Having a trail camera that can record 4K videos is a valuable asset for any hunter or property owner. The addition of Bluetooth and WiFi connectivity to these cameras only increases their value as it allows the user to retrieve the pictures and videos using an app on their phone without having to physically retrieve the camera’s memory card.
The problem with many 4K trail cameras is that they are often too expensive and those that are more affordable are often lacking important features or specs.
Thankfully, the TOPVISION 4K Lite WiFi/Bluetooth Trail Camera comes equipped with the features most of us want in a 4K trail camera and still has a competitive price.
Table of Contents
Introducing the TOPVISION 4K Lite WiFi/Bluetooth Trail Camera
There are many players in the trail camera market, each bringing its best. TOPVISION, which was founded in 2016, is a new entrant in the scene, and it is already making waves with its 4K Lite Wi-Fi/Bluetooth trail camera. It is an exciting device that appeals to novices and enthusiasts alike, which will improve your wildlife or property monitoring abilities.
Additionally, you can use the camera for other purposes such as nature photography. It has plenty of unique features that we will look at in this review.
Pros
- 4K Lite video
- Fast trigger speed
- Wide motion detection range
- Competitive price compared to other 4K trail cameras
- Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity for remote access
- Multiple applications, such as nature photography and property surveillance
- IP66 weatherproof (if you are not sure what this means you can read this)
Cons
- Low frame rate when recording 4K video
- Low glow flash
- Slow response from customer service
Review of Key Features and Benefits of the TOPVISION 4K Lite WiFi/Bluetooth Camera
Camera
The camera on the TOPVISION 4K Lite guarantees you great results. It can capture top-quality photos with a resolution of 24-megapixels and can take bursts of up to 3 photos at a time. It also can record high-resolution 4K lite videos.
In addition to the standard Picture and Video modes that you expect on a trail camera the camera also has a Photo+Video mode that allows the camera to shoot a photo and then record a video. This helps to diversify what the camera captures.
The only real negative with this, as well as any other camera that can record 4K Lite videos, is that the video might look “choppy” or appear to “shudder” if there are fast-moving objects in it. However, the video will look amazing if there aren’t fast-moving objects or if you pause it to look at an individual frame within the video clip. This is all due to the frame rate that these 4K Lite videos are recorded at, which in the case of this TOPVISION, is a frame rate of 10 frames per second (fps) for a 4K video. So unless you are okay with faster moving objects looking a bit “choppy” or run the camera at 1080p video resolution, which kind of defeats the idea behind a 4K trail camera, you will probably want to use this TOPVISION in places where the likely hood of faster-moving objects is less, like at a food plot or some other similar location.
If you are unfamiliar with framerates and would like to learn more, I can tell you that most trail cameras record video at 30 frames per second, which is something we go into more detail on and show you some helpful examples in our article, What Frame Rate Should Your Camera Have? We also talk about frame rates in our article on 4K trail cameras.
Wi-Fi and App
It has built-in WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity. Once connected to the camera via WiFi it can be controlled through your smartphone using the free app, which is available from Campark for both IOS and Android devices. In addition to being able to adjust the camera’s settings through the app, you can also access your photos and videos.
Depending on the camera’s surroundings the Wi-Fi has a detection range of around 30 to 40 feet.
Motion (PIR) Sensors
The TOPVISION 4K Lite has three motion sensors, giving it a 120° detection angle and 65-foot detection range. It also has adjustable sensitivity levels with high, medium, and low settings. For best performance, I would suggest setting it at high when you first begin using the camera. You can also turn off the side sensors, which is helpful if the camera is placed in a location where having such a wide detection angle causes it to have false triggers.
Trigger Speed
At 0.2 seconds, this hunting companion has a trigger speed that is among the fastest in the trail camera market.
Flash
The 38 pc 850nm low glow infrared LEDs are able to illuminate objects up to a range of 65 feet. While there are cameras out there that have longer flash ranges, 65 feet is a very common flash range and is more than adequate for most situations and matches with the TOPVISION 4K Lite’s detection range.
