Trail cameras can be a great addition to a hunters arsenal and an important piece of equipment for hunters everywhere. Trail cameras can be used in a variety of different locations and are perfect for picking up animal activity in a particular area.
Perhaps, you’re heading out on a specific hunt, or you may just be looking to keep pests off your property. Whatever the reason, a trail camera can help you determine which animals are in an area and capture activity on video or with still pictures.
At A Glance: Our Top 3 Trail Cameras Of [current_date format=Y]
In this guide, we’ll take a look at the best trail cameras that send pictures to your phone on the market, and give you an in-depth look at what you should look out for when considering a new trail camera.
[amazon table=”44965″]
The Best Trail Camera: Campark
Our Winner: Campark Trail Camera [star rating=”5″ numeric=”yes”]
Our favorite trail camera that we looked at is the Campark Trail Camera. This camera will give you a clear image when a picture is taken. The camera boasts a 14-megapixel camera and will film in 1080P full HD, so the camera will provide you with crystal clear image quality.
The camera will also film at night to give you insight into the world of wildlife. It’s worth noting that a memory card isn’t included with the camera, so you’ll have to buy one separately.
The instruction manual that comes with the camera is in-depth and will guide you through the process of setting up the camera correctly. To power the camera, you’ll need 8* AA batteries; it’s worth investing in some quality batteries as it will help the camera last a decent amount of time.
[amazon link=”B07BHLVXF7″ title =”Campark Trail Camera”]
[amazon box=”B07BHLVXF7″]If you want to transfer the images on the camera to your phone, you can do it by using a memory card that will fit your phone as well as the camera. There is also a USB socket fitted into the camera so you can transfer images and videos to your phone or computer easily.
When you open the menu on the camera, you can configure the video resolution and the length of the video you want to use. You can also choose the number of photos you want the camera to take in a series, ranging from 1-3.
On the front of the camera, you’ll see three infrared sensors that pick up animal movements when animal movement is detected; the camera will be activated within 0.3 seconds. The trigger distance for the sensors is up to 20 meters, so you’ll never miss any exciting moments. The lens of the camera is 120° wide, which gives the camera a broad view.
The night vision on the camera is very impressive; it’ll activate when night falls, and the camera is fitted with 42 pcs low glow infrared LEDs, and 850nm infrared flash technology brings a clear view of wildlife at night. Overall, the Campark Trail Camera is a fantastic camera for the price you’ll pay.
[amazon link=”B07J5HQ9C1″ title =”CreativeXP Cellular Security Camera”]
With the CreativeXP trail camera, you’ll discover a camera that is high-tech and easy to use. The camera comes with a free Simhero card, which will store 500 free photos and a 32 GB SD memory card.
The camera is waterproof and snowproof so that you can use it in any weather conditions. The camera features 56 infrared LEDs giving the camera quality night vision with HD quality. The 12-megapixel camera takes crystal clear pictures in the daytime as well as the nighttime.
[amazon box=”B07J5HQ9C1″]The camera also comes with inbuilt wi-fi, which allows you to instantly send the photos taken on the camera to any U.S. phone number or email address. The camera comes with a lifetime warranty, so if you’re unhappy with the camera at all, then the manufacturer will take care of your needs.
The detection range for the camera is 65 feet, which is very impressive and means that the camera will pick up any movement from wildlife at a great distance.
The fact that the camera can instantly send videos and images to your email or phone is one of our favorite features for this camera. It means you don’t waste any time having to manually send videos and images from one camera to your phone or computer, and keeps the process completely streamlined.
To activate the cellular network on the camera, you’ll need to install the AT&T 3g SIM Card that is provided with the camera to be able to send pictures and videos via the wifi network.
[amazon link=”B07K53KL1G” title =”Victure Trail Game Camera”]
The Victure Trail Game Camera allows you to control the time it operates, which is a little different from a lot of trail cameras on the market. When you open up the packaging of the camera, you’ll immediately find a quick start guide and a full instruction manual, which will give you all the guidance you need on how to set the camera up and use it effectively.
The camera can be powered with 4 or 8 AA batteries; when you put the batteries in and fire up the camera, you’ll be able to configure the mode you want your camera to be in. This will allow you to pick between a camera or video so you can choose between the two.
[amazon box=”B07K53KL1G”]You can choose the megapixel quality you want the camera to use, ranging between 1 to 12 megapixels. You can also choose the video quality you want, 720 to 1080p. The camera also allows you to choose how long you want each video to be. The camera also includes language settings that you can configure as well as time and date and power save options.
The camera has a trigger speed of 0.5 seconds and will take 3 continuous shots so you won’t miss any wildlife that moves quickly across the field of view. Victure has done a great job of making this camera easy to configure and giving the user a great deal of choice in how they set it up and a wide range of options to choose from.
