I want to buy a trail camera and will do so early next week. But, I need help in deciding which one. I have it down to two. The Cuddeback and the infrared Leaf River.

The Cuddeback takes great color pictures both day and night, but has a standard flash. I am fearful this, along with the shutter noise, will frighten a leopard or lion.

The Leaf River uses an infraread light and is reported to be much more silent. The infrared can also be used at night for 1 minute video clips as oppossed to still photos. It also has a small viewing screen so photos can be viewed in the field without a computer or portable viewer, although a viewer would be nice for both. But, the pictures are of much poorer quality and black and white. Although of ample quality to tell if it is a maned lion versus a lionees, they are not sharp.

The Leaf river is about $70 cheaper.

What say you?

read the report again you where involved in the cuddle back has a model without a flash.

Hunt Report using Cuddleback camera

Thanks Traewinds, I missed that.

Give me a call. I might be able to give you some advice since I use infrared cameras quite a bit.

And the winner is................Leaf River.

I just ordered a Leaf River infrared digital camera, additional/extended infrared "flash" and a portable viewer.

The clincher was that they sold me a refurbished camera. The cost was about half of retail and I know it will work as it has just been hand inspected. Total cost: $394.90 for everything. Products (except the IRX - Addition infrared "flash") can be seen at: http://www.myleafriver.com

SBT, thought you would like to see a few pictures from my Cuddeback. I think it is better than the Leafriver, but to each his own.

This leopard was taken in 2005 at 6:35 pm in Selous


This leopard was taken 2005 at 5:10 pm in Lobo


This leopard was shot in 2005 at 7:00 AM in Lolkisale.


This leopard was taken this year in Lolkisale at 6:40 pm


This was a female on a lion bait


Young male lion

Adam,

I take it that you see no ill results from using a flash model. Is that correct?

CWW, None at all. The flash is so quick that you do not really notice it unless you are looking right at the camera and waiting for it to go off. It is so quick that unless you know where the camera is, you would never know where the quick light came from and would like that you are seeing things. I have not noticed that any of the cats I have gotten pictures of have ever acted any different from the flash and have always looked and acted normal on the pictures. I have used the Cuddeback for a couple of years and actually have 10 of them and each PH is issued with one in Tanzania. Excellent way to see what cats are in the area, and be able to get an estimate on age etc.

Dramatic photos Adam!