By the sounds of it, everyone is falling in love with this camera. I've been reading review after review on this little charm. Tiny(3.25X5.25), sharp pics (5 MP), good battery life (5000 pics), fast triggering (around 1 sec)...

Jeff, August 2008

I really like my SG 550, it takes nice pictures and it's alot smaller than most cameras. It has many nice features, i believe for the price this cam is hard to beat.

Overall quality

September 2008

You will enjoy your camera - they really are a cut above.

Texas, August 2008

I own an HCO Scoutguard camera and it's the first commercial camera I can honestly say I have been 100% happy!

Liz, August 2008

... The research led me to www.huntingcamonline.com After more research, I decided to buy one of these HCO ScoutGuard SG550 from your authorized dealer. ... I want to use a camera that has trustable company, support and service behind it! Trail camera, game camera, trail cam, wild life camera, deer cam, game cam, and deer camera. This all came up when I searched and it is strange how the searches led me to something that I was hunting for. I couldn't be more pleased with my HCO Scoutguard camera!

September 2008

I love mine, very portable, affordable, and great battery life.

Compact size

Michigan, June 2008

Just got my new camo HCO sg550 out in the woods today. I knew this camera was small but WOW! It's smaller than I thought! Wisconsin - I thought the exact thing when I got mine. Even though I saw pictures of it before I got them, they are still surprisingly small. Florida - Same here!! I just got mine this morning and was amazed how small this little thing was. So far so good with the test I've done in my yard. Im going to use this camera probably as video only. The videos Ive taken so far are awesome. Im happy so far!

Missouri, August 2008

Santa came today! - Mailman brought my HCO Scoutguard 550 today and WOW I guess I couldn't comprehend how little this cam really was. I'm gonna have to be sure to bring my glasses with me at all times! …Another proud owner!

September 2008 I bought one about 2 weeks ago. So far I am pleased. You will not believe how small they are, they are tiny! I would try it if I were you.

Video quality

Jan. 2009

" Plus, I have been using the video mode more then anything. I have to say the video mode has to be the industry standard. I have seen clips from Buckeye and Recoynx and this camera in my opinion is light years ahead."

Bryan Kinkel, BSK Consulting*

I couldn't agree more. As much of a fan of the Reconyx, Buckeye and homebrews as I am for still pictures, my HCO product takes the absolute best video I have seen. I LOVE that feature and leave my Scoutguard on video most of the time.

September 2008

HCO SG550 is my favorite camera so far! Getting addicted to the videos!

August 2008

First off let me start by saying that I am no expert on game cameras. I've owned some of the "walmart" brands and I've built a p32, p41 and s600 homebrew. I bought my first HCO sg550 for the video and flipped out over the performance!I've had it in driving rain storms with no problems and the battery life is solid. With that said I've sold my homebrews and bought two more HCO ScoutGuard sg's.....happy and no problems here at all!

Florida , June 2008

I-40 pictures are generally brighter and have better color than the SG 550. However, the HCO SG 550 pictures are much more zoomable. HCO SG 550 pictures really allow you to zoom in on a subject and still have a sharp image. I-40 pictures get too blurry when zoomed in to tell what you are looking at. Also, the SG 550 has outstanding video quality. It's almost as good as a camcorder**.

Image quality

Texas, September 2008

I have one HCO ScoutGuard as well as the CuddeBack, they have both leaped to the top of my favorite cams. My i40's are all losing the display, the newest is the worse (cant decide if I should take it back since it functions well-new one may not). The HCO ScoutGuard is an awesome cam, super fast and clear. The ScoutGuard allows you to zoom way in on objects and keeps its clarity!

Value for money

Okalahoma, September 2008

The more I use my HCO SG550, the more I like it. I pulled it today after 5 days in the heavy rain. It had 833 great pics on it. This is a great camera for a great price.

