Rifle Scopes Tactacam FTS, anyone played with one?

[Hootiewho]

I’m thinking about snagging one of these. I had that older eagle eye/gopro mount and it just didn’t work out for me. This think looks a bit more field use friendly.

https://www.tactacam.com/shop/fts/



Is there a better option on the market currently?

 

[Rocketmandb]

I just got one, but haven't played with it much. Will be using it for some videos.

 

[newguy2k3v2]

Tactacam and triggercam seem to be pretty similar as far as capability, price, etc. I'm curious to hear from anyone that's has used both

 

[Covertnoob5]

Also very interested in tactacam reviews

 

[Rocketmandb]

Also very interested in tactacam reviews

I'll post a bunch of info when I get some time back. Unfortunately a combination of business and family issues have limited my shooting/related time.

So far, for taking video of my office, it works like a champ!

Only knock on it is that it didn't come with an SD card, and you can't even turn it on without. I mean really, put in a 16GB at least. What do those cost... $5 retail? $2 wholesale/OEM? So I had to wait a couple days to order one.

 

[Hootiewho]

Ok, so looking on Triggercam’s US site, you are maxed out at 45mm on the eyepiece. Tactacam will go to 48mm. I may be SOL on this with my scope. Both the eyepieces on my 1-8 S&B and my 2 3.5-26 Hensoldt’s are just shy of 50mm.

That sucks.

 

[Defender3]

I bought one on sale last month, just haven't had time to play with it yet. I believe the Tactacam may have better image stabilization but I was torn between it and the triggercam.

 

[Defender3]

I did a quick test of the Tactacam Long Range Shooter package today and it worked well. I hope it not only captures the impacts when I'm out at Quantico, but also where the reticle is when I break the shot so I can refine my technique.

I installed it on the AI with the NF ATACR using the #7 collar and hanging the camera on the right side of the rifle. I moved to scope up two positions on the rail for eye relief then took it outside and targeted a house 115 yards away, then shot the video. I could not see the video as it was recorded as I didn't enable the WiFi so you can see the camera was canted. I need to maybe move the camera to the left side of the rifle and figure out how to level the camera to the scope.

The video is captured at 4K so I edited it down to 10 seconds. I was on the rear deck with no rear bag so it's shaky but I think you get the idea.

 

[2aBaC̶a̶]

I notice videos either show the whole scope view or only a portion in the middle. Is that a software setting or what?

 

[Covertnoob5]

I notice videos either show the whole scope view or only a portion in the middle. Is that a software setting or what?

Don't want to speak for anyone, but I think that maybe the difference between regular and "zoom" mode which I believe zooms the camera 8x.

 

[hereinaz]

I have been playing with one.

They mount easy and video is great. Saturday, I was frustrated cause the target was completely washed out. Not sure what was going on, but it was bright AZ light under an awning. I put it aside cause I had other stuff to mess with.

I gotta see if there is a fix. I couldn't figure out fixing contrast.

 

[brianf]

looks like it attaches to the ocular housing.
on the Nf the whole thing rotates..causing problems?

 

[Defender3]

looks like it attaches to the ocular housing.
on the Nf the whole thing rotates..causing problems?

You should have already adjusted the housing for diopter and locked it down so there is no rotation.

 

[45cal4life]

At least of my Nightforce, you rotate the ocular for zoom. It doesn't have a zoom ring. Causes issues with the bolt hitting the lens cap. Have to find that sweet spot that clears everything

 

[Defender3]

At least of my Nightforce, you rotate the ocular for zoom. It doesn't have a zoom ring. Causes issues with the bolt hitting the lens cap. Have to find that sweet spot that clears everything

If you look at the pics I posted, you can see the ATACR I'm using has an ocular adjustment to the front of the magnification ring, which rotates separately.

 

[45cal4life]

Ahh, attention to detail got me again... The ocular rotates on the NXS

 

[brianf]

Thanks.
don’t have atacr was t sure if it rotated.

 

[Defender3]

You guys were right, my ATACR also rotates.

I spent some time at 1000 today at Quantico. The day started at 27 degrees and a -2200 Density Altitude, and then gradually warmed up to 50 degrees so we actually had mirage. I was basically playing with the Tactacam to see if I liked it.

