looking to buy a simple trail cam for the back yard at night.curious to see what comes around the bird feeders.
dont need one with belles and whistles .just one that takes clear pictures.
thank you all for your advice.

Wild game innovations / WGI. Normally can find them for $35-50. Very reliable.

My wild game innovations misses a lot of stuff even a lot of deer sized animals(bad enough I've about quit using it) , gets worse with smaller animals. But it doesn't spook coyotes, at least the model I have doesn't. Browning Spec ops is what I've settled on for testing formulations on coyotes but they have their weaknesses also and are 150 plus. Stealth cam is about the cheapest camera that I've tried that performs reasonably well but it does spook coyotes.

Bought a viewer/ trail cam package,viewer lasted 3 months camera less than a year and they are both in landfill.

Have had good luck with Brownings and most recently a tactacam. It’s a lot of fun

Covert makes some fairly affordable decent cams

Go to Walmart and find the cheapest they got and buy it. They’re like $28 and you can get on the Walmart website and buy a 2yr warranty for $3, lol. $31 for a camera you can replace for free!

This^^^^ They work good!

Keep in mind good is a relative term. I thought I had cameras that worked good until I put them beside a better camera. The trouble with cameras is u rarely realize the animals they are missing .

I've got a couple of Reconyx HC600 Hyperfire H.D. Covert IR that have been through the ringer (highly abused) for 6 years. Outrageously expensive, but, in my opinion, well worth it if you're really using them.

Jack

Them little tacos at Walmart are great from the whole $28-34 you spend on one. My first one finally broke after like three years

I use Stealth Cam Wildview STC-WV12 INFARED Game Trail Deer Camera @ about $40 each on baits. They are good for that, but the trigger speed is to slow for other applications.

I bought these Vikeri thinking they wouldn't last long but I've been really pleased. Best feature is you don't need a viewer -- just flip a switch and look right on the camera to see your images.

https://www.amazon.com/Trail-Camera-Activated-Waterproof-Monitoring/dp/B09J546BBY

Wildgame TX14 62A-9. Cheap at $49.00.Think it's 12 or 16 mp., forget which one. Night time videos are AWESOME. Daytime I think the color saturation is too dark.

Sounds like wildlife viewing for fun is your objective.
Like someone said spend $30 at WALMART.
If it turns into something bigger then spend on a better one.
Cheap one in my backyard
I get lots of enjoyment from it.

I use Browning cameras in my wildlife business and for personal use. They are the best cameras I have used. Reliable, long lasting, great pictures, and beautiful videos with excellent sound. Their cellular models are fantastic too. The black flash never spooks anything, even coyotes. However, I do miss the color night photos from the early Nontypical cameras.

I tested a $200 Browning alongside a $40 Wild Game Inovations. 100 photos and 15 photos respectively. Which photos do you not want?

Each year I take approximately 100,000 photos and videos. Quality matters to me.

Check out Trailcampro.com. Great price. Double warranty with them.

Browning

I’ve gone through a lot of cameras and ive switched to mostly Browning’s now

I've got a couple of moulries that are pretty good and four Brownings that are really good.

Check out Trail Cam Pro. Even if you don't buy from them they provide full specs and and a pretty objective review of several different brands and models.

I use all Bushnell. Simple to use, reasonably priced.

I like a video with sound feature. I leave them up year around at home and at my hunting shack.

I know some of the cameras are 6-7 years old. The bears can be hard on them.

WS

This looks like a good deal on BROWNING cameras- https://www.reveilove.com/browning-...ack-w-16gb-cards-bundle-ndash-camouflage I have no experience with either BROWNING cameras or the seller offering them. I have been using COVERT cameras for many years.