The popular Tactacam REVEAL X is a state-of-the-art cellular trail camera that has a wide range of features and functions. Plus, it comes at a super affordable price and has very affordable data plan options to choose from.
We’ve gone over the specs of the Tactacam REVEAL X and compared it to the competition so you can decide for yourself if this is the best trail camera for you and your needs.
Table of Contents
Introducing the Tactacam REVEAL X Cellular Trail Camera
Thanks to its long detection range and long flash range the REVEAL X stands apart from a lot of the competition. It also has innovative WiFi access to make setup a breeze. This camera is ideal for monitoring those locations that you have limited access to or for those hunting spots that you don’t want to disturb.
Pros
- 16MP pictures
- HD video recording
- Wi-Fi connectivity
- 96+ foot detection range
- 96+ foot flash range
- Web Portal
- Compact size
- IP66 Weatherproof
- Great price
- Customer service is both good and fast
Cons
- Low glow flash
- No option to transmit video clips
- User manual could be better
Review of Key Features and Benefits of the Tactacam REVEAL X Cellular Trail Camera
Camera
The REVEAL X has the ability to take up to 16MP photos. With its multi-shot photo burst setting, it allows you to capture from 1 to 3 pictures each time the camera is triggered.
In addition to the Photo mode, the camera also has a Photo+Video mode where it takes pictures before recording a video. The Photo+Video mode is a useful feature that really diversifies what the camera captures.
The REVEAL X records HD videos at up to 1080p resolution, but you should know that the camera doesn’t have a way to send you video clips over the cellular network. So to view the videos it captures you will need to go out to the camera’s location to physically retrieve the videos off of the camera’s memory card.
Smartphone App and Built-In WiFi
The Tactacam Reveal app is a vital tool that you will use to initially set up the camera as well as manage its settings. It is available in both the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store.
Once you have set up your account and registered your camera with the app, configuring the camera for use in the field is a breeze. The REVEAL X is equipped with its own WiFi that allows you to use the app on your smartphone to connect to the camera enabling you to set it up. This is an innovative idea that you won’t see on other trail cameras at this time. Plus, it really does assist in the camera’s setup. You can see it in action in the video below.
After the camera is set up you will not only use the app to see what pictures the camera has captured and sent to you, but you can use it to update the camera’s settings as needed. The camera can be set to check for updates you make to its settings instantly or daily, with the instant setting using more battery life. You can also choose to send pictures instantly, every 12 hours, or every 24 hours through the app, but know that the more frequent transmission schedules will use up more battery life.
You aren’t limited to just using the Reveal app on your smartphone. You can also use your computer to log into the Web Portal where you can view your pictures and manage your account similar to how you would in the app.
In the end, Tactacam’s REVEAL app is pretty user-friendly and will meet the needs of most users. However, at the time of this writing, it doesn’t have some of the fancier filters that you can find on some other apps like those used for Moultrie or SPYPOINT cellular trail cameras we have reviewed which let you keep track of individual bucks, filter for things like deer, buck, doe, turkey, vehicle, and people, or look for activity patterns based on things such as weather conditions or the time of day. While this app does not have some of the bells and whistles of some other apps, it gets the job done and does the job well. Plus, who knows, as innovative as Tactacam has been with this camera and app, additional features may get added in the future.
Data Plan
Tactacam has a variety of affordable data plan options. You can go month to month if you only want to run the camera on the cellular network for only part of the year. People who plan on running the camera year-round on the cellular network will find that there are discounts for people who pay annually.
We should also point out that while the REVEAL X won’t transmit video clips, you do have the option to request HD versions of images, which we explain below.
In case you are wondering the REVEAL X will still work without a data plan subscription. While the photos the camera takes will not be sent to your phone, the photos and videos the camera captured will be saved to the SD card. You will just need to go out to the camera and physically retrieve the pictures and videos from the SD card like you would with a traditional (non-cellular) trail camera.
