Surveillance brings to mind home and workplace security, but there are plenty of purposes for it aside from observing people.
Wildlife enthusiasts, hobbyists, and those that are just curious about what goes on in the depths of the backyard, might consider investing in a wildlife camera. Outdoor cameras for wildlife observation are usually higher quality than those built for security purposes, but it is possible to use either.
Interested in backyard wildlife cameras? Read on to discover the best cameras for wildlife photography that we are loving, including game/trail and outdoor security cameras.
Table of Contents
Best Wildlife Camera: Our Top Picks
- Best beginners camera for wildlife photography – usogood Trail Camera WiFi 24MP 1296P
- Best cellular wildlife camera – Spypoint Link-S-Dark
- Best budget trail camera – Spypoint Force 20
- Best Nikon Camera for Wildlife – Nikon Z9
- Best security camera for wildlife photography – Google Nest Cam (battery)
DIY Garden Wildlife Cameras with AlfredCamera
While hunters and wildlife enthusiasts won’t want to compromise on the speed and quality of dedicated wildlife cameras, novices and hobbyists that are just curious about what goes on in the backyard may not care to drop several hundred dollars on a trail camera or thousands on a Nikon.
As it turns out, that’s not necessary. By transforming an old device into a surveillance camera with low light filters and motion detection, AlfredCamera can give homeowners a fabulous alternative to more expensive trail cameras.
Just prop the chosen device up against a window or glass porch door and Alfred will notify when it spots something of interest. Plenty of Alfred users did just that over the pandemic, when new hobbies were being tapped into during lockdowns. Add an AlfredCam hardware camera to the mix to enjoy true night vision.
Try out Alfred today for free on iOS and Android.
usogood Trail Camera WiFi 24MP 1296P
Best beginners camera for wildlife photography
Available on Amazon. From $89.99.
Pros
- 65 foot detection range
- Wi-Fi-enabled, with a corresponding app
- Battery powered (8 x AA)
Cons
- Wi-Fi setup can be awkward.
- IR lights shine downward, limiting the effective range of night vision.
Beginners looking to capture wildlife in the backyard shouldn’t need to take out a second mortgage just to get a decent device. To stay on the nice side of a hundred bucks, consider usogood’s various trail cameras.
This 24MP Wi-Fi-enabled trail camera is perfectly adequate at capturing detailed, clear footage of birds, bugs, and woodland creatures coming and going. 1296p clips look (and sound) great, and users can connect a phone to the device to download the footage.
120-degree field of view is enough for smaller spaces, while the IP66 rating and infrared night vision mean it can be left outside 24/7.
What others are saying…
‘Overall, very good product for a great price. Lots of features and configs to tailor what I wanted, for example I can configure various features to get great video/photos and also save battery life. Great video and still shots even at night in pitch black darkness. WiFi capability to connect to my iPhone (with app download) is good.’ – CG on Amazon.
Spypoint Link-S-Dark
Best cellular wildlife camera
Available on BassPro and Spypoint. RRP $299.99.
Pros
- Solar panel allows it to be left alone for months at a time
- Cellular data support means footage can be transferred to a phone
- No glow infrared makes it appear invisible to deer and other animals
Cons
- Expensive
- Image quality is average, which is disappointing for the price
- Requires an SD card to function but only supports up to 32 GB
While it’s a little pricier than competition, Spypoint’s Link-S-Dark marries solar panel charging and cellular data sharing to create a truly robust system that can be left alone for months at a time.
For hunters, bird watchers, and the like, having to move a trail camera is a massive nuisance. The 12 MP camera captures super clear HD video and transmits it via LTE to a linked device. That way, animals don’t need to be disturbed or spooked.
No glow night vision, instant motion detection, and a 110 foot detection range make it the perfect companion for wildlife enthusiasts.
What others are saying…
‘The Spypoint Link-S Dark is the top-end Spypoint cellular camera. This camera boasts a built-in solar panel that gives the camera two battery packs to run off of – the rechargeable internal pack that the solar charges and the 8 AA batteries (lithium) that you will put in the camera. This produces outstanding battery life.’ – TrailCamPro.
Spypoint Force 20
Best budget trail camera
Available on Spypoint and Amazon. From $89.99.
Pros
- Cheap
- Decent 720p video and 20MP stills
- Battery-powered (8 x AA)
Cons
- SD card support only up to 32 GB.
- Detection distance is short (70 foot) compared to pricier models
For those with zero interest in hunting, Spypoint’s Force 20 is another great entry-level trail camera that’s more than adequate for casual backyard use. Don’t let the rather militaristic design be discouraging–it’s a pretty basic camera that actual game hunters would probably overlook.
