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Gear Reviews

Hunting Guide Reviews

Game-Vu

March 31, 2004

Features:

Camera: Unknown at this time, if anybody has this info please contact us
Camera Independent Use: No. Webcam type camera.
Power Source: 6 AA alkaline for main unit. No separate batteries needed for the monitor.
Battery Life: 150 hours, about 6 days. The camera can also be connected to a 12-volt battery for extended field use or to a 12-volt DC adapter for security applications.
Low Battery Indicator: A red LED flashes when 12 hrs. of battery power remains.
Detection Method: Passive infrared motion detector. Range is 25 feet.
Camera Delay Options: 1 minute to 1 hour.
Operation Modes: 24 hours only.
On/off Switch: Off/Capture/Setup/Play
Camera Film: Digital pic storage in 320 x 240 resolution. 64 pics using Intel Strataflash flash memory. Images may be locked and stored in memory, or unlocked and later printed over. Pics are black and white. Images can be viewed in the field on the optio
Film Date Stamp Options: Time and day stamp.
Camera Focus Range: 3 feet to 30 feet.
Camera Flash Range: Game Vu doesn't use a traditional camera strobe flash. Game-Vu employs 16 infrared lights to provide an invisible source of illumination. Upon detecting a target at night, and depending on the amount of natural light or darkness, Game-
Camera Aiming: You set the camera in "Setup mode" and using the handheld TV, you can see what the image will be.
External Picture Count Observation Window: No.
Event Counter: No.
Waterproof: Yes.
Temp Range: 0 to 150 F degrees.
Case: Unknown at this time, if anybody has this info please contact us
Mounting Setup: Comes with mounting strap. 2 mounting flanges with holes on side of case.
Size: Unknown at this time, if anybody has this info please contact us
Weight: Unknown at this time, if anybody has this info please contact us
Sound Insulation: Not really needed, camera doesn't have the loud film auto advance and rewind like in a 35 mm film camera.
Camo: No , flat black or tan finish.
Lock or Antitheft Capability: Lockable cover. Unit can be locked to tree with user supplied bike lock cable or chain.
Warranty: 1 year.

Other Information

Very short battery life. 25 foot range may be short for some applications. If you want a camera that doesn't have the flash at night, this camera will work without being seen by trespassers or animals. Pics are pretty grainy and not much use if the subject is over 20 feet away. There is a delay when the unit wakes up from sleep mode to take a pic, which means you might not be able to shoot across a narrow trail to get a broadside shot of an animal. Thanks to War Eagle for supplying the Game-Vu pics. Top pic is night view and 2nd pic is a daytime shot.

User Comments

Its a great camera but it does have some setbacks. Black and white only, not the easiest thing to save pictures from unless you have a pc with video capture abilities or a camcorder with video in. The sensor and lens areas are quite small and very attractive to spiders. The date and time must be reset every time the batteries are changed (once a week). Those have been my major complaints. The plus side is once you are set up to save the pics and learn to apply Vaseline around the lens and sensor protectors, no film processing and you can get up to 60 pics between visits without loosing any. When I first got the camera, I placed it on trails. I was getting one or two pics a week. I then began using corn and changing my location every week or two. This gave me quite a few pics in some location and none in others since the acorn had started falling. Two weeks before the season opened (mid October), I stopped using corn and placed the camera under oak trees. This resulted in as many as 55 pics in a week. Once rub lines and scrapes started showing up, I placed the camera on those and moved it every week. By doing that I was able to pinpoint a few bucks to help me decide which one I wanted to hunt. I was also using a Buckshot 35 at the same time but had enough trouble with it that after a month of getting 20 pics of one button buck and lots of dead film, I quit using it. After 6 months of use here are some of my opinions and tips for use:

Disadvantages. The picture quality is not as good as a 35 mm camera. Special equipment is require to view/download images. Slow to "wake up" to take a pic.

Advantages. High number of pics possible between checks. Easy set up and you can view exactly what the camera will see.

Tips. Be aware of the sun! Set the camera up such that it will not be looking towards the sun if possible. Set the camera such that it will not be taking direct crossing shots on trails. It takes the camera a second or so to wake up from sleep mode. Quartering shots give the camera a chance to wake up and capture a pic without missing the head. Place the camera within 5 yards of desired image area. It will take a picture farther than that but the closer the better the pic. - War Eagle!!!!

I was not happy with the Game Vu camera at all. It had poor quality imaging. The pictures it took were very hard to make out. - Stacy.

My experience with Game Vu is also one of frustration. The pictures are hard to make out in most instances unless the game is really close! I have a lot of pictures of the area I hunt with nothing in them. I e-mailed the company on the equipment needed to download to my computer and was told to contact a computer store. For the money, this should be a much better setup with a little more info provided, to be able to use the thing. - Gary K.

I've never had experience with other cameras. I've taken about 200 pictures with this camera. Only 5 have deer. (two more have other animals- raccoon & bird). Overall, this is nice because you don't buy film, but the image quality is poor. - Allen A.

