Customer Reviews

Stealth CamŽ Patroller Security Light / Camera

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

Camera field of view narrower than Motion detector field of view

I am disappointed with this device. The only good thing I can say about it is its 500 Watt Halogen floodlight. Other than that, the following are the problems I have noticed:

1- The instructions manual is just one pamphlet that briefly describes how to install and program the device. It has the address of a web site that when you go there, it does not have this model listed, nor any information about it. On the box itself there is an address for another web site which has this product model, but only carries a promotional brochure and picture. It does not even have the instructions pamphlet that comes with the product, let alone any more information.

2- It has a small LCD screen for programming. It is at the bottom of the device, but it has an orientation that makes it very difficult to read and do the programming. When you are on a ladder facing the device (a logical position, because most likely, you have installed it on a surface that you are standing in front of), the screen is in reverse position and you see everything upside-down. Standing on a ladder and trying to read an upside-down LCD panel under the camera is problematic. Instructions lead you to push two buttons at once and holding others for 2 seconds which is not easy doing in such an awkward position.

3- Although a day-light sensor will keep the lamp from coming on during the day, the camera will still function. There is no on-off switch for the camera portion of this device, so it keeps shooting pictures/videos during the day. This makes it unsuitable if you want to watch only during the dark hours.

4- Turning off power (e.g. power failure) would stop the device's internal clock, so you have to drag the ladder out and stand at an uncomfortable position to reset the time/date.

5- Its most disturbing attribute is that its photography field of view is much narrower than its motion detection view. Since it senses motion in a wider angle than it can take pictures, very often you see images with no intruders. This is because the subject was at an angle with the device that its motion was detected, yet out of the view of the camera.

6- One of its other disturbing attributes is that there is a significant delay between the time it detects the motion and the time it shoots the picture. Overlooking a 25-foot long driveway, only when someone walks-in at a very slow pace, his/her photo might be taken. Walking at a normal pace straight toward the camera, the delay makes it such that the subject has already left the camera's field of view when it shoots the picture.

Overall, its photography features in relation to its motion detection is very poor and unsatisfactory. But if you are looking only for a motion activated powerful floodlight, this seems to be a good choice, though expensive for that one purpose.

This product needs a lot of serious redesign work.

In its favor, I will say that if the SD memory card fills up, it will start overwriting the oldest images first. That way, you don't have to break out the ladder every couple weeks or so to check if the SD memory card has filled up and stopped recording. This overwrite mode should be standard design on EVERY security device that uses a memory card.

The other reviewers who mentioned the awkwardness of setting up this security are absolutely correct. It shouldn't be as difficult to set up the time, date, number of photos per trigger, etc. as Stealth Cam has made it. There's only two buttons (SET and MODE) for all menu selections. It would help if there was an LED for each button so you could know for sure when you've pressed it enough to make contact. The instructions tell you that you need to push both buttons simultaneously to access the main menu for setting up the time, date, etc., but in fact it's hit-or-miss, as the buttons don't seem to reliably make contact each time they're pressed. I can try making the same menu selection 19 times in a row with no result and then magically the 20th time will work. Pretty darn frustrating.

The tiny little LCD set-up screen on the bottom of the motion sensor is literally the size of a postage stamp, which makes it very hard to read, especially when you're asked to discern icons hardly bigger than pinheads. It would help if that tiny LCD screen could be back-lit while accessing the menu. Come on Stealth Cam - it's connected to 120 volts for God's sake. I need a magnifying glass, a flashlight, be perched up on a ladder, AND try to read - and make sense of - inaccurately written instructions. Did ANYONE at Stealth Cam actually try to perform their own set-up while perched on a ladder?!?!

And it would also help if the camera and floodlight could be swiveled side to side and not just up and down. The way it's designed now, the camera and the floodlight are joined together by a common bracket that's part of the electrical box cover. So you're limited to monitoring whatever direction the outdoor electrical junction box happens to be facing.

The camera itself REALLY needs a faster shutter speed. Anyone moving in the motion detection area in anything less than direct sun is blurred enough by their movement that you wouldn't recognize them if you didn't already know them. Imagine what the photos of a sports game would look like if your camera's shutter speed was fixed at 1/2 second. I have put up an actual photo as an example. This is a TYPICAL result - not the worst. Most of the photos are so blurry you literally can't tell if you're looking at a man or a woman. If this thing did manage to get photos of burglars or vandals, the shutter speed isn't fast enough to produce a police sketch from.

Updated on April, 2009: I just got back from checking my cabin, and NONE of the pictures on the SD card were readable. Every single one that I tried to view on my home computer was corrupt, regardless of what program I used. What a worthless piece of garbage.

