Watching or tracking wildlife used to be incredibly time-consuming, requiring days or even months of constant observation before you glimpsed the creatures you were hoping to see. Not so with the best trail cameras to help you in your wildlife-watching quest. 

These camera traps lie dormant and spring into action when triggered by a passing animal (or family member, or dog walker, depending on where you leave it), either with motion or heat detection. They’re designed to be hardy and well-built against the elements so you can leave them in damp, cold environments and continue to monitor the areas from miles away.

The Zeiss Secacam 7 is one of two new models from the well-known manufacturer (along with the Secacam 5), released after it acquired the German trail camera brand Secacam in 2023. It’s the company's first trail camera, and one I was keen to try. Its major selling point is the ability to send images straight to your phone, meaning it can be set up and left untouched for as long as the batteries or storage lasts. You can monitor the footage without regularly trekking back and forth to check the card – ideal if you plan to set up several cameras across a wide area or to position it somewhere remote.

Of course, the cellular connection isn't unique to the Secacam 7, and plenty of non-4G models like the Bushnell Core DS-4K No Glow can provide you with higher-res stills and 4K footage. I started using trail cameras a decade ago during my university course in wildlife photography, and I'm testing the Secacam 7 to see how it fares as a relatively new model to the market. 

On paper, it builds on Zeiss' pedigree for spotting scopes, binoculars, and nature-watching imaging products, boasting a 'best in class’ build quality and light sensitivity for nighttime imagery. But what about in the wild? Read on to discover whether it earns a place among the best cellular trail cameras.

Zeiss Secacam 7: Specifications

Zeiss Secacam 7: Price

The Secacam 7 is currently available in the UK and Europe, with American supplies set to land later in 2024. It has a recommended retail price of around £249/€279, which is at the more premium end of the market but certainly not overpriced. The upfront cost includes 8 x AA batteries, a multi-roaming SIM card, and a Zeiss-branded 32GB SD card, which adds value to the package.

By comparison, the Spypoint LINK-MICRO-S costs slightly more but offers a solar panel for charging. The SpyPoint FORCE-PRO is cheaper, with 4K footage and 32MP stills, but there's no cellular functionality.

You also have to factor in the cost of Zeiss' Secacam "Service Plans", which allow you to unlock the camera's smart features and image storage. There are three tiers – Basic, Premium, and Professional – depending on how many photos you want to send across the cellular connection per month. The basic plan starts at £2.69 monthly, while the professional plan is £13.49.

Zeiss Secacam 7: Design & Handling

Trail cameras are meant to be left out in all weather, so it follows that they need a rugged build. The Secacam 7 is made from a solid plastic housing, with an incredibly robust clip to open up the casing and seal it shut again. The IP-66 rating offers reassuring protection against rain and dirt, and having left it outside for a week in substantial wind and rain, I was pleased to find the inside of the camera’s case totally dry when I picked it back up.

The Secam 7 is 120g heavier than the Secacam 5 (440g), but it feels solid rather than unwieldy. Its bigger size improves handling too, as the lens is above the front flap rather than on it so you can check the capture area on the screen. It sounds like a simple difference, but it's much easier to find the right position and height, where stray branches don’t ruin your view.

Given that it had been a while since I last used a trail camera, I found operating the Secacam 7 incredibly easy. The batteries come pre-installed, as do the 32GB SD card and SIM, and there's an eject button to pop out the battery magazine, and a depress for the cards. All are easy to remove and change should you want to, but you can basically start shooting as soon as you get the camera out of its box. Epic.

Handling is straightforward, too. The big, backlit rubber buttons allow you to see what you're doing in low light, and the 2.4-inch LCD screen (bigger than most traditional camera traps) allows super quick menu navigation and clear image playback.

So much of the failure or success of a trail camera comes down to where you mount it, and there are several options with the Secacam 7 - either with the included camouflaged strap, tripod mount or by using cable locks. The strap has a claw that holds it tightly around trees, and while I’d have liked it to be a little longer for chunkier trunks, I could see it becoming grotty – especially if left out in the wet.

You'll get the most out of this trail camera when you pair it with the Secacam app. I was dubious about Zeiss' offering given how glitchy and slow some manufacturer's remote apps have historically been, but immediately pleased with just how clear, navigable and detailed the Secacam app was.

Among the four main sections along the bottom of the screen, the most important are the Gallery – where images are stored – and Cameras, where you can check the status of your subscribed cameras, and tap in to change its settings via the Remote control menu. The app is responsive, and there's even a choice of Light or Dark Mode to change the overall appearance, showing that Zeiss has put real effort into its design.

Zeiss Secacam 7: Performance

Above: Video clips show with the Zeiss Secacam 7

Although you don't expect the images from a trail camera to be of a professional quality, they should be detailed enough for clear identification – especially if you want to monitor specific animals by their markings, for example. The Secacam has three capture modes; Photo, Video, and Photo + Video, and out of the box the camera defaults to capture images in 5MP resolution, while 8 or 12MP stills are also available. 

These sizes are saved onto the SD card, while the size sent to a phone is smaller and maxes out at 1920 x 1440. In Video mode, the resolution can be set to 480p, 720p, or 1080p, and between 5 and 59 seconds of footage, which is great for balancing storage space and your use case for clips.

The Secacam is designed to handle all of the exposure and focus settings automatically for you, and overall it does a great job of this, with a vibrant color rendition in the day that tends a little towards the cooler side. When the flash came into play at night, the results were sharp enough to tell the difference between several foxes who regularly visit the garden. 

But its still images aren't as crisp as models with upwards of 30MP sensors. Zeiss claims that the infrared flash (60 black LEDs so as not to disturb animals) can reach up to 30 meters away, and I found this to be accurate. Foxes very close to the flash were overexposed, but it's not often that subjects will be within touching distance of the camera!

What I really liked about the Secacam is its ability to fire a burst of up to five shots in quick succession after being triggered, and while only the second image is sent to your phone by default, you can change this within the app. With it activated, I was more likely to have at least one frame with the animal in focus and centralized in the frame, especially when it was running fast.

There are also three sensitivity levels, which give you some control over how many images the camera will take. I set it to the medium level for the optimum chance of triggering sightings, while avoiding misfires of trees moving in the wind. It’s a trial-and-error approach that requires a few weeks of use to get the most usable results.

The Secacam 7's trigger time (< 0.35 ~ 0.45 seconds) is slower than some competitors – almost double that of the Bushnell Core DS-4K No Glow at 0.2 seconds for photos. It's fractions of a second, which might not sound significant, but it meant I only caught the tail end (literally) of a deer passing the camera in a darkened woodland.