Here are a few videos. I had to edit them as the camera records in 4K so the files were huge. I'm shooting at 2/3rds IPSC steel at 1000 and a clay at 1035 with the AI in 260. I have to apologize as the camera moved in the mount so some appear not to be level; the scope and reticle were level for the shots - user error - I didn't fully tighten the retention screw.

You also do NOT see the same field of view as you are seeing in the video. The ATACR was set at 35x so the field of view was about 1/2 of what you see in the vids. I could increase the FOV but I had to get so close to the scope I got a recoil bump.





Clay bird at 1035y - a miss:

 

[Hootiewho]

I can’t thank you enough for posting those. I hope they get the endbell issue update as I would really like to record some night coyote hunts with one using a clip on.

 

[newguy2k3v2]

You guys were right, my ATACR also rotates.

I spent some time at 1000 today at Quantico. The day started at 27 degrees and a -2200 Density Altitude, and then gradually warmed up to 50 degrees so we actually had mirage. I was basically playing with the Tactacam to see if I liked it.

Here are a few videos. I had to edit them as the camera records in 4K so the files were huge. I'm shooting at 2/3rds IPSC steel at 1000 and a clay at 1035 with the AI in 260. I have to apologize as the camera moved in the mount so some appear not to be level; the scope and reticle were level for the shots - user error - I didn't fully tighten the retention screw.

You also do NOT see the same field of view as you are seeing in the video. The ATACR was set at 35x so the field of view was about 1/2 of what you see in the vids. I could increase the FOV but I had to get so close to the scope I got a recoil bump.





Clay bird at 1035y - a miss:

So the camera sees the normal fov but to your eye you could only see about 1/2 and keep decent eye relief?

 

[Defender3]

So the camera sees the normal fov but to your eye you could only see about 1/2 and keep decent eye relief?

Correct.

 

[AP2020]

I'm having issues with reflections "bleeding " into the playback. I have an Athlon optics Midas TAC scope. Ive heard that the light is "leaking" into the FTS at the split where the two screws tighten down.

You can see this aberration in one quadrant of the videos.

 

[mmahoney]

I'm thinking of purchasing one of these, but would like to see a pic of where the light is leaking in. Hopefully fixing it is only a matter of tightenin down a couple screws. Does this occur all the time or when shooting with the sun at a particular angle?

 

[pmarkov]

I do own two Tactacam 5.0 FTS's.

I have used them for capturing hunting videos and I plan to capture some competition shooting as well.
I believe that the problem with light leaking is not related with the gap between the screws of the mount, but mostly with the light which is captured backwards from the ocular glass by the mirror prism inside the mount. This problem is almost always apparent when the rifle's muzzle is pointing downwards and the ocular piece of the FTS is pointing into the sky. The light gets caught within the FTS and it is reflected by the prism, eventually captured by the camera itself.

I hope that the posted image is clarifying. This rifle is pointed towards the ground from a higher position. The reflection of the surrounding trees is captured into the image:

 

[mmahoney]

I do own two Tactacam 5.0 FTS's.

I have used them for capturing hunting videos and I plan to capture some competition shooting as well.

Are you happy with the how the video looks? Is it a good representation of what you see through your scope?

 

[pmarkov]

Are you happy with the how the video looks? Is it a good representation of what you see through your scope?

Yes. I am pleased with the overall performance of the camera. I don't use the 4K resolution, because of the large size of the videos and I don't see any benefit in the captured image quality through the riflescope. I am using 1080p resolution with either 30 or 60 fps. It does capture the moment of the trigger press and one can see exactly where was the POA during the shot, which is important especially for moving targets, like in hunting scenarios (or movers in comps, of course).

On a side note: my first Tactacam 5.0 is having some issues. It constantly stops responding when capturing videos in cold environments. The camera starts to record then freezes and the video is not written properly to the SD card and gets lost eventually. I contacted CS and they asked that I return the camera to them for a replacement, but since I live in Bulgaria, this is not so easy to achieve. So, I decided to buy another Tactacam 5.0 and it works flawlessly up till now. I guess I will keep my old one for some warmer climate videos...

 

[mmahoney]

Is centering the reticle a pain? I ask because I'm seeing several youtube videos with a crooked reticle.

 

[pmarkov]

Is centering the reticle a pain? I ask because I'm seeing several youtube videos with a crooked reticle.

No, actually it is very easy. You have to connect the camera to your phone and via the Tactacam app you will see real time image from the camera. Then, you will rotate the camera within the FTS mount until the reticle is level and tighten the screws.

