Wildlife Garden Camera – Recommendations

Hi Folks,

I’m looking for help and recommendations for finding a wildlife garden camera for a Christmas present.

Simplicity is key in terms of set up but more critically accessing the footage.

I can set the camera up but the person that it is for only has an iPad rather than laptop for accessing images/video. I know you can get SD card readers but I’ve not used them myself.

I see that there are a number of WI-FI cameras that helps with connecting the camera and accessing the data but these seem to ideally sit on the network 100% of the time rather than intermittently just for data access.

Amazon is awash with options that all look to be a variation on a theme.

I don’t think there is a need for solar but the ability to take rechargeable (lithium) batteries or itself be rechargeable would be useful.

This one ticks a lot of the boxes but falls down on it would prefer to be on a network 100% of the (otherwise it chews through the battery checking for a wifi connection):

NatureSpy WiFi WildCam 2

As I say ease of use is critical!

All help much appreciated.

look for “bluetooth” in the description – we have one that does what you want, it uses bluetooth (or a physical button press) to enable a direct wifi connection from the camera to the device of choice, so you can see the videos.

This kind of thing (albeit buy from someone other than amazon if possible)

From your link. this one seems to have what you need

NatureSpy Helarctos Solar Trail Camera

See more information here

https://www.wildviewcameras.co.uk/product/naturespy-helarctos-solar-wifi-trail-camera

I  have two iZEEKER Solar Wildlife Cameras for watching beavers. £42 on Amazon. I’d spend more but I also lose the occasional camera to flooding, Also have a bunch of other cameras but the IZeeker is my current favourite,

Generally – and that’s even this time of year in mid-Scotand – the solar panel keeps the internal battery  charged up, You ‘ll also need 4x AA: I use Panasonic eneloops which hold their charge in storage.

Do not under-estimate the size of the files you’ll collect, I copy about 20GB of photos every few days. I copy the photos to internal storage on a Chromebook and then upload to Google Photos.

The video format is avi – which is annoying as my devices (and Instagram etc) only view mp4. So I go through Google Photos – and then convert to mp4 via a conversion website.

Best of November: https://photos.app.goo.gl/KdWdZHimnrcYF9fi8

Camera on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CBS72X1H?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title

Card reader:  https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0C3CW1YFF?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/DC902oUiq3O

The video format is avi

that will be why they take up so much storage space then!

also, nice beaver 🙂

that will be why they take up so much storage space then!

I’ve had five different cameras – they all do avi.

because you’re buying the cheapo ones 🙂

I have had this one for nearly a year and am very pleased with it. It takes a picture (that can be zoomed in when viewing) and also it takes video. The picture and video  quality and duration can be adjusted according to the size of the SD card and required clarity. The batteries are long lasting, I use rechargeable items, the pictures can be viewed on the inbuilt screen or via an adaptor into an iPad. It’s been out in all weathers and is still ok, I’ve not caught an elk yet, as pictured, but foxes etc at night and a buzzard with a worm in daytime. It’s easy to use, hope this helps.

@wheelsonfire1 – Thank you. Are the images/videos straightforward to move over to you iPad – I presume its just the import function?

Very straightforward with the right card reader (I’ve just got a new iPad with USB C so got to get a new adapter), plug it in, choose which ones you want to import. The quality is excellent if you set it mid range for the balance between quality and file size.