Video is more exciting than stills for trail cameras, as it allows you to see where the animals are coming from, and observe behavior. So what of footage? Zeiss recommends that you record in 720p resolution over 1080p, given that the quality is only partially better, yet the size fills up memory cards quickly. Being a pixel-peeper, and someone who hates being told what to do, I started testing the Secacam in full resolution. It looks great, but the Zeiss Secacam App is there should you change your mind about settings once the camera is in place.

It took minutes to download the Zeiss Secacam app to my phone and pair it with my camera using a unique code inside the box. There are status symbols to confirm whether the camera is online, plus its available memory, signal strength, and battery level – all of which are hugely helpful in letting you know how long you can leave your camera out, and if it's recording.

You get the most out of the Secacam 7 with one of Zeiss' paid Service Plans, which also unlock – depending on the level of payment – remote control capabilities, AI animal recognition, and even a theft replacement service. While I'm not sure I needed AI recognition to help me identify a squirrel or dog, I found it impressive that the camera could pick out tiny animals in the undergrowth of a woodland, or the behind of a deer when only a tiny portion of it was in the frame. You'll be given an ID within the app interface if you've turned it on.

Cellular function is the main reason to buy the Secacam 7 over cheaper rivals. Thanks to its LTE module and multi-roaming SIM card it can dial into networks from a wide range of providers and choose the best one automatically to give you a strong signal for accessing recordings. I found the connectivity consistently fantastic, and no sooner had I set up the camera than I started getting notifications on my phone for new sightings. It's exciting hearing the noise and brought back the magic of my first wildlife-watching trips.

That doesn't mean you have to maintain a constant connection, though. You can customize the communication frequency, with more frequent intervals draining the battery faster. If you change any camera settings during downtime, they'll be pending and remain orange in the app interface until communication can be made with the camera again.

I didn't get close to running down the AA batteries while testing the Secacam 7 in the wild, which is a testament to the camera's efficiency. Videos drain power more quickly than stills, but after a week of constant use, the battery level was barely depleted, and I'd imagine the camera to last for longer than a month with a few sightings a night. If you want to supply the camera with continuous power, I'd invest in Zeiss' solar panel with a built-in power bank.

Zeiss Secacam 7: Sample footage

Over a month or so, I tested the Zeiss Secacam 7 in my local woodlands and Cotswold countryside, to get a feel for how well it performed on location. I also captured some footage in my family garden, as I knew local wildlife including foxes would visit. 

I tested out the Zeiss Secacam app on my iPhone 15 Pro, using a free trial of the Premium subscription option so I was able to test all of the control options and download images over the cellular connection.

Zeiss Secacam 7: Verdict

I've been impressed with the Secacam 7, so much so I didn't want to give it back. Its ease of use stands out, thanks to the well-conceived Secacam app and bigger-than-most LCD screen. At times I was disappointed with its response times and image quality (at night), but tracking cameras like this are designed to be used over months, and a certain level of trial and error is par for the course. With the amount of customization that the Secacam 7 offers, and more time spent honing the camera's position based on wildlife sightings, I'm convinced I'd get even more out of the device.

With eight batteries, energy-saving features, and the ability to power the camera with Zeiss' Secacam solar panel (sold separately), it can provide true longevity in the wild. You could easily drop this camera off and return for it weeks later; ideal for photographers in hard-to-reach locations, or even gamekeepers with large areas of land to monitor.

The image and video resolution does lag behind similarly-priced competitors on paper, but the content is acceptably sharp and adapts well as the light changes. The camera's real draw is its network coverage, and my experience was almost flawless, with images accessible on my phone moments after being snapped.

Alternatives

I can never eat enough carrots to see as well in the dark as I’d like to. Fortunately then, there are various digital devices that can come to our aid and act as our all-seeing eyes – or singular ‘eye’ in the case of the Bushnell Equinox Z2 6x50 Night Vision Monocular I'm looking at here.

US-based Bushnell’s binoculars and monoculars usually provide more ‘bang’ than Id expect for our buck, so I'd hoping that’s the case again with this one. Upping the ante when compared to its strictly analog counterparts, however, the Equinox Z2 monocular, available in differing magnifications up to 6x unit, seeks to take things to the next level. The claim is that it can enable us to spot targets more than 1,000 feet away whether it’s day or night. Yes, as the full model name suggests, night vision, or at least a version of it, is provided here – with a built-in IR illuminator located just beneath the front lens.

This device also scores points with the gadget obsessive by virtue of being able to potentially stream video footage to our smartphone via a combination of Wi-Fi and the Bushnell Equinox app. Alternatively, if battery life is sufficient, it’s able to record video with audio and stills to an optional microSD card, with support for up to a maximum 64GB capacity, the manual tells us. The card is inserted beneath a rubber flap that also protects a USB port.

While the above all sounds very encouraging in theory, how does use of the device pan out in practice? Is its performance decisive in the dark, or a bit of a night-mare?

Bushnell Equinox Z2 6x50: Specifications

Bushnell Equinox Z2 6x50: Key Features

As with any strictly analog monocular or binocular, the main features to take note of here are obviously that 6x magnification married to a 50mm objective lens. In order to deliver viewing of subjects up to 1,000ft in the distance, the Bushnell Equinox Z2 6x50 Night Vision Monocular requires four alkaline or rechargeable AA batteries for power, which are not included out of the box. 

More unusually still, thanks to a built-in infrared-sensitive CMOS sensor, I can record still images of 8MP resolution and 1080P video with sound, here to a microSD card, which proves typically fiddly to insert and more so to retrieve. Of course, the device will function perfectly well as a live viewer without a card inserted; it’s just that I’ll not be able to record anything, as there’s no internal memory.

The micro LCD equipped eyepiece provides a digital view of the image in front of its lens, with here that 6x magnification, akin to the sort of quality I'm used to seeing from a security camera, or bootleg VHS video. I can alter the night-time view so I'm either viewing a familiar green image or opt for a black-and-white one. 

There’s no separate LCD touchscreen that its camcorder-like design immediately makes us think of, so unless I'm using the compatible Bushnell phone app, all menu selections are made and changes affected via a combination of squinting through the eyepiece/viewfinder and pressing what few controls there are on the outer body of the unit.

Bushnell Equinox Z2 6x50: Design & Handling

The product arrives out of the box with a sturdy zippered carry case, of a thickness and a quality that impresses more than the thin velvety pouches usually supplied with devices of this ilk, plus a standard USB cable. Unsurprisingly there’s no microSD card in the box, so I'll need to supply one of my own.

