Catching Hedgehog with a good camera

[MJ224]

I have at least a pair of hedgehogs in the garden. I use a Browning Trail camera to capture their antics. But whilst this camera does produce results, they are out of focus. My question is do I need an infra red camera to get better results?

I see there are infrared conversions. I assume you need an infrared illumination as well.

Another option would be to add some sort of lens to reduce the focusing range. Is that possible?? or just more difficult?

Looking at these two photos again, is the problem just slow shutter speed?? In these cases, 1/79th and 1/54th sec..

[wornish]

These pictures are not that bad. Don't think adding a lens will help as you say you need a very deep depth of field to ensure the maximum focus range.
Using an IR camera might help a bit and yes they would benefit from IR illumination. Many security cameras come with this built in.

[ronidog]

Adding a correction lens would help but you need to adust calculaate (experiment) to getting the focal length right. Bait would have to be placed at that focal length for it to work. But first of all check your camera settings for the best quality of image and number of photos on each pass plus time between photos and the lenght of the light beam. Its amazing how these little creatures can set off the camera and not be in picture!

I have a box used for small mammal recording. the browning camera sits at the back of it with a correction lens blue tacked on. Food is placed at the entrance and good pictures are obtained.

The best thing is perhaps to bring the hedgehogs closer with a water bowl off camera and food scattered in fron of lens. In my opinion the best images are obtained using the video function.

[MJ224]

Thanks for the info. What sort of lens do you use? I think the Browning does 18mp photos, but I have been using 12. Video is not very good, so far, the single shot is best I will experiment a bit more, and thanks for the input.

[MJ224]

Just a technical query...the camera does 18mp some 5760 by 3200. But the resolution is only 72 dpi. Is this compatible? can the dpi be changed?

[blackfox]

I notice that a lot of paid hides these days use LED lighting for nighttime shots ,might be a cheaper way round it ,and the animals/birds seem not bothered by them

[ronidog]

Mark,

I think your camera may be different to mine. I have the Browning Reconforce Advanatage

Photo quality High - 20mp
Ultra - 12mp
I have used the multi shot mode as it catches animals moving quickly across a scene. But i realsied that for ID purposes the shotes were not always ideal so moved to video and my rate of identification soared

Video 1920x1080 resolution
High resolution 30 frames per second
Ultra resolution 60 frames per second

Fast trigger speed

Night IR flash set to either normal or long dpeneding on where i am capturing images

I always set my cameras to the highest settings to get the best quality images.

I will see if i can load some photographs tommorow., plus information on the lenses etc. If you give me your email by the message service on here I will send a video a collection so that you get an idea of what is possible. (the site will not take videos)

Dave

[MJ224]

Thanks Dave, some excellent footage there. Loved the Snipe, and Redwing. The quality is good, my camera is not a mile off really, the night LED is a bit more powerful than mine. I am working out my plan....:-))

[ronidog]

The video shots were taken in a limestone woodland growing on a limestone pavement. The grykes are about six feet deep or more, all the action in the clips is actually in the grykes. No bait was used to entice the film stars so all the action is natural. The snipe was actually a woodcock which is usually not easy to see. I am glad you enjoyed watching the clips.

[MJ224]

Aah Woodcock, never seen one before. Excellent footage...:-)

[IainMacD]

I have a Ltl Acorn Mini30 with built in white LEDs that gives good results for video, especially if I am lucky enough for the security lights to go on at the same time.
Here is an example of some short videos 'stitched' together on YouTube - the badger didn't eat the cat by the way 😀

[MJ224]

Excellent quality...So who ate the cat then? The hedgehog...:-))

The security lights really help. I will think about some LEDS for the feeding are..Many thanks Iain..:-)

[MJ224]

Just as a finale to this thread, I have tweaked the Oly (!) Trail camera and last night captured my two hedgehogs. I now need to fund another bowl, as they can't agree who gets first chomp...