The NatureSpy Ursus is designed to be versatile, durable and affordable, striking a balance between the versatile features of high-end trail cameras while maintaining a responsive detection circuit and producing clear images. For the past few years, we’ve been impressed by Browning trail cameras, and we currently rate the Browning Elite HP4/HP5 models as some of the best all-round trail cameras available, but this does of course come at a price. So how does the NatureSpy Ursus (£104.99) stack up against the Browning Elite HP4 (Recon Force £139.99 / Spec Ops £169.99) and Browning Elite HP5 (Recon Force £184.99 / Spec Ops £199.99)?

Video & Photo Quality

At maximum video quality settings, the NatureSpy Ursus and Browning Elite HP4/HP5 cameras record video at 1080p resolution (HP4/HP5 at 60fps, Ursus at 30fps). As with all trail cameras sharing the same image resolution, the resulting video quality can vary, so viewing the sample footage below is useful to gauge preference.

Side-by-side: NatureSpy Ursus & Browning Recon Force Elite HP5

Sample footage: Browning Recon Force Elite HP4

Performance comparison of the NatureSpy Ursus and Browning Elite HP4 & HP5 camera traps

Performance-wise, the Ursus and Elite HP4/HP5 share similar specifications, but the HP4 and HP5 hold an edge with the fastest detection circuits, triggering almost instantaneously upon animal detection – there are very few trail cameras with trigger speeds like this. Nonetheless, the Ursus holds its own in this aspect. The Elite HP4 is fractionally slower to recover between captures compared to the Elite HP5 and has the narrowest field of view of the bunch. 

The Ursus and Elite HP4/HP5 produce clear photographs, but counterintuitively, they produce better quality images on lower photo resolution settings. This is the case with almost all trail cameras, as they commonly use interpolation to artificially increase the size of higher resolution images.

Sample photo – NatureSpy Ursus Trail Camera

Sample Photo – Browning Recon Force Elite HP5

Sample Photo – Browning Recon Force Elite HP4

The NatureSpy Ursus features a no-glow infrared LED flash, ensuring exceptional discretion by emitting no visible light, day or night. Meanwhile, the Browning Elite HP4/HP5 offers two models with distinct flash types. The Spec Ops Elite HP4/HP5 is the pricier option of the two HP4/HP5 models as it features a no-glow IR LED flash, just like the Ursus. On the other hand, the Recon Force Elite HP4/HP5 utilises a low-glow IR LED flash, delivering superior night-time footage but sacrificing some discretion due to the faint red glow emitted by its LEDs at night. The Elite HP5 produces the clearest night-time images of the bunch, owing to the 5 large infrared LEDs that mark one of the most significant upgrades between the HP4 and HP5.  

Sample night photo – NatureSpy Ursus Trail Camera

Sample night photo – Browning Recon Force Elite HP5

Sample night photo – Browning Recon Force Elite HP4

Design, Build & Features

The NatureSpy Ursus and Browning Elite HP4/HP5 trail cameras are feature-packed and built to withstand a wide range of climates and weather. They are also rechargeable battery compatible, which is a highly sought after feature of trail cameras that is still surprisingly uncommon.

Browning Recon Force Elite HP5 (left), NatureSpy Ursus (middle) and Browning Recon Force Elite HP4 (right)

Feature comparison of the NatureSpy Ursus and Browning Elite HP4 & HP5 camera traps

The NatureSpy Ursus holds the edge in this category with more features (hybrid/dual mode and GPS geotagging) compared to the identical features across the HP4 and HP5 models. The Ursus is also a more compact camera and features a robust IP67-rated housing. Technically, this means the Ursus is dust proof and waterproof to a depth of 1 metre for 30 minutes. In practice, this means it has tighter seals that can better withstand the most common camera trap killer: humidity! 

With our project partners at Rainforest Concern, we’ve put the Ursus trail camera to the test in one of the dampest environments on Earth, a South American cloud forest. The Ursus has successfully held up against the almost 100% year-round humidity of these forests, as well as the curious paws of Andean bears!

In the box

Ursus: Camera, strap, recyclable cardboard packaging.

Browning Elite HP4/HP5: Camera, strap, recyclable card and plastic packaging.

All cameras purchased at the NatureSpy shop come with a memory card.

Ursus, HP4 or HP5: Which to buy?

Choosing between these trail cameras hinges on specific needs and budget. The Browning Elite HP4/HP5 excel in image quality and detection speed, while the Ursus stands strong with its durable housing and additional features.

• Seeking a top-of-the-range trail camera? The Browning Elite HP5 rivals any trail camera for high quality video and detection speed.
• For those seeking a more affordable yet highly capable trail camera, the NatureSpy Ursus is a strong a contender. With its IP67-rated housing, it’s the most durable camera of the bunch. As a budget-friendly choice, it’s also ideal for those that need multiple cameras.
• The Browning Elite HP4 (Recon Force £139.99 / Spec Ops £169.99) is a great option for those seeking Browning’s renowned video quality and detection speed at a price point between the Ursus (£105.99) and Elite HP5 (Recon Force £184.99 / Spec Ops £199.99). 

The NatureSpy Ursus, Browning Recon Force HP4 / HP5 and Browning Spec Ops Elite HP4 / HP5 are available in the NatureSpy shop. As a conservation social enterprise, we use the profits generated by our shop to support a diverse range of wildlife conservation projects, from lions in Zambia, to pine martens in Yorkshire and spectacled bears in Peru.

Take a closer look at the Ursus and HP5…

Over the past 2 years we’ve been actively using the NatureSpy Ursus and Browning Elite HP5 trail cameras in our NatureSpy projects. Take a closer look at each model and learn more about what they can do, along with recommended settings to explore, in our Ursus Deep Dive and Elite HP5 Deep Dive articles.