When held in the palm the Bushnell Equinox Z2 6x50 Night Vision Monocular feels very sturdy and would suit those with larger hands. Soft rubber sections to the bodywork provide purchase points for fingers and thumb when gripped, although personally, I found it a bit of a finger stretch to get a tight hold. The soft rubber surround to the eyepiece is firm but reasonably comfortable when pressed against our eye socket, while the chunky focus ring at the front is of a size comparable to a child’s kaleidoscope. This ring is also encased in the same soft rubber, the 50mm lens it surrounds protected by a spongy slip-on cap of the same material. Said cap arrives pre-tethered to the main body so I'm less likely to lose it in the dark. 

Also arriving pre-tethered is a wrist strap. Although helpful, this is a little on the thin side, especially given the relative bulk and weight of the monocular, so I’d advise replacing the strap with something broader and more comfortable if using the product for prolonged periods. That said, Bushnell has provided a screw thread here, so the monocular could be mounted on a travel tripod for extra stability and comfort should I wish, which would also act as a way of counteracting the blurring effects of hand wobble.

Directly beneath the lens is a very large infrared illuminator, for which the intensity can be manually adjusted via the eyepiece’s internal LCD screen. And at the rear adjacent to the eyepiece is a further dial that I initially mistook for a focus control, but is actually a screw-on cap for the battery compartment. As mentioned, four full-size AA batteries are required for power, which adds weight and bulk. These have to be inserted noting the polarity marks inside the main compartment, marks that are repeated on the circular lid, so I need to line these two elements up before screwing the lid firmly back into place.

A rubberized lozenge-shaped power on/off button and separate record button feature next to each other on the external body of the device, where they naturally fall under the middle fingers of the hand when gripped. Falling under the forefinger meanwhile is a multi-directional control pad/keypad with an unmarked select button in its center that will be immediately familiar to anyone who has previously encountered a similar four-way pad on a digital camera. Use therefore is reasonably intuitive from the off, though I did benefit from a downloadable PDF of the manual which can be found online, as no hard copy was included in the box with our review sample.

Going further as regards operation, and which may appeal if I'm intending this device as a remote viewer, there’s Bushnell’s downloadable, Bushnell Equinox software app. Theoretically, this not only lets us stream video from the monocular to our smartphone, but also controls video recording, image capture, and IR brightness, without having to directly get hands-on and fiddle around with making such adjustments via the in-eyepiece menu. Though functional, we never felt the latter was particularly slick or satisfactory.

Bushnell Equinox Z2 6x50: Performance

Because of the need to house 4xAA batteries which can be either standard alkaline or rechargeable, a memory card, USB port, plus its CMOS image sensor and hardware, the Bushnell Equinox Z2 6x50 Night Vision monocular is by necessity more bulky and clunky in appearance than a standard analogue monocular. It’s certainly more practical than pretty.

When used as a daytime viewer, the image relayed via the eyepiece isn’t anywhere near as sharp as a dedicated analog monocular or binocular would provide, at a third of the price. In brighter outdoor conditions the manual even advises keeping the lens cap on and allowing a very small pinhole in the center of the cap to act as the means via which light is allowed in to enter the lens and strike the sensor. Here it feels like I am watching a low-ish resolution video relay, of the kind of quality we might expect of a security camera. It’s also not that adept at being able to find focus through glass – if I'm indoors on an inclement day but want a better view of exterior subjects for example.

Because the image relayed to our eye is so low resolution, bathed in that eerie green infrared-attributed glow beloved of horror and sci-fi movies or alternatively in less distracting black and white – switchable via the screen menu – it’s very hard to be sure I've found critical focus when out and about in the dark. This means the process of zeroing in on potential subjects for observation is slower and more painstaking than it feels like it should be. It’s also tricky to handhold the device steady enough for a completely wobble-free view or blur-free image capture, though of course a screw thread for a tripod is provided if I want to go to that much trouble. 

At times I found my own eyes could see our subject clearer than I could looking through the eyepiece – although as I live in more of an urban area, street lighting can be a distraction. The default image capture resolution is 8 megapixels, though the results I got from video clips were more forgiving in terms of the device’s limitations, which are more readily apparent when reviewing still images.

For those looking to be completely surreptitious when observing skittish subjects in the dark, be aware the glow from the eyepiece’s LCD screen is visible when I'm using the device in complete darkness, and during those moments when it isn’t pressed up squarely against our eye socket. Additionally, there is a faint glow from the infrared illuminator at the front when the device is switched on and active, though not distractingly so and the intensity can be adjusted as desired.

I found however that the device’s rudimentary on-board menu system is rather clunky, finding it awkward to tab through and make selections, as this has to be done with our eye up against the eyepiece and our fingers fumbling for the correct controls, in lieu of any separate LCD screen like I'd find on a camcorder or digital camera. I had to keep checking I was pressing the record button rather than the power on/off button, as both are of the same size and shape and located right next to each other. Placing the power button somewhere else or simply making it a different shape would have helped avoid confusion in the dark.

Another minor grumble is that the device eats up batteries, especially when it’s cold outside. After using the device for 15 or 20 minutes at night with a fully charged set of AAs I started getting a low battery warning. And when the battery is low the monocular will refuse to allow stills or video to be captured, despite having plenty of available microSD card capacity.

Bushnell Equinox Z2 6x50: Verdict

Those seeking a cost-effective way to observe faraway subjects better whether it’s day or night – and specifically when it’s night – will find the offer made by the Bushnell Equinox Z2 6x50 Night Vision monocular a compelling one; on paper at least. However in practice, this needs to be set against the fact that I'm paying a cost premium for the privilege, the device itself is chunky in a camcorder-like way and a standard analog monocular or binocular will provide clearer and sharper views in the daytime, albeit without the ability to simultaneously capture a grainy still photograph or slightly more forgiving video clip with sound to microSD, as is provided here. 

With the low-ish resolution view provided via the eyepiece’s mini LCD screen making it very tricky to find critical focus when seeking out subjects at a distance and in the dark, what I'm getting here is basically night vision on a budget. If that suits your specific needs and wallet then this one could be worth seeking out.

Bushnell Equinox Z2 6x50: Alternatives

While the Bushnell Equinox Z2 6x50 Night Vision monocular is more adequate than perfect, it is reasonably priced compared with competitors. However, there is a broad range of alternatives, where I could find a better fit for our particular needs and budget. For example, there’s the NightFox Corsac binocular, which also provides us with infrared-powered night vision and HD quality video capture to SD card via its CMOS sensor, yet only manages a puny 3x magnification. However, I found that good results are achievable up to 150 meters and fair results at 180 meters, with its bright/fast f/1.4 aperture lens being a further boon. 

