Reconyx RapidFire User manual

RapidFire™and
RapidFire™ Professional
Digital Infrared Camera
Instruction Manual
Copyright: October 2009

2 © RECONYX, INC
Table of Contents
I. Camera Overview................................................................3
II. Battery & Memory Card Installation....................................6
III. Initial Setup & Programming.............................................11
IV. Mounting & Aiming Your Camera.....................................17
V. General Information..........................................................20
VI. Troubleshooting................................................................21
VII. Warranty, FCC, and Safety Information............................25
VIII. Copyright & Trademark Information.................................28

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Camera Overview
Congratulations on purchasing a RECONYX camera. RECONYX has been
the leader in digital wildlife cameras since 2003. Your RapidFire™ camera
includes a state-of-the-art digital camera, an integrated Passive InfraRed
(PIR) motion detector, and a night time infrared illuminator all contained ina
secure, rugged, and weather-resistant case.
Whether you are using the camera for scouting deer or studying wildlife, you
will quickly findthat using the RapidFireTM
Thank you for putting your trust in us!
camera in conjunction with
MapView orBuckView software will be one of yourmost valuable tools in
gathering and analyzing data.
Contents of this package
1. RapidFireTM
•RM45, RC55, RC60, RC60HO, MC65 or MC65HO
Game Camera & Software
•BuckView™ Image management software
or RapidFireTM
•PM75, PC85, PC90 or PC90HO
Professional Camera & Software
•MapView Image Management Software
2. Adjustable bungee cord for mounting camera.
3. This instruction manual.
4. RC60HO, MC65HO & PC90HO models also include AA to C-Cell
battery adapters.

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Camera Comparison
Cameras &
Specifications RM45 & PM75 RC55, MC65 & PC85 RC60, RC60HO,
PC90, PC90HO
& MC65HO
Images Day and Night:
1.3 MP
monochrome
images
Day: 1080p HD
or 3.1 MP color
images
Night: 1080p HD
or 3.1 MP
monochrome
images
Day: 1080p HD or
3.1 MP color
images
Night: 1080p HD or
3.1 MP
monochrome
images
InstaOn™
Trigger Speed 1/10 second 1/5 second 1/5 second
RapidFire™
NearVideo™ Up to 2frames per second Up to 1 frame per second Up to 1 frame per second
Capacity with
4 GB card 15,000 to 20,000 images 10,000 to 15,000 images 10,000 to 15,000 images
Illumination/
Range at night Infrared: 50 to 60feet Infrared: 50 to 60feet Covert Infrared:
30 to 35feet
standard
(* 50 feet for
HO Editions)
* HO (High Output) edition cameras must be run on either NiMH rechargable
batteries or Energizer® 1.5V AA Ultimate Lithium batteries.
Note: CF cards up to 32GB may be used, but under normal use2GB and
4GB cards are more than adequate.

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BUCKVIEW™
Included with your game camera (RM45, RC55, RC60, RC60HO, MC65,
MC65HO) is BuckView mappingand image management software.
BuckView offers you the ability to geographically organize and access your
images, helping you to pattern and better understand animal movements
and behaviors. Refer to the BuckView User Guide, accessible withinthe
software, for more information. BuckView requires a personal computer
runningeither Windows XP® or Windows Vista®.
MapViewProfessional
Included with your professional camera (PM75, PC85, PC90, PC90HO) is
MapView Professional software that offers you the ability to geographically
organize and access your images. It alsosupports data analysis with user-
defined metadata and export capabilities and allows you to change the
advanced settings on your Professional Camera.MapView requires a
personal computer running either Windows XP® or Windows Vista®.

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Battery & Memory Card Installation
Removing and Replacing the Camera’s Cover
Before installing batteries or a memory card, you need to removethe
camera’s cover. To dothis, open the clasp at the bottom of thecamera using
the thumb grip in the middle of the bottom edge. Then, lift the cover from the
bottom, rotating it upward until you can remove it from the camera.
To replace the camera’s cover, insert the cover alongthe bottom edge of the
camera’s faceplate and rotate it downward until it’s flush with the camera.
Snap the clasp, pressing firmly in the middle of the clasp, to secure the
cover.
It’s good practice to makesure the gasket and camera lenses areclean
each timeyou open and close your camera.
Battery Specifications and Installation
Your RECONYX RapidFireTM camera runs on six C-cell batteries or 6 AA
batteries (when used with AA->C Cell adapters). You can run Alkaline,

