It might seem like the toughest part about trail cameras is choosing the best camera to fit your needs. While that is probably true, choosing the right batteries is crucial for optimal performance. Whether you’re a seasoned user or just getting started, understanding the strengths and weaknesses of different battery types can make a significant … Read more
Whether you are using them to scout game animals or monitor property, trail cameras are extremely helpful tools, but they are useless without a memory card to save the pictures and videos on. So it is extremely frustrating when your camera tells you “No SD Card” or another similar message when you can clearly see … Read more
Trail cameras are a helpful tool for any hunter, providing an extra set of eyes in the woods. But with so many new features and types of trail cameras on the market, it can be hard to know which one is right for you. One of the newer features available on some trail cameras is … Read more
If you just purchased, or are thinking about purchasing, a trail camera or other portable electronic device with expandable memory you are most likely in the market for one or more memory cards, or SD cards, as many of us more generically refer to them. When you shop for SD cards you will see so … Read more
Have you ever wondered how to detect trail cameras or if they can even be detected at all? It’s a question that’s crossed many minds, especially if you’re a hunter, property owner, wildlife enthusiast, or someone just curious about the devices around you. So can trail cameras be detected and are there some tools or … Read more
Similar to the cost of ink with computer printers, as the prices of cellular trail cameras have gone down over time the most expensive part about cellular trail cameras is the data plan subscriptions. This is because cellular trail cams need an internet connection in order to send pictures or videos to your smartphone or … Read more
Trail cameras have revolutionized wildlife monitoring, allowing us to capture stunning images and videos of animals in their natural habitats. These cameras have become increasingly popular among hunters, wildlife enthusiasts, and property owners alike. However, one aspect of these cameras that many users are unsure about is whether trail cameras flash at night. In this … Read more
PIR sensors, also known as motion sensors, are used in trail cameras to detect movement in front of the camera. Every trail camera will have one or more PIR sensors. These sensors are integral to the design of every trail camera and will directly impact each camera’s performance.
In addition to the PIR sensors themselves, many trail cameras will also have adjustable settings for the sensor(s). This allows you to get optimal performance from the camera regardless of the environment you have the camera monitoring.
In this article, we will explain what a PIR sensor is and how they work. We will also explain what to look for from a PIR sensor when buying a trail camera as well as talk about the adjustable settings you might find for a trail camera’s motion sensor(s). Finally, we will talk about some tips to get the most out of your camera’s PIR sensors.
Increasingly popular and widely used among hunters, property owners, researchers, and wildlife enthusiasts alike, cellular trail cameras offer a convenient way to capture footage in the wilderness or other remote areas without having to physically be present. But do cellular trail cameras require a subscription in order to function? This is a common question and … Read more
Trail cameras are a type of camera that is frequently used by hunters, wildlife enthusiasts, and property owners. These cameras are designed to be left unattended for long periods of time as they take photos or videos of the animals or people that moved in front of it.
But how do trail cameras work? In this article, we’ll answer that question and explore everything you need to know about these amazing devices.
What Is a Trail Camera Used For?
The most common use for trail cameras is to monitor game animals or other wildlife in an area. They are usually mounted on trees or posts in strategic locations, such as near a water source or along a game trail, in order to get the best possible pictures or videos of wildlife. Trail cameras are a valuable tool for hunters, as they can help to pattern the behavior of game animals.
The second most common use for trail cameras is for security and surveillance purposes on both personal and commercial properties. Some people who are using trail cameras for security and surveillance purposes might opt for a camera with cellular connectivity depending on how quickly they want to see the pictures and videos it has captured.
Almost all of us have used SD cards, but not everyone has noticed the SD card lock. For those who have noticed, many don’t know how it works or what it’s for. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the SD card lock, how it functions, and talk about when you should use … Read more
SD cards and micro SD memory cards are small, portable, and easy to use. But are they waterproof? Turns out, the answer is a bit more complicated than a simple yes or no. In this article, we’ll explore what you need to know about SD cards and water resistance. Are SD Cards and micro SD … Read more
It is frustrating to check the SD card on your trail camera only to find out that the memory card is filled up with pictures and videos that have no subject in them. If you are asking, “Why does my trail camera take pictures of nothing?” your camera is the victim of false triggers.
