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Swamp Ghost Trail CameraThe Swamp Ghost Trail Camera uses a Nikon COOLPIX L11 digital camera which is a 6.0 megapixel camera. We had previously used a Nikon camera in the Trail Stalker camera that we purchased and tested last year. Our testing of the Trail Stalker showed that it was a good camera but the manufacturer let us down on the customer service end. This camera uses the YetiCam control board, which has performed well for me in two of our other digital trail cameras. Swamp Ghost trail cameras are also available in an infrared version and a model that uses a Sony 4.1 megapixel camera. I have given the Swamp Ghost trail camera an A for picture quality. The pictures are very good, but they do not quite have the crisp color that some of our other cameras give. As I have used this camera more I have learned that the pictures are better than I first had thought. You can see some example pictures here. The trigger speed is in the middle of the pack and is similar to several of our other cameras, but all of these cameras in this trigger speed range have performed well for me over the years. Although this isn’t the fastest on the market I would not remove this camera, or any other camera in this trigger speed range, from my selection. The Swamp Ghost uses a 9 volt battery to operate the control board which should last a few months and AA batteries to operate the digital camera. I have been using rechargeable NiMh batteries in my cameras with a lot of success. The Nikon L11 is a little easier on batteries. We got 570 pictures recently and the batteries were not dead when we retrieved the pictures and batteries. Camera set-up is easy using the dip switch controls and the dip switch settings menu that is on the inside cover of the case. Similar to the Trail Watcher 2035 and Camtrakker Digital Ranger the Nikon camera in the Swamp Ghost has a lens that extends. This makes camera placement in the case critical or the lens will not extend properly and the camera will not take pictures. Proper placement has not approved difficult in the Swamp Ghost if I pay attention to what I am doing when I put the camera in. The best thing to do is get into the habit of making sure the camera takes a picture before I leave it. Eyes are provided for the use of a Python locking cable to attach the camera to a tree. The Python locking cable is provided with the camera. As I have said in the past, the Python locking cable is my favorite method for attaching digital trail cameras to trees. There is 7 MB of internal memory, but I will use SD memory cards. I am currently using a 2 GB SD memory card. The Nikon Coolpix L11 camera has a 2.4 inch LCD screen for viewing pictures in the field. There is also a USB cable to download the pictures to your computer. The Nikon L11 imprints the date and time on the pictures. This is a feature that is not on all digital cameras, but is a plus when available. The Swamp Ghost trail camera has eight time delays ranging from 15 seconds to 30 minutes. This trail cam also has the capability of taking two pictures per activation and a rapid pic mode that will leave the camera powered up for 30 seconds to take additional pictures upon movement as soon as the camera flash is recharged. 10 or 20 second videos can be taken with the Swamp Ghost and the digital camera can be removed and used as a hand held camera. I have given the Swamp Ghost an A for an overall grade. This camera does have good dependability, better battery life with two AA batteries than most, is very simple to use and has good picture quality. I'll keep this camera in the woods. You can learn more about and purchase Swamp Ghost trail cameras here. This is a sample picture from the Swamp Ghost trail camera and a picture of the camera. 
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