Here are the current data plan offerings for the Tactacam REVEAL X.
| Plan | Number of Photos | Cost Per Month if Paid Monthly | Cost Per Month if Paid Annually |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter Plan | 250 | $5 Add additional camera for $5 per month. | $55 Yearly $4.58 a Month (8.3% Savings) Add additional camera for $55 per year. |
| Intermediate Plan | 500 | $8 Add additional camera for $7.50 per month. | $85 Yearly $7.08 a Month (11.5% Savings) Add additional camera for $75 per year. |
| Pro Plan | Unlimited | $13 Add additional camera for $12 per month. | $120 Yearly $10 a Month (23% Savings) Add additional camera for $96 per year. |
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Like the data plans for most cellular trail cameras, Tactacam sends you lower-resolution copies of images to help reduce the amount of data used by your cellular trail camera, which helps keep the cost of the data plans down. However, instead of physically going out to your trail camera to retrieve the high-resolution versions of the photos that are saved on your camera’s SD card, Tactacam allows you the option of having HD versions of images, that you select, sent to you. You can purchase 50 HD image downloads for $5.
The vast majority of the time you will be just fine with the lower-resolution images that the REVEAL cameras send to you as part of the data plan. However, sometimes you will find situations where being able to zoom in and see the extra detail in the HD photos will be very helpful to you.
Motion (PIR) Sensor
Tactacam equipped the REVEAL X with a single, centrally located motion sensor with a 45° detection angle, which is a bit narrower than some other trail cameras. However, if you are like me you are willing to sacrifice a little bit of detection angle for the REVEAL X’s massive detection range of 96+ feet, which is longer than many of its competitors in the cellular trail camera space.
The camera’s PIR sensor has adjustable sensitivity to allow you to customize the camera for its surroundings helping to ensure that it both captures all the activity in front of the camera while not getting a bunch of false triggers. With its 9 sensitivity settings, the REVEAL X allows you to fine-tune the PIR sensor for the camera’s surroundings much more than other trail cameras.
Trigger Speed
The trigger speed of the REVEAL X is less than 0.5 seconds. It is a respectable speed compared to most trail cameras, but it is not the fastest that you will find. However, if you want to be able to capture fast-moving game animals, this trail camera should be more than fast enough. To put its trigger speed in perspective, know that just a few years ago a trail camera with a trigger speed as fast as the REVEAL X would have been considered top of the line in that area.
Flash
The REVEAL X comes with four 850nm high power IR LED bulbs, which are quite bright and provide ample illumination during low light conditions. This low glow flash has an impressive 96+ foot flash range, which is longer than many other trail cameras on the market today. In addition, the flash is adjustable with High and Low settings, allowing you to adjust the brightness of the IR emitters to ensure the best possible results at night.
To further improve the images that the camera captures at night Tactacam gave the REVEAL X a Night Mode setting. With the Night Mode setting you can choose between the Minimum Blur option that has a faster shutter speed to help minimize that blur at night, but this means that flash won’t reach as far. You also have the Max Range option that will give the camera a longer range at night but will have more blur for moving objects. Most people will probably opt for the Balanced setting, which gives you a good compromise between the other two options.
The low glow flash will not spook game animals and won’t visibly illuminate the area they are directed at. But, it is worth noting that it will make the front of the camera glow when the flash is in use, which could make this camera less desirable for security purposes or on public land where you want its location to remain hidden at night. This is not an issue for just the REVEAL X, but all trail cameras with low glow flash.
Dimensions
The camera measures 5.47 x 4.13 x 3.62 inches, which is pretty compact especially when you consider the large number of batteries this camera holds. Despite not being quite as small as mini trail cameras, it is still pretty compact, especially when compared to many other cellular trail cameras. This makes it easier to conceal if you plan on using it on public land or as a security camera.
Time-Lapse Feature
There is no time-lapse function on the Tactacam REVEAL X. All images must be triggered by motion or heat for the camera to take a photo.
For most people, not having a time-lapse feature is probably just fine. This is because using a time-lapse feature with a trail camera many times results in photos that don’t have anything of note in them. Having to transmit all these pictures over a cellular network could cost you money by making it necessary for you to subscribe to a more expensive data plan that allows for the transmission of a larger number of photos each month. However, it is good to know that the REVEAL X doesn’t have a time-lapse feature in case you were planning on using the camera in such a way that you will need it.