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Nickel Metal Hydride (rechargeable), or 1.5V Lithium batteries (Professional
models will also run on 3V Lithium batteries for extended run time).Batteries
load vertically (three on each side) into thetwo battery trays.
Note:Be sure to load batteries in the proper orientation(positive end infirst).
Warning!Do not mix battery types! Damage to the camera can result and
your warranty will be voided if you mix battery types.
C-Cell Alkaline batteries are inexpensive and will run well at moderate
temperatures in most RECONYX cameras. If you purchased a High Output
(HO) RC60HO, MC65HO or PC90HO, alkaline batteries will NOT run well in
it. If you have an HO camera and/or want to useyour camera when the
weather turns cold, you should run with either NiMH rechargeable batteries
or AA 1.5V Lithium batteries (using adapters). NiMH will run at temperatures
down to -20°F orcolder. Lithium batteries will run to -40°F.
Note: Lithium AA and NiMH rechargeable batteries provide better night time
consistency than C-Cell Alkaline batteries. You can purchase 1.5V Lithium
batteries and adapters as well as NiMH rechargeable batteries and chargers
at www.reconyx.com.

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Because camera settings, animal activity, and temperature allvary, there is
no way to precisely predict acamera’s runtime, the total number of images
that can be taken, or the temperature at which the camera will operate on
any given set of batteries. Therefore the following table shows approximate
values to be used as a guide in determining what type of batteries will best
suit your needs.
Battery Type Operating Temperature Run Time Number of Images
C-Cell Alkaline
Do Not run Alkaline
batteries in HO
cameras!
20º F (-7º C)
and above
*6 – 10 weeks *10,000 to
15,000
C-Cell Nickel-Metal
Hydride
(rechargeable)
-20º F (-29º C)
and above
*4 – 8 weeks *7,500 to
10,000
AA Energizer
Ultimate Lithium
(1.5V)
-40º F (-40º C)
and above
8 – 12 weeks 12,500 to
17,500
C-Cell Lithium
(3V disposable)
(Professional
models only)
-40º F (-40º C)
and above
10 – 16 weeks 15,000 to
30,000
*High temperatures can reduce run time with Alkaline and NiMH batteries by
50% or more.
TIP: AA batteries can also be used in your RapidFirecamera – provided
you use AA to C-Cell battery adapters (available at www.reconyx.com).

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CompactFlash®
The CompactFlash (CF) card is usedto store the pictures yourcamera
captures. These images may be transferred to your computer using standard
image viewing software or RECONYX MapView or BuckView™mapping
and image management software.
(CF) Card Specifications and Installation
Inserting and Removing the CompactFlash Card
Insert CF card as shown. Make sure the orientation is correct and that
the card is aligned properly. Then press gently to seat the card in the
holder.
To change CF cards in the field:
1. Press <OK> to disarm (thecamera will then show status – i.e.
battery status and number of pictures since last armed)
2. Turn the power off.
3. Remove the card by pulling it straight out of the receiver port.
4. Insert the new CompactFlash card into the receiver slot under the
control buttons as shown.
5. The card must be inserted face up with the connecting ports in
first.
Note: Always disarm (by pressing OK) and turn the power off before
removing or inserting the CompactFlash card.

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CompactFlash cards have various speeds andcapacities. Larger capacity
cards are capable of storingmore images. The followingtable shows
approximate number of images for a 4GB CFcard. Your RapidFire camera
will takecards upto 32GB, but most users will find 2GB and 4GB cards to be
more than adequate for normal use.
Camera /
Capacity RM45 & PM75 RC55, MC65 & PC85 RC60 & PC90
Capacity
with
4 GB card
15,000 to
20,000
images
10,000 to
15,000
images
10,000 to
15,000
images
TIP:We recommend that you purchase two CF cards per camera so that
you can swap cards in the field. SanDisk cards have worked well for us. You
can purchase RECONYX certified CF cards at www.reconyx.com.
Cards with higher speed ratings arecapable of reading and writing images
faster. This is advantageous when takingRapidFireTM NearVideoTM
CompactFlash Card - File System Requirements
sequences of images.
If you have a CF card that does not seem to work, oryou used the card in
another device, you may have to re-format your CF Card. This can be done
with the included BuckView/MapView software or with any Windows
Operating System.
Step 1: Insert your memory card intoyour computer's card reader.
Step 2: Click "Start -> My Computer" You should see your memory card
under the list of available drives. Be sure to check its contents first to make
sure that you have the right drive.
Step 4: Right-click on the drive and choose 'Format'.
Step 5: Under "File system"select the "FAT32"option thenclick on 'Start'.
Step 6: Once the process is completed, take the memory card out and
insert it into your Camera.
Note: Your RapidFire Camera uses the FAT32FileSystem. However, CF
Cards under 2GB may also be formatted usingthe FATFile System.