The trouble with trail cameras that use low glow flash is that while the infrared light that is illuminating the camera’s detection area isn’t visible to the human eye, it does make the front of the camera glow red. This red glow makes it difficult to conceal the camera’s location in low light conditions. This issue is true for all low glow infrared trail cameras, not just TOPVISION 4K Lite.
Time-Lapse Feature
The time-lapse feature allows you to capture photos at selected intervals without the PIR sensors needing to be triggered. This is a great option if you want to monitor the area that is beyond the range of the PIR sensors, or if you want to capture lengthy naturally occurring processes in the wild. Time-lapse can also help if the camera is set up in a location, or is facing a direction, where it is struggling with false triggers, although I would try repositioning the camera or turn down the PIR sensitivity first.
Remember that when using time-lapse on this TOPVISION camera, as well as with most other trail cameras with the time-lapse feature, the PIR sensors will be turned off and cannot be triggered. So the only photos the camera will take will be at the time intervals the user has selected.
LCD Screen
The TOPVISION 4K Lite has a 2.4-inch color LCD screen. This comes in handy when setting up the camera for the first time. It also lets you view your photos and videos or easily tweak the camera’s settings without having to use the mobile app on your smartphone.
Memory Card
Like all trail cameras, the TOPVISION 4K Lite requires a memory card to store your captured pictures and video footage. It is compatible with SD, SDHC, and SDXC memory cards, with capacities of up to 128GB. Class 10 cards are recommended. A great pick is the SanDisk 128GB Extreme PRO SDXC memory card.
If you want to shop around for memory cards, but don’t know what to get you might want to check out our article about the best SD cards for trail cameras. Whichever card you choose don’t forget to format it before using it on the camera.
Password Protection
If you want to restrict the use of the camera to a few select people you can secure it with a password. In the settings menu, you will have the option to create a 4 digit password of your choosing. Once the password protection is enabled you will have to key in this number anytime you want access to the camera.
Batteries
To meet the TOPVISION 4K Lite’s power needs, you will need to supply 8 AA batteries. The camera is pretty economical on battery use, and a set can serve it up to 4-months or more depending on activity. For best results, we suggest using lithium batteries such as the Energizer Ultimate Lithium, as they will perform well even under extreme temperatures.
Input For External Power Supply
Given the fact that this TOPVISION camera has Bluetooth and WiFi connectivity, many people might choose to place it in elevated or other hard to get to locations. That is why it is good to know that it has an input for an external power supply so you have to option to not worry about having to check the batteries on the device multiple times each year.
Image Stamp
The image stamp shows you crucial details about each photo or video. Included details are the date, time, temperature, and moon phase, which are all helpful to know as you sort through pictures and videos looking for patterns in animal behavior.
Included Accessories
The TOPVISION’s model comes with various accessories for easy installation and use. Listed below are the provided add-ons.
- USB Cable
- Mounting Belt
- Mounting bracket
- Mounting base
- 3 Mounting Screws
- User Manual
Customer Service
The good news is that the TOPVISION 4K Lite trail camera is a good product and pretty intuitive to use, especially if you have used other trail cameras in the past. So you probably won’t need to reach out to customer service. The bad news is that if you do reach out to them, which I did when reviewing this camera, they may not respond in a timely fashion and I tried emailing them directly, using the contact form on their website, and calling them. This was much different than what I have experienced from other companies where I have gotten same-day or next-day responses (even for companies that are overseas).
Areas of Use
When you look at the TOPVISION 4K Lite’s features such as its ability to record 4K lite video, wide detection angle, and Bluetooth and WiFi connectivity, its versatility is evident. Apart from wildlife monitoring, you can also feel confident using it for general photography and home surveillance.
The only ways in which this trail camera might come up short would be in situations where you need it to keep its location hidden at night or if you want to place it in a really remote area where the ability to send you pictures over a cellular network would be ideal.
