I didn't have a lot of time to play with my trail cameras this past weekend but I did have a chance to check my home Cuddelink cam which has two other cameras daisy chained to it. The cameras have been out for a month with about 3600 combined photos taken and so far the batteries are still good. One month in I have the following list of pros and cons:
Cons:
Battery placement and access- The battery compartment is at the back of the camera and requires a Phillips screwdriver to open the compartment.
Memory card and control panel access- The access latch seems fairly secure but opens from the top and hinges down, which looks like it could be more prone to allowing moisture to flow into the interior. If I weren't using Cuddesafes to house the cameras I would definitely plan on putting a strip of electrical tape along the top edge of the seam.
Battery life- Seems decent so far, probably 6-8 weeks based on usage so far but far short of the 12-16 week run time of early models. Also uses 4 extra AA batteries per camera. Compatible solar panels with rechargeable batteries are available but make the rig a lot more visible than I prefer. An upgraded battery pack that uses D batteries and extends run time is available but is not compatible with Cuddesafes.
Security- Cuddesafes are becoming available for the new Cuddelink cams but that is the only option for securing cameras at this point. The locking tabs that work with other Cuddeback cameras will not work with Cuddelinks.
Pros:
Cuddelink system- I haven't fully tested it out yet but so far I'm very impressed. IMO, the ability to check up to 16 cameras by either checking one home camera or having the home camera text photos to you is a huge game changer.
Interface- The interface is basically the same as previous models with a few different menu options for the Cuddelink system. Basically, operation is straight forward and intuitive.
Photo quality- Photo quality is very good and you have the choice of saving 20 MB or 5 MB photos.
IR flash- The IR flash is very strong and you have the option to program the strength of the flash for either close or long range. Based on my testing, the close range setting is acceptable for most situations, the exception being a wide open area where deer are not likely to be close to the camera.
Cons:
Battery placement and access- The battery compartment is at the back of the camera and requires a Phillips screwdriver to open the compartment.
Memory card and control panel access- The access latch seems fairly secure but opens from the top and hinges down, which looks like it could be more prone to allowing moisture to flow into the interior. If I weren't using Cuddesafes to house the cameras I would definitely plan on putting a strip of electrical tape along the top edge of the seam.
Battery life- Seems decent so far, probably 6-8 weeks based on usage so far but far short of the 12-16 week run time of early models. Also uses 4 extra AA batteries per camera. Compatible solar panels with rechargeable batteries are available but make the rig a lot more visible than I prefer. An upgraded battery pack that uses D batteries and extends run time is available but is not compatible with Cuddesafes.
Security- Cuddesafes are becoming available for the new Cuddelink cams but that is the only option for securing cameras at this point. The locking tabs that work with other Cuddeback cameras will not work with Cuddelinks.
Pros:
Cuddelink system- I haven't fully tested it out yet but so far I'm very impressed. IMO, the ability to check up to 16 cameras by either checking one home camera or having the home camera text photos to you is a huge game changer.
Interface- The interface is basically the same as previous models with a few different menu options for the Cuddelink system. Basically, operation is straight forward and intuitive.
Photo quality- Photo quality is very good and you have the choice of saving 20 MB or 5 MB photos.
IR flash- The IR flash is very strong and you have the option to program the strength of the flash for either close or long range. Based on my testing, the close range setting is acceptable for most situations, the exception being a wide open area where deer are not likely to be close to the camera.
