Made ideally for long-range shooters, the “Sniper Edition” target camera by Shooting Made Easy drastically reduces the time wasted by endlessly walking (or driving) back and forth between the shooting line, and the long distance target when checking zero or recording shot placement. With its included 1-mile range and smart device applications, the “Sniper Edition” allows shooters to truly test the potential of their rifles and themselves.
In 2017 Shooting Made Easy (SME) was purchased by GSM Outdoors, which opted to upgrade the original ammo-can style target camera. This upgrade included the current design, and a new smart device application. The “Sniper Edition” (SE) target camera system was released in 2019, and is the second variant of this device intending to make shooting more enjoyable and comfortable. The SE is a two-part camera system that includes:
The Main Body:
Enclosed in a rugged polymer housing; the main body of the SE camera is waterproof, and has a 960D high definition camera with an overhead/sun shroud that protects the camera from the elements while shooting.
The camera lens itself is mounted on a ball-joint that allows for 15-degrees of rotation along the X and Y-axis for best observation to the target. Four LED lights around the bezel of the lens help illuminate the target in low-light conditions.
Enclosed within the main body is the Wi-Fi transmitter; a foldable directional antenna mounted on a 90-degree hinge, that can tilt and rotate to project the signal of the main body up to 1-mile straight Line of Sight distance. The transmitter is secured via locking latch to the main body when not in use, while on the side of the transmitter is an LED indicator for POWER and SIGNAL STRENGTH (Wi-Fi or LAN).
On the side of the main body itself is the power switch, with LED power indicator and a power jack. The switch is covered with a rubberized cap that prevents moisture penetration.
On the bottom of the main body are two foldable, telescopic legs that can help angle the camera between 15 and 25-degrees upward towards the target. At the bottom of each leg is a serrated foot for improved grip and provide a secure base.
The Remote Receiver:
Stored underneath, and inside the main body, is the removable Wi-Fi receiver. Once removed and standing adjacent to the shooter, the receiver will detect the main body Wi-Fi transmitter up to 1-mile away. On the side of the remote receiver is the power switch and a power jack. The switch is covered with a rubberized cap that prevents moisture penetration. On the opposite side is an LED indicator for POWER and SIGNAL STRENGTH (Wi-Fi or LAN).
Both the main body and remote receiver are threaded ¼” for standard tripod mounting when desired.
Immediate Feedback
But where the SE target camera sets itself apart is in its smart device application, free for download to any iOS or Android device and on Google Play. When synched (via Wi-Fi), the SE targeting camera displays real-time individual shooter data in the form of two main functions:
- Sight-In Scope: This is the main application to sighting in a rifle. This function comes with a step-by-step walk-through, or an option to do the sight-in manually yourself. If you opt for the step-by-step, the app will walk you through:
- Target Setup: Define all four corners of your target, and bullseye
- Show Shots: Take a snapshot with the camera and place shot markers
- Markers: Change appearance of shot markers
- Undo: Undo last shot marker
- Record: Record a video to smart device
- Two Player Shooting Mode: Similar to the Sight In Scope function that allows two individuals to take turns sighting in two different rifles on the same target.
The SE target camera app also includes session specific functions:
- Gallery: An image gallery taken from the Show Shot feature
- Weather: Your local weather data taken from the locational services of your smart device
- Import Target for Analysis: Allows you to use the camera of your smart device to import a target and use for the sighting in configuration.
The Sniper Edition of the Bullseye Target Camera is only available in a grey/black color scheme.
Product Evaluation Scores:
- Cost – Average (3/5): With an MSRP of $649.00, the “Sniper Edition” camera by Shooting Made Easy is the higher-end variant of the company’s target cameras, with its Wi-Fi-enabled design intended for moderate-to-long range shooters looking to focus on long-range shooting skills. Its camera offers full day or low-light functionality, high image resolution, all-weather use, and smart phone assist that enables users to save time spent on the range. Some market competitors to SME’s “Sniper Edition” target camera would be the Longshot LR-3 ($838.00) 2mi Camera by Longshot, or the LR 1mi Target Camera ($432.99) by Caldwell. Various features; such as camera resolution or signal range limitations, influence the overall price point for these wireless cameras. Moreover, smart-device applications for such targeting cameras vary in terms of functionality and user interface; with the apps of the Bullseye cameras having varying quality of customer reviews. With the “Sniper Edition” by SME, its target camera is appropriately (or of average) priced among similar target cameras on the market, but limitation (i.e. signal strength) in wireless signal technology beyond 1mi. and smart device application/design hindered its score in this category.