Bushnell defines a trail camera as having a false trigger when the passive infrared sensor (PIR sensor) thinks that there is motion and heat in front of the camera lens and captures an image or video when in fact there is no subject in the image.
Having a trail camera taking pictures of nothing is bad enough, but to make matters worse, these false triggers drain your trail camera’s batteries. This can require you to be constantly purchasing new batteries for your camera regardless of how energy efficient it is.
Luckily, we have a list of the top 6 easy things you can do to help avoid false triggers with your trail camera.
Below is a list of all our current trail camera reviews. Narrow down the list by selecting the type of camera and/or feature(s) that are most important to you. After you are finished making your selections click the “Submit” button to see a list of reviews of cameras that fit your criteria. If you are … Read more
These days people seem to be getting busier and busier. People are having difficulty finding time for leisure activities including hunting. Many hunters might only be able to head out into the woods for just a couple of days a year. So when they head off to their deer stand or blind they want to go to a location that will give them a good chance of seeing activity and being successful. Unless you are okay leaving your success to chance you want information to help you know where and when you should hunt. One of the best ways to get information about deer or other game in your area is to use a trail camera.
Trail cameras allow you to capture pictures or videos 24 hours a day along with important information about the time and conditions when each image or video clip was recorded. The problem is that there are a dizzying number of models to choose from with each having its own unique combination of features. So it can feel daunting to identify what features and specifications that are most important to you so you can get a trail camera that meets your needs regardless of your budget.
This guide is meant to help inform you about the most important features of trail cameras and what specifications you should be targeting whether you’re on a budget or price is no object.
1. Image Quality
Image quality is easily the most important feature to consider when buying a new trail camera. The most important thing to look at with regard to image quality is the number of megapixels, which is abbreviated as MP. Megapixels is how image resolution is measured – and the more megapixels, the better.
That may not be much of a surprise, but what is surprising is how crisp of an image even a lower megapixel camera (like 8-10 MP) can display. This may not mean much to those for whom price is no obstacle, but for everyone else it’s significant. As long as you have sufficient lighting, a megapixel count from 8-12 MP should be fine for most situations. More mid-range priced cameras range between 14-16 MP. If, however, you want to focus on nighttime photography or capturing images of fast-moving animals, the higher-priced cameras usually range between 16-20 MPs. There are even some luxury models that come with 30 MP resolution. Of course, the higher the resolution – the more you money will expect to spend.
Another thing buyers want to think about is the fact that higher resolution images will fill up the storage space on your memory card more quickly. This can be a problem for people who intend on leaving their trail camera for an extended period of time before checking it – especially if it is in an area with a lot of activity. Luckily, most trail cameras will allow you to choose if you want to capture images at the maximum resolution the camera is capable of or at a lower resolution to help you save on storage space. However, most people will be fine having their cameras on the maximum resolution setting if they have a large enough memory card.
Whether you are using it for security purposes or trying to figure out the perfect location for your next hunt, have you ever put your trail camera out to monitor an area and wished that it was a cellular trail camera instead so you could see the pictures it captured right away and eliminate the need to go out to the camera and pull its memory card?
If you are like most of us your answer is probably yes. But how?
So let’s talk about how you can make make your trail camera have cellular trail camera capabilities, what your options are, how much it will cost, and when it makes sense to do it.
