Bushnell Core DS 4K No Glow Trail Camera Review
The Bushnell Core DS 4K is a fantastic low glow trail camera that excels in nearly every area. Daytime pictures are great, video resolution is 4K, you can expect multiple years battery life and the case design is solid. Our only real complaint is limited flash range. Overall, this is an excellent trail camera. - TCP Staff
Model #119987C | Bushnell Core DS-4K Owners Manual
Trailcampro Comprehensive Score:
93/100
Bushnell DS4K Trail Camera Review
Pros
- Fantastic day pictures and videos
- 25 Months picture battery life
- Outstanding detection circuit
- Great case design and easy user-interface
Cons
- Limited flash range
- Programming font is difficult to read
- Will only record 14 second videos in the dark
The Bushnell Core DS-4K is a dual sensor trail camera, meaning it has two lenses, one for day pictures/videos and one for night pictures/videos.
Photo resolution: 32 mpxl (interpolated)
Video Resolution: 3810 x 2160 (30 fps) w/ audio
Flash Type: No Glow IR
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.
Daytime photos offer beautiful color and outstanding clarity. As with past Bushnell cameras, they can overexpose in direct sunlight. However, there isn't much to complain about here. There are fantastic day photos. Night photos are exceptional when the animal is fairly close but the flash range can be quite limited. This is a low glow trail camera so it isn't producing as much infrared glow as a red glow camera would.
Picture & Video Resting Power (on): 0.44 mW
Picture Daytime/Nighttime Power Consumption: 1.6 Ws | 1.0 Ws
Video Daytime/Nighttime Power Consumption: 10.9 Ws | 45.5 Ws
Picture Mode
If this Bushnell Core DS 4K trail camera were to take 35-day and 35-night pictures every 24 hours, this camera would last 25 months in the field on a set of 6 AA Lithium Batteries. This is great battery life
Video Mode
If this camera were to take 15-day and 15-night videos (10-second videos) every 24 hours, it would last 3.7 months in the field on a set of lithium batteries.
Picture Trigger & Recovery Speed: 0.15 s. | 0.7 s.
Video Trigger & Recovery Speed: 0.68 s. | 0.5 s.
Detection Range & Angle: 50 ft. @ 42.4° (41.5° field of view)
The detection circuit is super fast and detects out to 100 feet! Nothing to complain about here, the Bushnell Core DS4K is fast enough for any animal.
Dimensions: 5.5" x 3.5" x 3.5"
Battery Type: 6 AA (we recommend lithium)
External Battery Jack: 9-volt
SD Card Size: Up to 512GB
The Core DS 4K feels sturdy and well-built. The latch is easy to manipulate and has a positive snap when closing. The Core DS 4K has a bracket on the back of the camera for a python cable lock and a threaded insert on the bottom and back (we like the optionality) for a Slate River Mount.
The SD card slot is easy to locate and easy to get a card in and out. Batteries load easily into the tray and slide in and out of the camera effortlessly. This is a really good case design.
Camera Setup
The set up menu is very easy to navigate (if you can see it) and would be intuitive for first time trail camera users or experienced pro's. One downside is the font used in programming is very small and difficult to read. The Core DS 4K has popular settings like Hybrid Mode (picture + video), time lapse, and start/stop time (AM, PM, or 24 hours). The internal viewing screen makes field set up extremely simple, letting the user see exactly where the camera is pointed.
Some of the writing on the set up screen is fairly small, it might be hard to read for older eyes.
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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