Tactacam Reveal Pro 3.0: Field test of one of the most popular new wildlife cameras on the market

Tactacam launches its new Reveal X 3.0 and Pro 3.0 cameras today and the whitetail deer hunting world is going to be excited.

i think the Reveal Pro 3.0 hits the sweet spot of performance, customizability, and ease of use perfectly. I was able to test the new camera for about a week before launch, and so far it has lived up to its big promises. The Reveal X 3.0 (the non-Pro version) has many of the same new upgrades, but is less expensive. I’ll highlight the specs of both below. But since I’ve only tested the Pro version in the field, I’ll focus on that camera.

The seeing

• GPS enabled
• Works on all major mobile networks
• 8GB internal memory (no SD card needed)
• Pre-installed SIM card
• Video on demand
• Live aiming via app
• 2 inch LCD screen
• 80 feet advertised flash range
• 5-shot photo burst mode
• 1080P video
• IR without glow
• 1 year warranty
• Price: $155 (subscriptions start at $5 per month)

The seeing

• GPS enabled
• Works on all major mobile networks
• 8GB internal memory (no SD card needed)
• Pre-installed SIM card
• Live aiming via app
• 96 feet advertised flash range
• 3-shot photo burst mode
• 1080P video
• IR without glow
• Price: $125 (subscriptions start at $5 per month)

When it comes to portable trail cameras, more isn’t always better. Sure, we want features and options to tune our trail cameras to ideal settings for specific situations, but the camera also needs to be easy to use, the accompanying app needs to be intuitive, and the package needs to be relatively affordable (since serious trail cam users will always have more than one out in the field). With that in mind, I opened up the boxes of the new Reveal Pro 3.0 cameras about a week ago.

What’s New in the Reveal Pro 3.0

Tactacam Reveal is still relatively new to the trail camera market, but they’ve made a significant impact. The company is known for reliable, high-quality cameras that produce excellent image quality. They even won our 2023 trail camera test. Until now, however, other mobile camera companies (most notably Moultrie) have offered more advanced features. The new Pro 3.0 brings Reveal to the forefront.

Works with all mobile networks

First, the new Reveal now automatically connects to the strongest cellular network available. Instead of having to select Verizon or AT&T during setup, the camera scans for the strongest network and connects to it moments after you turn it on.

Internal memory and SIM card

Another notable upgrade is that the camera has 8GB of onboard storage and a pre-installed SIM card. This means you don’t have to mess around with SD cards, although you can still opt to use a card if you prefer (there’s still a slot for one). With the internal SIM card, the camera will update its firmware over the mobile network.

Video on demand

The sexiest upgrade for this camera is the addition of on-demand video. In the Reveal app, you select your camera and click “request on-demand video.” The camera will then record a 15-second video and send it back to your gallery. This is a cool feature for a couple reasons. First, if you see a photo alert from a camera and discover that the alert was triggered by a shooting buck, you can request video from the camera and potentially capture additional video of the buck. This would work if the camera was on a food source where a buck might hang out for a while. Another useful application would be to pre-screen access to stand locations. For example, say you wanted to go hunting in the afternoon at a food plot or field edge, but didn’t want to risk running into any deer on your hike. Assuming you had your cameras placed properly, you could request video from the cameras in the area to ensure the field or parcel was free of deer.

To use on-demand video, you’ll need to add the “XTRA” subscription in the app for an additional $9 per month. You’ll also need to set your camera to “pic + video” mode and program your settings control to “instant” mode. It’s worth noting that this will drain your battery faster.

Antenna design

The old Reveal cameras had an antenna that extended out from the body, and those old antennas had the potential to break off when you swung them around in a backpack. The new antenna folds up tightly against the camera body and is held in place with a rubber clip. It’s a small but thoughtful upgrade that public land hunters who pack their gear far from the parking lot will certainly appreciate.