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Initial Setup & Programming
With the CFcard inserted in the camera, turnyour camera on using the
On/Off switch. If this is thefirst time you’ve used your camera, it will
automatically display the Date/Time setup change option, beginning with
Enter Year.
Press the << and >> buttons toset the date (year, month, and day) and time
(hour and minute); press the OK button after each part of the date and time
are correct.
Your RECONYX RapidFireTM
If you wish to change your camera’s settings you can do so easily in the field
at any time. Changes are made using the control buttons and display that
are located under the Removable Cover. Once you make selections, they
are retained by the camera – even when the camera is off and the batteries
are removed – so that you don’t need to make selections again unless you
want to change something.
camera comes pre-programmed with factory
default settings. By default the camera will take 3 pictures per trigger with a
1 second pause between pictures and no delay between triggers.
Additional features that are available onthe Professional Series cameras are
availablethrough the Configuration Software on your CD. See the
Configuration Software Help file for more information.

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RAPIDFIRE™PROGRAMMING MENU

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Your camera includes three major levels of options: Main menus, Change
Setup menus, and Selection options. As with the date and time,you can
move through any of these menus andoptions by pressing the << and >>
buttons; the >> button displays menus and options inorder, and the <<
button reverses the order. When the menu or option you want toselect is
displayed, press the OK button.
The display area above the <<,>>, and OK buttons includes two lines of
information. The top linegenerally displays the menu, setting, or option you
are currently accessing; after youmake a selection, it may also display
additional information. The bottom line displays the available selections for
the menu, setting, or option displayed in the top line. Selections you can
choose from are always displayed in highlighted text, within single brackets.
You canchange your camera settings any time you like, either prior to using
the camera or inthe field. Likewise, you can switch CompactFlash cards as
needed, and check the remaining space on your CFcard as well as your
remaining battery power.
Main Menu
Arm Camera – When you select this option, your camera arms in ten
seconds, unlessyou cancel it before the countdown is complete.If you
forget to arm the camera it will automatically arm itself after 2 minutes
WalkTest – Whenyou select this option, yourcamera flashes an indicator
light so that you can test its aim by walking in front of it. The WalkTest mode
shows you exactly where the camera’s active motion detection zones are
.

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located. The tilt of the camera is critical, as slight changes are magnified at
greater distances from the camera. The camera will automatically arm itself
if leftin WalkTest mode (after 2 minutes with no triggering events).
Erase Card – When you select this option, yourcamera wipes your entire
CF card clean, removing all images and other information from the card. You
should not selectErase Card unless you are absolutely certain you want to
remove everything from the card.
This
allows you to set the camera up, check its aim using WalkTest, and then just
walk away.
Check Status – When you select this option, your camera displays the
number of pictures it has taken, the percent of space remaining onyour CF
card, and the percent of battery power remaining.
Camera Info – Whenyou select this option, your camera displays its
firmware version number (V) and serial number (S). Youmay need this
information when contacting RECONYX with questions about your camera.
Change Setup –Allows you to change the way your camera functions.
Note:default settings are shown inRED CAPITAL letters. Professional
series cameras have additional settings that can be programmed using the
Configuration Software on your PC (see additional notes below).
QuickSet – When Change Setup is selectedthe QuickSet options are
displayed (TRAIL, Scrape, Feeder, and Advanced). This allows you to
quicklyselectpre-programmed settings that are optimized for particular
situations. Selecting Advanced takes you to the settings listed below.
Pro Rec
NORMAL TRAIL 3 pictures, 1second interval, no quiet period
Aggressive Scrape 5 pictures, RapidFire, no quiet period
Conservative Feeder 3 pictures, 5second intvl, 15 second quiet period
Trigger – Use this option to turn your camera’s motion sensor on or off,
select the sensitivity level of the PIR motion detector, set howmany photos
you want your camera to take per trigger, the interval between pictures, and

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the quiet period (the time period after a trigger during which the camera will
not respond to motion events).
1. Motion Sensor – ON, off
2. Sensitivity - low, low/medium, medium, medium/high, HIGH, or
very high
3. Pics Per Trigger – 1, 2, 3, 5, or 10
4. Picture Interval –RapidFire, 1 SEC, 3sec, 5sec, or 10 sec
5. Quiet Period – NO DELAY, 15sec, 30sec, 1 min, 3 min or 5 min
Time Lapse – Use this option to control your cameras time lapse
photography, select the starting and endingtimes, and the interval between
pictures taken.
1. AM Period – on, OFF
2. PM Period – on, OFF
3. Time Lapse starting and ending times – one hour increments
4. Interval between pictures –1, 5, 15, or 30minutes, 1 hour
Images –Use this option toadjust the night time exposure, set the
resolution, and thetemperature scale.
1. Night Mode – DEFAULT, high quality, fast shutter, max range
•Default - best combinationto balance image quality, shutter
speed and flash range
•High Quality - higher quality images, reduced flash range
•Fast Shutter - reduced motion blur, reduced flash range
•Max Range – increasedrange, reduced image quality
2. Resolution – On RC55, RC60, MC65: (1080p or 3.1 M.P.);
On RM45, PM75: (HIGH, low); OnPC85, PC90 (3.1M.P.,1080p)
3. Temperature Scale –FAHRENHEIT, Celsius
Date/Time – Used toset date and time.