Pricing
The TOPVISION 4K Lite Wi-Fi/Bluetooth trail camera has a reasonable price tag. It may seem higher than that of the standard trail cameras; the justification is its fantastic collection of features, like Wi-Fi connectivity and 4K Lite video. Compared to similarly equipped cameras this TOPVISION is competitively priced.
Other Options
Stealth Cam DS4K Trail Camera
If you really like the TOPVISION 4K Lite, but really wished that it had no glow flash the Stealth Cam DS4K could be the trail camera you are looking for. It has an adjustable no glow flash with a maximum range of 100 feet to help guarantee full illumination of the frame in low-light settings while keeping the camera’s location a secret.
Similar to the TOPVISION 4K Lite the DS4K only records 4K video at 15 frames per second (fps), which can make the videos look choppy if there are faster moving objects in the recordings. However, like the TOPVISION, the DS4K records 1080p video at 30fps, which looks crisp and smooth when viewing videos that contain fast action.
You can learn more about the DS4K by reading the review we did on it. Otherwise you can see its current price here.
Campark T200 4K Trail Camera
The Campark T200 distinguishes itself from the most other 4K trail cameras by offering you the ability to capture 4K videos @30 frames per second (fps), which is ideal if you want to place the camera in places where there might be a chance of capturing fast-moving wildlife. The T200 also can capture 2K video @30fps or 1080p video @30fps as well.
In addition, the T200 comes with an included solar panel, which allows you the option of checking the camera less frequently without having to worry about the batteries running out of power, which is a great relief if the camera is in a very remote or hard to get to area. Plus, if the camera is in a busy location you will be happy to know that it can accommodate a memory card of up to 128GB to help ensure that you won’t run out of storage space for your pictures and videos.
The Campark T200, like the TOPVISION 4K Lite, has Bluetooth and WiFi connectivity, which along with its free app, will allow you to put the camera in hard-to-access areas, such as elevated positions, and still be able to adjust the camera’s settings and view your pictures and videos. Another thing that the T200 has in common with the TOPVISION 4K is its low glow flash. If you need a trail camera that can keep its location concealed at night you might want to opt for the DS4K that we just mentioned above. Otherwise, the T200 could be an attractive option.
We did a full review of the Campark T200 if you want to learn more about it. Otherwise, you can check its current price here (note: there is often a discount offered to first-time Campark buyers).
Browning Recon Force 4K EDGE Trail Camera
The Browning company has also been around since 1878, so you know you’re getting a quality product from a name that’s trusted in the industry. Unlike the TOPVISION 4K Lite, the Browning Recon Force 4K EDGE can record 4K UHD videos @ 30fps. If you want to record videos at an even faster frame rate you could opt to record in 1080p @ 60 frames per second, which could be used for slow motion video. Its video recording capabilities along with several standout features like Smart IR Video recording and a time-lapse mode that doesn’t disable the motion sensor really make this Browning a top contender in the 4K trail camera market.
With only one PIR sensor the Recon Force 4K EDGE has a narrower detection angle than the TOPVISION 4K, but it has an adjustable detection range of 56-80-feet, which is a step above the 65-foot range found on the TOPVISION. Another area where the Browning Recon Force 4K EDGE shines, no pun intended, is with its low glow flash that has an astounding maximum range of 100-feet.
We did a comprehensive review of the Recon Force 4K EDGE if you want to learn more about it. Click here if you want to see the current price.
Final Thoughts
The TOPVISION 4K Lite is a very good trail camera for the price. Not only does it give you the option of recording 4K Lite videos, but it is loaded with a bunch of other standout features like a fast trigger speed, a wide detection angle, Bluetooth, and WiFi, which help to make the camera very versatile.
However, if you plan on recording a lot of fast moving action in 4K or anticipate needing a lot of help from customer service you might want to spend a few extra dollars and opt with one of the options mentioned above. Otherwise, you may want to check out our 4K trail camera page where we go through different options and give you links to all the other 4K trail cameras we have reviewed.
You can check the current price of the TOPVISION 4K Lite WiFi/Bluetooth trail camera here.
Last update on 2024-10-04 at 02:52 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