Testing the Reveal Pro 3.0

I tested the new Reveal Pro 3.0 like we test all trail cameras. First, I loaded it up with batteries and connected it to my Reveal app. This was incredibly easy and intuitive. Just turn the camera on, scan the QR code on the inside of the door, give the camera a name, add a location, and the camera does the rest.

Continuous test

Next, I set the Reveal to its fastest shooting mode and highest sensitivity. From there, I did a simple walkthrough test.

Markers were placed at 10 feet, 60 feet, and 110 feet. I walked past the camera (left to right, then right to left) at an average pace at each given distance. I then repeated the walkthrough test at night. The test is designed to measure the camera’s detection range, trigger speed, shutter speed, and flash range. To evaluate photo quality, I placed a 3D archery target at about 10 yards. After the test, I looked for blank photos, failed triggers, blurry images, and overall photo quality.

I’m happy to report that the Reveal Pro 3.0 performed quite well — as was to be expected, considering Tactacam upgraded the image sensor in its new camera. It captured me at all distances with only one missed shot. I’ve performed this same test on a variety of cameras over the past two years, and this is an above-average performance. Where the Reveal 3.0 really shines is in its daytime image quality. In my opinion, this camera produces the sharpest, brightest, most vibrant images of anything on the market. At 110 feet (36 yards), the camera captured me in the center of the frame with no blurring.

Night photos are also good, but not exceptional. That’s a function of the no-glow design. You can see in the photo below that at 60 feet the subject (in this case me) starts to lose detail.

The camera shot at 110 feet at night (outside the advertised range), but I got lost in the shadows. The downside is that the camera creates an unnoticeable flash at night, compared to low-glow cameras that generate a dull red flash when shooting at night.

However, if you are into long-range night shots, I would recommend going for the Reveal X 3.0 low glow camera as it has a longer flash range.

Field performance

After the walkthrough test, I set up the camera on my hunting lease in Wisconsin. Using a trail cam stand, I aimed it at a field edge with lots of fresh deer tracks after a week of rain. I immediately started taking photos. One thing I appreciate about Reveal cameras is that they send images to the app very quickly (in “instant” mode). This is useful for setting up cameras so you know exactly what your camera is capturing and that it’s working properly. Later, I usually set cameras to send photos once a day to save battery.

As in my walkthrough test, the Reveal Pro 3.0 took excellent photos during the day and good quality photos at night.

One week of use isn’t enough time to judge reliability, but I expect this camera to perform flawlessly this season and for seasons to come. I’ve used both gen 1 and gen 2 Reveal cameras and have only had minor reliability issues over the years. That’s remarkable. Some cell cams (even the expensive ones) have failed after just one season in the field.

One thing I did have with the Reveal Pro 3.0 is that the on-demand video feature was a bit delayed in sending the video to the app. It took about six minutes from the request to the time the video was viewable in the app, even with three bars of service. So yes, it is video on demand, but you will need to be patient if you use it.

What the Reveal Pro 3.0 does best

This camera is easy to use, reliable, and delivers excellent photos and video. It now has advanced features that make it stand out in the market. I think the most remarkable thing is that Reveal was able to make these upgrades without increasing the price of the older models. These are some of the best deals on the trail cam market.

Where the Reveal Pro 3.0 can improve

There are other cameras available that produce better long-range nighttime images. But if you’re setting up cameras in scrapes or deer trails, this isn’t a factor. If you’re primarily setting up cameras around fields and you care about long-range nighttime photos, consider the Reveal X 3.0 with its low-glow IR.

Read more: Where do you mount a wildlife camera?

Final Thoughts on the Tactacam Reveal Pro 3.0

I suspect Tactacam will sell a boatload of these cameras. Right now they are doing limited drops on their website, and there is some availability from online retailers like Bas Pro. Hopefully there will be consistent availability as the season progresses. I’ll continue to use my Pro 3.0 cameras throughout the summer and fall, and I’ll update this story and our review of the best trail cams after these cameras (and the other new camera models) have had ample time in the field. Ultimately, only time will tell if any given trail camera can live up to its promises of reliability and durability.