Budget-priced night vision is alternatively offered by the SigWeis Nightvision, boasting 4x magnification and a viewing distance of 300ft; however, like the NightFox Corsac 6xAA batteries are required for power, giving up to three hours’ usage but adding to the weight at 1.3Kg and bulk. It does however record Full HD resolution in either night vision or colour and the built-in EVF is easy to use.

Or go for a more recognizable name with the Canon PowerShot Zoom Monocular. Though its 3x magnification may seem a little underpowered on paper, the portably pocket-sized device features a 12.1 megapixel 1/3-inch CMOS sensor, ensuring image quality is a cut above cut-priced competitors. However it doesn’t feature night vision and its battery life is fairly modest at a quoted one hour, or 150 shots.

We’ve always found Chinese-made binoculars and monoculars from the US-based Bushnell to provide plenty of bang for our buck – their build quality and performance exceeding what we’d normally expect for the price being asked. This time around the Bushnell Legend Ultra HD 10x42 monocular adds a slightly futuristic look and accessories like an onboard belt grip for hands-free transportation; its no-nonsense ruggedness resembles something Sigourney Weaver would wield in the Alien movies or Arnie in the Terminator series. 

Yes, it’s a little bulkier than say, an 8x25 alternative monocular would be. But this one arguably gives us greater flexibility, in not only being able to observe subjects just that little bit further away but also allowing us to keep them in view better when tracking their movement, as well as continuing to get a sharp image through the eyepiece even when light levels aren’t so great. That’s how it appears in theory at least – so how does this unit handle it in practice?

Bushnell Legend Ultra HD 10x42 Specifications

Magnification: 10x
Objective lens diameter: 42mm
Field of view at 100m: 114 metres
Closest focusing distance: 6.6ft
Eye relief: 15.2 mm
Weight: 374.5g
Dimensions: 140mm in length

Bushnell Legend Ultra HD 10x42 Key Features

While the headline features of the roof prism system Bushnell Legend Ultra HD 10x42 monocular are very obviously that 10x magnification coupled with a 42mm objective lens, a step up from a more physically diminutive 8x25 alternative monocular, its maker has added a few more bells and whistles to the mix this time around. 

As expected of a monocular in its class and price range, the Bushnell Legend Ultra HD 10x42 also provides us with Extra-low Dispersion or ‘ED’ glass, BAK-4 prisms, plus fully multi-coated optics in order to maximize possible light transmission, as well as avoid ghosting and flare; the upshot being a bright, clear and sharply defined view when we put our eye to the eyepiece and rotate the ridged focus wheel.

This has ensured the overall design, look and feel are a bit more rugged than most, as hinted at in our introduction. Attached to the base of the unit via two screws is a thread for tripod attachment, for example, and adjacent to this is a loop for attaching the strap provided out of the box, along with a useful lens cloth.

Designed for use in the great outdoors it’s also waterproofed to IPX7 classification and fog-proofed/nitrogen purged with it, while the exterior of the monocular is claimed to have a water-repellent coating. Droplets bead up and scatter upon contact, its manufacturer insists.

Bushnell Legend Ultra HD 10x42 Build & Handling

With its soft black rubberized exterior more readily suggesting a device for covert operations and surveillance rather than bird watching per se, the Bushnell Legend Ultra HD 10x42 monocular unusually features a front lens cap that is screwed into place so that, when opened and the monocular is in use, it hangs in position below the lens rather than being able to be removed completely. 

We don’t mind this, as it avoids said protective cap from being mislaid, but we can imagine the lever-like mechanism becoming worn over time with repeated opening and closing. The rear eyepiece cap by contrast is tethered via a simple thread, so this also conveniently hangs down out of the way when the monocular is in use. Focus is simply a matter of rotating the knurled knob that sits atop the device immediately above the eyepiece. The top-mounted location ensures it can be operated intuitively while our eyes remain fully focused on our intended subject. An adjustable twist-up eyecup is provided for the comfort of both spectacle wearers and those with perfect vision.

Unusually, on one side of the monocular Bushnell has included a belt clip, so, in theory, the product can be up and into our hands, light-saber fashion, as quickly as we need. Not everyone will feel this addition is crucial, clearly, and it does add to the width of the device too. It’s bolted in place, so there’s no option to remove the clip if it doesn’t work for us, or we feel its presence is unnecessary, but it’s a minor gripe.

Bushnell Legend Ultra HD 10x42 Performance

We often find focus knobs on monoculars to be unhelpfully stiff. Happily by contrast the one provided here on the Bushnell Legend Ultra HD 10x42 monocular offers just the right amount of give, to our mind, allowing for both swift and moreover accurate adjustments on the fly. 

The view provided is sharp and clear, with only a very slight fall-off in focus towards the outer extremities of our frame, that’s only really noticeable if we’re distinctly looking for it. Fortunately, we didn’t notice areas of purple fringing between high-contrast subjects – where the dark branches of a tree meet the sky for example, and the general performance is very good indeed. 

Occasionally we found it tricky to hold the monocular as steady as we’d like at maximum magnification, but extending the twist-up eyecup and resting it against our eye socket, or lens of our glasses offers added stability. Operation feels fluid and intuitive and provided detail such as being able to make out the feathered markings of birds a few hundred feet away, which may be one reason why we’re considering this option.

Bushnell Legend Ultra HD 10x42 Verdict

With a carry case, land yard, lens cloth, and lifetime guarantee included, it feels like Bushnell is doing as much as it can to provide peace of mind as necessary and protect our investment. The construction of the device itself is reassuringly sturdy and tank-like too, while not being prohibitively weighty; after all, we’ll be choosing this monocular over, say, a pair of binoculars for the fact that they are generally a more portable alternative. While removing the bolted-on belt clip would have resulted in an even more svelte appearance to the Bushnell Legend Ultra HD 10x42 monocular, we do generally feel it’s a product with very few compromises, and one with quite a few pluses.

If you are interested in finding out more about monoculars, you can read more in our guide about the best monoculars to suit your needs. If you like the style of monoculars but want something more powerful, you might be interested in the best spotting scopes. Or if you prefer to engage both eyes, check out our guide to the best binoculars.

Over a decade of using trail cameras – from my university days in wildlife photography to tracking local fauna in the Cotswolds – I’ve watched these camera traps transform. With the best cellular trail cameras, what used to require a regular, scent-disturbing trek into the woods to pull SD cards is now a more seamless, real-time experience where wildlife sightings are beamed straight to your smartphone.

