen
-
Removable internal
camera for easier handling
-
46 infrared LED
night-time illumination
-
Automatic infrared
level adjustment
-
Video resolution: 640
x 480 AVI
-
Color pictures by
day, black and white by night
-
Multi-shot mode up to
6 pictures per detection
-
Automatic print of
date, time, temperature and moon phase on every
picture
-
Requires a SD/SDHC
card up to 32 GB (No internal memory)
-
Sound recording
-
USB and TV port
(NTSC/PAL)
-
Adjustable distance
detection sensor (5 to 50 ft)
-
Requires 6 AA
batteries (not included)
-
Can be powered by a
rechargeable lithium battery pack (not included)
-
and recharged by
solar panel
-
12 volt and solar
panel auxiliary power jacks
-
Instant trigger time
in electricity mode
-
Extended battery life
-
User friendly switch
panel
-
Low battery indicator
-
Kit includes: Strap,
USB and video cables
Over all this is a Pro-X with a big Plus on battery life and some other
features. Off to the Trigger testing and Hill for a
evaluation.
07-07-2011 update: We
asked for the wall wart to drive this camera in a
security application and was told that it is not yet
available but is coming. This means that we can only
test this camera in the security aspect provided that we
can locate an AC adapter that will power this camera. We
are a little wound up about this camera and have very
high expectations.
07-09-2011 update: Trigger testing came out
really well with just over a second day and 1.31 with
flash which is very good. Delay time is fudged only by
1.5 seconds which is very close. The camera kept falling
out when opened which is the same thing we had with the
standard PRO model, so care must be taken when opening
up this camera for servicing. We moved on to the day
range and things did not go so well, The pictures seem
to have a focus problem because they are just not as
sharp and clear as they should be. This is not like
Spypoint at all. We will make a note to the folks up
north and see what they say about this fuzzy picture
problem.
07-10-2011 update: The night flash range
also came out fuzzy but reached out to about 60 feet.
The sensing was 58 feet at 78 degrees which is pretty
good for this time of year. We have sent a note to the
company about the pictures and feel it is probably just
an issue with this particular unit.
07-13-2011 update: As per the factory
instructions we did a little focus adjustment and things
improved somewhat. This adjustment is something that
needs to be factory done probably to avoid a warranty
issue. Please view the day range pictures to see the
difference.
07-14-2011 update: The after adjustment pictures
are now posted and you can judge the amount of
correction that we were able to do. We feel that our old
eyes find a mark improvement.
07-18-2011 update: Please view the sample
videos and note the really nice clear audio with the
recording. This camera seems to do well in this mode
also. Please check the samples. We did not get any night
video this time so please watch for further samples.
07-27-2011 update: We set up but the
animals did not cooperate for a while. We then found
that our video setting had been put in wrong so we ended
up with some low rez video samples, which we needed
anyway. One more rez to do and we will put this camera
out to the battery life pasture and close the review.
10-02-2011 update:
Battery life data as
follows, 4498 pictures and 255 videos, Operation from
07-09 through 09-19-11.
Trigger Tests
(without flash 1.2s)

(with flash 1.31s)
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Flash Range
(with focus fix)

(with original focus issue)
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Day Range/8 Plate
(with focus fix)

(with original focus issue)
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Video Samples


Low Res video


High res video Samples
.JPG)

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