This question is asked a lot during the purchase of a game camera: (for example: MOULTRIE M-40I GAME CAMERA ) as many accessories exist to make the buyers life easier. But even if you have a wireless trail camera that lets you upload the photos, the answer is yes, you do need a reader for your game camera. In a situation where the wireless in the camera drops out or isn’t efficient, having direct access to the information on your card could make the difference between a successful season and a bad one.
There is also the need to view the photos and videos on a screen larger than the standard 2-2.5 inch screen that a lot of the cameras offer. With the average size of an android phone being 4.5 inches, and the average size of a tablet being 7 inches, these are bigger and better options for getting better detail into what your camera is taking a picture of. None of these options for sale are complicated in any way, and many offer plug and play installation. The question then becomes what is the best option for you as the consumer, since there are about 2-3 different types of readers available for consumption. Here is a small sampling of the memory card readers available that may be of benefit to buy with your game camera.
BoneView Trail and Game Camera Viewer for Android Phones
From Boneview comes this fun way to view information from your game camera by using an adapter that plugs directly into an Android device. The times have changed where every other accessory on the market was for iPhone, and in this case Android users get a low priced device that is small enough to fit in your pocket. Supporting both SD cards and Micro SD cards, this little unit works by inserting the card into the card reader portion and then inserting the micro USB part into your Android phone.
Depending on what your default photo viewer or file manager is, you’ll instantly be able to pull it up and view, edit, delete and even share all of your photos. Although the free app called file manager is said to be required for advanced features, providers like Samsung and Motorola have since added stock functionality to their newer products and it isn’t required.
This is an exciting alternative to the bigger and bulkier viewers that are becoming popular in the market, as this one is a fraction of the size and doesn’t run on batteries. Compatibility issues may be a concern if you have an older Android phone, but for most new phones 2014 and later this will not be an issue. The company keeps a pretty updated list of incompatible phones, so if you see your device on that list it would be a good idea to look elsewhere on this list for an alternative. For everyone else this is a solid device that is worth a buy.
Wild Game Innovations VU50 Trail Pad Handheld Card Viewer
Second on the list is this mini 4.3 inch viewer from Wild Game Innovations that operates on only 4 AAA batteries. The design is thin enough to be able to fit in a vest pocket, but robust enough to where you can see the details of your photos. It handles regular size SD cards and also has support for viewing videos directly on the device.
At its core, it is an SD card manager with a screen, so you are stripped from any compatibility issues, firmware updates, wireless needs or any extra buttons you don’t need. It is a low priced solution that even has a mini USB socket and a headphone jack. Picture options while viewing include a simple zoomer, and the entire viewer is dressed up in Realtree Xtra Camouflage.
The difference between this product and the last is that it is meant specifically for trail camera use, meaning there really wouldn’t be a use for this outside of viewing what’s on your game camera. In comparison to the first product, you could use it for other applications as long as the end product had a mini USB port. But for viewing videos directly onsite using a roomy screen this is one of the better options, and should rank high on a couple of lists. Consumers should give this one a try and see if it fits their needs or not.
Stealth Cam SD Card Reader and Viewer
Staying in the low price category is a product similar to the last, but with a bit more care added to the overall package. It uses a similar 4.3 inch LCD screen and supports SD cards up to 16 GB. Where the two differ besides the supported capacities would be the actual materials and setups.
It uses an ABS plastic housing with rubberized grip that is both easy to hold onto, and designed well enough to be used for everyday activities other than viewing your game hunting photos. The buttons are conveniently located to the right side of the unit, and are so simple in nature that they don’t need explaining. Consumers can plug in the SD card and start using it right away without any type of manual.
Photo and video operations include scrolling, zooming, deleting and even playing MP3 audio and listening to it through the speakers or a headphone jack. Additional features are a wrist lanyard for carrying and an automatic shutoff to save the power of the four AAA batteries. Of these types of viewers, this is the best on the list if you have an SD card that is not larger than 16 GB. For buyers with 32 GB cards you may want to look elsewhere on the list.