Customer Reviews

HCO Scoutguard SG550V 5mp Infrared Scouting Camera with Viewer

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I have the HCO Scoutguard SG550V with the remote/picture viewer. I have left it in the field for weeks at a time in very extreme conditions. Unlike many other cameras it takes great twilight and dawn videos and pictures. great color daytime photos and very clear night time, infrared images. The camera has more than proven itself to me. I purchased the optional bear box and a master python cable lock. I sling the whole unit over my shoulder, grab a 50 lb. bag of corn and walk into the woods. It has been knocked around, dropped and slammed into trees but just keeps on ticking!
The Scoutguard is easy to set up and use with the provided remote. You simply set up picture or video mode, number of images per event, sensitivity level, video length (up to 60 seconds) hang it and forget about it. The unit uses 8 AA batteries and up to 2GB SD memory media. Very user friendly and the images and videos are great. Battery life is far superior to most cameras. I swap out rechargeables every week (just because) but I can leave it for weeks on end without a battery change in picture mode, less in video mode. You can use this as a trail cam or a feeder cam as it has, get this, a 1 second trigger time. It goes active immediately and doesn't miss much. I don't bother with any other cameras. this one has 24 IR emitters and features found in far more expensive examples. I love it and will not part with it........unless someone cuts down the tree and swipes it. Buy it now and Happy Hunting!

Seems to be a New Camera but older model, not 2010 model. Seems to work ok, but both the technical description and the user manual says it can use between 2MB-8MB SD cards. It doesn't, it can only use 2MB and LESS. They stuck a cardboard card in the box that says you can only use 2MB and smaller cards. You have to have the 550BV model to use the higher capacity cards. Manual is of poor quality, translated from Chinese or Japanese, some Figures are not legible. I ordered this because description said it had up to 8MB card capacity. I also ordered a 4MB card which I cannot use in the unit. You can buy the Newer 2010 model 550BV (which does take the 2MB-8MB cards) on their web site for the same price as this older model. Overall it is probably 3 stars but the poor attention to details of the verbal description is shoddy and misleading so I gave 2 stars overall.

I like that it is very small and the security housing seems robust. IR has an ideal range, too close and the center is washed out, too far and everything is dark. So far it looks like the indoor optimum for IR is about 10 feet. I'll have to see if it is truly watertight for Florida rains, it is hard to tell if there are any seals around the plastic windows in front of the lens, sensor and IR cover.

Indoor pictures taken so far are Ok, not great. Manufacturers don't seem to realize a good lens is just as important or more so than the pixel capacity. If you want to see reviews of Game Cameras go to:
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I tried to send email through Amazon and received this response:
"We are sorry to let you know that your email(s) below cannot be delivered. The recipients have decided to leave the Amazon.com platform or are not eligible to receive any further email communications." Not a good sign.
HCO Scout Guard SG550 5MP Game Camera Camo NEW