Hey Grouselady, I use Moultrie Gamespy cameras - I think they are 4.1 megapixel, with motion/IR detection. They work great and last a really long time on one battery [I just had them out for nearly five weeks and the battery power was still over 80% on all of them]. I didn't use them this time to see how the batteries would hold up, but I also have solar panels for the batteries - the longest I've left the cameras with those attached was seven weeks and they were still at over 90% battery power. I use 1GB cards in them, and although I've never filled one yet, I believe that they'll hold close to 1800 images on the highest setting [The most I've had on one so far is 486... that could probably be a much higher number if the cows would leave the things alone].
I think the camera alone sells for around $150, but look on Ebay - that's where I got mine. I ordered them from an "Ebay store" out east, and got the camera, rechargeable battery, charger, solar panel, and a 1GB picture card for $160. Since they typically come with one picture card [if any], you'll want to buy a second card so that you can leave the cameras out - just walk up, slip the card out and slide a new one in. You'll also want an USB card adapter so you can easily load the images onto a computer [you can buy pict cards that come with USB adapters at Walmart].
My complaint is that they have a tendency to turn eyeballs into large strobes of light at night, much more so than other cameras I've used, but as long as you remember to turn IR detection on [for some reason they default to "off" everytime you turn them off, and back on] it seems to help quit a bit. Also, I don't care for the battery compartment much - since you have to have the cover open to "set" the camera the battery tends to slide out if the camera is at an angle at all, so you have to hold it in place until you close the cover.
Overall, very nice - and pretty easy to use. And for the return [all those cool images] the price is not bad. There are a lot of cameras out there that are supposed to be better, and many you can spend a lot more on [One or two of the Camtrakker models price at over $500], but if you are just getting into the trail camera "hobby" I wouldn't go with much more than what I have here. The picts are very nice, and even motion is handled pretty well.
I'll warn you though.... it's addictive! Once you've dropped that first picture card of images from the camera in your computer you're hooked... no way around it! I know have a lap top I bought for cheap that is dedicated to only my trail cam pictures. I have Kodak's Easy Share software [free download] loaded on it, and nothing else - it is basically just a large library of all my images.
If you decide to take up the "hobby" I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
Ryan
p.s. YES - grouse season is almost here! ... and bear ... and moose ... and deer!!!!! I know my eight year old is ready....
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