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4k Trail Camera Reviews
In this review I take a look at 2 premium 4K trail cameras currently available on the market.
The Browning Recon Force 4K and the Stealth Cam DS4K. The Browning records Ultra 4K at 30 frames per second the the DS4K at 15 frames per second.
Picture quality on both cameras is outstanding, with very fine detail and great color reproduction.
Lets now take a look at these exciting 4K trail cameras to see what the offer overall as a trail cam in terms of features.
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Last update on 2024-03-30 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Browning Recon Force 4K
Last update on 2024-04-29 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
The Recon force 4K will look familiar to anyone who has owned a Browning trail camera in the last few years.
The design is the same as all current Brownings [1] with the 2” viewing screen located on the back section of the camera.
This is great as it not only allows you to view recorded images in the field but also point the camera lens exactly where you want with live feedback.
4k Video Setting
This camera will shoot 4K at 30 frames a second unlike the Stealth Cam which only manages 15 fps. This is a massive advantage for the Browning.
It also shoots full HD at 1080p as well if you’re balancing the quality / SD card size ratio.
Check out the amazing quality video footage recorded with the Recon Force 4K at the bottom of this page
SD Cards
This camera takes SD cards up to a massive 512GB. You’ll need to make sure they are the SDXC variety to allow for the extra data rate of 4K video.
Image Sensor
The image sensor captures images up to 32 megapixels onto the SD card, producing very detailed sharp pictures. There’s also the option to select either 2MP or 8MP resolution when choosing the timelapse option.
Detection Range
The detection range is very good as with all modern Brownings. You can adjust the range between 60 feet and 80 feet which is neat.
Flash range is an impressive 100 feet and you can adjust the power of the illuminators in the settings.
Battery Life
Battery life is better than average with 8 AA batteries taking up to 10,000 pictures.
A 12 volt external power jack lets you run the camera from an external battery source too.
Advanced Settings
Flash power is adjustable with an economy and long range setting. The trigger speed is also adjustable from 0.4 to 0.7 seconds, which is denoted as normal and fast.
Smart IR video continues to record if here’s continuous movement in front of the camera which is very cool.
You can also select in the menu between alkaline and lithium, although I’d suggest to only use lithium batteries.
Recon Force Specification
- 100 ft. Flash Range
- Adjustable Detection Range up to 80 ft.
- Adjustable IR Flash ( Power Save, Long Range)
- Illuma-Smart Technology Automatically adjusts IR Flash for Perfect Night Photos
- Long battery Life from 8 AA Batteries
- Up to 8 Multi Shot Images
- Up to 8 Rapid Fire Images
- Smart IR Video
- Supports up to 512GB SDXC Memory Card
- ¼” -20 Tripod Socket
- Compact Case Size 5” x 4” x 2.5”
- Timelapse Plus Camera Mode, with Infrared Triggered Pictures
- Built in Metal Tree Bracket
- USB Port
Last update on 2024-04-29 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Stealth Cam Dual Sensor DS4K Trail Camera
Last update on 2024-04-29 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
The DS4K is Stealth Cams offering into the 4K trail camera market. This model did receive a major upgrade in the last quarter of 2019 which improved the detection circuit, camera lens and overall performance in the firmware.
It’s the latest version trail cam I’ll be taking a look at here.
The camera comes supplied with a nylon tree strap and owners manual. The design is of the half clam shape style. The DS4K is solid and well built with a substantial rubber gasket sealing the clam shell door tightly.
4k Video Setting
I’ll get straight to the point in regards to the 4K video setting. The DS4K only records 4K at 15 frames per second as opposed to 30 fps. This makes video recorded at 4K suffer from “choppy” movement due to the lack of frames.
However, there is a custom QHD setting at 2560 x 1440 resolution that does record at 30 fps. Although this isn’t full 4K res, it’s quite a bit higher than standard HD at 1920 x 1080 res.
SD Cards
It’s worth noting that 4K res uses a lot of space up on the SD Card. The DS4K [2] only lets you use a card up to 32GB which is a bit of a shame.
I’d like to have seen the camera accept cards above 64GB at least. Also, check the card is class 10 or above for the extra data rate of 4K video.
Image Sensor
A separate day, separate night image sensor produces very high quality pictures. Native resolution is around 16 megapixels. It’s common for camera manufactures to advertise higher captured image sizes with added interpolation.
The high megapixel native resolution allows you to zoom in on the pictures providing excellent detail.
Detection Range
The 100 ft infrared flash range is impressive. Custom settings allow you to adjust the IR brightness from full down to half for closer range, which avoids overbright pictures at night.
Detection range has improved with the update to now over 60 feet.
The 50 degree detection zone is larger than the 42.2 degree field of view of the camera lens, so expect a few “blank” frames without any deer in view.
Trigger speed is not amazingly fast it has to be said at an average 0.4 seconds.
Advanced Settings
Advanced settings allow user specific hours of operation per day, independent settings for both day and night image sensors. Flash strength, blur reduction settings. IR brightness full and half settings just to cover a few available.
As well as the advanced settings, there’s also the well tried and tested Q presets 1-3 which have been on Stealth Cams since the trusty G42NG trail camera which I do still use to this day.
Battery Life
The camera does take 12 AA batteries which is alot for a non cellular trail camera. However a full set of lithium batteries will last well over a year with 60 plus detections per day. The battery tray is accessed using the eject button on the lower section of the control panel.
You can run the camera off an external 12 volt power supply and lock the clamshell with a python lock, which does have to be unlocked and removed every time to open the housing door panel.
DS4K Specification
- 4K Ultra HD Video
- 30 MP Ultra Hi Res Still Images
- 100 ft infrared flash range
- Dual Image Sensors
- Range Control – Adjustable PIR
- 42 NO GLO IR Emitters with adjustable night IR range
- Burst Mode 1-9 images per trigger
- Time Lapse mode
- SD Cards up to 32 GB only
- 12 AA batteries (not included)
- External power jack for 12V battery box
Last update on 2024-04-29 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
PLEASE NOTE: Image sizes quoted on this page in terms of megapixels are taken from the manufacturers advertised captured megapixel image sizes.
The quoted captured image sizes may have been interpolated to increase their overall size.
Recon Force Ultra HD Trail Camera Footage
Stealth Cam DS4K Trail Camera Footage
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