Gardepro T5NG Non-Cellular Trail Camera Review
The GardePro T5NG is a No Glow trail camera with a top-notch Sony CMOS sensor. Pictures and videos are best in class, and the flash reaches out well past 100 ft. Compared to the A3 model, improvements include a 1/2-second trigger, superior latch design, and advanced time-lapse programming. It's hard to believe this Gardepro trail camera is only $89.95. - TCP Staff
Model # t5ng | GardePro T5NG Manual
Trailcampro Comprehensive Score:
92/100
Trail Camera Review
Pros
- Best-in-class picture quality
- Fantastic battery life
- Long detection range
- Easy programming
- Time Lapse
- Hybrid Mode
Cons
- You must go to your files app to view photos when viewing on Apple products
Be Wary Of Megapixel Ratings
Megapixel ratings for trail cameras seem to increase more & more every year. In reality, the native resolution of 99% of all trail cameras is 5 megapixels or less. Manufacturers artificially inflate megapixel ratings for advertising purposes through a process called interpolation. Interpolated photos are enhanced by software to mimic the file size of a higher megapixel photo, but seldom offer additional clarity or resolution. The result is an exponentially larger file size photo which takes longer to load and slows down the speed of your camera. We always program our cameras to capture photos at the image sensor's native resolution. This allows our cameras to operate as efficiently as possible and store more photos to memory. With shorter load times, this also allows us to review photos at a much quicker pace. To put things in perspective, the trail camera widely considered to be the "Gold Standard" and used by more professional researchers than any other unit is just 3 megapixels.
Photo resolution: 32 mpxl (interpolated)
Video resolution: 1920x1080 (30 fps)
Video coding format: MP4 or MOV
Flash Type: No glow IR
Night pictures have significant flash range and illumination, sometimes in excess of 100 ft. We've noticed some white-out on animals within 20 ft, but the contrast and clarity are solid.
Day pictures have good color and clarity. We've observed a few dark photos, which may be due to shadows or the time of day. Overall, day photos from the T5NG have exceeded our expectations.
Video quality at night is simply superb. With incredible flash range and clarity, the T5NG captures some of the best night footage we've seen. Day videos are well above average, but not quite top-notch. We detected some audio inconsistencies within video footage, and have provided examples below.
Picture & Video Resting Power (on): 0.68 mW
Picture Daytime/Nighttime Power Consumption: 1.2 Ws | 1.7 Ws
Video Daytime/Nighttime Power Consumption: 15.9 Ws | 31.3 Ws
Best battery options:
Trailcampro Choice: AmpTORRENT Rechargeable AA Lithium
If the T5NG were to take 35 day photos and 35 night photos every 24 hours, this camera would last 17.8 months in the field - per charge - on a set of AmpTorrent Rechargeable AA Lithium batteries.
If the T5NG were to take 15 day videos and 15 night videos every 24 hours, this camera would last 3.6 months in the field - per charge - on a set of AmpTorrent Rechargeable AA Lithium batteries.
There are a number of benefits to these batteries:
- Up to 1,200 charges
- Consistent 1.5 volt operation
- Charges with the included USB cable
- Eco-friendly (less batteries in a landfill)
- Batteries pay for themselves after 2-3 charges
Longest Lasting Choice: Energizer Ultimate Lithium
If the T5NG were to take 35 day photos and 35 night photos every 24 hours, this camera would last 27 months in the field on a set of Energizer Ultimate Lithium batteries.
If the T5NG were to take 15 day videos and 15 night videos every 24 hours, this camera would last 5.5 months in the field on a set of Energizer Ultimate Lithium batteries.
Ultimate Lithium batteries are the longest-lasting battery choice due to their incredible consistency and capacity. Although we have loved these batteries for a long time, their expense has risen drastically so they are not a cost-effective option.
Picture Trigger & Recovery Speed: .53 s. | 1.7 s.
Video Trigger & Recovery Speed: .94 s. | 2.3 s.
Detection Range & Angle: 110 ft. @ 55° detection angle (48.2°)
Dimensions: 6" x 4.5" x 3"
Battery Type: 8 AA
External Battery Jack: 12-volt
SD Card Size: Full size, Up to 512GB
Case Design
The case design is simple and intuitive. Improvements have been made to the latch design making it sturdy and easier to open than older Gardepros. The weatherproof seal was also enhanced.
The camera has a 1/4 x 20 tripod mount on the bottom of the case, but it does not have a mount on the back of the case.
The batteries are held snuggly in a covered battery compartment inside the camera. A handy internal viewer allows for picture viewing and easy programming.
Camera Setup
Programming is performed on the internal picture viewer with easy to read screen options. The T5NG offers all popular settings such as hybrid mode, photo burst, PIR sensitivity, time-lapse, and programmable start/stop time. Overall, the setup is very simple and intuitive.
Durability
The vast majority of consumer-grade trail cameras are inexpensive, imported devices exposed to harsh conditions 24/7/365. Most manufacturers only offer a one-year warranty. We stock only the most durable units and provide an additional year of warranty at no extra charge. The Trailcampro exclusive 2-year warranty allows you to deal directly with Trailcampro avoiding long wait times on hold with the manufacturer and prolonged periods without a replacement camera. We turn around most warranties in just one business day!
All test results are achieved through the use of proprietary equipment used exclusively by Trailcampro. Any re-publication of this data without prior written consent is strictly prohibited by law. COPYRIGHT TRAILCAMPRO, L.L.C. 2023, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
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