Cellular trail cameras help you see animals behaving naturally and get photos of shy wildlife that would otherwise be scared off. If you're a wildlife photographer trying to determine whether it's worthwhile setting up your main cameras for wildlife, scouting locations first with a trail camera is a great idea.

Some cameras come bundled with a SIM and a no-contract plan, so you don't have to stick with your regular phone network – though most require a monthly subscription to access images remotely. The cellular camera market is entangled with recurring plans, and a seemingly affordable camera trap can become an expensive ongoing habit if key features like remote setting adjustments or HD video downloads are locked behind a paywall.

I’ve done weeks of field testing (the Zeiss Secacam 7 is still my personal top pick) and also found that impressive specs mean nothing if the camera's trigger speed is too slow to snap a passing deer sharply, or if the night flash overexposes close-up subjects into a white blur.

Getting the right camera trap is about more than high megapixels. You need to balance network reliability, trigger efficiency, and the overall cost of ownership. Over the past few years, our expert team has been field-testing leading cellular models through rainy torrents, cold nights, and heavy woodland cover to monitor battery drain, solar efficiency, app responsiveness, and cellular availability.

Below, I’ve broken down the best cellular trail cameras on the market to help you choose the most reliable setup for your budget and location.

Top picks

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Best cellular trail cameras

Best cellular trail camera overall

The DS4K Transmit isn’t the cheapest trail camera, but it doesn’t disappoint in features either. Many cellular cameras take the view that 4K video is difficult to transmit over 4G/LTE connections, so the feature is left out entirely.

Here, the camera can still record them locally even though it only sends 720P GIFs via its cellular connection. Previews can be seen in the Command Pro app on your cellphone, and images are stamped with time, date, and moon data.

Setup isn’t a painful process either; all that is required is a QR code scan and the following steps. The camera’s 32MP stills can be caught in a burst of 9 images per triggering, and the device houses 42 850nm LEDs.

Placing it in a location for any length of time will need lithium batteries, and it’s worth remembering that the reliable sensing zone is closer to 60ft /20m.

Read more: Stealthcam DS4K Transmit

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Best budget cellular trail camera

At a significantly lower price point than others, the Link-Micro-LTE is a device well-suited for those who want to get several lenses in the same area and keep an eye on the movements of bigger animals for research or game management.

Spypoint’s app certainly doesn’t neglect location data coming from the cameras or taking advantage of other available data (like weather services), but ultimately, this is just as suited for strapping around trees and sending back images via a 4G LTE network. You’ll need to change the batteries more frequently than its solar-powered sibling, and note that you still lose out on video recording functionality.

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Best solar powered cellular trail camera

The Spypoint Link-Micro-S-LTE makes it easy to transmit photos of wildlife straight to your smartphone as they are being captured. The battery is long-lasting thanks to the solar panel, making it an independent trail camera you can leave alone for days while still enjoying the images it captures. You can also retrieve higher-resolution images from the camera’s memory card later.

With a 0.4-second trigger speed and 80-foot detection and flash range, this cellular trail camera offers good value for money. The major downside is that it doesn't capture video clips.

Read the full Spypoint Link-Micro-S-LTE review
Reviewed by George Cairns

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Best for Europe

The Zeiss Secacam 7 is the easiest trail camera I’ve used, and a great option for beginners. It comes out of the box with batteries and a 32GB SD card pre-installed, plus very robust weather-sealing that left me happy to dump it in a rainy wood for weeks. The 4G LTE connectivity is strong in the UK (some trail cameras perform best in the US), and through the responsive, well-designed app, I found it beams photos to your phone quickly from remote locations.

However, the native 5MP sensor (interpolated to 12MP) looks noticeably soft compared to newer alternatives like the Browning Defender Vision Pro LiveStream with its 46MP sensor. If you plan to record heavy 1080p video clips, you're also likely to fill the included card fast.

While I found that the night flash can occasionally blow out close-up subjects, I found image quality more than detailed enough for clear identification. This is such a well-made camera trap and gives you hassle-free remote tracking, but you do pay quite a premium price – and an ongoing subscription fee – for the cellular convenience, and Zeiss name rather than bleeding-edge camera specs.

Read my full Zeiss Secacam 7 review

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How to choose a cellular trail camera

Network compatibility: Unlike standard trail cameras, the cellular in our list need a strong and reliable local network coverage to send stills and video clips to your phone without a delay. Cameras with multi-roaming SIM cards can automatically switch between major networks (AT&T and Verizon are common in the US, or multiple regional European networks) to lock onto the strongest signal available at your specific location.

Subscription costs: Almost every cellular camera also involves a tiered monthly or annual subscription to beam data to your smartphone. Check whether the brand locks helpful features like remote adjustments, HD video downloads, or AI species recognition behind a premium tier.

Trigger speed: The trigger speed you need really depends on the animals you're targeting. A response time under 0.4 seconds is a good aim when monitoring fast-moving creatures, whereas a slower trigger should be perfectly fine for slower targets, for example, areas where you’ve set up food.

Power and longevity: Transmitting data over 4G LTE can drain batteries quickly, as can chilly weather. If you're planning to leave your trail camera in rugged or hard-to-reach terrain for long periods, look at models with efficient lithium batteries, integrated solar panels, or the ability to attach a separate power pack.

FAQs

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Trail cameras are becoming ever more popular. Unsurprising perhaps, as, once placed in a surreptitious position, they allow us to observe the wider world and the more skittish of creatures remotely from the comfort of our own home. 

For those looking for a fairly priced route into the trail camera world, the Bushnell Prime L20 Tan Low Glow model looks to be an enticing option. Newcomers should think of it as a surveillance camera with extras, able to begin recording to a removable SD card – with the capability here of utilizing cards up to 32GB – when its built-in sensor detects movement in the vicinity. 

Inevitably, with the trail camera set up, fixed in position at a location, and then left to operate independently and automatically, the operation becomes more a case of ‘point and hope’ than point and shoot. While a degree of trial and error is inevitable, it also leaves room for happy accidents and us being pleasantly surprised too. So, what are the nuts and bolts we’re being presented with here, and how does it perform?

Bushnell Prime L20 Tan Low Glow: Key Features

Though Bushnell is best known for binoculars, the Bushnell Prime L20 Tan Low Glow model is one of a number of ‘trail cam’ options produced by the manufacturer. Apart from an impressive array of LEDs on its fascia, the Bushnell Prime L20 Tan Low Glow trail camera, fashioned from what looks like a single plastic mould, looks pretty bare bones at the outset. It sports a single-color khaki plastic exterior rather than any of the camouflage detailing sometimes found on models higher up the Bushnell range. That said, at roughly the size and weight of a house brick with batteries and card inserted, the unit is still fairly obtrusive if hidden and surrounded by natural foliage. 