This works very well but with drawbacks. Camera resolution is excellent even in "low res" mode. Video mode also works well. Takes up to 2 gig SD memory card which can hold an awesome number of photos. Memory never fills up - just overwrites. Doesn't look like a camera so "visitors" probably think it's just a motion sensor light. Has cover over the controls to hide them. Problems - only swivels up and down. Requires "junction box" type mount. Camera isn't fast to activate and often misses a moving car or person. Very hard to program especially when you're upside down on a ladder and the display is "inverted" from what it should be. Doesn't program according to the manual. Manual is not detailed enough. Manufacturer web site doesn't even list this item! No backup battery so loses date-time stamp with power failure. No way to adjust IR sensitivity. The other more detailed review is excellent and I agree with everything he says but I'm happier than he is with this gizmo. I bought two and I would like to buy more.

Bought the Stealth Cam at Costco because of their easy return policy. Overall I'm happy with it.

I'd recommend plugging the light's wires into an extension cord so you can play with the 2 buttons and LCD screen in the comfort of your chair instead of on top of a ladder. The navigation is like a bad LCD watch where you cycle thru the choices multiple times in attempt to set the time, camera mode, etc.

Pros:
- Great image quality. Very happy with the quality of the images. Got lots of photos of the top of folk's heads and squirrels.
- The halogen is plenty bright. The night shots look more like day shots. I can only tell because there is no shadow and the concrete is blindly white in the "night" photos.
- The camera automatically writes over the old pictures once the SD card is full. They say they only support 2 GB SD cards so I guess using a larger card isn't going to work. That said you should be able to store many weeks of photos with the 1 GB included card.

Cons:
- The lack of an internal battery means the settings get wiped every time the power gets cut. In my case we have it powered on a circuit with a light switch so if we accidently hit the light switch the time/date stamp is reset. The default time stamp then resets to 06/01/2011 (even weireder you can't manually reset the time date stamp past 2011 so in 4 years you'll never be able to set the correct date).
- The motion sensor housing is tied to the light. It would have been better if the 2 pieces were independent so that moving one wouldn't affect the other (I guess they want to ensure the camera will always have proper lighting, but in my case I don't want to trigger the light until the person is right below the camera). Currently only about 1 in 5 shots gets the person in the frame.
- I tried using the EyeFi SD card (a cool SD memory card that can automatically send the pictures to your PC via your WiFi network. It works great in my Canon camera, but in the Stealth Cam the LCD screen just blinks. Calling Stealth Cam TS said that this is an unsupported. Too bad, it would allow for remote montiroing while travelling and it is a lot easier than dragging out the ladder every few months to pull the SD card out and bring it back into the house just to see if there was any suspicious behavior going on).

I returned this product. It seemed like good idea camera plus flood light. But if power is interrupted the unit has to be re programed and believe me it is not easy to program.

The other reviews I mostly agree with -

I have a question I cannot seem to answer - it says it has 16Meg of built in memory - how and when does that get transferred to SD card for viewing?

1. Hard to program if up on a ladder
2. Needs to swivel left and right.
3. Misses activity - due to: camera field of view, delay in recording camera and PIR not synced in field of view
4. Power loss requires re-program
5. Must retrieve SD card manually
6. I would prefer to focus the light and the camera separately
7. Motion trigger range is short distance - fine, but at least match the camera's field of view and lighting range

I find it too bright - I have it rather low (8 feet) - it would light and focus well at 15-20 feet looking down - the light that bright at 8 feet blinds horizontally - It offends at a great distance - more than necessary I am going to try changing to a smaller wattage bulb

The literature says NOTHING about the 2-3 second delay before the camera activates. I wanted to monitor cars on my long driveway to catch litterers...all I get are nice photos of the freaking DRIVEWAY! This is useless for the advertised use. A waste of money.

This is the third Stealth Cam Patroller that I have owned over the last few years. The previous two had to be replaced due to lightning strikes/power surges. My light/camera is installed at a remote hunting cabin, which luckily has electric service available. This light/camera monitors the entry door to the cabin and does a fine job. The installation is a bit tricky, but any do-it-yourselfer should be able to pull it off. The camera only offers vertical tilt, so I had to install an angled mounting block to set the correct horizontal angle. The setup is another story. I'm pretty good at it, due to having the unit for some time. But, it is difficult to get the setup process down. Just entering the setup mode is quite a challenge, due to having to push two buttons at the same time to enter that mode (while looking at it up side down from a step ladder). It's not user friendly, but is very sensitive and takes good pictures. I have been very satisfied with the quality of the pictures and everyone that visits seems to think it's just a security light. The setup buttons have a cover that keeps them concealed. There's not much out there like this product or at least I've not found anything. I would recommend this product, but leave the installation and setup to someone with skills in this area. The novice may have problems.

