What are camera traps?

Wildlife cameras

Camera traps, also known as trail cameras, are the cameras equipped with a motion sensor which activates the photo taking or video recording upon detection of a moving object (e.g. a human, an animal or a vehicle). Camera traps are used in particular for protection of property, fish ponds and apiaries, as well as for forest control and wildlife viewing. Camouflage colours and special fitting strap makes it possible to mount them on a tree, in bushes or other inconspicuous places.

Some forest cameras have a built-in GSM module. GSM module provides remote control of the device – once the photo is taken it is sent to the pre-set telephone number by an MMS with the image captured. With this solution, you can e.g. catch a thief red-handed.

Camera traps design

Wildlife cameras with the special design
  • 1

    Preparing motion sensors

  • 2

    Main motion detector

  • 3

    Lens

  • 4

    IR illuminating diodes

  • 5

    Motion pointer

  • 6

    Padlock eyelet

  • 7

    Light sensor

  • 8

    Battery compartment

  • 9

    A screw

  • 10

    Locking clamp

  1. 1 – Preparing motion sensors
  2. 2 – Main motion detector
  3. 3 – Lens
  4. 4 – IR illuminating diodes
  5. 5 – Motion pointer
  6. 6 – Padlock eyelet
  7. 7 – Light sensor
  8. 8 – Battery compartment
  9. 9 – A screw
  10. 10 – Locking clamp

Choosing a camera trap – What to look for?

Integrated GSM module

Wildlife camera with integrated GMS module

Integrated GSM module is the solution which is becoming of a great interest of customers purchasing the camera traps. Why? There are several reasons. When buying a camera trap you would like to have greater control over it, which is ensured by the GSM module.

The next thing is the ability to send information about burglary, vandalism or other situation directly to you phone or email address. This way you do not need to go to the place where the camera trap has been installed to eject the SIM card with recordings. You will receive information in a short time, so you will be able to quickly react to the situation.

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IR diodes invisible at night

Wildlife camera with diodes which is invisible at night

Invisible infrared diodes is an excellent solution that is used in more and more forest cameras . Now, why is this important? The advanced technology of the infrared illumination, which is invisible for human eye, makes your camera trap even more inconspicuous.

Some camera traps emit a little glow which may interest or scare the game, or, what’s worse, may be of interest to a passerby. It is obvious that we all want to get a device that would be 100% invisible for the surrounding. Therefore, it is worth while choosing the forest camera to check whether the infrared illumination emits a little glow.

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Wide viewing angle

Wildlife camera with wide viewing angle

Viewing angle of the camera trap or, to be more precise, the angle of motion sensing by the sensors built-in the device, is an important element of the camera trap. Before buying the camera, think over the place you would like to install it and what area it will have to monitor.
It should be clear that the greater the viewing angle the better. The viewing angle of most of devices is greater than the lens angle, which in case when the sensors are in the sleep mode, gives the camera trap time to wake from the stand-by mode.

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Remote SMS commands

Wildlife camera with remote sms commands

Remote control with the use of special SMS commands allows you to avoid direct contact with the camera trap when you need to introduce changes in settings.

Often, you do not want to get close to the device so as not to arouse suspicion but at the same time you need to introduce changes in camera operation mode, photos markers, sensitivity or sensor coverage.

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Matrix resolution

Wildlife camera with matrix resolution

Matrix resolution is a crucial technical parameter of any camera trap, as it directly affects the quality of the provided photos and video recordings. The higher the resolution, the better the color reproduction, the sharpness and the balance of the recorded footage.

Forest cameras with matrix of good resolution will be the right choice for registering animal life or identifying people who break the law.

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IR emitter coverage at night

Wildlife camera with emitter coverage at night

Most camera traps are equipped with short-range infrared illuminators which work well to brighten up the area at the distance of 10-13 meters in the nighttime. However, there are camera models which are designed to work in the nighttime, e.g. SpyPoint SOLAR, SpyPoint MMS or Reconyx PC900. The coverage of the IR emitter applied in those devices is up to 30 meters.

One should remember that the IR emitter cover at night is important, but it may turn out insufficient without the right matrix resolution and the sensors viewing angle. If the purpose of installing a camera trap on a tree is to catch an intruder red-handed, it’s worth to make sure that this particular camera model enables high resolution recording.

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Shutter release rate

Wildlife camera model SHUTTER RELEASE RATE

This parameter is crucial when monitoring the surrounding. The shorter the rate the greater the likelihood that the camera captures the right footage.

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Camouflage colours

Wildlife cameras with camouflage colors

The last but not the least important element to think about when buying the camera trap is the camouflage colour. If you want your camera trap to be invisible for the surrounding, you should adjust its colour to the surrounding area. For example, the camera intended to work in the forest should blend into the colours of trees and bushes.

When choosing the device for monitoring the urban space or private premises, it’s worth to choose the camera trap in a plain colour that would blend into the colour of the building.

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