Regarding the Game-Vu camera: Your review puts the camera in a pretty negative light. I just purchased the camera and so far it seems ok. I have had it out for 3 nights and the deer are not cooperating yet. In tests on human subjects, the camera seems ok. The picture quality, contrary to info on your page, is actually quite good. The problem with the quality lies in the monitor on which the picture is viewed. The LCD monitor included with the system would produce such a low quality image. I viewed the pictures on my 36" TV and the quality is good. I bought a $20 B&W TV with video inputs (manufactured by Action, model ACN-3517) and this also gives good images for field viewing. As far as saving the images on a computer, all you need is the proper capture software. I plan to save images by first viewing them on my 36" TV and using a regular camera to take a picture of any images that are worth a hard copy. The camera does have a low battery indicator. A red LED flashes when 12 hrs. of battery power remains. The main concern I have right now is to see how well it withstands the elements. One other thing, the first one I received was defective. It took pictures continually without regard to movement. I returned it for exchange and the new one works as described. Anyway, that's all I have for now. I'll keep you updated if your interested. - CP

I bought it 2 weeks ago. Well the advantages are that you have no film to develop, I connected it to my home TV and I can see all the images. The disadvantages are that it has to be very close to the animal to have a recognizable image and especially if the image was taken at night time it is even harder. There is no way that you can compare the quality of an actual photo camera with the Game-Vu's images. But as I said before I hate to wait for the film to develop, and yes there is no flash or mechanical sounds. - John.

I have one with the unit that comes with it - just a Casio handheld color TV - pictures still come in B/W but you can watch TV in color. While sometimes the pictures come out very nice they can't compare to color pictures but then again if your really using just for a scouting tool who cares. So far I'm happy with it but I haven't used it enough to say weather or not I'd recommend it for the price. - Eric.

This camera takes very poor pictures compared to 35mm cameras and I know how to set up game cams . Save your $ for the 35mm or buy something like the Camtrakker (expensive). My buddy and I both returned ours to Cabelas. Carl H.

I purchased the entire system and was not at all satisfied. I worked with the camera for almost two weeks. In testing I could get it to take a photo in daylight. I or my buddy would have to approach to within 6-8 feet of the camera to get the detector to activate. Also there is a noticeable delay between detection and actual taking of the image. Instructions tell you to install looking "across" the trail, however if you do that, unless the animal/object stops it will not be captured by the camera. I installed the camera in the field after extensive testing at home (in daylight hours). There were three "images" which the date/time indicated were taken at night. Nothing showed up on the images. I finally returned the product as I can only believe that it was "defective". I purchased it on Christmas sale for $372.62 (total cost including taxes) at BassPro in Charlotte, N. C.

So far I really like my camera. It lets me see what I'm hunting right now instead of having to take film into get developed, it certainly played a big role in me shooting this bear. - Gary K.

They took the unit and since they did not have another one available they refunded my purchase price. I was told to check back later to see if they had received restock. Since I live some two hours driving time away I contacted BassPro headquarters. They did have the item on stock but would not honor the sales price. I attempted three other sales outlets. All of them had the entire system on stock however, none of them would honor the sales price. I had my son, who lives in Charlotte, contact the BassPro shop where I initially purchased the unit. By then the sale had ended. After much haggling they finally sold him another system on 1 Jan 02 at the sales price. I have not had time to go pick it up and check it out yet and since deer season is over now, testing isn't as urgent. The entire idea, no film, no flash, no noise is exactly what one would want in a trail monitor. However, if it does not work, only works some of the time or does not provide a useable image then it really is of little value. Especially when one considers the cost of the unit, which is somewhat more expensive than the normal 35mm models. - Larry N.

I did end up buying and using a Game-Vu this season and this is my verdict. The quality is obviously not even close to a home-brew cam or other cam using 35mm film. 6 Infrared lights will never compare to 35mm film with a flash. However, the Game-Vu can take pictures 24 hours with no flash. This was extremely important to me because I hunt public land and paper company land as well as private land all located 250 miles from my house. If I put a flash cam out, it probably wouldn't last a week. The Game-Vu also stores over 60 pictures with no developing costs or a wait. (A big savings long-term). The bottom line is if you want great looking pictures, have secure land to put a cam out, and don't mind waiting a week to use up film, don't waste your money on the Game-Vu (build a cam instead). But, if you need a tool to instantly determine if there are bucks in a particular area and how large they are and don't care how cool the pics look this is an extremely useful tool and well-worth the money. - bassman91.

I was very unhappy with the Game Vu camera. I originally tested it in my house and got really good results, but when I hung it in the woods it wasn't worth a darn. I saw a good quality picture when I setup the camera, but when it actually took the picture the majority of the pictures where bright white and of such a poor quality you didn't know what you took a picture of. I fussed with it for three weeks and never got a good picture. To make a long story short it is on its way back to Cabelas. - Coby.

Pricing Information

$329.01 for camera and monitor, $240.43 for camera only at Ultimate Outdoors. $399.99 for camera and monitor, $299.99 for camera only at Bass Pro Shops. Bass Pro shows the camera on backorder. $399.99 for camera and monitor, $299.99 for camera only at Cabela's. Note: These prices are current as of 5/10/02. Please check for current price and availability.

Manufacturer Information

http://www.gamevu.com/