One thing our review unit arrived missing was any strap via which to bind it to a tree trunk, branch or any other static vantage point, though a couple of hard plastic lugs are provided at the back for threading one through. A screw thread is alternatively provided at the base for a tripod attachment should we be keen to keep our horizons level, and are able to do so without drawing attention to the trail cam. That said, thanks to a flat base to the device, it can be propped up on its own.

Core features of any trail camera include the maximum range at which it is able to function, which for this particular model is around 80ft at night. Packed into its faceplate are 36 visible LEDs, which, with the lens and sensor located dead center, enable both Full HD 1080P resolution video recording at 30fps, plus a choice of either 3MP, 12MP, or full 20MP resolution still images.

Obviously, we want any camera we’re going to be leaving out in the wet and the wild to be waterproof, so fortunately the Bushnell Prime L20 Tan Low Glow trail camera offers IPX6 levels of water tightness to protect it against rainfall.

A pop-out tray at the base of the unit snugly houses the six AA batteries that power the Bushnell, with a narrow LCD screen, operational buttons, and a vacant slot for the insertion of an SD card provided just above it. When the trail camera is in operation, these are hidden beneath a hard plastic cover that is clamped into place to prevent settings from being accidentally disturbed once implemented. Build quality feels sufficiently robust to withstand the odd careless knock or drop and, impressively, Bushnell claims that a set of batteries can last up to 12 months of use. Said power cells are an additional expense, obviously, as none arrived in the box with our review unit. 

Interestingly, as concerns power, the instructions that come with the unit state that a solar panel accessory is another optional purchase for this model, which attaches via the DC-in jack, protected by a tethered rubber cover, at the base of the unit.

Bushnell Prime L20 Tan Low Glow: Rivals

While obviously core features such as resolution, range and functionality differ, there are a bunch of competing devices that serve the exact same function as the Bushnell Prime L20 Tan Low Glow trail camera. For example, there’s its bigger brother in the 32MP Bushnell Core DS-4K No Glow trail camera, which distinguishes itself by featuring a class-leading 4K video resolution, a relatively speedy 0.15-second trigger response, as opposed to the 0.7-second trigger response here, plus twin sensors variously optimized for use in both day and night.

Options from rival manufacturers include the likes of the Spypoint Force 20, which offers a slightly lower specification, including a 70ft detection range, 1080x720 pixels video clips, plus yet again the option for shooting to a removable SD card at up to 32GB capacity. Similarly specified also to the Bushnell Prime L20 Low Glow trail camera, thanks to its 24MP stills resolution and 1080P video at 30fs, is the GardePro E6 No Glow trail camera. This one ups the ante further by coming with its own phone app for remote operation and being Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled, which is fine as long as we’re planning to remain within range of the device itself – hiding in the conservatory perhaps while we place the unit in the garden.

For the money though, it feels like the Bushnell Prime L20 Tan Low Glow trail camera still holds its own amidst rivals.

Bushnell Prime L20 Tan Low Glow: Handling

The hard plastic exterior of the Bushnell Prime L20 Tan Low Glow trail camera has no noticeable give to it when squeezed in the palm and the build quality seems good and firm. We mentioned earlier about a tray for inserting 6x AA batteries being inserted within the unit’s baseplate and, just above, we also get a rudimentary selection of controls being ranged either side of a narrow slit-sized LCD window, that allows for the tabbing through of operational settings and choices, but not for the review or playback of any images. 

As we’ve noted, it’s a case of placing this one in position and hoping for the best, rather than trying to achieve accurate or artistic framing. While some competitors allow the entire inner camera module to be retrieved from the trail camera’s outer casing, here that element is fixed in place. So we have to flip open the front each time we want to retrieve our regular 32GB SD card and any recordings with it. It makes sense then to load as high a capacity up to that 32GB as possible to avoid having to swap cards in or out.

Bushnell Prime L20 Tan Low Glow: Performance

Selecting the ‘Aim’ mode on the three-setting slider switch alongside the narrow LCD screen allows for the camera to be set up, although the choices here are not extensive. In fact, it’s fair to say the on-screen menu is rudimentary, the selections required to get going from scratch involve setting up the camera with time and the date – favoring the US convention only of the month first, day second, and year third – and selecting the shooting of stills or video. 

Despite, or perhaps because of, the minimalism of the digital watch style controls, setting up the camera requires an initial read through the hard copy manual, then scrolling through and okaying of the limited options presented to us. Once the camera is switched to ‘On’ mode, which means it’s ready to start operating in earnest, there is a brief 10-second delay period during which we can quickly shut the camera cover and retreat from wherever we’ve set the Bushnell Prime L20 Tan Low Glow trail camera up, and thereby avoid accidentally triggering its recording.

Ten seconds is not long to fully get away from the setup position, however; so expect to get a few frames of yourself retreating into the distance included when retrieving the SD card later. The Resultant 4:3 ratio digital images come with a white border along the bottom helpfully displaying the date and time of capture along with the external temperature. While at the time of testing the camera detected a fairly balmy 23°C when we placed it outside in the early evening, we do wonder whether performance is affected by temperatures dropping, as the general rule of thumb is that cold batteries lose their efficiency. Happily, we left the camera in place overnight, a 12-hour period during which the Bushnell recorded temperatures had dropped to 7°C, and found it was still fully operational at 7am the next morning, even though the internal batteries were cold to the touch. 

In terms of end results, it’s worth pointing out that nighttime images are captured in black and white – think of slightly grainy surveillance footage we’re all used to seeing on TV – while daytime images are recorded in full colour, also with a slightly grainy look. Overall we’re getting imagery resembling a VHS video grab. Recall the look of the original ‘Blair Witch Project’ movie and you won’t be far off.

Here it’s about actually capturing an image of something we wouldn’t otherwise be able to record, rather than achieving a crystal clear DSLR quality result that we’ll want to hang on our wall.

Bushnell Prime L20 Tan Low Glow: Verdict

Like any trail camera, the remotely activated Bushnell Prime L20 Tan Low Glow involves a degree of trial and error ‘point and pray’, as regards both operation and results, but arguably that’s part of the fun and a large part of the appeal of devices such as this. 

Built for use in the great outdoors, obviously, the unit is sufficiently water resistant to withstand rain and comes with the added peace of mind of a two-year warranty. For those looking to capture surveillance-type imagery while they’re tucked up in bed or without actually having to be in the vicinity, this budget-priced Bushnell option is worthy of recommendation.