Whether you have used trail cameras for a long time or if you just purchased your first camera you may have heard people who talk about “letting their trail camera(s) soak.” If you’re not familiar with this term, you might think it refers to a camera’s ability to withstand the elements, but that’s not correct. … Read more
Trail cameras have long been popular with hunters and outdoor enthusiasts who use them to monitor game animals and document natural scenes or events. Over time people have come to realize that trail cameras can be useful tools to help monitor your home, business, or other property as well. With a variety of options available, … Read more
Trail cameras are a popular way to scout deer or other game animals as well as a great way to monitor your home or business. Part of the popularity of trail cameras is their ability to capture pictures and videos during both the day and night. However, sometimes the camera does not function properly … Read more
We talk a lot about trail cameras on this site, but you don’t hear frame rate talked about too often with trail cameras because it isn’t much of an issue since so many trail cameras have similar specifications. However, with the advent of trail cameras that are capable of recording videos in 4K the number … Read more
For people who use trail cameras the most important and anticipated moment is when you get to view the pictures that it has captured. Avid outdoorsmen know that getting the most accurate and up to date images and information about the game animals in your area can be the difference between success and failure in their outdoor activities. Property owners who use game cameras for surveillance and security purposes know that getting viewing images and videos in a timely fashion is very important if there is a theft or vandalism. That being said, depending on your situation, it may not always be easy or convenient to go out and retrieve the pictures from your game camera. In these cases, you might want to consider purchasing a trail camera model that utilizes cellular technology to send pictures and videos to you as soon as they are taken.
Cellular trail cameras can send you pictures and videos immediately after they are captured. They can allow you to know what is going on in the woods or on your property in real-time, without you needing to physically go check the trail cameras and if you are using them for hunting, without running the risk that you will be scaring the game animals out of your area and contaminating the area with human scent. Thankfully, there are a lot of terrific trail cameras to choose from these days and the prices have really come down from where they were just a few years ago.
In a Hurry? Here is a List of the Cellular Trail Cameras We Recommend:
Bushnell Impulse – Great for people who want a lot of customizable features and for those who like to figure out how the weather affects game movement patterns.
SPYPOINT LINK-MICRO – Compact cellular trail camera at a great price for people who want to conceal the camera’s location.
Comparison of Cellular Trail Cameras
My Camera Name
SPYPOINT LINK-DARK & LINK-DARK-V
Covert Blackhawk LTE (VERIZON) & Covert Code Black LTE (AT&T)
Cuddeback CuddeLink Dual Cell Model # K-5789
Bushnell Impulse
SPYPOINT Link-Micro
Camera Resolution
12MP
20MP
20MP
20MP
10MP
Video Resolution
720p
1080p
720p
1080p
NA - Doesn't record video
Flash Type
No Glow
No Glow
Dual Flash that allows you to choose between No Glow and Low Glow flash options
No Glow
Low Glow
Flash Range
80 feet
100 feet
100 feet
100 feet
80 feet
Trigger Speed
0.07 second
0.65 second
0.25 second
0.2 second
0.5 second
Cellular Network
LINK-DARK (AT&T) & LINK-DARK-V (Verizon)
Covert Blackhawk LTE (VERIZON) & Covert Code Black LTE (AT&T)
Is There a Difference Between Cellular and Wireless Trail Cameras?
Wireless Trail Cameras Defined
A wireless trail camera allows you to view the pictures or videos it captures without needing to connect cables to the camera or removing the memory card. Wireless game cameras send these files to your computer or smartphone in one of two ways.
One way that these files can be transferred wirelessly is through the use of Bluetooth technology. These Bluetooth enabled cameras will allow you to connect to the camera with your smartphone or computer via a Bluetooth connection and transfer the pictures and video that way. The one negative about these cameras is that you will still need to be relatively close to them (100 feet or less in most cases) to make the Bluetooth connection and download the files onto your device.
The other way these cameras can transfer information wirelessly is through the use of a Wi-Fi internet connection. Once connected to the internet these Wi-Fi enabled cameras can send you the pictures and videos it captures. One drawback to Wi-Fi enabled trail cameras is that they need to stay within the Wi-Fi range so it can make a connection. Another drawback for Wi-Fi enabled trail cameras is that they will drain your batteries faster if they are always connected to the internet (so you might want to consider a solar panel or battery box for these models).
Cellular Trail Cameras Defined
One way in which cellular trail cameras differ from wireless trail cameras is that they have a much greater range. Instead of needing to keep it within range of a Wi-Fi signal so it can connect to the internet or walking up to within 100 feet or less of the game camera to receive images and/or videos all you need to do with a cellular game camera is to put it in an area that has a strong enough cellular signal so it can make a connection (like your cellphone).
