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Penns Woods DS-07The Penns Woods DS-07 uses a Sony DSC-W55 7.2 MP digital camera. I have given this camera an A for picture quality. You can see pictures and read our comments about the picture quality here. The DS-07 Trigger Speed is in the slower range when compared to our most recent good quality cameras that we have tested, but I would not let that be the only measure I would use for this unit. There is a trail mode that will keep the camera turned on for quicker follow up pictures. Over the years power up time has become somewhat less important to me but obviously faster is better than slower. The Penns Woods DS-07 operates on one 9-volt battery and the Sony camera operates on a rechargeable Sony battery pack. We got 671 pictures on a charge one two week period in December. The nine volt battery life is poor. I've only been getting about a month out of each battery. This unit uses the pixcontroller board which has shown to be a batter eating board in other cameras I have used them in. Like some of the prior Sony digital cameras this camera does not imprint the date and time on the pictures. This is one knock against these cameras but you can always check the picture properties and see the date and time. In Windows 7 all you have to do is click the picture and you can see the date and time. I have grown used to doing this and it is no longer a problem for me. Setup is done with dip switches, which is easy with the instructions that are inside the camera case. They are very easy to understand and use. The Sony W55 has an extending lens which can be a problem, but the design of this unit seems to have greatly minimized this problem. It is probably just a possible problem to keep in the back of your mind. The settings on the Sony camera are similar to the other W models that I have used. If this camera style is new to you, you may need to take a look at the book, but the unit shows up with the correct settings and ready to use. A Python Cable Lock comes with the camera to attach it to trees. This lock is my favorite method of attaching cameras to trees. The Sony W55 uses a Memory Stick Duo and has 56 MB of internal memory. We’ve been using 512 MB, 1 GB and 4 GB memory stick duo’s lately in our cameras. The Sony W55 has a large 2.5 inch viewing screen to take a look at your pictures in the woods. I like these larger screens. There are eight time delays ranging from trail mode, which keeps the camera powered up to take immediately following pictures) to 20 minutes. The time delays include Trail Mode, 10 and 30 seconds and 1, 2, 5, 10 and 20 minutes. This is a good range of time delays. The Penns Woods DS-07 has a two minute walk test mode each time the unit is turned on, it also has a walk test mode that can be set for as long as you want to use it, but you have to remember to change the setting back for the camera to take pictures. The Sony W55 can be removed from the unit and used as a personal camera. The Penns Woods DS-07 has daytime video capability. You have a choice of 15 or 20 second video clips. I have given the DS-07 a B for an overall grade. This is a very good camera that takes very good quality pictures, but the poor nine volt battery life brings the grade down. Even thought I have to keep changing the nine volt battery every month I expect this camera will be one of my regulars for some time. You can read more about and purchase this camera here. Here is a picture of and a picture taken by the DS-07. 
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