Hours of Operation Timer
The Hours of Operation Timer or “Work Timer” as Tactacam calls it, is another great feature that lets users specify a specific time period each day when the camera will be in operation. This feature can be really helpful for people who don’t need or want the camera to monitor an area 24 hours per day.
This feature can not only help conserve battery life and storage space on the memory card, but it can help you save money on your data plan by not transmitting images that you don’t care about.
LCD Screen
The REVEAL X does not have a color LCD screen. However, you don’t need one as the REVEAL App on your cell phone will handle the camera setup and allow you to update the camera’s settings as needed. There are two benefits to eliminating things you don’t need: it helps to keep the cost of the camera down and it helps to keep the camera size more compact. Plus, the screen on your smartphone will be bigger and better than anything that could be put on the camera.
Memory Card
Like all trail cameras, you will need a memory card to store your pictures and videos. The REVEAL X uses SD/SDHC memory cards with a maximum capacity of up to 32GB. Class 10 U3 cards are required. If you want to shop around for a memory card, but don’t know a lot about SD cards you can check out our article on how to choose the best SD card for trail cameras. Otherwise, the SanDisk Extreme Pro 32GB SDHC memory card is an excellent choice for this camera.
The REVEAL X also offers Loop Recording, which if selected will cause the oldest files to be overwritten with new captured pictures and videos when the SD card becomes full.
Remember to format your memory card before using it in the camera.
- Ideal for professionals looking to maximize post-production workflow
- Read speeds of up to 95MB/s; write speeds of up to 90MB/s
- UHS speed Class 3 (U3) and UHS video speed Class 30 (V30) for 4K UHD video
- Shock-proof, temperature-proof, waterproof, and x-ray-proof
Password Protection
There is no formal password protection feature on the REVEAL X because the camera doesn’t need one the way traditional/non-cellular trail cameras with LCD screens do.
If you are concerned that someone could access the REVEAL X using its WiFi signal to change your settings you don’t need to worry. The only way to gain access to the camera via WiFi is off your phone from within your logged-in REVEAL app. The WiFi is not used for normal operations of the camera. Its only purpose is to aim the camera and format the SD card.
Batteries
The camera is powered by 12 AA batteries. You can expect a long battery life from the camera and depending on the camera’s settings the REVEAL X can take 2,500+ pictures with alkaline batteries and 4,000+ pictures using lithium batteries, which is pretty good for a cellular trail camera. When it does come time to replace the batteries, you simply eject the battery tray from the camera, load it up, and reinsert it. This makes putting in new batteries a faster process, getting you out of the woods sooner.
The REVEAL X can be powered by high-quality alkaline or NiMH rechargeable batteries. Depending on the camera’s settings and how much recording it does at night, alkaline batteries may not be able to deliver enough power for the camera’s flash to perform at optimal levels at night, especially during cold weather.
For the longest battery life and best performance, especially in cold weather, Tactacam recommends using Energizer AA Ultimate Lithium batteries. We wholeheartedly agree!
If you are wondering why lithium batteries are Tactacam’s preferred choice we have an article explaining why lithium batteries are the best choice for trail cameras.
- 24 Pack of Energizer Ultimate Lithium AA Batteries
- Leak proof construction protects the devices you love (based on standard use)
- Powers your most critical devices ideal for your smart home devices, outdoor surveillance systems, digital cameras, and handheld games
- Holds power up to 25 years in storage for trustworthy backup energy, so you’re always prepared. Warning: Risk of fire. Battery can explode or leak and cause injury if installed backwards, disassembled, charged, crushed, mixed with used or other battery types, or exposed to fire or high temperature
- Performs in extreme temperatures, from -40F to 140° F, for year round, indoor and outdoor use
Input for External Power Supply
Even though the REVEAL X is very economical in its battery usage it is fair to point out that all cellular trail cameras can use more battery power than their non-cellular counterparts. This extra power consumption comes from the need to use and connect to cellular networks. That said, power consumption can vary depending on how many pictures the camera captures and transmits along with how frequently the camera is set to transmit these pictures throughout each day.
