I honestly don’t even care about taking pics of the wildlife in on my Southern Maryland homestead. However, I think it will be a side benefit of what I actually want to do. So, I’ve been researching the best outdoor wildlife camera to capture those unexpected moments.
I want to make a timelapse video of my food forest on Homestead Earth and vegetable garden over the course of the growing season. This is a pretty long duration timelapse, and I’d hope that I could keep it going for years. I’ve looked into a few different camera setups for outdoor timelapses. It seems that wildlife cameras (also called game cameras or trail cameras) are my best bet to watch my berries grow.
Don’t Buy Into Camera Hype
My initial search was for a GoPro based on a suggestion from my homie Frag____ments. But dang those are expensive. Even a used model that was a few years old was running like $175. That’s not even including a way to keep it powered long term (like a waterproof AC adapter or solar panel). Then I looked at waterproofing enclosures like from CamDo. OMG $1,300! Nah.
So, back to the drawing board I went. I found wildlife cameras that are already in an enclosure. They can take 4k video and 68MP still frames. They even have an infra-red sensor (IR) and IR light bank to take pics at night. For under $150(!), there is a solar panel powering option or an AC adapter for long term power. Most wildlife cameras are able to take one pic a day on a timer. That is all I really need for my garden timelapse. These features make finding the best camera for outdoor wildlife more feasible.
Hidden Costs Of Wildlife Cameras
The thing that I really want to avoid is a data connection, phone app, or cloud storage for the pics. Those all just add to the cost. For my application, I really think simple local storage on an SD card is the best option. I’ve had a cheap WIFI monitoring camera for inside my house for a short period of time. However, the app was terrible and probably super unsecure. So, I want to avoid that situation again, even if it means not having the best wildlife camera for outdoor use with advanced features.
So, I haven’t picked one out yet, but I’m deciding between the GardePro A60 Trail Camera and the Moultrie Edge 2 Pro Cellular Trail Camera. I’m leaning more toward the GardePro because of the lack of connectivity. The Moultrie Edge 2 Pro is still in the running because it is an American Company. I’m not too concerned about the software security. But it requires a cell plan to use, which is just a ridiculous hidden cost. Ultimately, I’m seeking the best camera for outdoor wildlife that fits my needs without unnecessary expenses.
I’ll update this in the future if I decide to actually buy one of these.