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Model # MCG-13181
Trailcampro Comprehensive Score:
The M40 is an affordable red glow game camera. The infrared flash glows red when taking a picture or video at night. This makes this camera most useful for wildlife scouting and monitoring.
Photo resolution: 16, 8, 4, 2 mpxl
Video resolution: 1920x1080 w/ audio
Flash Type: Red Glow Infrared
Day pictures display realistic color, good clarity, and great depth. The M40 seems to stop motion well during the day.
Night pictures have extraordinary range and really excel in contrast. Night images are exceptional whether in open fields or dense forests. It does blur easily on running animals and minor whiteout on close objects. This can be controlled by utilizing the "Motion Freeze" setting (which quickens the shutter speed). Overall, the M40i takes great pictures.
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Video quality mimics picture quality. The M40i can take high resolution (1920x1080) videos. Some of our examples are in 1280x720, but even they look great. Night videos have insanely good contrast. Big thumbs up here.
Megapixel Ratings:
In the past, many people get confused with the megapixel rating trail camera manufacturers advertise. Companies inflate the mpxl rating to attract eyes to their products. They do this through interpolation, which digitally adds megapixels to a photo without actually improving the picture.
The best way to judge picture quality is to look at actual pictures. You will notice this the most when you zoom in on a full-size image that a camera has taken. The details of the photo will appear hazy or even digitized. This is normal, and to be expected.
Picture & Video Resting Power (on): 1.14 mW
Picture Daytime/Nighttime Power Consumption: 2.08 Ws | 8.45 Ws
Video Daytime/Nighttime Power Consumption: 21.71 Ws | 272.46 Ws
The battery efficiency completely depends on whether you plan on using the camera in picture or video mode. In picture mode, the camera is rather efficient on power consumption. In video mode, the M40 uses an astronomical amount of power per video clip. Here are some examples.
If this camera were to take 35-day and 35-night pictures every 24 hours, the 2017 M-40 would last 7.7 months in the field on a set of 8 AA Lithium Batteries. This is an efficient camera in picture mode.
If this camera were to take 15-day and 15-night videos (10-second videos) every 24 hours, it would last 0.8 months in the field on a set of lithium batteries. This is a very inefficient video camera.
Our rating accounts for the average of both ratings. If you only use your trailcams in picture mode, the M40 gets good battery life. If you use your cameras in video mode, this is not an efficient camera.
Picture Trigger & Recovery Speed: 0.29 s. / 1.1 s.
Video Trigger & Recovery Speed: 1.7 s. / 2.7 s.
Detection Range: 90 ft.
Picture detection and recovery are outstanding. The M-40 takes the first picture quickly and recovers in just over one second. Video trigger speed is average, but the recovery speed is very good.
This camera detected out to 90 ft. consistently. In our testing to date, the M-40's detection width closely matches the field of view. This is a very good detection range.
Dimensions: 5" x 3.25" x 3"
Battery Type: 8 AA Batteries
External Battery Jack: 12-Volt
M40 Case Design
The M-40 feels sturdy and well-built. The camera is small and conceals well in a wooded setting. The M40 has two python brackets for locking the camera. One on the front and one on the back. The battery tray ejects easily and the SD card slot is easy to get to.
The latch has an unorthodox mechanism, but it is easy to manipulate, even with cold fingers. We think it is more practical and durable than it may appear at first glance. There is also a 1/4" x 20 threaded insert on the bottom for a Slate River Mount.
M-40 Setup
We've struggled the last several years with Moultrie's setup process. To us, it isn't intuitive and feels clunky. You shouldn't need the owner's manual to set the camera up, but it does take some getting used to. This shouldn't deter you from purchasing the camera, though, after spending some time with the M40 it starts to feel more natural.
SD Card Storage Examples
With a 16 Gig SD Card and the camera taking 4 mpxl photos (this is our recommended setting as it is closest to the native resolution), the M-40 could store 20,000 pictures on the SD card. Keep in mind, day pictures (color) have larger file sizes than night pictures (black and white), so this number could go up or down.
With a 16 Gig SD Card and the camera taking 1920x1080 videos, the M-40 could store 766 10-second videos.