It’s a very versatile camera that’s easy to use and has everything you could want in a high-quality trail camera.
[amazon link=”B0843PCHVW” title =”TOGUARD Trail Camera”]
If you’re looking for a high-quality, crisp image, then look no further than the TOGUARD trail camera. The camera captures 14 MP images and 1080P full HD videos with clear sound recording.
Inside the camera, you’ll find a built-in 3PIR system with a 0.35 trigger speed sensor, which allows for swiftly captured video footage and images. The lens of the camera measures 120° and can detect movement up to 75 feet away, which is fantastic for capturing animal movement at night.
[amazon box=”B0843PCHVW”]The camera itself is fully waterproof, so it will work well even in wet conditions. You can power the camera using either 4 or 8 AA batteries. When you open up the casing of the camera, you’ll see a slot at the bottom that’ll allow you to insert a memory card, which will ensure your pictures and videos are captured and stored.
The design of the camera is a camouflage green, so it will fit well into any garden or wild space without sticking out at all. The camera is lightweight and compact and will last a good amount of time, providing it’s properly cared for.
When you switch the camera on, you’ll be able to switch the camera mode to ‘settings,’ this will open the camera settings on display, and you can go through and choose the image quality, video resolution, video length and other settings that suit your needs.
The camera is easy to set up, but we’d still recommend you take a look at the instruction manual to familiarise yourself with the camera.
Overall, the Toguard trail camera is easy to use, takes a clear picture, and records a clear video and has everything you need in a high-quality trail camera.
[amazon link=”B07SZBBL8G” title =”UsoGood Trail Camera”]
Just like the Toguard, the UsoGood Trail Camera shoots images in 14 megapixels and records video in 1080 full HD quality. The camera is designed in green camouflage, so it will blend into any outside or wild setting.
The camera is powered by double AA batteries and is fully waterproof, so it’s safe to use in all weather conditions. The UsoGood has a 42-piece no glow LED image capture that won’t disrupt wildlife at night, so the camera is able to capture clear images at night.
[amazon box=”B07SZBBL8G”]The camera also has two different mounting options, so you have a range of choices, allowing you a number of different angles to capture your images or videos. The UsoGood has a 0.2-second trigger speed that is super fast and won’t leave you with blurry or partial images at day or night. Included with the camera is a strap that’ll allow you to tie the camera to a tree easily.
The display on the camera is 2.4 inches, and when you switch the camera on, you’ll be able to scroll through the settings, and you can set the quality of photo you want the camera to take, or adjust the quality of the video you want to record. In the settings, you’ll also see a time-lapse feature that’ll allow you to record more subtle changes to your environment.
The UsoGood is a robust camera, and we particularly liked the mounting options that give you a lot of flexibility in how you use the camera.
[amazon link=”B07PQ5QGV1″ title =”Meidase Deer Camera”]
The Meidase camera will give you high-quality day and night images. The camera will take images in 16 megapixels, which gives you crystal clear image quality. It features a large aperture and will capture video in full 1080P HD. This particular model uses no glow, invisible infrared illumination technology that’ll capture night vision shots up to 65 feet away.
Inside the box, you’ll find a USB cable that’ll allow you to transfer the images and videos from your camera to your phone or computer. We like the fact that a strap is also included, which means you have a good level of control over where you position your camera and the location and angle images are taken from.
[amazon box=”B07PQ5QGV1″]The design of the cover of the camera is a brown camouflage that’ll allow the camera to blend into its surroundings, and it’s also fully waterproof, meaning you can leave the camera out in any weather conditions.
You can choose from three different settings when you turn the camera on; video mode will obviously allow you to record video, and you can choose the length and quality you want the video to be.
We really like the design on the front of the camera, the buttons on the front of the camera almost resemble a TV remote, and the camera is very user friendly.
The 2.4 inch LED screen is large enough to be able to clearly navigate the settings and set the camera up how you want to. The camera has a 120° degree lens and a 0.2-second trigger speed, so it’ll capture any animal activity in a blink of an eye. Included with the camera is a one year warranty, which will cover you should anything go wrong with the camera within one year of purchase.
[amazon link=”B07WBWHWP7″ title =”Apeman Wildlife Camera”]
The first thing we like about this camera is the name! The Apeman takes images in stunning 16-megapixel quality and records video in 1080 HP quality. The camouflage design of the camera is similar to the other we’ve reviewed and will blend into any wild environment well. The camera includes multi-shot modes where up to three photos can be taken in a single burst.
The camera works well both day, and night thanks to it’s 26 LED flash illumination. The trigger speed of the camera is 0.5 seconds, which will trigger the camera or video into action. When you open up the camera, you’ll be greeted with a 2.4 inch LED screen that’ll display all the settings you need to configure the camera correctly.