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CodeLoc™ – Use this option to add a four-digit security code to prevent
unauthorized use of your camera, or change or remove an existing code.
User Label –Use this option to add a label (up to 16 characters) that will be
included with all photos taken by your camera. You can also view, change,
or clear an existing label.
Use Defaults – Usethis option to remove any changes you’ve made to your
camera’s settings and restore the factory default settings (shown above in
RED CAPITAL letters).
Main Menu – Use this option toswitchback to the Main menu options; see
preceding page for more information.
Programming RapidFire Professional Series Cameras
There are many more set-up options availablefor Professional Series
cameras. These options are available through the Configuration Software
that is included on the CDyou received with your camera.
When youconfigure your Security camera using your PC, thecamera will
display“SAVED CONFIG” when you switch the camera on with CF card that
contains the configuration file inserted. The camera will remember these
settings even when shut off, so you do not need to reconfigure the camera
unless you want to change its behavior.
If you have configured your camera from yourPC and you go into the
Change Setup option using the camera’s menu, it will prompt you with
USING CONFIG –your options will be GO BACK or CONTINUE. Ifyou
continue, the settings from your CONFIG from the PC will be overwritten with
the settings you select onthe camera.
Your new MapView software is still fully compatible with our older Silent
Image PM35 and RM30 series cameras. You can program old and new
cameras as well as import, view, tag, and export image data from the new
RapidFire Professional series cameras and the older Silent Image cameras.
TIP: Setting the date and time onthe new RapidFire Professional cameras is
easier to do right on the camerathan it is through the MapViewsoftware.

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Mounting & Aiming Your Camera
Your RECONYX RapidFireTM camera can be mountedto aRECONYX
VersaMount™(see www.reconyx.com for more information) or a camera
tripod by utilizing the threaded insert on the back of the camera housing.
It may also be mounted to a tree by usingthe included adjustable bungee
cord (shown below). It is highlyrecommended that you use atheft
deterrent device such as a cable and lock to help secure your camera
against possible theft when it is inthe field. Theft deterrent cables and locks
are availablefrom RECONYX (see www.reconyx.com to order).
Mounting Camera with Adjustable Bungee Cord (included)
TIP: Werecommend that you mount your camera about chest height and
angle it slightly downward. This is optimal for detecting animals in the field
of view of the camera as well as for accessing the camera’s card, batteries,
and controls. If youare concerned about the slight red glow of the non-covert
illuminatorspooking animals, you can mount the camera a bit higher and
angle it down a little more. Most animals do not often look up and therefore
are less likely to notice the camera if it is mounted a few feet higher.

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Aiming the Camera
Walktest Mode
Learningto use the Walktest mode is critical to beingas successful as
possible withyour RECONYX camera. The Walktest mode allows youto
precisely determine yourcamera’s active motion detection zones – insuring
your camera is aimedexactly where you want to capture animal activity.
All RECONYX cameras will self-arm from Walktest mode after a two minute
period during which they do not detect motion.

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Locking & Securing your Camera (Accessories not included)
Python™ stylelock RapidFire Security Enclosure
Heavy Duty Bear Box RapidFire Utility Box
RECONYX sells an array of accessories for securing your camera and
protecting your investment. From Heavy Duty bear boxes to Python locks.
Please see www.reconyx.com for more on security accessories.

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General Information
Image Data
Your RECONYX RapidFireTM camera stores Image Data along with every
picture it takes. Some of this information is displayed in Image Data bands
above and below the image.
An Mor T in the top data band indicates a “motion” or“time-lapse” event.
“1/3” indicates the first in a sequence of three pictures for that event.
Moon Phases displayed include: (new moon), (waxing crescent),
(first quarter), (waxing gibbous), (full moon), (waning gibbous),
(last quarter), and (waning crescent).
A “flash” indicator appears inthe Image Data bands, when the infrared
illuminatoris used.
There is additional image data accessible using either MapView or
BuckView; including serial number, firmware version, battery voltage, etc.