TargetVision WiFi Spotting Scope Camera Lets You See Your Shots Instantly
Russ Chastain 02.06.15
Wow.
When I saw TargetVision at the 2015 SHOT Show Range Day, I was instantly impressed. Picture a busy rifle range, shots happening all around, lots of happy faces, and that delicious smell of burning gunpowder. Wooden and concrete benches, steel rifles, heavy timbers holding up a metal roof. Old school all the way.
Except for the high-tech feature that allowed shooters at one station to see their shots in real time on an iPad via WiFi, without the need for a data plan or any other hardware. And TargetVision does it at any range out to one mile.
Did I mention wow?
It’s a system that places a wireless camera near the target and transmits an image to a compatible device running the TargetVision app. Their cameras are sealed, are drop- and weather-resistant, and the long-range bundle includes a long-life battery that can also keep your device charged via USB.
It’s an app-based product, so you will need a WiFi-capable device to go with it. A tablet such as an iPad is perfect, and it works with smart phones too. iOS and Android versions are available, and the app is a free download.
I grabbed the app for my iPad, but there’s not a whole lot I can do with it without having the camera. It does have a demo mode where you can watch a recording of someone’s shots making holes in a target. If you don’t have a TargetVision camera, the app just makes you want one more.
Current TargetVision products include these two camera systems:
The Long Range Wireless Spotting Scope has a one-mile (1,760 yards) range. It includes two pieces of hardware: camera and case/receiver. The receiver is built into the case and touts a 16-hour battery life, and it includes a USB port that you can use to charge your iPad or other device.
This system retails for $895, and they’ll knock $100 off that price if you send them “your traditional spotting scope or a competitor’s product.”
The Short Range Wireless Spotting Scope has a 300-yard range and doesn’t require nor include a receiver. This means it doesn’t include a case or keep your tablet charged, but it does include a SLIK Compact II tripod to help ensure trouble-free WiFi transmission. They say the camera “should to be at least 16″ off the ground for maximum performance.”
Retail for the short range system is $595.
Some features of the app:
- You can view the camera’s feed simultaneously on multiple devices.
- Live camera view.
- Recognizes and tracks your shots as you make them. Even on a target with multiple holes, TargetVision can detect your current group, mark them on the screen, and even number them in chronological order.
- Record a range session or just part of a session.
- Share on social media.
If you have ever made the walk of frustration when you can’t see your hits on target through your rifle scope or spotting scope and have to hike out to the target, you know there’s a desire for this product. For many long-range shooters, I’d call it a need. Performance seemed good for the short time I watched it at Range Day, and I’d love to try it out first-hand.
The price seems high for what it is, though. I mean, if you can buy your own Doppler radar bullet tracker for $560, you should be able to get a rechargeable wireless camera and tripod for much less than $595.
But what do I know? I’m just a shooter who wants one of these AND his own Doppler radar. Is that so wrong?
Update: After writing this, I learned (and wrote) about Bullseye Camera Systems, an early leader in wireless camera target spotting which offers more flexible systems for lower prices.
