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- Verified Buyer
Nice trail cam, had to do a software update and up and running. Was worried about not being able to lock it up but found I can use a cable and a big keyed lock that keeps any part of it from being stolen. Over all nice trail camera.We replaced our inexpensive wildlife camera with this one and are thrilled with the quality of the pictures. We opted for the re-chargeable battery, and it is well worth it. After 6 months there was a problem with the color pictures so we contacted the manufacturer. They responded with an hour. We exchanged trouble shooting ideas but to no avail. They sent us a pre-paid label and we mailed the camera to them. As soon as they received it they mailed a new one back! Greatest customer service on a great camera.Ordered new but got 2 open box items from Amazon, sent both back. Tested the 2nd replacement to see if worth ordering direct from BOG. It does take clear pics and videos, no misfires due to weather or branches, that is...when it actually works. The camera part “DOMINION” module is glitchy. Installed brand new lithium ion batteries. After initial setup battery indicator was at 50%. Checked battery setting in camera menu, it indicated 100%, but on screen corner indicator said 50%. Turned unit of and on again, battery indicated 100%. On video only mode, captured only 4 clips in 24 hrs, but when in hybrid mode it captures dozens more videos. When trying to reSelect a different capture MODE, the battery indicator drains again, and will not save the option. Instead interface bumps you out to settings screen, which is confusing. After another setup for that mode selected and draining the battery more, that’s where the capture mode can be saved (you’re welcome, this isn’t in the instructions). If you don’t complete this setting setup, you won’t know the mode wasn’t saved until you go to review captures the next time. And each time a capture mode DOES get successfully changed, the next day you’ll find DOMINION giving an SD card read error. My SD card is brand new and has plenty of capacity, but after each mode change, would get SD card error on DOMINION screen. You cannot operate DOMINION to reformat the SD card when this error happens, so you have to go to the BOG website and install firmware download to the SD card. And, again, there are no instructions in the manual or on the Bog website for how to do this fix, luckily I’m in tech and figured it out ( again, you’re welcome). After having to reformat card a couple of times on a computer just to get the camera working in the capture mode I wanted, I was done. The BOG CLANDESTINE has nice features, takes crisp pics when it works, but bottom line the functions need to be consistent and reliable. Probably needs a version update to fix to the battery indicator irregularities, to fix the DOMINION user interface and have a better eject button before I’d buy againHad this camera for a year in December and have used maybe 10 times. The pictures are pretty good if you can get the camera out of the unit. It is such a problem that we have quit using it. Something with the latch you push to remove the camera. I have read a few reviews were they have had the same problem. Maybe we just got a lemon.Do not think stealth. This thing lights up enough to get the attention of hogs in the wilderness. Also deer, buck seem to pick up on it. Does, no response.My environment now requires this to be secured with a cable. Until now (18 years) I could use cameras without attracting attention of homo-sapiens.It’s possible use up a set of batteries just learning to use it. I’ve found not to use the camera to review pictures or videos or it will shorten the battery life. Take the card out and plug it into a card reader.It’s a pain getting the module out of the camera. Especially at 10 degrees with a wind blowing. A guy just doesn’t want to be farting around then. Takes good pictures, not too sensitive to blowing grass.Limit videos to 10 seconds or so or it’ll use up batteries. Been using the camera for three months.What am I supposed to do with a series of 2 second videos? Or 8 seconds, when it's set for 30s? Completely absurd... if the setting is 30s and motion is detected then a 30s video should be taken, period. What I get are totally random lengths, often ridiculously short, all while the coyote or other critter is very much roaming around in view of the camera. Batteries over 90% strength. These very short videos mostly happen at night... daylight videos typically go the full 30s. Makes no sense. This has been happening for months. As soon as one cutoff video occurs it just enters a hyper state where it takes successive videos in a row that will all be at completely random lengths of time... 2, 6, 2, 4, 16... whatever it feels like doing. Obviously such videos are useless and nice encounters have been ruined.