[amazon box=”B07WBWHWP7″]You’ll also be able to view the pictures your camera has taken and any video footage directly on the camera. When you’re choosing which settings you want to use, you’ll notice that you can choose between a camera mode, video mode, or a combination of the two.
The Apeman requires 8 AA batteries to power it; batteries aren’t included with the camera, so you’ll want to make sure you pick some up before heading out to use the camera. The batteries will last between 3-5 months if the camera is only taking photos, and will last a shorter period of time if you’re shooting video.
Apeman has included various mounting options for the camera, inside you’ll find hardware that you can use to mount the camera if you want to mount it in a space permanently. If you’re looking for a little more flexibility, then a strap is also included with the camera so you can strap it to wherever you want to.
We’d recommend placing your trail cam in a spot that isn’t in plain view as this will make it hard for any thieves to try and steal.
The camera comes with a 12-month warranty so your covered should anything happen to the camera within your first year of owning it.
The only real downside to this camera is that it doesn’t come with batteries, so you’ll have to buy them separately. Other than that, the Apeman will give you clear and crisp images and video, which is exactly what you need in a trail camera.
[amazon link=”B06XQMBZ65″ title =”Bushnell Trophy Cam”]
The Bushnell Trophy Cam is a little bit different in design from the other cameras we’ve looked at so far. It features a solid grey/brown thick case, making the camera particularly formidable in appearance.
Bushnell is one of the leading makers of trophy cams, and all of their brand qualities are on display with the trophy cam. The camera takes photos in 16-megapixel quality, so any image is taken in crystal clear fashion.
[amazon box=”B06XQMBZ65″]The camera has a 0.3-second trigger speed and will record video up to 720p in full HD quality. You can set the camera to capture three images in a single burst; you can also set the camera to record a video from 5 to 60 seconds at a time.
Built into the camera is an automatic day/night sensor that’ll immediately detect when night vision mode needs to be activated. To power the camera, you’ll need 8 AA batteries, and Bushnell states that the batteries will last up to 12 months before they’ll need replacing, which is a significant amount of battery life for a camera to possess.
It’s always worth checking out the battery life on a camera before you make a purchase so you know how many batteries you’ll need to buy.
The camera can fit an SD card of up to 32 GB, but SD cards are sold separately from the camera. The motion sensor on the camera will detect any animal activity up to around 60 feet away from the camera. This is a good range for a camera of this quality.
This is an impressive trail camera, the battery life is particularly impressive, and you can choose from models of camera ranging from 16 megapixels to 20 megapixels so you can choose a camera to suit your individual needs.
[amazon link=”B08318BQHY” title =”Toguard Wifi Trail Camera”]
As you may be able to guess from the name, the Toguard wifi camera features built-in wifi so that you can directly send photos and videos from the camera to your phone and this is one of the top features of this camera. The camera takes photos up to 20 megapixels, making it one of the highest quality cameras on the market.
The camera will also film video up to 1296 HD quality. The camera is fully waterproof, so you can leave it out in any weather conditions and be confident that it will work.
[amazon box=”B08318BQHY”]The camera also features a night vision mode and will take clear black and white images and capture any animal activity at night. Toguard also has an app you can download that will allow you to change the settings of the camera directly from your phone. You can shoot videos between 5 to 60 seconds.
When you go to mount the camera, you can choose to permanently mount it or use a mounting belt so you can choose where you want your camera to be mounted. The camera will detect any animal movement from 65 feet away, which is a good range for a camera to have.
On the front of the camera, you’ll see three different sensors that will pick up any animal movement. The camera has a trigger speed of 0.3 seconds, so any animal or human activity will be captured very quickly. The Toguard wifi camera is perfect if you’re looking for a high-quality camera that will send images and videos to your phone easily.
[amazon link=”B079LN4XVR” title =”Moultrie A-25″]
The Moultrie A-25 is a compact camera, which will hold up to 17,000 images. The camera is powered by 8 AA batteries, and it’s recommended that you use lithium batteries, as they are better at withstanding harsh weather conditions. The camera will take images in 12-megapixel resolution giving them a clear, crisp quality.
The camera has a trigger speed of 0.9 seconds, so it’ll capture any animal movement very rapidly. The camera will pick up movement from 50 feet away, so a little less than some of the other cameras we tested, but still a good distance nonetheless. When you open the casing of the camera, you’ll be able to configure the settings you want to use.
[amazon box=”B079LN4XVR”]The display doesn’t feature an LED screen like the other cameras we’ve looked at but is still clear, and it’s relatively easy to program in the settings you want to use. If you’re unsure at all, you can always check out the instruction manual for guidance.
