HCO Scoutguard SG560C Review

HCO Scoutguard SG560C Review

- White LED camera traps are used mainly when color night videos are required. The SG560 does a good job in this regard, but is relatively slow and takes marginal nighttime photos. If pictures are desired, we recommend a camera with an incandescent flash like the HCO SG565. - TCP Staff.

Model # SG560c | HCO SG560C Owner's Manual

Pros

• Good day & night photos
• Detection zone covers a huge area
• Excellent case design & easy programming

Cons

• Slow trigger speed
• Blurry night photos on movement

Trailcampro Analysis

The HCO Scoutguard SG560c (also known as the SG860c) is the second white LED camera trap to come to market (Reconyx HC550 is the first). White LEDs are the alternative to Incandescent flash cameras. HCO also makes the leading Incandescent flash camera, the HCO Scoutguard SG565.

What are the benefits of white LED over Incandescent flash? Well, for one there is no sound in a white LED flash while incandescent cameras have the typical "pop" or "snap" when a night photo is taken. Does this make a difference? Maybe. Incandescent and White LEDs both produce a very bright and obtrusive light. If an animal isn't scared from that it's doubtful a little sound will bother them either.

Picture Quality:

Photo resolution: 8 or 5 mpxl | Video Resolution: 640x 480 audio | Flash Type: White LED

Picture quality is easily the best part of this camera. The day photos are outstanding in every way. The color produced for day photos is vivid and sharp. The clarity is excellent even though you will occasionally get a slightly blurred day photo with heavy motion. Night pictures are extremely sharp and have great color when there is no movement. However, just like all the other white LED cameras, there is blur on objects with movement. The flash range is about 40 ft.

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The SG560C is one of only a few cameras which takes color night videos. Videos seem to be really good whether day or night. You can check out all our videos below.

Battery Life:

Resting Power (on): 1.14 mW | Daytime Power Consumption: 4.86 Ws | Nighttime Power Consumption: 8.45 Ws

Battery life for the SG560c is pretty good. Low resting current and moderate current draws both during the day and night give this a good overall rating. As you can see from the video on the right, the camera draws current for roughly 8 seconds while it stores the photo. This accounts for the majority of the power consumption.

It is always difficult to estimate real-time battery life, but with the above data, you can estimate a 2-3 month battery cycle for the Scoutguard SG560c. There is nothing shabby about that. Lithium's, NiMH, and alkaline batteries will all work in the SG560c. Lithium batteries will give you the longest battery life and also produce slightly brighter night photos than alkaline batteries.

Detection Circuit:

Picture Trigger & Recovery Speed: 1.2 s. / 9 s. | Video Trigger & Recovery Speed: 2.27 s. / 4.8 s. | Detection Range: 80 ft.

The trigger speed and the recovery time are pretty slow. Whether you are using pictures or videos this camera isn't a speed freak. Both could improve greatly.

The highlight of the detection circuit is an excellent detection zone. The zone is wide and has a maximum range of 80 ft. This is impressive and allows the camera to cover a huge area making it ideal for open fields and food plots.

Quality of Design:

Dimensions: 5" x 4" x 2.5" | Battery Type: 8 AA Batteries | External Battery Jack: 6 Volt

The case design on the SG560c is high quality all the way around. The case is made of strong plastic and the programming buttons have a very positive "click". The battery compartment hugs the batteries snugly. The only real complaint is the lack of a built-in python cable insert.

Programming the camera takes seconds and is easy using the large 2" viewing screen which also doubles as a picture viewer. The SG560c has time lapse capabilities, but can't capture photos any quicker than every 5 minutes. The shooting information display is very hard to read in the field and it does not incorporate the date or time (it does imprint the date/time on the pictures, though) as the manual states it should have. Here is a look at many of the popular setting options:

• 1-3 multi-shot
• 5 s. - 60 s. video clips
• Time Lapse: 10 s. to 8 hrs.
• Photo Stamp: Time and date
• Picture + Video Mode: No
• Start/Stop Time: No
• Password Protection: No
• SD Card Overwrite: No
• PIR Settings: Yes | High, Low or Off
• Flash Settings: No

Durability has not been an issue. HCO cameras in general, have good durability and minimal problems.

HCO SG560C Reviews Conclusion:

If you are looking for a white LED trail camera, the SG560C is at or near the top of the list. The night pictures are going to be blurry, but really, if you buy a white LED camera you should be running it in video mode and not picture mode. As color night videos are what this camera is all about.

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