This freedom to post the camera in the areas you are most interested in monitoring means that you can get the information you want and thanks to cellular technology you can get that information when you want it.
Cellular Game Cams are Often Referred to as “Wireless”
Even though wireless technology doesn’t necessarily mean cellular technology most people who use the term wireless trail camera are actually referring to a trail cam that uses cellular technology to send photos and videos.
Note: Because in the trail camera world the terms wireless and cellular are used interchangeably we want you to know that anytime we might use the phrases wireless trail camera or wireless game camera in the rest of this article we are referring to a cellular trail cam.
Cellular Trail Cameras Can Save You Money
On one hand, buying a cellular trail camera might cost you some extra money initially, but in the long run, having a cellular game camera might save you money. For example, the place I prefer to deer hunt is a 4-hour drive away and is accessible only with a truck. After a few trips each fall to check the images on my trail cameras I can spend a couple of hundred dollars in gas each year, which will go a long way to paying for any additional expenses I might have with a cellular deer camera.
Plus, the information I can obtain by having the images of deer and other wild game from my trail camera emailed to me during the season can help me make those critical in-season decisions of where to hunt.
What to Consider When Buying a Cellular Trail Camera
Like all trail cameras, you want to consider image quality, trigger speed, and flash range. You can read our complete buying guide for trail cameras here.
However, there are some additional things you should keep in mind when buying cellular game cameras. These things include:
Many people run their cameras year-round. So they expect their trail cameras to stand up to the most punishing environmental conditions while operating the entire time, recording images onto the SD card, and detecting movement without any problem. We talk a lot about trail cameras on this website and we commonly hear a few questions … Read more
When you go to the trail camera department at your favorite outdoor store or online retailer, you will probably notice that in addition to trail cameras they are also selling SD card viewers/readers. If you have noticed these devices, you probably wondered if you should think about buying one of them for yourself. So let’s … Read more
When you have a trail camera, or get one for the first time, the most exciting part is to see what images and/or videos you have captured. So once you have it set up and in the field, the question we all ask ourselves is, “How often should I check my trail camera(s)?” Most of … Read more
If you have ever gone to check your trail camera and found that it hasn’t been taking pictures or recording videos you know that it can be very frustrating. Is it broken? Do you need to adjust the settings? Is it something else altogether?
The good news is that these days trail cameras are pretty dependable and durable. So before you run out and buy a new camera there are a few things that you can do to troubleshoot and easily fix most problems.
Depending on the specific symptoms your trail camera is experiencing the main culprit(s) behind your problem can vary. So let’s break it down by the situation.
Tips On What To Check If Your Trail Camera Is Not Taking Any Pictures
If you are thinking about investing in a cellular trail camera there are probably a ton of features that you are looking at, or sorting through. Sometimes it can actually feel a little overwhelming. Some of these features might include image quality (how many megapixels the camera has), trigger speed, type of flash (no glow vs. low glow vs. incandescent), flash range, video resolution, and which cellular carrier you should use. If you are feeling overwhelmed by all of the options and choices you can read our Cellular Trail Camera Buying Guide and Reviews as well as our original Buying Guide for Best Rated Trail Cameras, which covers more than just cellular trail cameras.
Due to the fact cellular carriers don’t have identical coverage areas many people think about which carrier the camera is able to use so they can make sure there is coverage in the area they wish to place the camera. However, sometimes people forget to see if the camera uses a 2G or 3G network. 2G service is becoming a thing of the past. So if you buy a trail camera that utilizes 2G towers it will no longer be able to transmit pictures when the last of the 2G towers are taken out of service in your area, which has already happened in many places. When this happens a 2G trail camera will still capture images and video, but it will no longer be able to transmit images, which is very frustrating when you just spent a bunch of money to get a cellular trail camera. If you look online there are tons of reviews where people have purchased 2G trail cameras only to find out that they don’t work where they want to set them up. That is why we recommend buying 3G cellular trail cameras in our Cellular Trail Camera Buying Guide.
So is there ever a situation when it is OK to buy a 2G cellular trail camera? Surprisingly there is one situation when you might want to consider buying a 2G cellular trail camera.