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Want to get closer to nature, yet from the comfort, safety and warmth of your own home? We’re all aware of surveillance cameras, as a feature of everyday existence. Well, a ‘trail camera’ is a surveillance camera and more – its built-in sensors detecting movement and automatically triggering the taking of a photograph or recording of a video sequence when any subject approaches – which means the user doesn’t need to be anywhere in the vicinity at the time the images are being taken. In fact, as trail cameras are used to keep watch on and track skittish wildlife, the best results are going to be achievable when there’s no human around to disturb proceedings. 

Though the brand is best known for binoculars, the Bushnell Core DS-4K No Glow is one of a number of trail camera or ‘trail cam’ options produced by the manufacturer. It distinguishes itself from the pack, however, by featuring two sensors rather the usual one – the thinking being that with one sensor optimized for daylight capture and the other for nighttime capture, best results will be achievable around the clock. Well that’s the theory; how do things pan out in practice?

Key features

With a hard plastic exterior and camouflage print festooned fascia, the Bushnell Core DS-4K No Glow is very obviously a camera built for use in the great outdoors rather than in studio. Its moldy tree bark-like exterior signifies it’s designed to either be strapped unobtrusively to a tree trunk or tripod mounted and left out in the wild, to be trigged by the approach or proximity of wildlife, and left to cope self-sufficiently with varying weathers and lighting conditions. Its ‘no glow’ suffix signifies that it features a non-glowing LED light, so it won’t spook wildlife, particularly at night.

Offering a decent 120ft detection range, this particular trail camera sets itself apart from the pack by featuring an additional sensor over its competitors for both day and nighttime use. Its other headline features include 4K resolution video and a 32 megapixel image resolution, which is a step up from the 30MP resolution of the nearest comparable model in Bushnell’s range. 

It also beats most others that tend to offer a 32GB capacity by virtue of allowing use of a generous 512GB SD card, removable media onto which said footage and images are stored. For the purposes of set up, it’s also suggested that for optimum results, the trail camera should be placed 16-17ft away from whichever position is being monitored.

The rivals

There are a bunch of competing trail cameras that serve the same function, though obviously core features such as resolution, range and functionality differ. The Bushnell Core DS-4K No Glow trail camera distinguishes itself by featuring a class leading video resolution as indicated in its model name, plus a relatively speedy 0.15 second trigger response, which provides a further draw alongside its day and night optimized twin sensors.

We should take care, however, when making our purchase selection, as there’s a near identically named Bushnell trail camera retailing at slightly less, but offering a lower 30MP and just the one sensor, as opposed to this one’s 32MP resolution and twin sensors. We think the extra is worth paying for.

Alternative manufacturers’ options worth looking at if you don’t want to spend a premium outlay include the Spypoint Force 20. This one offers a slightly lower specification, including 70ft detection range, 1080x720 pixels video clips and a SD storage capacity of a ‘mere’ 32GB. Also look at the GardePro E6 No Glow trail camera, which comes with its own phone app for remote operation and is Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled. On the flip side it ‘only’ offers a 24MP stills resolution and 1080P video at 30fs, rather than the 4K boasted by the Bushnell Core DS-4K No Glow.

Bushnell Core DS-4K No Glow: Handling

The size of a house brick, although weighing less, even with the 6xAAs required for power inserted, we’ll need to make sure the Bushnell Core DS-4K No Glow trail camera is securely and tightly fastened wherever we choose to place it for our remote observation and recording. The Chinese-made device feels obviously plastic-y when gripped in the palm, yet with little if any flex to the body. With a weatherproof exterior, we’d wager the build is robust enough to withstand the odd knock and accidental dislodge from whichever perch we’ve placed it on. We wouldn’t, however, want to try standing on it.

As users, we’re invited to exert control over the camera via a control panel that will be familiar to anyone who has operated a compact digital camera before. This comes complete with a tiny 1.5-inch LCD screen barely bigger than an actual memory card, via which we can affect and check our selections. 

Once set up is complete, the operational buttons, screen and SD card slot are secreted from view and protected via an outer cover with a clamp mechanism to keep it securely shut. This ensures that any animal clambering over the camera once it’s been left in place won’t disturb our settings.

It’s worth adding that, while some competitors allow the entire inner camera module to be retrieved from the trail camera’s outer casing, here that element is fixed in place. For us that’s not an issue though, as the SD memory card required for storage can be retrieved and inserted into a card reader or laptop slot for playback, while the six AA batteries required for power slide into a tray compartment at the base of the unit. This tray is ejected, allowing batteries to be replaced, via a button on the backplate. Ambitiously, Bushnell suggests that a full set of batteries will last up to a year, max. Unsurprisingly the batteries required are an extra expense.

Performance

With camera operation being automatic and remote, once media card and batteries have been inserted and settings chosen, there is a brief 10-second delay period in which we can quickly retreat from wherever we’ve set the camera up, and thereby avoid accidentally triggering its operation ourselves.

Advance set up is reasonably straightforward. A choice of presets includes Feeder, Trail, Food Plot or ‘Advanced’, the latter allowing us to opt for either photo or video capture modes, or to select a combination of both capture methods. We can also select image size, to have some control over just how much we can fit on the inserted card, plus adjust the unit’s sensitivity to detect either low level, fast moving or long-range subjects.

Basic attendant functionality includes being able to format the card in use, plus manually input latitude and longitude coordinates, if desired, which had us thinking automatic on-board GPS functionality would have come in useful. Time and date can also be set, but it favors the US convention only of month first, day second and year third. 

Video resolution is also selectable. We get the expected options of standard definition 1280x720 pixels, Full HD 1920x1080 pixels or up to a 4K resolution 3840x2160 pixels. Duration of capture can be tweaked upwards or downwards, though the default duration is a 10 second clip.

As the Bushnell Core DS-4K No Glow trail camera is designed to be set up and left to its own devices, we’re never quite sure what we’ll get – if anything – out of it, and so usage inevitably is a somewhat trial and error process. Still, as anyone who has watched a nature documentary that also utilizes remote filming will be aware, a large part of the appeal of trail cameras is the potential to be surprised. 

Speaking from a photographic perspective, the images we got from the camera most closely resembled video grabs rather than slick or sharply defined images we might want to stick on our walls. While we weren’t expecting an equivalent SLR performance, it’s worth bearing in mind that what this one offers – remote, covert viewing – is something than an SLR can’t. So it’s very much a case of horses for courses.

Bushnell Core DS-4K No Glow: Verdict

With a two-year limited warranty providing some additional peace of mind, the Bushnell Core DS-4K No Glow trail camera may command a slight price premium over other models in its manufacturer’s range, but overall we feel any extra is fair. To achieve satisfying results, practice, perseverance and willingness to go through a period of trial and error is ultimately what is required.