- Comfort – Good (4/5): Setup and use of the “Sniper Edition” camera was similar to SME’s “Sight-In” camera and very easy, with no complex hardware or sync settings to navigate through for smart devices. The ability to save on continual walking or driving back and forth across the larger shooting distances of a mile, or squinting through monocular spotting scopes to identify shot placement, made the overall range experience much more enjoyable and time/ammo efficient. Comfort in using the “Sniper Edition” camera was partially based on the size of the smart-device paired to it, and the ability to manipulate the app with larger iPads or laptop screens was optimal, and with smaller iPhones was more difficult. While the “Sniper Edition” camera does include four LED lights for low-light shooting application, its illumination range was mostly limited to approximately 10’ to target before the light dissipation started to become a detrimental factor.
- Durability – Good (4/5): The overall housing of the “Sniper Edition” target camera was made from a formed polymer/ABS shell, much like other electronics today. Thus, any errant shots into the camera from shooters will damage the device. There is no target camera on the market that offers deflecting housing to protect the device, but SME (much like other vendors) did offer a separate 2-year “Bullet Proof Warrantee” for $29.99 to help mitigate any potential damage. Otherwise all external points, buttons, or switches were either sealed in a rubberized ring or otherwise had a rubberized cap to prevent moisture penetration. This made the overall target camera water resistant although not water proof (it did not have a submersion rating). Perhaps the most frangible aspect of the “Sniper Edition” target camera was the actual ball-joint the camera lens was mounted to, with excessive range-of-motion movements or pressure potentially risking damage to the overall joint itself. It would be recommended to SME to make a cap or protective cover for the camera that locks the lens into place during transport, but users can substitute that by retaining the foam protective block the camera comes with.
- Functionality – Good (4/5): The functionality aspect for the review of the “Sniper Edition” target camera was divided into two elements; performance of the main body camera unit, and the performance of the app itself. Overall, these elements gave the “Sniper Edition” target camera a good level of function but each held room for improvement.
- The main body of the camera had a very easy and straightforward setup and function, with the telescopic legs giving the main body a good angle to the target. Adjusting the height was a little difficult, with the spring-loaded detent ball of the telescopic legs difficult to reach and manipulate. A recommendation for improvement would be for SME to look at moving this adjustment point further down the legs so as to be easily accessible. The ball-joint of the camera lens moved easily and securely, thus ensured the lens remained in position when adjusted regardless of the height to target. Otherwise, adjusting the directional LOS antenna moved easily and maintained position regardless of orientation. One final observation was merely an element of marketing; on the website the “Sniper Edition” camera has stated a lens resolution of 960P, but on the box it states 1080P. In field application would support the lower resolution was in fact the correct ratio with some pixilation noted (but could be an issue of data packets traveling along bandwidth).
- Elsewhere, the Bullseye Target Camera app showed it had undergone some revision with the Google Play app for Android recently updated in 2020 by GSM Outdoors. However, the app on the Apple Store for iPhones was updated to Stealth Cam, LLC in late 2020. Currently, the app layout remains the same as the previous edition, with a rudimentary zero functionality and aside from weather data and a target import feature, had no other functionality (the previous version to the original Bullseye Target Camera had ballistic calculation for distance and other shooting functions built into the app). The app layout and buttonology was somewhat intuitive, but did have a good deal of wasted space with the visible camera image small in relation to the screen of the smart device used (note iPad and laptop screens had a larger visible area than smaller iPhone screens). Hopefully future updates will account for improved layout and design as well as some added function beyond the basic use. One definite recommendation for the app would be to include space for monitoring power to the camera and remote receiver. While one can easily see the power status on the remote receiver while on the firing line, the status of the camera is an unknown unless you are physically downrange with it. Seeing both on the app would give the shooter an idea if one is about to die in the middle of a session (as happened during evaluations).
- Weight – Good (4/5): The “Sniper Edition” target camera by SME weighed in at 4.10 pounds, which, given its size and materials, was very good for its intended usage and design. The included carrying case to transport the target camera in also was robust enough to carrying the camera and some additional paper targets and accessories if/when needed. In contrast, other noted cameras included the LR-3 (roughly 10 pounds for both sensors and tripods) camera by Longshot, and the LR Target Camera (6.4 pounds) by Caldwell. Thus, what set the target camera by SME apart was its all-inclusive design that alleviated the need for additional tripods and other mounting hardware as other cameras necessitated, thus saving overall weight and bulk that had to be carried and set up by the user.
Overall Rating – Above Average (19/25)
Product Link: https://www.shootingmadeeasy.com/target-camera-sniper-edition/
I am reviewing this product as a courtesy to the manufacturer and via STL Shooting Enthusiasts, so that I can evaluate it and provide my honest feedback. I am not bound by any written, verbal, or implied contract to give positive reviews. All views are my own, and based off my personal experience with the product.
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