Ease of use

Kansas , August 2008

I did plenty of researching on the net and decided on the HCO Scout Guard. It arrived yesterday. The programming was straightforward and simple. It's all ready for the field. I plan to get it set out this weekend. Can't wait to see the results!

Trigger speed

L Muench, September 2008

After reading Anthony's reviews on HCO ScoutGuard SG550 trail cameras, I purchased 2 of these and want you to know I could not be more pleased. These little cameras are great. I have 2 Moultrie Walmart specials that I think would only take a picture if a deer stood in front of them for 5 minutes. I have had these SG 550's in the woods for 3 weeks and had to change the time interval because I was getting too many pictures. I have attached a picture the camera took of a hawk in flight. That really showed me how fast the trigger speed was! Additionally the quality of the pictures both day and night is exceptional. Thank you HCO for making such a great camera at such a reasonable price. Keep it up!

John, November 2008

In my testing the ScoutGuard SG550 was quicker than both the Cuddeback Expert and Capture. All three were quick but we are splitting hairs between the ScoutGuard and the Capture with a 0.14 second difference in my testing.

Battery life

Tested by www.chasingame.com, March 2008

Energizers, HCO ScoutGuard SG550 has taken nearly 5000 pictures and 175 movies. The low battery LED is still off and the camera is still going strong.

Nebraska, July 2008

(on HCO ScoutGuard SG550) I've got well over 1000, 5mp pics and 125, 25 sec vids on one set of batteries and the indicator is still reading 3/4 full.

South Dakota , August 2008

I have been running tests on my new HCO SG550 before it goes out to the woods and right now I have over 2,500 pics. Most are IR and the battery indicator says about 1/2. They have great battery life.

Oregon , August 2008

My buddy got 3400 pics and 180-15 second videos in 3 months on 8 energizers. 80+ % were at night.

Florida , August 2008

I got over 400 pics and 60 vids in 10 days! Batt still says 100%. Pretty good in my book!

Pennsylvania , August 2008

I'll go out on a limb and say you'll run out of memory before you'll run out of battery.

September 2008

My HCO ScoutGuard was on 55 sec movie with 16 sec delay, resolution 5Mg, High sensitivity (as usual). Rainy day and night, with minus temperature 53.6F. Up to now, the cam has functionned during 410 hours and has captured 130 movies of 45 sec to 60 sec: total 121 minutes of movies. Yesterday battery information: 2 bricks.

Phil , December 2008

Battery life in video mode: 5 MP, High . First set of 8 Duracells: 580 hours and 3.33 hours of videos (50 sec / 680x400/ High) Second set of 8 Energizers: 641 hours and 3.50 hours of videos (50 sec / 680x400/ High)

Extreme cold

December 2008 Mike

I live in ND and it has been quite cold. Temps ranging from +20 to -10 (or -6 to -22 Celcius) I have taken 350 pics in that time, and the camera seems to be operating flawlessly!! I am using 8 AA baterries, and when I changed the card today, the batteries seemed to be fine yet!!

December 2008 bgbk-8

The last couple weeks my SG550 has been working quite well between 0 F and 35 F (that's -17 to +2 Celcius). I've probably taken ~1200 pics in the last couple weeks and have not had any issues to date. My Moultrie I40 on the other hand just quit working when temps got down in the single digits and the battery life was still at about 45 - 50%. So, the SG550 is out performing my Moultire once again...

Jan 2009 skullwerx

I live in minnesota. I bought my scoutguard in august and it has been out since, on ONE set of batteries!!! There has been maybe a total of 2 total weeks in that time frame when it has not been in the woods. The temps have ranged from 80 degress farenheit to -20 (between -29 and +27 Celcius!). The last month and a half it hasn't been above 20 with lows often below zero. I want to say again all on ONE set of batteries, very impressive!!! I have nothing but great things to say about these cams...