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Purporting to offer a premium build for an affordable cost, this black liveried Bushnell 20-60x65 Prime spotting scope is weather proofed for use in the great outdoors, and comes with an angled 45-degree eyepiece. Unsurprisingly, the specifications here refer to a zoom power ranging from 20x to 60x, married to a 65mm objective lens. 

Our review sample also included a Bushnell branded travel tripod, which is certainly handy, though you’ll need to be mounting it on a table or lying down in the undergrowth to use it comfortably. The tripod also has a removable car window mount built into it, useful perhaps if you’re thinking of buying this one for use on a safari – or any native wildlife park where you’re advised to remain in your vehicle and observe from within. But perhaps the biggest lure is that we’re getting all these features at a cost that is within reach of the amateur enthusiast. Read on to find out whether this has resulted in a value-for-money proposition…

Specifications

Magnification: 20-60x
Objective diameter: 65mm
Field of view at 1000m: 50m at 20x, 17m at 60x 
Closest focusing distance: 6.1 metres
Eye relief: 18mm
Weight: 1080g
Dimensions: 370mm in length

Key features

Like the majority of its ilk, this Bushnell device features fully multi coated lenses and protection against fogging regardless of the conditions we happen to be using it in. Furthermore, the Bushnell Prime 20-60x65 spotting scope offers IPX7 level waterproof construction with O-ring sealed optics ensuring everything stays reassuringly dry; at least when immersed in three feet of water for up to 30 minutes, claims the manufacturer. In short, it’s perfect for all weathers.

Further ticking those boxes for desirable features among the cognoscenti is the fact that its optical system comprises ED Prime Extra-low Dispersion glass and premium Bak-4 prisms, helping avoid chromatic aberration while theoretically allowing for a brighter image with it.

Build and handling

Immediately you lift it from the box, this device looks and feels like a well made piece of kit. This unit weighs 1Kg, which ensures the Bushnell Prime 20-60x65 spotting scope feels solid in the palm, but not uncomfortably hefty. The size/weight distribution feels pretty much spot-on, in fact.

With the angled eyepiece providing comfort, if we’ve any gripe with the build, it’s that the zoom ring, which like the adjustable eyecup has a rubberised ridged surface for easy purchase, is a little on the stiff side, meaning that adjusting magnification is a tad slow. This is not uncommon, however, and in fairness it’s preferable to it being loose enough to accidentally nudge, either in operation or when retrieving it from its zip up bag provided out of the box. A smaller more subtle focus wheel is provided forward of this, its location falling just at our fingertips when an eye is pressed up against the eyepiece, ensuring that we don’t have to take our eyes away from our subject, allowing for focus adjustments to be made on the fly.

Performance

We were faced with light drizzle during our test period – no problem for this device though, as it claims to be water resistant to IPX7 standards. Purporting to offer optimum light transmission, ultra crisp clarity and edge-to-edge detail thanks to the better than expected feature set for its price, as well as boasting colour fidelity, in fairness we’d have to say that image sharpness here doesn’t quite match up to our recent experience with Leica or Zeiss branded scopes that have, by contrast, delivered images so sharp they’re almost overwhelming. 

Compared to these top-end, expensively priced alternatives, what the Bushnell delivers can look a little cloudy by comparison in duller conditions, even when optimum focus has been visibly achieved.

You’ll be eyeing up this scope to bring the faraway closer, naturally, so perhaps it doesn’t matter so much that, alternately, the closest focus distance is a so-so 6.1 metres or 20ft, should the subject we’re tracking move closer towards us. We do however get a long-ish eye relief of 18mm and a twist up eyecup. The idea is that this is left retracted if the user is wearing glasses, or can be manually extended if they aren’t. 

Usefully, in the event that lens flare may become a problem in brighter conditions, there is a pull-out sunshade provided at the opposite lens-end of the device that is actually part of the barrel of the scope itself, as opposed to an accessory to be screwed on or off and possibly mislaid in the process.

Verdict

The Bushnell Prime 20-60x65 is light enough to be used handheld – despite its relative bulk and ruggedness – indicating a tripod will be both more practical and comfortable for extended periods, this is a well made, straightforward-to-use device. OK, so optical quality may not be as pin sharp as more expensive and weightier options from the likes of Leica or Zeiss, but then many will feel the savings we’re making with this one will be worth taking the chance. Peace of mind when buying the Bushnell Prime 20-60x65 scope is offered courtesy of a full lifetime warranty described by the brand as ‘iron clad’, while the inclusion of a tripod with the scope itself is a very welcome addition.

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Bushnell has announced it’ll be taking the wraps off a seriously impressive-looking quartet of new trail cameras.

The Bushnell Core Trail Cameras are certainly likely to join the best trail cameras for wildlife photography. The range has been designed to be rugged and powerful, able to keep shooting for longer, in all sorts of conditions, to allow a fascinating glimpse into the private world of wildlife. 

There are four models in the new range, so let’s take a closer look at each one.

First up we have the Core Low Glow Trail Camera, which boasts a 100ft night range, a 24MP sensor and a 0.3 second trigger speed. It’s also able to shoot Full HD 1080p video, with audio, and its low-glow LEDs means the light it emits is barely visible to the human eye. Its RRP will be £209.95.

Next there’s the Core No Glow Trail Camera. As the name implies, this camera emits absolutely no light when capturing images, meaning it’s especially good for photographing wild animals without disturbing them. It has an 80ft night range, a 24MP sensor and a 0.3 second trigger speed. It’ll be going for £219.95.

Both of these cameras also boast a battery life of up to one year, providing an unparalleled opportunity to capture the changing seasons and its effect on wildlife.

For a little more shooting power, Bushnell has also announced the Core DS Trail Camera range, with “DS” standing for “Dual Sensor”. These cameras, as you might expect, have two sensors – one for capturing daytime shots, the other optimised for shooting at night.

The Core DS Low Glow Trail Camera has a 100ft night range, and acording to Bushnell it will “capture high contrast, night time images with no washout.” It has a 30MP sensor and a 0.2 second trigger speed, with dim LEDs that are barely visible to the human eye. It shoots 1080p Full HD video at 60fps, with audio too. Not too shabby! Its RRP will be £299.95.

There’s also the Core DS No Glow Trail Camera, which has very similar specs but emits absolutely no light at all and has an 80ft night range. This one will go for £329.95.

All these cameras will first be on display at BirdFair, running from the 16th to the 18th of August, 2019.

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