Bushnell S-4K No Glow Trail Camera Review
The Bushnell S4K No Glow trail camera is a budget-minded trail camera that performs above its weight class in every category. There aren't many $150 cameras that delivery 21 months of battery life, incredible detection speeds and solid overall picture/video quality. We recommend the Bushnell S4K. - TCP Staff
Model # 119949C | Bushnell S-4K Owners Manual
Trailcampro Comprehensive Score:
90/100
Bushnell Core S-4K No Glow Review
Pros
- Fantastic battery life in picture mode (21 months)
- Great case design and easy user-interface
- Very solid pictures and videos
- 6 AA batteries
Cons
- Limited flash range
- Programming font is small & difficult to read
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: 30 mpxl (interpolated)
Flash Type: No Glow IR
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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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Fast Motion No Motion |
Fast Motion W/ Motion |
Long Range No Motion |
Long Range W/ Motion |
Low Glow No Motion |
Low Glow W/ Motion |
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Picture & Video Resting Power (on): 0.42 mW
Picture Daytime/Nighttime Power Consumption: 1.2 Ws | 2.7 Ws
Video Daytime/Nighttime Power Consumption: 15.6 Ws | 86.8 Ws
Picture Mode
If this Bushnell Core S-4K trail camera were to take 35-day and 35-night pictures every 24 hours, this camera would last 21.5 months in the field on a set of 6 AA Lithium Batteries. This is great battery life
Video Mode
If this Bushnell Core S-4K no glow camera were to take 15-day and 15-night videos (10-second videos) every 24 hours, it would last 2.4 months in the field on a set of lithium batteries
Picture Trigger & Recovery Speed: 0.08 s. | 1.9 s.
Video Trigger & Recovery Speed: 0.70 s. | 1.1 s.
Detection Range & Angle: 70 ft. @ 33.6° (40.9° field of view)
Dimensions: 5" x 3.5" x 3"
Battery Type: 6 AA (we recommend Lithium)
External Battery Jack: 9-volt
SD Card Size: Up to 512GB
Country of Origin: Thailand
Case Design
The Core S-4K feels sturdy and well-built. The latch is easy to manipulate and has a positive snap when closing. The Core S-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 S-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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