There’s no solar panel, but the 720p footage and infrared night vision can capture decent footage of animals taking up residence in flower patches. Stills make better use of the 20MP camera. Footage can’t be viewed on the screen, so SD cards will need to be retrieved.
What others are saying…
‘This entry level camera is a great place to start for the trail camera novice as it’s far cheaper than some of its Spypoint siblings. The 720 HD definition clips may lack the impact of full 1080 HD but they still look fine on social media feeds.’ – George Cairns for Digital Camera World.
Nikon Z9
Best Nikon Camera for Wildlife
Available on Nikon, Amazon, and BestBuy. RRP $5,499.95.
Pros
- AI-enhanced AF system makes it perfect for wildlife watching
- Pro mirrorless design is much more compact than a DSLR
- 120fps burst shooting, 8K video
Cons
- Beast of a camera, beast of a price tag
- 120fps burst shooting is limited to 11MP
For the wildlife photography pros, forego trail cameras and security cameras altogether and invest in a mirrorless camera. Compared with DSLRs, mirrorless cameras are more appropriately designed for sports and action shots–they’re much more compact because they use electronic viewfinders rather than the mirror found in DSLRs.
The Nikon Z9 is a beast of a camera; 47.5 MP, 8K video, and up to 120 fps burst shooting make it more-or-less industry-leading, yet it’s still compact. The onboard ‘deep-learning’ AI allows its AF system to recognize and differentiate between people, animals, birds, and vehicles, making it especially useful for wildlife photographers.
What others are saying…
‘It’s fashionably late, but the Nikon Z9 makes a heck of an entrance. It blitzes the Sony A1 and Canon EOS R3 with its blistering 120fps burst shooting, 8K 60p capability, over 2½ hours of 8K 30p recording, and a dramatically lower price tag.’ – James Artaius for Digital Camera World.
Google Nest Cam (battery)
Best security camera for wildlife photography
Available on Amazon. From $129.99.
Pros
- AI-based motion detection is fast, differentiating between animals, people, and objects
- Infrared night vision is clear and well-balanced
- Battery life can last several months depending on business.
Cons
- IP54 rating, while sufficient for outdoor use, doesn’t guarantee total waterproofing
- Live feed viewing is prone to bugginess and signal dropouts
Using an outdoor security camera as an alternative to trail/game cameras is a perfectly valid solution for more casual hobbyists curious about backyard shenanigans. While there’s plenty of super affordable options, the Nest Cam’s unique features make it a great choice for those willing to spend a little more.
While its live feed suffers from latency and connection issues, Nest Cam’s motion detection features are bolstered by AI-based human, animal, and object detection. This occurs inside the unit itself, making detections super speedy.
Night vision is well-balanced, and recorded clips occasionally reach 30 fps, which is notably smooth for a security camera. Charge lasts for several months, so it can be safely left alone to do its thing.
What others are saying…
‘The hardware is well-done on the whole, just with the camera sensor itself being a bit of a let down. It’s only the software that holds it back. The Google Home app is messy and slow compared to the Nest app.’ – Ben Schoon for 9To5Google.
Some users buy outdoor security cameras like the Nest Cam with cuter purposes in mind.
Check out our in-depth review on Google’s flagship Nest Cam (battery) for our full thoughts.
What Should I Look for When Buying a Wildlife Camera?
To choose an appropriate wildlife camera, there’s a number of components that need to be considered. Some are essential, while others leave more room for choice depending on what the target is and where it will be located.
Check out what you should look for below.
Infrared night vision
Many animals are nocturnal, meaning a device without night vision simply won’t cut it. Even if the targets do appear during the daytime, the heavily wooded areas, burrows, and holes that many creatures call home won’t have sufficient natural light to capture anything substantial.
When it comes to trail/game cameras, infrared night vision is the most essential component.
Frame rate
The key difference between a trail camera and any other kind of surveillance camera is the frame rate it can achieve. Many creatures in the wild are speedy and have specific, covert behaviors.
A higher frame rate produces a smoother image. Pros will want to prioritize devices that support up to 60 FPS to get the smoothest image possible, which will probably mean investing in a DSLR and mirrorless camera. These can also support very high burst shot frame rates (the Nikon Z9 handles 120 fps burst shots).
Resolution
An image’s resolution refers to how many pixels are in it. A higher resolution creates a better looking image. Areas that are covered in foliage create particularly ‘busy’ images, with an abundance of color and detail. A high resolution will be necessary to capture all of this and maintain detail.
