Tactacam 5.0 FTS Pro Setup Tips
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I think I was one of the first people to buy one. It's a good setup but the app refused to work on either of my newer LG phones. Anything beyond viewing the live image and the app would just freeze. Looking at the app reviews, others have experienced the same issue. Their support people were very helpful but I never could get it to stop freezing up. Instead I just bought a cheap 10" tablet and on that it works, plus the larger screen size makes it easier to get the focus right.
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After my vast experience (30 minutes) with the Tactacam 5.0 I'm disapointed. I have heavy prescription glasses but shoot with them off. Of course the cam isnt as blind as I am, so it's a challenge. Perhaps after more time with it I'll figure that bit out. It would be easily solved with a physical focus on the cam but it is what it is. I need a bionic eye.
What's more disturbing is the ergonomics. Turn on, pause. Leave short burst on cam. Seems to me the procedure is backwards, or maybe add another button for record. More experience might help in that too.
I see no reason whatsoever why they didnt design the unit for me rather than the thousands of people that have no difficulty with it!!! I am always available for consultation on these things, and the millions of dollars I charge is but a pittance if the end results make me happy.
What's more disturbing is the ergonomics. Turn on, pause. Leave short burst on cam. Seems to me the procedure is backwards, or maybe add another button for record. More experience might help in that too.
I see no reason whatsoever why they didnt design the unit for me rather than the thousands of people that have no difficulty with it!!! I am always available for consultation on these things, and the millions of dollars I charge is but a pittance if the end results make me happy.
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After my vast experience (30 minutes) with the Tactacam 5.0 I'm disapointed. I have heavy prescription glasses but shoot with them off. Of course the cam isnt as blind as I am, so it's a challenge. Perhaps after more time with it I'll figure that bit out. It would be easily solved with a physical focus on the cam but it is what it is. I need a bionic eye.
What's more disturbing is the ergonomics. Turn on, pause. Leave short burst on cam. Seems to me the procedure is backwards, or maybe add another button for record. More experience might help in that too.
I see no reason whatsoever why they didnt design the unit for me rather than the thousands of people that have no difficulty with it!!! I am always available for consultation on these things, and the millions of dollars I charge is but a pittance if the end results make me happy.
Push the button once to record, it vibrates 2 times and the button flashes to signal it's recording, push it again to stop, it vibrates once and goes to a solid light to signal it has stopped recording.
https://vimeo.com/224728620
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The battery life on the Tactacam 5 sux real bad. They were draining when the camera was not even powered up. In addition to that the camera itself is fragile and prone to breakage. The only redeeming quality to me was that you could set multiple of them up on a shooting area and power them all up from one remote, flawlessly (except when the batteries die out real fast).
I don't have any issue with the tips video but the camera itself is trash to me. It's like lighting Ben Franklin's on fire for fun.
I don't have any issue with the tips video but the camera itself is trash to me. It's like lighting Ben Franklin's on fire for fun.
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The 5.0 is actually one of the most durable cameras on the market, not that I've beaten it with a hammer. The camera wifi is always on so it's important to remove the batteries when not in use overnight. The battery life is actually really good with a runtime of over three hours. Reading instructions and learning its function helps. The Tactacam is capable of professional quality if someone is willing to spend the time to set up properly.
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I'm sorry to tell you I tried to like the Tactacam I had. When the thing finally broke in my airplane luggage I knew it was something not worth further investment. I have had other cameras that are not so called action cameras that have been through quite a lot more. Including weeks solo in Alaska kayaking and fishing on Prince of Wales Island, crossing the Columbia River bar in my kayak and catching salmon. All of that was constant abuse with one camera that was just fine. For shooting through my scope I am going with the GoPro and aftermarket lens. You can get the GoPro 7 for pretty cheap right now and aftermarket lenses are cheap as well. For everything else I am going to use my phone or an Olympus Tough TG-6
My purpose for the Tactacam was to use it to film animals coming to and through certain areas. But I need to sit all day or several times a day and do not wish or expect to setup external battery sources. Especially in the wet environment where I am often located because I need to keep things water tight. That means I want to use the WiFi feature, primarily. In theory they are great but in practice your mileage may vary. I'd have to throw down a lot of cash in accessories to get what I wanted and it also is not worth if for me. If you're going to sit on a spot for a couple hours then recharge it might work out for you. Or if you are going to use them on the scope sure. But I kind of think their scope attachment system is second rate compared to EagleVision, which is very well machined and is very versatile. Frankly, the Tactacam scope attachment system is 3rd world quality when compared to EagleVision..
My purpose for the Tactacam was to use it to film animals coming to and through certain areas. But I need to sit all day or several times a day and do not wish or expect to setup external battery sources. Especially in the wet environment where I am often located because I need to keep things water tight. That means I want to use the WiFi feature, primarily. In theory they are great but in practice your mileage may vary. I'd have to throw down a lot of cash in accessories to get what I wanted and it also is not worth if for me. If you're going to sit on a spot for a couple hours then recharge it might work out for you. Or if you are going to use them on the scope sure. But I kind of think their scope attachment system is second rate compared to EagleVision, which is very well machined and is very versatile. Frankly, the Tactacam scope attachment system is 3rd world quality when compared to EagleVision..
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Dana, what video editing program/ app are you using for the Tactacam? What device do you edit on (Android, Apple)?
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Would love to see some of the videos you have made using other systems.When you say 3rd world quality it makes it sound like you have lots of experience using these. Post some of the videos here so we all can learn how 3rd world quality it is.
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I don't use a phone app to edit anything, I use professional editing software on my PC. Adobe Premiere Pro and Filmora products are all I use to edit now, these do require lots of practice to use.
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I wish I would have had a guide like this when I had mine. I actually posted on AGN asking for something like this. Ended up selling it, wasn’t for me. The whole WiFi thing I didn’t get, why not Bluetooth?
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Bluetooth is for short range control and would not work more than a few feet away. WiFi is much better and works from a good distance. The problem is most that buy these or any through scope recording device don't realize these aren't plug and play. They all require some practice and basic editing knowledge. People install these cameras, get poor results and blame the unit. All scopecameras require some time and patience to setup correctly to get a good clear picture.
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I think the take away from what I said was that I wished there would have been better instructional videos and support at the time I got it. Some degree of explanation like what you said above. It’s one of the reasons I sold it, the support was lacking. I’m smart enough to know I don’t know it all and have much to learn, but if the information isn’t available, or if I don’t know that I don’t something, then the product is not worth my while in my eyes. In short, I think the company can do a better job in this regard than to tout it’s capabilities and show off professionally edited videos by folk that actually know how to use the camera. Hope that kinda makes sense.
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I use the app ONLY to make sure camera is centered, focused and functioning at the speed & definition I desire. Once that's done I turn off wifi & the app on my phone. I activate the camera manually (just press the button) for each shot & pause it afterwards. Have ZERO problems with battery life. Sorry some of you are so dissatisfied. I think it's a hardy & efficient little unit. The learning curve was shorter than I expected it would be!
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I like my Tactacam, particularly so for the ease of switching it to other scopes. I don't like using the app with a cell phone, the image is way too small, so I bought a cheap 10" Android tablet to use for setup and focus. It works great. I have two spares so battery life isn't an issue and I have only had to switch batteries on one occasion. I do my editing with Premier Pro.
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