So using an external power supply with the REVEAL X, is not a bad idea because it will extend the amount of time you can leave it unattended in the woods, which has important benefits as we detailed in our article about how often you should check trail cameras. The downside of using an external power supply with the REVEAL X, or any other trail camera, is that it might make the camera easier to spot and steal.
The REVEAL X has an input for a 12V, 2A external power supply. If you want to use an external power supply with this camera Tactacam offers a solar panel with a rechargeable lithium battery.
Image Stamp
Similar to what you would expect with other trail cameras the image stamp on the REVEAL X shows the date, time, temperature, and moon phase.
Included Accessories
In addition to the camera itself here is what you will find included in the REVEAL X’s packaging:
- Mounting Strap
- Instruction Manual
- Antenna
- SIM Card (Pre-installed)
Despite having two 1/4″ threaded tripod attachments, one on the bottom of the camera and one on the back of the camera, which adds to the camera’s flexibility, it doesn’t include a threaded camera mount like some other trail cameras out there.
However, if you have other trail cameras you may already have a threaded camera mounting tripod lying around. If you don’t know that you can find several inexpensive tree camera mounts or holders on Amazon, which will give you many more great options for where you can mount the camera, especially if you want to put it at an elevated position and angle it down toward the area you want to monitor.
Areas of Use
If you are looking for a camera that offers a lot of versatility, the REVEAL X might be the trail camera for you. It can be used to monitor game animals undisturbed in their natural habitat, capture images of nature, as well as security and property surveillance.
Where this camera really shines is in its ability to save you money and send you images no matter how far you are away. If you live a distance from where the camera is posted and need same-day information from your trail camera this REVEAL X camera can literally save you several hundred or even thousands of dollars in travel expenses over the life of the camera.
The only thing that might make it less than ideal for some situations would be its no glow flash – if you need to keep the camera’s location hidden at night.
Pricing
When looking at price alone the Tactacam REVEAL X has a very competitive price when compared to other cellular trail cameras. Then when you combine that with its innovative design, adjustable features, and affordable data plans, you can see that the REVEAL X is a true bargain.
Other Options
SPYPOINT LINK-DARK & LINK-DARK-V Cellular Trail Camera
If you are looking for a no glow cellular trail camera the SPYPOINT LINK-DARK & SPYPOINT LINK-DARK-V are great options to consider. Plus, both of these cameras use the popular SPYPOINT mobile app.
Both the LINK-DARK and LINK-DARK-V can record video in up to 720p resolution and have a photo first mode where they take a picture before recording a video, but like the REVEAL X they can’t transmit videos to you over the cellular network. So if you like video, but don’t consider the camera being able to send it to you a necessity, you can check the camera’s SD card from time to time to retrieve the videos it has captured.
If you want to learn more about these cameras, we actually did a detailed review of the LINK-DARK and LINK-DARK-V. Otherwise, you can see the current price for the SPYPOINT LINK-DARK and LINK-DARK-V cellular trail cameras here.
Moultrie Mobile Delta Cellular Trail Camera
If you are looking for a no glow cellular trail camera that can transmit video but are looking for something that is competitively priced, the Moultrie Mobile Delta Cellular Trail Camera is a great option to consider. While the data plans through Moultrie do have a cap on the number of videos you can transmit each month you do have the option to purchase more if needed.
Another reason I really like this camera is because of its free app, which allows you to filter through your picture and video files in many different ways (ways that are often paid add-ons with other apps) to help you discover behavior patterns of the deer or other game in your areas. Moultrie also provides a 2-year warranty on the Delta, which while better than most other manufacturers.
If you are interested in the Delta you can read our Moultrie Mobile Delta review or you can check its current price here.
Final Thoughts
If you want a cellular trail camera at an affordable price the Tactacam REVEAL X is a great choice. If you need a camera with no glow flash that transmits video the REVEAL X may not be your best option. But if you want great features, many of which are adjustable, at a great price, the REVEAL X is a top pick.
You can check the current price of the Tactacam REVEAL X cellular trail camera here.
Last update on 2024-04-19 at 16:21 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