Pros will want to aim for somewhere in the vicinity of 30 megapixels (MP) for image capture at least, while 4K video will provide extremely clear footage. 1080p will suffice for more casual backyard watchers and for hunters simply tracking animal movements.
Water and Dust Proofing
Outdoor cameras for wildlife must be water and dust proof to be used safely. Check for an IP (ingress protection) rating on the product’s description.
IP ratings indicate both dust and waterproofing; IP66 is a sufficient rating for a wildlife camera. Find out more about the rating system and what it means.
Power source
What kind of power source the device uses will affect how it can be used. For example, many trail camera models have a solar panel that can be attached to the top to power the battery without recharging it.
This is super useful for devices being left outside for extended periods of time, but won’t be reliable if the location is somewhere devoid of sunlight (like a heavily wooded area or a nest). Trail/game cameras are always powered primarily by batteries.
Trigger Speed
How fast the camera reacts to motion is important for photographing, filming, or tracking wildlife. Trail/game cameras all have extremely fast trigger speeds, usually within the range of 0.3 to 0.7 seconds.
The speed is achieved by the processor. Anything more than a second isn’t going to be especially useful.
How do Wildlife Cameras Work?
Trail cameras can be defined as weatherproof cameras with motion detection and infrared night vision. Set them up and leave them be; recordings will trigger if motion from an animal is detected, which are usually saved to a SD card but may also be transferred via the internet. Sounds a lot like a modern security camera, right?
While it’s true that they are similar, trail/game cameras usually cost more because they have a high frame rate, more infrared lights, and faster processors. This creates a much smoother image than what budget security cameras are capable of.
That being said, these days it’s probably easier to find security cameras with 4K resolutions than it is to find trail cameras. For hunters, image resolution is usually of secondary importance because the device’s responsiveness is integral for animal tracking.
Consider the differences below.
| Trail and Game Cameras | Security Cameras | |
| Average Frame Rate | 30 – 60 fps | 10-30 fps |
| Average Image Resolution | 1080p-4K | 360p-4K |
| Average Price | $100-$300 | $30-$250 |
Browning’s Recon Force Edge 4K in action. A higher-end trail camera, it can capture very smooth footage thanks to its high frame rate.
FAQ
What is the difference between a game camera and a trail camera?
There is no difference between a ‘game camera’ and a ‘trail camera’; they are both high-speed cameras designed for taking photographs of wild animals.
What is the most reliable trail camera?
Cellular trail cameras, like Skypoint’s Link-S, are most reliable, because they can transfer footage over mobile data or save it to an SD card. Wi-Fi trail cameras are great for backyards, but won’t be of much use anywhere else.
Do you need the Internet for trail cameras?
No. Though a lot of trail cameras do have either mobile data or Wi-Fi functionality, virtually all trail cameras support SD card capture.
How far away will a trail camera take pictures?
Trail cameras can take pictures within a range of 20 to 130 feet depending on the model. At night, the range will depend on that of the infrared lights. This will be significantly shorter than in daylight.
Do trail cameras take video?
Yes, trail cameras can shoot short video clips triggered by motion detection.
Do trail cameras pick up small animals?
Capturing a small animal on a trail camera will depend more on external factors, like placement, lighting, and the extent of foliage. Try placing trail cameras in or near nests and burrows, otherwise it might be difficult to make out smaller animals.
How long can a trail camera record for?
Trail cameras can record from 3 seconds to 5 minutes depending on the model. Some models allow recording time to be adjusted.
Where is the best place to put a trail camera?
Placement of trail cameras will vary extensively depending on the type of animal that’s being monitored. For larger animals, like foxes, cats, dogs, and some types of bird, make the most of the wide-angle lens by having it observe a wide open space. For smaller, nesting animals, place it in or near to nests, holes, and burrows that the animals occupy, otherwise it will be very difficult to see them amid foliage.
Does a cellular trail cam need an SD card?
Most trail cams require an SD card to function.
Conclusion
Trail cameras and security cameras are both great tools for checking out what’s happening in the backyard. For pro’s, mirrorless cameras are a more compact (and slightly more affordable) way of shooting industry-leading wildlife photography and video without the heft and bulk associated with DSLRs.
Alfred gives newbies a great alternative that won’t break the bank but will capture creatures traipsing round the backyard using motion detection software. Got any recent footage of a furry friend? We’d love to see it! Tag us on @AlfredCamera.
Recommended reading: Van Life Done Right: From RV Security Cameras to Tiny Home Alarms