The best trail cameras in 2021: for wildlife photography and nature watching

The best trail camera is the perfect way to capture amazing images of wildlife while you're sat at home with your feet up! We've picked out ten of the top trail cameras and camera traps currently available to help you find the best trail camera for you.

Whether you have a particularly skittish subject that tends to avoid people, or you simply want to keep an eye on a patch of land to see which critters tend to visit it, the best trail cameras are a great alternative to being physically present with one of the best telephoto lenses. 

If you're not familiar with the term 'trail camera', you might know it by one of its other names: nature cameras or camera trap. No matter what you call it, the best trail cameras are a remote image capture device that will automatically photograph animals in their natural habitats. 

Using motion or heat detectors, a trail camera is designed to lie in wait for hours, days or week until an animal wanders in front of the camera. This will then trigger it to take a photo or start capturing video. 

In fact, trail cameras can actually make pretty good outdoor security cameras when you're in a pinch, as the motion/ heat detectors will capture human activity just as well as it captures wildlife movements. Plus, if you live in an area that sees a lot of rain or snowfall, the best trail cameras tend to have a rugged build to prevent damage from water or extreme temperatures.

In terms of the sort of specs you'll want to look for, you'll find that the megapixel count will vary on trail cameras. This higher the megapixel count, the better the image quality will tend to be. Meanwhile, you'll also want to keep the type of lens you want in mind as well. The wider the focal length, the more of the scene the trail camera will be able to capture. 

Understanding how fast the trail camera will capture a photo after its detection system has been triggered is also very important. You'll want to look for one with less than a second, as otherwise you'll have a lot of photos of the back feet of your subject disappearing out of the frame. 

You'll also find that some trail cameras will have an infrared flash built in. This is capable of producing light on a wavelength that your wildlife subject won't notice, which is perfect for low light conditions. If your subject is nocturnal, it might be worth investing in one with flash.

We've picked out the best trail cameras around, from budget buys that deliver serious bang for their buck to high end powerhouses. As with most products, the more you spend, the better product you'll get. However, there are still plenty of affordable options to browse through. 

With that in mind, here are the best trail cameras you can buy right now...

The 10 best trail cameras in 2021

This trail camera from the Bushnell brand features the advantage of two image sensors – one optimized for sharp and rich images during the day, and the other – you guessed it – optimized for night use, with high contrast clarity promised at up to 80ft in the dim. Being a camera for the great outdoors, it goes without saying that this one is also built to survive in both the cold and the heat. The Dual Sensor (DS) product gets its ‘No Glow’ moniker courtesy of LED lights that are described as ‘nearly invisible’ – thus making the unit ideal for both viewing wildlife and, conveniently, security purposes. Features Full HD video capture at up to 60fps with audio too, plus 30 megapixel color camera with a triggered response time of just 0.2 seconds.

To No Glow or to Low Glow, that is the question posed by Bushnell's superb new Core DS trail cameras. The difference between this model and the No Glow alternative simply comes down to the infrared LEDs used by the units for night time imaging. As the name suggests, it means that one is more visible to animals to the other (and also the humans). For situations where you just can't afford to miss the shot, then the higher wavelength of the No Glow option is a must (and this is also good when the light going off may disturb neighbors). But the lower cost Low Glow option is probably more than suitable for capturing nocturnal goings on of wildlife in your backyard. 

US brand Stealth Cam has been in the trail camera market for around 15 years and offers this affordable entry-level option with a 10 megapixel stills option – you can also opt for 8MP, 4MP or 2MP shots from the unit – plus HD quality video with between and five and 180 seconds of audio. With a respectable trigger response time of 0.5 seconds, there is a backlit LCD for making selections from the camera’s menu, plus a 16:9 image ratio. As with competitors, ‘no glo’ (hence the ‘NG’ suffix) infrared flash can illuminate subjects up to 100ft away, while this camera purports to offer advanced blur reduction. Usefully there is an external power jack for operation via a 12v battery; otherwise power comes courtesy of 8x AAs. Durable weather proofed housing is a must, and thankfully included here.

The little Spypoint LINK-MICRO-LTE is a much simpler proposition than many of the other trail cameras on this list. It doesn't even shoot video – just 10MP stills, though it can do so with an impressive trigger time of 0.5 seconds. You can also set the camera to trigger multiple photos once its infrared system detects motion, allowing you to get a series of images in quick succession. In an unusual touch, the Spypoint LINK-MICRO-LTE also comes packaged with a preactivated SIM card that can transfer photos straight from the camera to your phone. A little odd perhaps, but a nice addition. It's fully controllable via the Spypoint apps too, letting you properly incorporate your smartphone into your workflow. 

