In short order, Tactacam has made a big splash in the trail cam world. The relative newcomer has earned respect from a number of whitetail hunters all over the country. This year, they released two new cameras: the Reveal Pro 3.0 and the Reveal X 3.0. Compared to previous generations of Reveal cameras, the new models have up-to-date features that can compete with just about any cell cam on the market. The company also redesigned the body and antennae and added a few more thoughtful upgrades.
I had a chance to run the new Reveal Pro 3.0 through a series of tests over the past few weeks, and I can say that I’m excited to keep using the camera this deer season. Here’s a first look at this new cell cam and more of a breakdown of how it performed in my test.
Tactacam Reveal Pro 3.0 Specifications
Photo Definition: 4K (UHD), 2.5K (WQHD)
Flash Range: 80 feet
Cellular Network and Carrier: LTE, any available network
On-board screen: 2” LCD for the Pro model
Power: 12 AA batteries or external 12V DC
Memory: 8GB internal storage with SD card slot
Price: $154.99 ($5 per month plan)
Tactacam loaded the Pro and X 3.0 models with plenty of features they feel hunters will appreciate. And as a hunter, I do appreciate them. The first is an easy setup via a QR code on the camera door. This syncs up with Tactacam’s app right out of the box. Behind the door, there is a 2-inch color LCD display on the Pro model (The X does not have this), which makes aiming the camera very easy.
The camera body is well-built, sturdy, and feels like other premium cell cams on the market. Where it differs is in antennae design. The antennae is made to move, flex, and tuck into a rubber latch on the side of the body. This makes the camera easy to transport and more durable should an animal brush against it.
The 3.0 models have an upgraded sensor from earlier Tactacam cameras. The Pro model also features an 80-foot no-glow flash for capturing nighttime images and video. As far as cellular networks, the camera will select any available network in the area regardless of carrier. It also has 8 GB of onboard storage and can run without an SD card. If you’d rather run the camera with an SD card, there is a slot for that, too.
You can program the Reveal to send images and videos at different time intervals, down to the second they’re taken. The Pro model will also let you request on-demand video, meaning you can ask for a 15-second clip anytime as long as you have an upgraded XTRA plan for $9 more per month. The camera is also enabled for GPS.
How I Tested the Tactacam Reveal Pro 3.0
To get an idea of how the Reaveal Pro 3.0 would perform on game, I set a deer feeder and let the camera go for about a week, capturing photos of deer during the day and at night. Then, I placed the camera in a field and walked past it at three-foot intervals out to 100 feet. I repeated this test at night to get an idea of how the no-glow flash would perform.
Throughout the test, I evaluated the camera for fit and finish and noted any issues or misfires I experienced. I also noted how easy the camera was to set up and get in the field after unboxing and evaluated how easy the app was to use with the camera.
Tactacam Reveal Pro 3.0 Test Results
On the feeder, the camera performed very well and kept pace with several other cameras I was also testing. The 3.0 captured images of deer and other critters at about 25 yards from the feeder. At night, the camera also captured deer that were 25 yards from the backside of the feeder, relaying pictures of deer at about 50 yards. I experienced zero misfires on the feeder, but with only one week of testing, it is hard to evaluate long-term performance. All of the images came to the app without an issue with about 2 bars of LTE Verizon service.
The walk-by test went well, too. I had much worse Verizon service at this location, which delayed some of the images coming to my phone. Even with bad service, I was surprised the camera kept working, as I’ve had trouble sending texts from this property. On the far end of the nighttime shots, I noticed that the images were a little blurry. With the no-glow flash, this is to be expected. If crystal-clear night shots are important to you, I’d go with the Reveal X, which has a low-glow flash.
I still felt the Pro 3.0 was adequate for what I need out of a camera at night in most places I hunt. I was also impressed at how invisible the camera is a night. I had to check to see if it was still working. Daytime shots from the Reveal Pro 3.0 are on the better side of what I’ve seen from most trail cameras. The colors are realistic, and the quality is sharp with HD photo requests.
What I liked best about the camera was the easy and intuitive set-up. The last thing I want to do while hunting is fool around with electronics, but the Pro 3.0 was extremely simple to use and reliable once in place. I appreciate the LCD screen for getting a good camera angle, and the folding antennae design is really nice for packing this camera into the backcountry.
Tactacam says that the camera is also compatible with their tilting tree mount, which would make installing and adjusting this camera a breeze. Even with just the included strap, I found it pretty straightforward to get the angle I wanted on the feeder and for other parts of this test.
Great photo quality and on-demand video come at a price, though. The Reveal Pro 3.0 chewed through alkaline batteries. During the season, I’d tweak the settings to be more conservative and set photo requests to once a day instead of immediately. If I were going to use this camera season after season, I’d invest in some rechargeable lithium batteries.
Final Thoughts
With rich features, a slick design, and an easy-to-use app, I can’t see many reasons why you wouldn’t want to pick up one of these cameras. Tactacam users with earlier-generation cameras would also appreciate adding the Pro 3.0 or X 3.0 to their lineup. The on-demand video function is a great bonus should you have a buck pop up on camera and want a bit of extra footage of him. And the picture quality of the daytime photos is hard to beat.
