solar camera or pure battery camera, thoughts and experiences please?
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Be aware that any specs you read for either will be very different from your actual use. Neither my battery or solar cameras last as long or charge as well as advertised. I have had to charge my solar cameras, but I’ve only had them during the winter, with less sun and not the best location. The height and angle and direction will make a difference for solar, and for optimal solar, you may need to adjust them seasonally. Also consider whether the solar panel is fixed to the camera, or adjustable separately, which makes placement more versatile.
That said, I have been pretty impressed with my battery cams. Different models have different battery life. I have the S300 cameras and homebase3, and their battery lasts longer than my solo cameras. I think the homebase helps prolong the battery life of any cameras connected to it.
Finally, consider the hassle of having to take the cameras down to recharge them. And you cand just pop the batteries out because they are built in, Depending on your situation and where you hang them, this may be a pain, or may be no big deal. If it is a major ordeal to reach the camera location, consider wired if possible. That said, any cameras will probably need to be reached on occasion to clear spiderwebs and maybe clean the lenses…