Wide angle camera trap

2021/02/17 15:51

I am looking for a camera trap model with a wide(r) angle lense than the conventional ones offer. The model needs to be able to function properly in a tropical forest environment. Any hints would be appreciated. Thank you!

RobertSinclair

2021/02/18 22:33

Hi Daniela,

Can you share a bit more detail about your goals or requirements? I'm curious to understand why you are looking for a wider than usual field of view. Thanks very much!

Daniela

2021/02/19 00:21

Hi Robert,

Thanks so much for your response. I am trying to observe the behavior of forest elephants. In previous trials with regular bushnell/reconyx models the field of vision was quite restricted, especially if the elephants were relatively close to the camera (they are big :))! I can't afford very pricey models which would perhaps allow a wide angle lense, but was wondering if the more affordable models vary in terms of field of vision and which ones would provide the widest angle. I'd greatly appreciate any advice. Thanks for your time!

RobertSinclair

2021/02/19 00:42

Hi Daniela,

Ah, yes that makes sense. So, I am guessing you need both width and height in case the elephants come close to the camera.

I have not personally used any wide angle camera traps. I do see there are some available online (e.g. a quick Amazon search for "wide angle trail camera"), but I don't recognize any of those companies / brands. Several are listed for approximately $50 USD but their demos and product descriptions leave me worried they might not be reliable in your demanding environment (moisture, animal interaction, battery life, etc.).

Hopefully someone else here has more experience with wide-angle units and can be more helpful.

Rob

Daniela

2021/02/19 02:14

Yes - you are right. I have seen similar models but they seem to be more appropriate for temperate climates and not the tropics. The price makes me suspicious! Thanks a lot for looking into it

Peter Apps

2021/02/28 10:14

In reply to Daniela

Check out TrailCamPro's site; https://www.trailcampro.com/ they have the technical specs, includinfg field of view for a host of cameras.

carlybatist

2021/03/18 19:03

In reply to Daniela

This thread may also have some good tips/links - https://www.wildlabs.net/community/thread/1082. And as Peter mentioned, TrailCamPro has direct comparisons for lots of models based on diff spec's. The field of view page for example: https://www.trailcampro.com/pages/trail-camera-detection-field-of-view-a...

htarold

2021/03/19 00:36

Quite a lot of camera modules take M12 lenses. If the camera you're looking at does, you can swop out the existing lens for an aftermarket lens of your choice. There is a space constraint issue though, wide angle lenses tend to be bigger so they may not fit.

There is this other thread which presents another possibility.

Lars Holst Hansen

2021/03/19 11:11

I have tried fitting an after market M12 lens with a wider focal length to a Reconyx PC800. Although it did fit fine and could be focused, the housing resulted in vignetting - so the desired increase in field of view was not possible.

Also, there is a lot of variation in the resolving power of M12 lenses so that is another thing to note.

Peter Apps

2021/03/19 12:10

In reply to htarold

Changing the imaging lens will not affect the PIR field of view, and so the camera will not trigger until the animal is along way in from the edge of the image. With a wider angle imaging lens the image of the animal will be smaller, with corresponding loss of detail.

Lars Holst Hansen

2021/03/19 14:40

Important considerations raised by Peter!

In my case it was not important though, as I was using the trap camera in timelapse mode.