Waterproof

June 2008

HCO SG550 during a downpour, not a drop of water to be found afterwards! – The cam was strapped to a tree in my yard...no cover or box just strapped to a tree...it was raining sideways and the unit was dry inside the cover.

Ohio , August 2008

My 1st HCO Scout Guard SG550 has gone thru numerous heavy downpours with no special protection since I got it with no problems!

August 2008

I purchased my first (green) HCO SG550 cam 3 weeks ago. Over a thousand stills and hundreds of videos during three heavy rains and this little cam still works great. Bought two more HCO SG550 (camo) last week, put them out on a quick trip to KS, checked their cards after one night and had good pics on both. My hunting buddy in KS would not let me bring them home. Now they are his. Picked up two more (camo) yesterday and they will go out tomorrow. I wish I could afford a dozen but . . . I have experience with several home brews, the moultrie I40, and the SG. Zero issues with the HCO SG550!

Compared to other cameras

Beats Cudde, Bushnell, LR and Moultrie!

Ohio , August 2008

Even though these HCO SGs haven't been around long, with owning or had owned Cudde, a few Bushnells, LR & the I-40 & 60s, at this time I'm saying HCO SG550 is the cam to go with.

Reconyx

June 2008

I'm a RECONYX guy for sure, they're made right here in Wisconsin and work great. But the size, features, and price of the HCO ScoutGuard are hard to deny.

Moultrie

Florida , June 2008

I-40 pictures are generally brighter and have better color than the SG 550. However, the HCO SG 550 pictures are much more zoomable. HCO SG 550 pictures really allow you to zoom in on a subject and still have a sharp image. I-40 pictures get too blurry when zoomed in to tell what you are looking at. Also, the SG 550 has outstanding video quality. It's almost as good as a camcorder.

Texas, July 2008

I recently purchased an HCO Scoutguard and have been pleased so far. It has decent IR night pics and color day. It has a 1 sec trigger time and has taken about 1k pics so far and battery level still shows full, also takes great videos. It makes no noise like the I40 when the IR lense switches and best of all it is very small and easy to conceal.

Home made designs (home brew)

August 2008

I gotta say, this camera is awesome*. I received it yesterday (got here quick) and I have been playing with it ever since. It does everything as advertised and I can't wait to get this little thing into the deer woods (going in tonight). I have built a few home brew cameras and they are great but for the price this one has me thinking about not bothering with that approach anymore!

Would you buy again?

Jeff, August 2008

*I would, I actually just talked my friend into buying one (HCO ScoutGuard) because he just bought a Moultrie and is having problems with it.

Jack, August 2008

If I were to buy another IR camera in the sub-$400 range right now, it would be the HCO ScoutGuard.

Nebraska , August 2008

I wouldn't think twice about buying another, in fact, I just picked up a couple more... After seeing my camera work, my Dad and cousin are ordering for themselves.

James, August 2008

Would buy another in a heart beat. Had mine for 5 months now and just replaced the batts. If I can find a way for a solar panel to work to recharge the batts while the cam is deployed I will be a happy happy man. As for the pic quality and the Video quality. you really can't find a better cam for the price anywhere. and just incase anyone wants to know how tough these little cams are, my first deployment in a bear enviroment netted me a nice video of a BIG hanking bear nose and some fine teeth marks yet the cam survived very well once the drool was wiped off.

August 2008

OK, well I decided to take the plunge. I just placed my order! Crossing my fingers that I won't have any issues. ---- I think you'll have alot of issues!!! But the main one I think you'll have is that you'll regret it.... Regret not buying two!!!!

August 2008

I've bought and am very happy!! I will be buying a few more from them soon. Very fast shipping too.

October 2008

You'll love the HCO Scoutguard! I bought one just to test the waters, loved it, bought a second, and am now toying with the idea of adding #3 to the family! Battery life is awesome. I now have ~2,000 pics taken on cam #1 and the battery level indicator is still reading ~75% full with plain Duracells (8AA's).