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Campark Mini Trail Camera
In this article I review the Campark T20 mini trail camera. This is my 3rd Campark trail camera I’ve owned so far and it’s the smallest. The camera is tiny and actually does fit in the palm of your hand.
Mini trail cameras are becoming more popular due to their ease of concealment and of course less weight to carry if you’re hiking to a scouting location with multiple cameras.
I think the T20 is a great camera overall, if you read my review below you’ll find out why.
As with most of the trail cameras in Camparks range [1], the T20 comes with a number of useful accessories enclosed in the box.
- Micro USB Cable
- Metal Swivel mounting bracket
- Mounting bracket fixings x 3
- Nylon tree strap
- Multi language user manual
Campark T20 Accessories
The USB cable allows you to connect the camera directly to your computer. This is useful if you don’t have a standard size SD card slot on your laptop for example.
With both a nylon tree strap, plus a metal mounting bracket you have a couple of ways to attach the camera to a tree or wooden post.
The metal bracket can be screwed to a wall also if you use the correct fixings.
A multi language user manual comes with the camera which is easy to follow if you’re new to trail cameras as the T20 is aimed at the “beginner trail camera user” in mind.
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Last update on 2024-04-03 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Design and Features
The T20 is of the clam shell style case. What this means is the camera has a hinged door that is opened by releasing the plastic clip on the right hand side of the case.
The clam shell design is the most popular type of trail camera case these days. It works well in practice preventing any water or dust ingress happening. The camera is rated at IP56, so it will withstand most weather environments.
To attach the metal mounting bracket that comes supplied there is a ¼-20 brass thread insert as the base of the camera case. You can also use any 3rd party mounting bracket also.
Settings
Opening the clam shell case by releasing the plastic catch reveals the battery compartment, plus the 2” color LCD display with 3 buttons along each side of the display.
Pressing the top left button opens the menu. There are 18 settings to choose from on the single page. You can scroll through the settings by using the 2 arrow keys which are the central pair of keys.
Anyone who’s used a trail camera before will understand all the settings without the need to consult the user manual.
For those who are new to trail cameras, the most important setting is the choice between the 3 modes on offer.
You can select between video and picture or both combined. After you have chosen the mode, there is the option to set the resolution of the video and / or pictures.
There are all the standard type settings you’d find on most trail cameras along with a few higher end features.
Shot lag allows you to delay when the camera will trigger after the initial trigger.
This is useful as it stops the SD from being filled up with the same wildlife if they are constantly in front of the camera.
Another nice set of features is the sensitivity of the PIR sensor, plus a time lapse mode.
You tend to only see these on more expensive trail cameras, so these are a nice addition.
SD Memory Card
The T20 accepts a standard size memory card up to 32GB in size. It’s possible to use a micro to standard SD card adapter if you prefer.
Campark recommends using a Class 10 SD card, which is fast enough to handle the full HD resolution video recording.
Batteries
The camera is switched on via the 3 way switch on the underside of the internal housing. The middle setting is for set up.
4 x AA batteries will power the T20 up to 6 months on standby mode. Meaning the camera will be active for that period without any activity. I used a set of 4 lithium AA batteries for just over a month with no problem.
External 6 volt power is an option by using the 6 volt port at the bottom of the case. The power port is covered by a rubber grommet when not in use.
Detection Range Performance
First of all, I have to say for a mini trail camera the Campark T20 is more than acceptable in terms of detection range and trigger speed.
The advertised range is 60 feet. In the real world I’d say it’s around that distance during the day. Night time it dropped to closer to 50 feet.
The trigger speed was quite impressive. Campark says that the T20 will trigger within 0.5 seconds and I wouldn’t disagree with that. It certainly handled most fast moving wildlife through the detection zone.
Picture Quality
Overall the T20 records good quality video and still pictures. The daytime video is the most impressive. The video footage is sharp and has good color reproduction.
Night time images are black and white of course as with all Infrared LED trail cameras. The night shots were average at distance with a fair amount of grain. Closer up, within 15 feet the pictures did improve.
This is a budget trail camera at the end of the day, so you’re not going to see class leading pictures at this price point.
Final Thoughts
I like the Campark T20, it has a lot going for it. You don’t really have an appreciation of how small it is until you actually hold it in your hands.
For a small micro trail camera the T20 does pack a lot of features into its small case. My only slight concern was the build quality of the case. If you treat it with respect then there shouldn’t be a problem.
The daytime video is very impressive and the night time shots are more than adequate, coupled with a fast trigger speed and wide field of view. The field of view of the camera lens is 120 degrees.
Finally, the Campark T20 doesn’t have too many competitors out there in the mini trail camera world at present and is arguably one of the best on offer.
I’d certainly suggest looking at a mini trail cam if your priority is concealment of cameras on public land or maybe as a security camera.
Last update on 2024-03-26 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
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