I think that the option of rotating the camera along its axis is an advantage, because it allows you to mount the FTS on the riflescope in any position. My FTS is mounted on a 45 degrees angle to the right, so that it will not block my bolt manipulation and will not obscure my peripheral vision. By rotating the camera within the FTS, I can get my crosshairs to be level on the captured video.

I am not sure that this option is available on the other similar product - the Triggercam. I think that it has to be mounted always straight on, so that the camera should be on 12 o'clock position over the ocular piece of the scope. This will block the sight towards the turrets for example. I may be wrong about this, I don't have a Triggercam...

 

[Scobes]

We love them here at PWH. Started using them part way thru last winter and got lots of Coyote Hunt footage on them. Check it out on Instagram: Predator World Hunting

 

[makaug]

Does anyone know how much eye relief the FTS mount takes up?

 

[Scobes]

Does anyone know how much eye relief the FTS mount takes up?

You only loose aprox. an inch and three quarters of eye relief when I put my calipers on it

 

[Scobes]

I did a quick test of the Tactacam Long Range Shooter package today and it worked well. I hope it not only captures the impacts when I'm out at Quantico, but also where the reticle is when I break the shot so I can refine my technique.

I installed it on the AI with the NF ATACR using the #7 collar and hanging the camera on the right side of the rifle. I moved to scope up two positions on the rail for eye relief then took it outside and targeted a house 115 yards away, then shot the video. I could not see the video as it was recorded as I didn't enable the WiFi so you can see the camera was canted. I need to maybe move the camera to the left side of the rifle and figure out how to level the camera to the scope.

The video is captured at 4K so I edited it down to 10 seconds. I was on the rear deck with no rear bag so it's shaky but I think you get the idea.

Just loosen the single screw that holds the camera and twist the camera till the reticle is level then retighten the screw

 

[Defender3]

Just loosen the single screw that holds the camera and twist the camera till the reticle is level then retighten the screw

Yes, thanks.

 

[sprad05]

Appreciate the info, been debating

 

[Scobes]

Ok, so looking on Triggercam’s US site, you are maxed out at 45mm on the eyepiece. Tactacam will go to 48mm. I may be SOL on this with my scope. Both the eyepieces on my 1-8 S&B and my 2 3.5-26 Hensoldt’s are just shy of 50mm.

That sucks.

I’m running it on my ZCO 4-20. And that’s a beefy scope

 

[Dthomas3523]

I’m running it on my ZCO 4-20. And that’s a beefy scope

Just want to confirm, tactacam does in fact fit on the ZCO ocular?

 

[Scobes]

Just want to confirm, tactacam does in fact fit on the ZCO ocular?

We made it fit with only one wrap of electrical tape on the ocular. Then carefully spread the FTS mount and slip it on and tighten the screws.
None of the slip on adapters from TACTACAM will fit, they are all to big for the ZCO. We did the same mod for some other scopes (Ares ETR).

 

[Dthomas3523]

We made it fit with only one wrap of electrical tape on the ocular. Then carefully spread the FTS mount and slip it on and tighten the screws.
None of the slip on adapters from TACTACAM will fit, they are all to big for the ZCO. We did the same mod for some other scopes (Ares ETR).

Awesome, thanks.

I’ll get with tactacam and see about getting them info for Zco adapters

 

[Mxracer532]

We love them here at PWH. Started using them part way thru last winter and got lots of Coyote Hunt footage on them. Check it out on Instagram: Predator World Hunting

Question, will the Tactacam 4.0 work with the FTS and be relatively good?

 

[waldfein]

Does anyone know if the FTS Adaper will fit the ZCO scopes?

 

[Scobes]

Does anyone know if the FTS Adaper will fit the ZCO scopes?

None of the provided FTS adaptors will work. I use a single layer of electrical tape on the eye box of the ZCO 4-20 (pictured) or the 5-27 where the adaptor would normally go. Carefully spread open and slide the FTS on the eye box of the scope, then tighten the two Allen screws

 

[waldfein]

Okay! Thanks for the quick response!

None of the provided FTS adaptors will work. I use a single layer of electrical tape on the eye box of the ZCO 4-20 (pictured) or the 5-27 where the adaptor would normally go. Carefully spread open and slide the FTS on the eye box of the scope, then tighten the two Allen screws