The camera comes with quite a long strap so you can choose where you mount the camera. Best of all the camera comes with a 2-year warranty, so if anything happens with the camera, Moultrie will take care of any problems. The warranty makes sure you’re covered and the Moultrie is a solid trail camera.
[amazon link=”B07Q6VW1CC” title =”Spypoint Link Micro Wireless Trail Camera”]
If you’re looking for a camera that is small in size, but high in quality, then take a look at the Spypoint Link Micro. The Spypoint trail camera is the smallest one on the market. The camera is powered by 8 AA batteries and can store a MicroSD card.
On the left-hand side of the camera, you’ll see an aerial that you can raise to give the camera the best chance of picking up the maximum amount of reception.
To set the camera up, you’ll need to download the Spypoint app to your smartphone, and you can configure settings for the camera through the app. The camera is pretty basic in design, which is good as it means it’s easy to use, and there’s not a high chance of much going wrong with this camera.
[amazon box=”B07Q6VW1CC”]It’s worth noting that this camera will only take pictures, it won’t record video. So if you’re looking for a camera to record video, you’ll need to look for a different camera.
You can send photos from the camera to your desired location through the 4G cellular network, so you’ll need to make sure you position the camera in a place where it has reception. When you send the photos, you’ll notice that the quality is high, and we were really impressed with how the photos came out.
Even the pictures taken at night came out very clearly, which is great as sometimes photos taken at night are unclear on some cameras.
The camera has 0.5s trigger speed, so it will pick up any animal movement or activity very quickly. This camera is high quality for how compact it is, Spylink has finished the camera off with a camouflage design and is highly recommended if you’re looking for an easy to use simple trail camera.
What Should You Look for in a Trail Camera?
As you can see, high-quality trail cameras have a few specific traits among all of them. One of the first things to look at is the megapixel quality of the camera, the higher the megapixel, the higher quality image will be taken. Most trail cams will allow you to choose the level of megapixels that you want to use to take an image.
You may also want to consider the quality of the video that a camera will shoot. All of the cameras we reviewed will shoot video in HD, giving you clear and crisp video footage of any animal activity that the camera notices.
When choosing a camera, take into consideration the distance of how long a camera will notice an animal form; most cameras will detect animal activity around 65 feet. The general rule of thumb to follow is that the higher the price for a trail camera then the higher quality image it will take.
Another consideration to make when you’re looking for a camera to buy is whether it comes with a strap or some screws or a device so you can mount the camera in a permanent location if you want to.
Personally, we liked the cameras that come with both options; a strap gives you the flexibility if you’re going to be moving your camera to different locations on a regular basis while putting a camera in a permanent location is useful if you want a camera for just one singular location.
How Do Trail Cameras Work?
Most trail cameras are very simple in the way they work. Most of the trail cameras on the market today are fully digital, and all the ones we reviewed are. Digital trail cameras work by switching on when an animal or person enters the frame of the shot.
An infrared sensor detects any activity from humans or animals on most digital trail cameras, and the camera is then activated and will take a still image or record a video.
On most cameras, you’ll find an LCD screen which will let you jump in and configure the settings to your own liking. On many cameras, you’ll be able to choose from camera or video mode, and a lot of the cameras will even take a series of photos for you in a short space of time.
If a trail camera has wifi or cellular capabilities in-built, then it will be able to send photos and videos directly to your phone and sometimes your computer. Most trail cameras store images and videos through utilizing an SD card or micro SD card.
If a trail camera doesn’t have wifi or cellular capabilities, then you’ll be able to transfer all the data by plugging in the SD card into your phone or computer or using a USB cable.
Every trail camera we looked at is battery powered, usually requiring 8 AA batteries to function. With some cameras, you can buy a rechargeable power pack separately, and this can be a more cost-effective way to power the camera than continuously having to replace the batteries.
The Best Trail Camera That Will Send Pictures to Your Phone
Our Winner: Campark Trail Camera [star rating=”5″ numeric=”yes”]
Hopefully, by now you have an idea of what you should look for in a trail camera. Good trail cameras can be multi-purpose, a lot of hunters will use them for tracking animal activity, but they can also double up as security cameras, so always consider what you want a trail camera to be used for before buying one.
Alongside the use of the trail camera, you’ll also want to consider how much you want to spend. Also, consider whether you’ll be using a camera to take images or capture video, most cameras do record video, but it’s always worth checking before you make a purchase.
If you want your camera to send photos and videos to your phone automatically, then consider purchasing a camera with a cellular network built-in.
As we mentioned earlier in the article, our pick for the best trail camera to send pictures to your phone is the Campark Trail Camera, it contains everything you need in a good trail camera and comes highly recommended.