I experienced most of the problems mentioned. I have been getting the old models where I order..4 gig cards do not work.
We were able to buy some metal strips and mount ours under the eave..with a little extra work...sorry I don't have the details. I got on here to see if they were selling one that can be mounted under the eaves yet. I've been very entertained with what I catch, I have four installed, one only catches raccoons and deer because as they say, you cannot change the angle very well.
Also, it IS very hard to program. But luckily the default is not bad....I still get photos, but the dates are wrong, so you can keep track of when you retrieve in a journal of some sort.
We programmed and practiced when it was snowy outside, but when we unhooked and then installed it lost that programming.
The pictures are AWEsome..I have seen people snooping in the side window as they ring my doorbell, I see who came without calling after they leave..IT IS A GREAT CAMERA LIGHT AND I LOVE IT I CANNOT WAIT TO BUY ONE WITH IMPROVEMENTS!
It helps me remember things. I lent out my carpet machine and I wondered how it got broken, they claimed it was broken when they went to use it, then I saw someone swinging it out the door rather carelessly, and I now have more clues as to who broke it!
Support did say sometimes you have to press the buttons 40 times before they will start programming, they didn't know why....that's very bad when it's 10 degrees outside!
Oh and the latest wonderful thing, it shows how hard I work, going back and forth carrying things and so forth! It makes me feel good, also I have many photos of myself now...smile. It caught me the other day, though, checking out my nose. 8-(
Thanks for note that we should post we are videotaping. Other cameras give you that when you purchase them.

They have fixed the battery backup for the settings. I have bench sat and programmed 12 of these cameras and installed them at various worksites. After programming them and transferring them to thier new homes they retained the programming.

Shutter speed sucks. By the time the camera has been turned on the perp has walked on. You may get a nice shot of their butts or shoes if they are walking away. The ten second video clip is the best thing. At least you are able to get various shots of them if aimed right. There needs to be a viewfinder or a drinking straw glued onto the unit for better still picture aim.

You can't angle the camera from side to side. Just up and down. There is very little room between the camera and the light to even angle the camera down farther or up farther. The electrical cord exits and presses against the camera and the light housing. Mounting under eaves.... Nope. Camera can only angle up and down and that range is very limited. Horizontal mounting only. Piss poor design. Very piss poor.

The buttons on the units. After about a year or so (we bought two cameras four years ago) the buttons will "cook" and disentergrate. The moisture will also enter the camera and screw the buttons up. Also the flap will "cook" also and when you try to access the chip moisture can enter.

I have modified one of the cameras as a test. I took the light off it and ran the wires to another floodlight head. I mounted the camera unit like I wanted it more lower and below the new light head and am currentley trying it out. I have that unit and another as a test mounted inside the building to illuminate two alleyways that exit. JB Weld. Good in a pinch.

So far I have caught more people on camera with the modified version. We have also busted several thieves by mounting it inside the buildings as well. Outside your limited by approach. Inside you force someone to approach. We got to watch them pry the lid off a job box. Using a hammer no less. They pried the hinge off the back of the box. The outside camera caught the plates on the truck when they pulled up to load it. The security alarm was useless as they cut the telephone wires to the building. Thats been took care of also. Dummy wired now.

Be sure to post a video surviellance sign somewhere. Behind a bush, side of the dog house, mailbox post, backside of a tree....... As long as its on said property or on the driveway. It's a lawyer loophole that can be filled in.

Good pictures and video. The card overwrites itself and if you use a 2gb or 4gb card you have no worry. Just pull it out when someone steals something. Pop the chip in the TV or computer and watch. The camera will come on and record for ten seconds when it is activated. Then after one minute has passed if it is reactivated it will record another ten second clip. And so on and so on.

The unit is worth the money now. For peace of mind and good sleep. To catch those crackheads who would steal the food from you to suport their habits and lock them away. Cant deny it when you are caught on camera. It makes the cops jobs easier so they dont have be away from the doughnut shop as much. Less investigation. You may get better justice this way. Cant deny it wasnt them when the judge and jury see's it. Makes for more prison time also.

MAKE SURE YOU POST A SIGN OR SIGNS SOMEWHERE AROUND THE PROPERTY THAT YOU HAVE VIDEO SURVEILLANCE! It advises the thief that their rights of privacy is being violated.... Law thing!! Trust me!!