VanTop Ninja 1 Trail Camera 20MP 1080P Hunting Game Cam with Night Vision Motion Activated, Waterproof Scouting Camera with 3 Infrared Sensors, 120° Detecting Range for Wildlife Monitoring

Some full disclosure to start off; this is the first trailcam I’ve ever owned so I’m anything but an expert on them. I bought the unit for use on my own property just to record some of the wildlife that stops by.My relationship with the unit started off rather rocky as I found the battery life on AA batteries to be terrible with the settings I’ve opted for. I’m not going to deduct a star, however, as I admittedly run the PIR lamps at increased frequency and live in a chilly area. I’m sure both of these factors contribute to the short battery life. My first set of AA’s were in the red in less than a month. However, I noticed on day 1 that there is a 12 volt input in the bottom of the unit. After contacting customer service (VanTop’s customer service returned all of my emails within 24 hours – a definite plus) and a review of the questions already posted here, I determined that I could hook the unit to a remote 12 volt battery. I was able to build an appropriate “pig tail” and quick disconnect and I was in business for something that would last awhile and be rechargeable (the 12 volt input is 3.5X1.35mm - center positive).In operation I’ve gotten a few decent shots and I’ll add a few to this review. I have found that setting the PIR settings on “security” vs “hunting” has greatly reduced false activations.I really like the wide range of options that are available. The unit is fully customizable for resolution, video length, and a number of other settings. It also has a “time lapse” setting that I may play with later.The unit shipped with several pieces of mounting hardware which is nice. Among the mount options is a 6 foot nylon strap for hanging on a tree. I’m sure it would work fine for smaller trees in much of the world but falls well short of being long enough for the large pines I’m hanging the unit from. I use a longer “continuous loop” rachet strap to hang it on my large trees.The only other minor gripe I have is that the card slot is positioned so it’s a bit fussy to remove from the unit. The slot is just a bit too far toward the face of the camera for me to get grasp comfortably with my fingers. This makes it easy to drop the card to the ground if one isn’t very careful.Overall, I’d give the unit 4.5 stars if it were possible. I’m quite pleased so far but there is always room for improvement.

I was looking for a game/trail camera to setup in my garage and attic to see what critters were getting in. I didn't want to spend a lot of money. I didn't need a camera with cellular service, but I also wanted one that didn't require batteries, either. The VanTop Ninja 1 Trail Camera was my choice. And I'm very happy with it.The camera's housing is rugged. It has loop holes on the back so it can be strapped to a tree. It comes with a mount (see pictures) that can be screwed onto a platform to provide options for placement.I takes 8 AA batteries, which I'm using. I've used the camera for a month and the battery levels still show full. However, it also has a port (see picture) on the bottom to connect a solar battery or other power source. Again, options!The LCD screen provides a very intuitive menu for setup and program options. One thing I like is I can set times for the camera to be active. I can set it to be active 24X7 or just between 10 PM and 6 AM to conserve memory and battery.Other setup options include:Mode: Video, Photo, or Photo + VideoPIR (or activation) Interval: 2, 5, 10, 15, 30, or 60 secondsPIR (or motion) sensitivity: Low, medium, highLED range: Hunting (far), Security (near)Video Length: 10, 20, 30 seconds or 1, 2, 5 minutesVideo size: 720p or 1080pPhoto size: 5, 12, 16, or 20 MPRecord audio or notTime lapse optionThe picture quality is also very good, with a deep focus range (about 2 ft to infinity), even in night vision mode. The video quality is also pretty good.If you're looking for a non-cellular trail camera, I highly recommend this one because it provides all the options for a grett price.The only downside I've seen, and it's not a big deal, is the memory card slot is real close to the back of the casing (see pictures) making it a little difficult to get the card out with man sized fingers. After several times I've learned how to get it out using my finger nails.

Used this camera for over a week before reviewing. Turns out to be a solid device for me.Using to track semi permanent and migratory bird activity at a large pond behind the house. Picture quality and night vision captures are real good. Set for a combination of still photo and video capture have gotten some nice shots once I got the settings right to capture herons and egrets landing or taking off. Wish I could convince the birds to always use the same flight patterns to trip the camera but.....Have also captured deer drinking from the pond at night and occasionally get an F15 landing at the nearby Air Force base if their approach is low enough, so distance sensing is pretty darn good. Still on the first set of batteries but will probably experiment with rechargeables.Only minor complaint is the included mounting stand. It is a little flimsy and and adjustment points won't stay tight. I had to make some modifications with additional lock washers and nuts to firm things up. Hence the half star ding.Overall this is a great camera for the price. Will probably purchase another if I can't convince the Great Blue Heron to always use the same runway.

great lowlight and night pics. good battery life