Browning Defender Vision Pro Review
An all around great camera! Fast transmission speed, long battery life and great photo quality make this one of our top picks - TCP Staff
Model # btc-vp | Browning Defender Vision Pro Manual
Trailcampro Comprehensive Score:
91/100
Browning Defender Vision Pro Cellular Trail Camera Review
Pros
- Extremely fast detection circuit
- 14 months of battery life
Cons
- n/a
Be Wary Of Megapixel Ratings
Megapixel ratings for trail cameras seem to increase more & more every year. In reality, the native resolution of 99% of all trail cameras is 5 megapixels or less. Manufacturers artificially inflate megapixel ratings for advertising purposes through a process called interpolation. Interpolated photos are enhanced by software to mimic the file size of a higher megapixel photo, but seldom offer additional clarity or resolution. The result is an exponentially larger file size photo which takes longer to load and slows down the speed of your camera. We always program our cameras to capture photos at the image sensor's native resolution. This allows our cameras to operate as efficiently as possible and store more photos to memory. With shorter load times, this also allows us to review photos at a much quicker pace. To put things in perspective, the trail camera widely considered to be the "Gold Standard" and used by more professional researchers than any other unit is just 3 megapixels.
Photo resolution: 20 mpxl (interpolated)
Video resolution: 1920 x 1080
Flash Type: Red Glow IR
Picture & Video Resting Power (on): 1.07 mW
Picture Daytime/Nighttime Power Consumption: 6.6 Ws | 7.1 Ws
Here are your best battery options:
Trailcampro Choice: AmpTORRENT Rechargeable AA Lithium
If the Defender Vision Pro were to take 15-day and 15-night pictures every 24 hours, this camera would last 9.7 months (8,689 photos) in the field - per charge - on a set of AmpTorrent Rechargeable AA Lithium batteries.
There are a number of benefits to these batteries:
- Up to 1,200 charges
- Consistent 1.5 volt operation
- Charges with the included USB cable
- Eco-friendly (less batteries in a landfill)
- Batteries pay for themselves after 2-3 charges
Longest Lasting Choice: Energizer Ultimate Lithium
If the Defender Vision Pro were to take 15-day and 15-night pictures every 24 hours, this camera would last 14.5 months (13,047 photos) in the field on a set of Energizer Ultimate Lithium batteries.
Ultimate Lithium batteries are the longest-lasting battery choice due to their incredible consistency and capacity. We've loved these batteries for a long time. However, in recent years they have become cost prohibitive and forced us to seek out a more affordable, eco-friendly option.
Solar Panel Option: Browning Solar Panel Power Pack
The Browning Solar Panel Camera Power Pack is compatible with all of the Browning trail camera models and provides a constant power source. As with all solar panels, the battery life of this camera will be directly related to the amount of sunlight the panels receive.
Booster Antenna Option: Browning Long-Range Antenna
This package includes 10 ft. of cable and can be mounted above obstructions to get the best cell signal possible in remote areas. The long range Browning antenna accessory is compatible with Browning Vision Pro series cellular trail cameras.
Picture Trigger & Recovery Speed: 0.11 s. | n/a (see notes)
Video Trigger Speed: 0.74 s.
Detection Range & Angle: 70 ft. @ 48.8° detection angle (53.9° field of view)
The Defender Vision Pro has an extremely fast trigger speed. See the note below on recovery.
*Picture recovery time: It starts transmitting as it is taking pictures. On a 1 second recovery it gets behind on sending pictures on constant motion for a minute and will transmit for over 10 minutes after motion stops. The recovery times will be about all other settings.
Detection range, angle and field of view are all in line with modern trail cameras. Overall, this is an excellent detection circuit.
Dimensions: 5" x 4" x 3"
Battery Type: 8 AA
External Battery Jack: 12-volt
Case Design
The Browning Defender Vision Pro is similar to other recent Browning models. The latch is easy to open/close and the camera has a tripod mount on the bottom and a bracket on the back for a cable lock.
There is a small LCD screen on the inside of the camera which helps with basic programming.
The Vision Pro incorporates an internal antenna, but also has a port for a booster antenna for use in areas with poor reception.
Camera Setup
Browning cell cameras take a little work to get up and running. If you purchase them from us, we are happy to walk you through it.
Set up an account at www.strikeforcewireless.com.
Step 1: Simply set up a user name and password, contact information and select the desired plan to begin.
Step 2: On the Services and Equipment page you will need to enter the ICCID and IMEI numbers from your camera in the ACTIVATE NEW SUBSCRIPTION fields. The IMEI numbers are on a label inside of the control panel door of your camera (just to the left of the lcd screen). You can find the ICCID number when you turn the camera on, select a network, see the QR code (if setting this up on the app you scan the code), then select enter to see imei, enter again to see iccid.
The sim card in your camera will be activated within 2-3 minutes. Download the Strike Force Wireless App on your smartphone. Login. Let's send a test photo now.
Step 1: Power on your camera and take a test picture. Your SD card meter on the home screen will show the number of pictures taken.
Step 2: On your camera, navigate to Mode>LTE Setup>LTE Status.
Your camera will make connection with a cell tower and transmit the images to your Strike Force Wireless Account. You can view the pictures on your laptop or mobile app. Your camera screen will display the cellular signal strength. If your camera registers the cell tower strength low (as indicated by a red icon), you may need to relocate the camera to an area with a stronger signal.
Upon a transmission, your images will appear in your image inbox within a few minutes. Remember to refresh your app (by swiping down on the screen) or refresh your computer screen to see the images.
When you set up your camera in the field, the camera will automatically connect to the Browning servers and connect to your account. The camera will update its settings and communication times according to the camera settings menu of your online account or mobile app.
In order for the camera to operate in Rapid Fire with the app, the Thumbnail Upload setting must be set to the “By Schedule” option. The camera will transmit via the predetermined schedule programmed by the user.
Durability
The vast majority of consumer-grade trail cameras are inexpensive, imported devices exposed to harsh conditions 24/7/365. Most manufacturers only offer a one-year warranty. We stock only the most durable units and provide an additional year of warranty at no extra charge. The Trailcampro exclusive 2-year warranty allows you to deal directly with Trailcampro avoiding long wait times on hold with the manufacturer and prolonged periods without a replacement camera. We turn around most warranties in just one business day!
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.
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