The best wildlife cameras for education and public engagement
For many conservation projects, sharing footage of wild animals is a powerful way to communicate the findings of a project and engage with a broad audience.
In this article, we take a closer look at several wildlife cameras that are excellent for capturing engaging footage. We also share sample footage from our experiences with these cameras in the field.
Whether for projects with a purely engagement focus, or projects seeking the added benefit of engaging images alongside data collection, these trail cameras feature clear image quality and offer a variety of features to suit different scenarios and budgets.
Overview
Best Video Quality - Browning Recon Force Elite HP5 (£184.99)
Budget-Friendly Versatility - NatureSpy Ursus (£104.99)
Live Monitoring & Instant Notifications - Camojojo Trace (£164.99)
Best Video Quality
Browning Recon Force Elite HP5 (£184.99)
Type: Trail camera
Video Resolution: 1080p at 60fps
Photo Resolution: 24MP
Trigger Speed: 0.3s video, 0.02s photo
Flash: Low-glow
Battery Type: Lithium AA (recommended) or rechargeable AA
Standout Features: Best-in-class video quality and outstanding detection circuit
The Browning Recon Force Elite HP5 is one of the most popular trail cameras available today. There are four main ingredients that make up a great trail camera: high quality images, a reliable and responsive detection circuit, versatile features and rugged housing. The Browning Recon Force Elite HP5 excels in all of those areas.
The vibrant, high-quality video produced by the Recon Force Elite HP5 makes this camera a great choice for capturing engaging images of wildlife. The detailed images produced by the HP5 make it much easier to see animal behaviours and distinguish unique markings, such as the unique bib-fur pattern on a pine marten, or the spots on a leopard. The HP5 is also a standout camera for audio recording too, capturing the detail of a dawn chorus, the snuffling of a badger or the footsteps of a deer strolling by.
Building upon the past success of Browning trail cameras popular Recon Force series, the Elite HP5 features an expanded field of view compared to its predecessors and an ultra-responsive trigger speed (0.3 seconds for video capture and 0.2 seconds for photos). With its 1080p HD video capability at 60 frames per second, the Elite HP5 surpasses many 4K trail cameras in terms of video smoothness, as 4K cameras often lack the fluidity of 60fps footage.
While video footage tends to be the most popular camera mode for capturing engaging footage, it's worth noting that the HP5 produces great photos too. Explore the Browning Recon Force Elite HP5 further in our Deep Dive review.
Budget-Friendly Versatility
NatureSpy Ursus (£104.99)
Type: Trail camera
Video Resolution: 1080p at 30fps
Photo Resolution: 30MP
Trigger Speed: 0.6s video, 0.3s photo
Flash: No-glow
Battery Type: Lithium AA (recommended) or rechargeable AA
Standout Features: Good quality video, versatile features and robust build quality
The NatureSpy Ursus trail camera is a more affordable yet highly adaptable wildlife camera, perfect for capturing wildlife encounters in various environments. Whether placed in a garden or amidst dense rainforests, the Ursus is built for it all, delivering good quality video footage, essential for engaging audiences in conservation efforts.
Rooted in NatureSpy’s extensive field experience with conservation projects and shaped by customer feedback, the Ursus embodies the demand for a feature-rich, cost-effective trail camera. Its versatility shines through its ability to record clear video (1080p at 30fps), take photos (30MP), and capture time lapse sequences, all housed within a rugged, dustproof, and waterproof IP67-rated casing. User-friendly in design, the Ursus features a 2.4” colour screen for easy navigation. The no-glow infrared LED flash ensures discreet operation, emitting no visible light during nighttime recording.
Overall, the NatureSpy Ursus is a budget-friendly and versatile trail camera, offering a diverse range of features typically found in higher-end models. While it may not match the video prowess of cameras like the Browning Recon Force Elite HP5, its affordability and clear image quality make it a great choice for capturing engaging footage of wildlife. Explore the NatureSpy Ursus further in our Deep Dive review.
Live Monitoring & Instant Notifications
Camojojo Trace
Type: Wireless trail camera, requires cellular/mobile network connection
Video Resolution: 1080p at 30fps
Photo Resolution: 5MP
Trigger Speed: 0.6s video, 0.3s photo
Flash: Low-glow infrared
Battery Type: Lithium AA (recommended) or rechargeable AA
Standout Features: Remote control, footage notifications and live view via smartphone app
Unlike traditional trail cameras that only save footage to an SD card, the Camojojo Trace uploads footage to the cloud, enabling viewing via the Camojojo smartphone app. Notifications will alert the user when there’s new footage, which can be viewed instantly.
The Camojojo Trace is controlled via the smartphone app, where adjustments to settings can be made on the fly, such as switching between video or photo mode, image quality, the sensitivity of the trigger and how the often the camera sends notifications of new footage, whether that’s instantly or at predetermined times.
Operating over the O2 mobile network in the UK, the Camojojo Trace requires a subscription to a data plan through the Camojojo phone app, which starts at around £5 per month. From our testing, we’ve found the antenna works effectively without interruption to use in areas of moderate to good signal strength. In addition to these wireless capabilities, the Camojojo Trace also has 32GB of built in storage, enabling users to download HD footage to a computer.
Although the image quality of the Camojojo Trace does not match the likes of the Browning Recon Force Elite HP5, it still produces clear images. The camera’s detection circuit is effective, with dependable trigger speeds (0.2s photo, 0.5s video) and a 90ft detection range. Battery life is good, owing to the 12 AA batteries it requires. It worked effectively with Panasonic Eneloop Pro rechargeable batteries in our testing, which can help to reduce running costs. There is also an option to purchase a solar panel with rechargeable battery pack separately, which can upgrade the Trace to be a more effective camera for longer deployments in remote locations where camera servicing to check batteries is challenging.
In Summary
Selecting the right wildlife camera for engagement purposes involves considering a blend of factors, primarily focusing on image clarity. The Browning Recon Force Elite HP5 stands out for its exceptional video quality and robust detection circuit, capturing detailed footage crucial for wildlife observation and audience engagement. For those seeking a budget-friendly option without compromising on quality, the NatureSpy Ursus offers versatility and clear image capture, suitable for various environments and projects. Additionally, for remote monitoring and instant footage retrieval, the Camojojo Trace provides the convenience of viewing footage through a smartphone app. Each camera discussed offers distinct features tailored to different needs and budgets, providing opportunities to capture engaging wildlife footage effectively.
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