From this data, you can extrapolate storage capacities for different sized SD card and different resolution settings. We give you a 16 Gig SD Card with the purchase of this game camera through us. If you need additional or larger SD cards, you can shop all SD card options here.
Durability
Moultrie game cameras have had some of our lowest warranty rates the last two years. We expect that to continue with the 2017 Moultrie M-40 game cameras.
Enjoy our reviews? Please consider purchasing your next trail camera from us.
Q: How do I view the pictures?
A: There are a number of ways to do this. Pictures/videos are stored on the SD card you place in the camera.
Q: Will this trail camera trigger on small animals (birds, rodents, etc.)?
A: The Moultrie M-40 game camera detects on a combination of heat and movement, so, yes, small mammals will trigger the camera. However, if you are going after smaller warm-blooded mammals, we recommend getting the camera closer to your target. For best performance, place the camera in an area that would enable picture detection from 3 - 20 ft.
Q: Can animals see the infrared flash on this camera?
A: Yes. This is a red glow trail cameras, meaning it has a faint red glow when taking pictures or videos at night. Humans and animals can see this if looking at the camera. This does not "light up" the woods, though.
Q: Can this camera shoot through glass?
A: No. Trail cameras can't detect through glass unless placed in time-lapse mode (triggers based on preset time intervals instead of motion detection).
Q: Where can I purchase this camera?
A: From us! We hope to woo you with our incredible charm, two-year warranty, 90-day returns, free continental U.S. shipping, and technical expertise. If that isn't enough, we give you an 16 Gig SD card with this camera and you can call and talk our ear off anytime.
Seriously, though, we know you have plenty of options of where to spend your hard-earned money. The internet can be the wild, wild, west of too-good-to-be-true deals. If you choose to do business with us, we will go out of our way to make sure you are happy with the camera you select and the service we provide you.
We are passionate about testing and reviewing trail cameras, but most importantly, we are passionate about treating our customers the right way. We do things differently from what you have come to expect from other internet retailers and we hope you give us the opportunity to prove that to you.
Moultrie Game Cameras - an overview of the Moultrie game camera products we have reviewed for 2017.
Moultrie M-40i - Top-rated night pictures for a no glow trail camera.
Moultrie A-30i - This is our highest rated $100 trail camera.
Read Reviews From All the Game and Trail Cameras
Manufacturer Specifications
Buy your next trail camera or accessory from us and we will protect your purchase with our 90-day return policy and our exclusive 2-year warranty.
Most manufacturer warranties are only one year. In our opinion, that isn't good enough. Our customers get a two year warranty, directly from us.
Trailcampro's 2-Year Warranty
If the trail camera you purchase from us goes defective within two years of your purchase, we will quickly replace it.
We strive to make the warranty process as quick and easy as possible. Simply fill out our warranty form.
Trailcampro's 90-Day Return Policy
We believe you have the right to return any game camera that does not meet your expectations within 90 days.
Our return policy lets you field test products, at no risk to you!
Want to talk to a trail camera expert? Contact our friendly staff.
Read our Customer Testimonials to find out what our customers have been saying about us!
Domestic Shipping Options Trail Camera Accessories
Here are a few of the accessories we like to use in the M40 Game Camera.
Energizer Ultimate Lithiums | 8-Pack
$14.95
- There is no downside to using lithium batteries. Long battery life, extreme durability, and better night pictures. You will be happy you did.
$19.95
- Use this with the security case, or just the camera itself. The M40 game camera has brackets on the back specifically for this lock.
Start at $9.95
- SD cards store your pictures and videos for easy removal. We give you a free SD card with the M-40, but most people use a second card. If you have two cards, you can swap them out when you retrieve the pictures.
Verified Customer Reviews
We ensure that every customer review comes from one of our real customers and not someone who works for the competing trail camera manufacturer. These are verified customer trail camera reviews that you can trust.
We would love your feedback if you purchased this trail camera from us. We want your honest feedback, these reviews are a vital part in helping consumers choose the right game camera.
For all orders exceeding a value of 100USD shipping is offered for free.
Returns will be accepted for up to 10 days of Customer’s receipt or tracking number on unworn items. You, as a Customer, are obliged to inform us via email before you return the item.
Otherwise, standard shipping charges apply. Check out our delivery Terms & Conditions for more details.
