As a qualifier, I have been using trail cameras for 15 or 16 years. At one point I was "running" (battery swaps, card swaps, image gleaning, etc.) for myself, my Grandfather, Father-in-law, and my wife's uncle. Which that season ended being 13 cameras. Between us we've had Stealth, Cuddeback, Browning, Wildgame, Primos, Covert, and Moultrie cameras. I have to honestly say that most of these brands put out some good, if not great cameras now. They all also put out some bargain basement models. It definitely pays to get purpose built cameras, depending on your intended use. Just like your wood stove or chainsaw. Anyway, out with it. This year I am only running 4 cameras of my own. I'm only consulting on everyone else's stuff this year. So, down to 4, that is after a bear mostly ate my Covert. I am using a Primos, and 3 Browning cams. So yesterday, I am swapping some cards mid-day and have one of my Strike Force Cams that is set back to factory defaults. No tampering as it is padlocked in a bear box. So I replace the batteries, set everything. Turn it off and back on, and it goes back to default again... So I pull the cam and call Browning (Prometheus Group) from the truck. I speak with Jacob in tech support. He walks me through checking the firmware. I needed an update. He asked if I had a way to download info to an SD card. I said I could as I have an adapter in my trail cam bag that will plug into my phone's micro USB. He was great. In 5 mins he had emailed me the file. It was even unzipped already since I wasn't working with a laptop. I copied the file to the SD and it uploaded to the camera. Bam, I was back in service! No long hold on the phone, no call to India or Bangladesh, and no leaving a message so a tech advisor may call me back. Rock solid Browning!
Interesting for sure. I seem to have a unique problem. I almost always set the cameras on video but what is bad is that the cameras just do not seem to last long. For example, the Browning cameras I had high hopes for. I have 2 of the dark ops and have had problems with both. One had to be replaced in only about 3 months use. Now that particular camera just quit again. First, it did not want to turn on but finally got that and had it set for a week. Pulled the card and inserted a new one. Now it still turns on but won't work as it says no SD card. I've tried several cards but no go. Probably will have to send it in to get fixed and that is not cheap...
Backwoods Savage I've found a few things over the years with various cameras that get "finicky" with SD cards. You have probably tried these, but here are some ideas that I'll gladly share. 1 - Some cameras only like certain brand cards (and sometimes even certain speed range cards within a brand). A Google search for the manual or tech support for that company can tell you. 2 - I found that where and how you format the card can make a difference. If using a laptop to format, deselect the "quick format" option. It does take longer. Sometimes this makes a difference, even when a card appears to be empty. I even had to tell my Granddad to only let me format his cards because his camera (Stealth, I think) didn't like however Grandma was formatting them for him. I think she was doing it using a point and shoot camera. That is usually a no-no. 3 - Firmware updates. Sometimes, and for no obvious reason to me, a camera that has worked fine for years will need and update. See my original post. I find it odd that even on-cellular cameras with no outside connection, other than empty sd cards, will act up. 4 - Some cameras do NOT like micro sd cards in a sd adapter. No matter the card brand. 5 - Again on the formatting. Some cameras only like cards that are formatted in the camera itself. 6 - I have seen where a sd card that has worked fine in a certain camera with the same techniques for years, all of a sudden stop accepting the card. Funny thing is the same card would still operate other units. 7 - Sd cards do have failures. 8 - I had a camera glitch once that I had to do a factory reset to get it to cooperate at all. 9 - If all else fails, I've sent them in for service too. 10 - Blame it on a bear!
Yes, I've had some problems with cards before but never like this one. To service I guess it goes but in no hurry now. Think I'll even go pull the other cameras today.
