Browning Dark Ops Pro DCL Review
The Dark Ops Pro DCL is a small no glow IR camera capable of taking great images with fast detection speeds and great battery life. Overall, this is an outstanding camera and would be an excellent wildlife camera for you. - TCP Staff
Model # BTC-6DCL
Trailcampro Comprehensive Score:
91/100
Browning Dark Ops Pro DCL Non-Cellular Trail Camera Review
Pros
- Outstanding images
- Great battery life
- Excellent detection circuit
Cons
- Inaccurate temperature readings
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Photo resolution: 26 mpxl (interpolated)
Video resolution: 1920 x 1080
Video coding format: MP4
Flash Type: No Glow IR
Daytime photos show great color and solid clarity. They stop motion and provide realistic, consistent photos. Night photos have outstanding contrast and flash range but have shown blur on moving options at night.
Daytime videos are solid but not top-notch. They lack the clarity and crispness that we have seen from the Browning Spec Ops HP5 cameras (that are known for their video prowess). The night videos on the Dark Ops Pro DCL are incredibly clear and have high contrast.
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Night IR Blur Test The equipment for the test consists of a target moving along a track from left to right at a constant speed controlled by a stepper motor and a sensor to trigger the capture of a picture near the center of the field of view of a trail camera. The target is moving at 1.25 feet per second and is 10 feet from the camera at the center of field of view. The test is conducted in a dark room. Two pictures are taken, one with the target not moving and one with the target in motion. A visual comparison can now be made of the two pictures. All settings that affect the quality of night photos will be tested. |
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Power Save No Motion |
Power Save With Motion |
Fast Motion No Motion |
Fast Motion With Motion |
Long Range No Motion |
Long Range With Motion |
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What if you purchase from us and aren't happy with the image quality?
This is a common question and we have a very simple solution. Call, email, or chat with us and we can take a look at the images and offer suggestions or immediately tell if something is wrong with the Browning Dark Ops Pro DCL camera. If so, we will warranty the camera for you (with the free 2-Year warranty you receive from us) or return the camera for a full refund (within 90 days of purchase). You have control of the process, remember, we work for you.
Megapixel Ratings:
In the past, many people get confused with the megapixel rating trail camera manufacturers advertise. Companies inflate the mpxl rating to attract eyes to their products. They do this through interpolation, which digitally adds megapixels to a photo without actually improving the picture.
The best way to judge picture quality is to look at actual pictures. You will notice this the most when you zoom in on a full-size image that a camera has taken. The details of the photo will appear hazy or even digitized. This is normal, and to be expected.
Picture & Video Resting Power (on): 0.43 mW
Picture Daytime/Nighttime Power Consumption: 0.73 Ws | 2.8 Ws
Video Daytime/Nighttime Power Consumption: 14.7 Ws | 69.5 Ws
Picture Mode
If this camera were to take 35 day and 35 night pictures every 24 hours, it would last 20.1 months in the field on a set of Lithium batteries.
Video Mode
If this camera were to take 15 day and 15 night videos every 24 hours, it would last 2.5 months in the field on a set of Lithium batteries.
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Picture Trigger & Recovery Speed: 0.16 s. | 0.4 s.
Video Trigger & Recovery Speed: 0.45 s. | 2.1 s.
Detection Range & Angle: 80 ft. @ 58.2° detection angle (57.3° field of view)
The Dark Ops Pro DCL has speed to burn and doesn't mess around. The detection range, angle, and field of view are all impressive. Let's make this short and sweet, the Dark Ops Pro DCL is blazing fast.
Dimensions: 4.25" x 3.75" x 3.25"
Battery Type: 6 AA (we recommend Lithiuim)
External Battery Jack: 12- volt
SD Card Size: Up to 512GB
Case Design
The Dark Ops Pro DCL's case feels really solid and durable. It has an adjustable metal back bracket that swivels up and down (about a 30° range of motion). The bracket allows for easy up and down adjustments without using twigs for shims. If you need more adjustability, we'd still recommend a Slate River Mount.
Overall, the case design on the Dark Ops Pro DCL is outstanding.
Camera Setup
The Dark Ops Pro DCL has a small internal viewer that makes camera setup and picture/video playback extremely easy. The game trail camera viewer's live-view element eliminates the guesswork to setting up for the perfect trailcam shot.
The internal setup should only take you a minute or two - at the most. Even though the internal viewing screen is small, Browning was nice enough to enlarge the words on the screen for those of us with poor eyesight!
The DCL can accept SD cards up to 512 Gigabytes. This is more than enough storage than you could ever use.
Durability
Temperature ratings the camera records have a tendency of being unreliable and off by a significant margin.
Keep in mind, our 2-year warranty program is your free insurance program in case something goes wrong with a camera you purchase from us. This warranty protects you from any manufacturing defect the camera might experience for two years.
Since 2005, our mission has to been to provide consumers with unbeatable value, advice you can trust, and customer service that exceeds expectations. There are plenty of places you can choose to do business with, if we are lucky enough to earn your support, we promise to give you our undivided attention. Trailcampro has grown each year not only by relying on your happiness but on the assumption that if we blow you away with customer service, you will brag about us to your friends (have you seen our referral/reward program?).
As always, if you have additional questions, feel free to call, email or chat with us. We look forward to helping you find your next trail camera!
Enjoy our reviews? Please consider purchasing your next trail camera from us.
FAQ's: Trail Camera
Q: Will this trail camera trigger on small animals (birds, rodents, etc.)?
A: Trail cameras detect on a combination of heat and movement, so, yes, small mammals will trigger the camera. However, if you are going after smaller warm-blooded mammals, we recommend getting the camera closer to your target. For best performance, place the camera in an area that would enable picture detection from 3 - 20 ft.
Q: Can animals see the infrared flash on this camera?
A: This is somewhat controversial. Humans can't see the flash as the nanometer spectrum is above what the human eye can detect. It's also much harder for an animal to see, but that could depend on the species of animal as different species see in different light spectrums.
Q: Where can I purchase this camera?
A: From us! We hope to woo you with our incredible charm, two-year warranty, 90-day returns, free continental U.S. shipping, and technical expertise.
Seriously, though, we know you have plenty of options of where to spend your hard-earned money. The internet can be the wild, wild, west of too-good-to-be-true deals. If you choose to do business with us, we will go out of our way to make sure you are happy with the camera you select and the service we provide you.
We are passionate about testing and reviewing trail cameras, but most importantly, we are passionate about treating our customers the right way. We do things differently from what you have come to expect from other internet retailers and we hope you give us the opportunity to prove that to you.
All test results are achieved through the use of proprietary equipment used exclusively by Trailcampro. Any re-publication of this data without prior written consent is strictly prohibited by law. COPYRIGHT TRAILCAMPRO, L.L.C. 2023, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.Â
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