Ranked among the best-selling brands of trail cameras, game feeders and products designed to capture wildlife in its natural setting, the Moultrie A-30 has been dubbed the “spiritual successor” of previous models. Most notably, the A-5 and A-20 models earned widespread praise and popularity with rugged outdoors aficionados based on the cameras’ professional-grade and cost-effectiveness. The A-30 follows in that tradition.
Designed to endure tough terrain and usage, the Moultrie A-30 makes an excellent scouting device and live action camera. It has the capability to go as hard as you do in the rugged countryside and still secure quality JPEGs and solid videos. Wildlife photographers and hobbyists benefit from the model’s ability to capture pristine daytime images and utilize its long-range infrared flash option after dark.
For this class of camera, the A-30 delivers excellent value for consumers who want to capture top notch images without breaking the bank. It handles a 60-foot detection range and an 85-foot illumination range while costing less than half of some models touting 80 and 100 feet respectively. In terms of video quality, the A-30 provides adequate daylight and strong night time shoots. The bells and whistles tend to be on the basic side of this trail camera. At the end of the day, the Moultrie A-30 is a budget-friendly option that snaps crisp photos and delivers good bang for your buck.
Contents:
Tech Specs
- Image Sizes: JPEG with 2 resolution settings that include a Low 2MP 1920 x 1080 and High 12MP 4608 x 2592
- Video: HD 1280 x 720, 15-second capability
- Detection Range: Approximately 70 feet
- Flash Range: 24 LED, 70-foot infrared flash
- Trigger Speed: Less than 0.7 seconds
- Recovery Speed: Approximately 1.1 seconds
- Batteries: 8 AA, with an approximate 16,000-image capability
- Physical Size: 3.39” W x 5.35”H x 2.48” W
- LCD: Backlit LCD Menu with external visibility
Camera Design
The Moultrie A-30 exceeds expectations in terms of quality manufacturing for a camera costing less than $100. The sturdy case comes in a basic tan and mirrors the exterior design of the more expensive M-series products with a few exceptions. The A-30 has a pair of brackets on the back for Python Cable locks and a ¼-inch x 20 thread insert on the bottom that supports tripod stands. It also comes standard with a 72-inch insert for tree mounting options.
It’s modestly taller than the M and the latch can be somewhat awkward. The batteries are easily loaded from a tray eject at the bottom and is considered weatherproof.
The LCD screen is basic and on the smallish side. The setup is straightforward, bordering on rudimentary. It can be a chore.
Detection & Trigger
Although the trigger speed seems pedestrian, the detection circuit is top notch and it enjoys excellent recovery. The video capability stacks up in a similar fashion. The trigger is lackluster but it recovers quickly. The product keeps pace with others in its class, but at a lower cost than many of its peers.
Related: 10 Best Cellular Trail Cameras
Picture & Video Quality
Daytime images enjoy robust color and crispness. Objects outside 100 feet may run into some clarity issues. The overall production value of daytime images exceeds expectations.
Nighttime photos tend to be equally good. Color and contrast certainly meet the standards of this class of trail camera.
The A-30 doesn’t include and audio component and daytime videos do not appear to be on par with other aspects of the product. Daylight videos fall short in terms of clarity. Interestingly, night videos are better than their daytime counterparts. The quality and crispness exceed expectations after dark.
Battery Life
Users can expect that night use will consume battery life at a faster rate than daylight usage. The day-night ratio for photos runs 2.39 vs 9.26 Ws and video can be quite extreme at 16.43 vs 221.99 Ws. That is an enormous difference. Regardless, battery life trends high overall. Lithium batteries are recommended for heavy use and can last more than 6 months of photo-taking or a single month of 10-second vids if you took one per day. Compared to other cameras, the A-30’s efficiency rates well for photos but not so well with video.
Conclusion
The Moultrie A-30 Trail Camera provides outdoor photographers with excellent bang for your buck. The spiritual next generation successor of previous models provides comparable day and night image quality to more expensive cameras in its class for less than $100. In terms of videography, it doesn’t deliver top flight battery life and daytime crispness to satisfy a true wildlife video enthusiast. Although the Moultrie A-30 has some limitations, it can be an excellent choice for hobbyists and nature lovers looking to make the most of their hard earned dollars.
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