If you’re dipping a toe into the world of trail cameras here is an affordable and reasonably featured entry point that takes up to three still images when triggered, with intervals adjustable between one second and 60 minutes, or alternatively between five seconds or a minute of HD quality video. Powered by eight regular AAs, rather than rechargeable lithium battery or solar power, its manufacturer nevertheless claims these could last up to 12 months, so you won’t have to keep popping back to change them. Another bonus is that its motion-activated sensor can spot subjects up to 100 feet away, its operation can be set to 24 hours or day or night only, it has an infrared flash, the 16-megapixel resolution CMOS sensor provided is good enough to do the job and it comes with a one year warranty.

As the name indicates this model is interesting for the fact that it harnesses the power of the sun. Yes, it’s solar powered. Like other models in its range it comes with the core features of an ultra fast trigger speed of 0.07 seconds, plus 42 low glow LEDs. The resolution this time around is a modest yet perfectly serviceable 12 megapixels, while the flash range again extends up to 90ft. There’s an internal battery provided, though it can also be powered by six AA batteries, not included, should the sun presumably fail to shine. The ability to detect subjects up to 110ft away, time lapse movies, blur reduction built in, 720P video with sound plus a 2-inch screen tick the boxes for the attendant features we’d expect from a trail camera at its slightly more premium price. 

Resembling the face of a Cyberman or some other Doctor Who automaton, this recent intuitive-to-use update from the Spypoint brand features a built-in 20-megapixel camera and the ability to illuminate night-time subjects without unduly distracting them – thanks to what are described as 48 ‘super low glow’ LEDs. Video is a high definition 1280x720 pixels rather than Full HD, while the motion activated sensor can register subjects up to 80ft away. A certain amount of flexibility is offered via the addition of a time-lapse recording mode. Just don’t forget a ready supply of Jelly Babies to while away the time with when you’re crouched hiding in the bush.

If you’re looking for the ultimate in image quality for your wildlife photography and videography then seeking out the highest resolution possible at the time is an obvious choice. This unit, resembling a piece of alien hardware from Star Trek, is pitched as the world’s first 4K digital trail camera, offering 3840x2160 pixels video in daylight. Not only that, but it boasts a trigger response of 0.4 seconds, a whopping 30 megapixel still image resolution plus a useful infrared flash range of 100ft. A burst mode allows between one and 9 images to be captured sequentially, while a hybrid capture mode as it sounds can record both stills and video in 16:9 wide image ratio when this camera is triggered. The only obvious downside is that the Stealth Cam unit requires 12 AA batteries for power, adding to the weight and bulk.

An entry level model in the aptly named Spypoint range of trail cameras, this one can capture 10 megapixel photos (hence the model number) and HD video in color during the day, plus black and white by night, due to its infrared camera functionality. Like others in its manufacturer’s line up it is powered by 6x AA batteries, though a rechargeable lithium ion pack is available as an optional extra, as is, like all the options here, the SD media card onto which stills and video are recorded. Once again we have a curved motion sensor to improve the angle of the unit’s ‘detection’, a 2-inch screen, HD video (albeit here without sound), a six image multi shot mode, a flash that can reach 90 feet, plus a subject detection range that can be adjusted from just 5ft to 80ft, and all within rugged plastic casing. This is another one that can be hard to find outside of the US, so again keep an eye out in case a second-hand seller starts offering it.

Standard trail cameras are great if you can monitor things in your back garden – or can check the recorded footage at regular intervals. But what if you want to put a camera somewhere more remote – where wifi coverage is not enough? The answer is a trail camera with cellular capability – which will beam footage to you, and give you notifications to your camera phone, tablet or laptop wherever you are – even if you are in the next state. The Skypoint Link-S has the same solar-powered independence as the Skypoint Solar-W , and similar features. The unit is usually supplied with a pre-activated SIM card to get you going with your remote wildlife watching – but do check the running costs. In the States, you can find different versions for use with Verizon or AT&T - so check which gives the best cellular coverage at your location. Outside of the States it's getting a little harder to find, but keep an eye on second-hand sites in case you can snap up a bargain. 

Read more

Best portable hides for wildlife photography
Best binoculars
Best night vision goggles
Best spotting scopes
Best monoculars
Best lenses for bird photography
10 ultimate locations for wildlife photographers
Best camera bags and cases