Does anyone have any opinions about a trail camera. I am going to get one, but there are so many choices. don't want to waste money on a piece of junk.

Does anyone have any opinions about a trail camera. I am going to get one, but there are so many choices. don't want to waste money on a piece of junk.

digital or 35mm?

Not sure. I like the idea of digital, but the price may not make sense. I've heard the 35mm takes good pics, but what happens when i run out of film and the big 30 pointer walks by?

Does anyone have any opinions about a trail camera. I am going to get one, but there are so many choices. don't want to waste money on a piece of junk.
Take my word for it, don't get a 35MM. Go digital.
You only want the good pictures, and you can always delete pics you don't want. Just a lot easier to deal with.
Any brand will do.

Not sure. I like the idea of digital, but the price may not make sense. I've heard the 35mm takes good pics, but what happens when i run out of film and the big 30 pointer walks by?

I have a little olympus 35mm that I got for about $150 about 5 years ago. similar to http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?id=1051826101291&skuId=5306117&type=product&cmp=++ I keep it in a little pouch and take it fishing/camping/hunting, it is pretty small which is why I wanted it. In the little pouch I keep 2 or 3 extra film canisters and 1 extra battery. On longer trips I usually take extra film also. That is the downside of a 35mm, but with my digital camera, I can only take so many pictures before I fill the memory card, and I usually have to replace the batteries often. So either take extra film or extra batteries I guess. I have kept the original extra battery in my pouch since I've gotten it, so I have not changed the battery yet.

I use a Canon G-1 digital and my wife uses the G-2. Like 9r, I carry the camera in a padded belt pouch when hiking. This might be a little too many dollars and I think they're up to a G-5 now, but there are several mid range digitals from all the makers that should fit your needs. Watch the warrenty provided with the camera, some are only 3 months. Many are 1 year P&L.

I adopted digital quite some time ago because of the number of pictures I could take with a minimum of bulk when I'm outdoors. Routinely use a 256K memory card with another as backup. That gives me about 200 good quality pictures per card. One battery lasts for those 200 pics if I don't use flash, otherwise I get about 100 with flash, so carry that extra battery and make sure they are both charged before you head out somewhere.

No problems with the camera due to heavy use and a few bumps on the carry pouch. I'm up to 10,000 pics now with the G-1 and I think my wife is about 2,500 with hers.

I use a Canon G-1 digital and my wife uses the G-2. Like 9r, I carry the camera in a padded belt pouch when hiking. This might be a little too many dollars and I think they're up to a G-5 now, but there are several mid range digitals from all the makers that should fit your needs. Watch the warrenty provided with the camera, some are only 3 months. Many are 1 year P&L.

I adopted digital quite some time ago because of the number of pictures I could take with a minimum of bulk when I'm outdoors. Routinely use a 256K memory card with another as backup. That gives me about 200 good quality pictures per card. One battery lasts for those 200 pics if I don't use flash, otherwise I get about 100 with flash, so carry that extra battery and make sure they are both charged before you head out somewhere.

No problems with the camera due to heavy use and a few bumps on the carry pouch. I'm up to 10,000 pics now with the G-1 and I think my wife is about 2,500 with hers.

Another battery drainer is the LCD screen on the back, if you can take a picture the way you would with a 35mm, looking thru the viewer, instead of looking at what picture you would take via the LCD you would be able to get more pictures. Some cameras don't have an option and always display on the LCD.

Another battery drainer is the LCD screen on the back, if you can take a picture the way you would with a 35mm, looking thru the viewer, instead of looking at what picture you would take via the LCD you would be able to get more pictures. Some cameras don't have an option and always display on the LCD.

Right - using the LCD will give you crappy pictures, often, as there is just too much of tendency to 'watch TV' and react to the movement on the screen, instead of holding the camera still. Plus, looking through the viewfinder, you can steady the camera against your head. With a tripod, it doesn't matter, of course.

My wife can't get the above through her head, and still wonders why most of the pictures she takes are fuzzy. Definitely need a smooth 'trigger pull' as well, but that's true with any camera.

I use an Olypus Camedia 3000, not currently made, but a pretty decent camera. I think I have a 64 MB card, and get 85-90 pictures before it fills up. Battery life isn't too bad with 4 AA batteries, but the camera is pretty bulky compared to what you can get now.

With digital, normally I'll take 2 or 3, or more, pictures of anything. Slighty different angles, turn flash on/off, etc. Invariabley some pictures will look better than others, and the extras didn't cost me anything.

One thing I've noticed with the digital camera, it seems that they are a bit slower to focus. If I'm expecting movement, have to get the button down halfway, then be ready for the shot. That's also something hard to do without using the viewfinder, as you can't see the little green light come on unless you are looking through it.

Wouldn't go back to film for any amount of money - can't imagine the development costs for the amount of pictures I've taken.

I think he's talking about a camera to attach to a tree and leave there to see what's around his food plots, or crossing his trails, not one to carry.

I think he's talking about a camera to attach to a tree and leave there to see what's around his food plots, or crossing his trails, not one to carry.

True. I think we sort of wandered off topic. But you can make the trail cams out of film or digital cameras.

If digital, might be best to rig up a better power source, like one of the small 6v rechargable batteries that are about the size of a lantern battery.

Some digital cameras can be set to take pictures via IR, that would be handy.....