Deep Dive into the NatureSpy Ursus Trail Camera

The NatureSpy Ursus combines our experience in the field with conservation projects along with customer demand for a capable, feature-packed camera trap that is more affordable.

In this deep dive, we take a closer look at the Ursus trail camera, sharing recommended settings and installation tips. We also compare the Ursus to a high-end camera trap, the Browning Elite HP5, to show when and where a more affordable camera like the Ursus may be a good choice or a high-end camera like the HP5 may be a better option.

Overview

The NatureSpy Ursus trail camera can be used to record video (max. 1080p at 30fps) or photo (max. 30MP). The no-glow infrared LED flash illuminates wildlife at night but keeps the camera well-hidden – this is the most discreet type of camera trap flash available. To meet the demands of conservation projects all over the world, the camera’s IP67 rating means that it’s dustproof and waterproof down to one meter for up to 30 minutes. This means it will hold up in harsher climates and weather conditions, ranging from the Sahara Desert to the rainforests of Borneo. From our experience, we've found that humidity can even be problematic for camera traps used for extended periods in woodlands in the UK, so we designed the Ursus to be as durable as possible, making it a versatile camera for a broad range of fieldwork needs.

The Ursus also includes often-requested additional features that aren’t always a standard feature of other camera traps, these include:

• ‘Timer period’ enables the selection of a window of time in a day when the camera is active and ready to record.
• ‘Dual’ mode (also known as hybrid mode) records video and photo at the same time.
• Time-lapse mode provides control over two separate time-lapse periods in a day.

The full camera specification can be viewed here and the digital manual is available here.

Recommended settings

The Ursus trail camera provides plenty of options for users to control different features. Here we breakdown the main camera controls and some recommended settings to help you get the most from the camera. If you're new to the Ursus Trail Camera, we also recommend checking out our Best Settings Guide as a starting place for recording clear videos and taking sharp photos.

Photo and video modes - Photo mode can be set to capture between 1-9 photos per trigger. Video mode can be set to record from 5 seconds to 60 seconds per trigger (capped at 20s for night-time images), in 1-second increments. 20 seconds per trigger is often a good starting place, balancing the need to see animal behaviours while avoiding the capture of excessive amounts of empty footage, depleting battery life after an animal has passed by.

Dual/hybrid mode - On dual mode, the camera will capture photo(s) and then a video from a single detection of an animal. The number of photos and length of video can be controlled in the same way as when operating on individual video and photo modes. Dual mode can be useful for projects that would like a photo for an initial, quick species identification from a photo, and then the option of a video to review for animal behaviours.

Video quality - On the maximum video quality setting, the Ursus records at 1920x1080 resolution. The camera records in AVI format and a commonly used 32GB memory card will store approximately 500 x 10 second videos when set to maximum quality. The mid-quality video option (1280x720) also produces clear images, and the videos are about half the size, so a 32GB memory card will store approximately 1000 x 10 second videos. We recommend testing both the high and mid quality options to see which meets your needs. The Ursus is compatible with memory cards up to 128GB.

Image/photo size - Almost all camera traps use image interpolation (the Ursus included). Confusingly, this means that larger megapixel images deteriorate in quality as they are artificially enhanced. For this reason, the lowest image quality setting is often the best choice on a camera trap. We recommend starting with the 5M setting on the Ursus and experimenting with 16M and 30M settings if required.

Interval - The interval feature sets the time the camera will wait between captures to respond again. This can be set in 1-second increments from 1-60 seconds and then 1-minute increments from 1 minute to 60 minutes. Set this to 1 second when you want the camera to be almost instantly ready to record again after a capture. Consider longer intervals such as 1 minute or more to help manage the amount of footage captured in busy spots for wildlife. Longer intervals can also be helpful if the camera is to be left for longer periods (e.g. 2 months) without a battery check and memory card swap.

Sensor level - In almost every situation, ‘high’ sensitivity is the best choice. On this setting, the camera will respond quickly and reliably when an animal passes by. If experiencing lots of false triggers (e.g. when vegetation causes the camera to trigger), try reducing the sensor level sensitivity to ‘normal’.

Flash mode - The Ursus offers 3 different flash modes for night-time captures. These modes only apply in photo mode and do not apply to video:

• Fast Motion – the standard all-round flash mode, suitable in most scenarios.
• Long Range – better for illuminating larger, open areas. This mode can result in more motion blur.
• Low – more suitable for closer-range setups (e.g. monitoring small mammals).

Timer period - Timer period sets the window of time in which the camera is active throughout the day. This helps with focussing on particular species (e.g. the nocturnal antics of hedgehogs) or only recording activity at a particular time (e.g. dusk or dawn).

Time-lapse - When set to time-lapse mode, two separate photo time-lapse periods (A and/or B) can be set. Intervals are selected in 1-minute increments up to 60 minutes, then 1-hour increments up to 6 hours.

Setup and installation tips

Optimum range - The Ursus will capture images out to 25 metres in daylight, 20 metres at night, and as close as 1.5 metres before starting to lose focus. We think this camera works best all-round in the 3-5m range, as this is a sweet-spot for detailed, in-focus images for a broad range of medium to large mammals. Small mammal and bird monitoring requires setups around the 1.5-2.5m range. The camera can be attached to a tree or mounted on a tripod and we recommend 30-60cm high as a starting place.

Choose a focal point and test the camera - Aim the camera at a focal point in the centre of the field of view where you anticipate wildlife activity. When the camera is roughly in place, set it to the ‘on’ position and wave your hands in the focal point area. If the red light on the front of the camera blinks, the camera is detecting movement. If the light doesn't blink, try adjusting either the height of the camera, or loosen the strap and place a small stick behind the top of the camera housing to angle it downward slightly. If wanting to further refine the setup, press the ‘shot’ button (right arrow on the pad) and close the camera: This will take a sample image that can be reviewed on the spot.

Framing effectively - Camera traps work with varying approaches to detection zones. This can be visualised as the area in the field of view where the camera will trigger, and this varies for different brands and models. For the Ursus, there is a rectangular detection zone within the field of view as illustrated below. This type of detection zone means that more of the animal is likely to be within the frame when the camera activates (rather than just a nose appearing at the edge!). Think of the detection zone as the area where the action will be captured: try to visualise how animals will likely move into the field of view and use this to frame the shot and adjust the camera setup.

Red area illustrates approximate detection zone

How does the Ursus compare to a high-end camera trap?

Check out this article to find out how the NatureSpy Ursus stacks up against the popular Browning Recon Force Elite HP5 trail camera.

Got a question about the NatureSpy Ursus? Get in touch - our team are always happy to help!