Browning Recon Force Elite HP5 Trail Camera Review
We have loved the Recon Force line of cameras for years and this year's Recon Force Elite HP5 is no exception. Expect the familiar best-in-class video, fast detection, and long picture battery life. Video battery life is just average, but everything else will impress you.- TCP Staff
Model #BTC-7E-HP5 | Browning Recon Force Elite HP5 Owner's Manual
Trailcampro Comprehensive Score:
91/100
Browning Recon Force Elite HP5 Review
Pros
- Great pictures
- Best-in-class video quality
- Fantastic battery life
- Exceptional detection circuit
Cons
- Inaccurate temperature readings
- Average video battery life
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.
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Photo resolution: 24mpxl (interpolated)
Video resolution: 1920 x 1080 (60 fps)
Video coding format: MP4
Flash Type: Red Glow IR
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Picture & Video Resting Power (on): 0.39 mW
Picture Daytime/Nighttime Power Consumption: 1.2 Ws | 2.3 Ws
Video Daytime/Nighttime Power Consumption: 23.1 Ws | 98.5Ws
Picture Mode
If this camera were to take 35 day and 35 night pictures every 24 hours, it would last 27.7 months in the field on a set of Lithium batteries.
Video Mode
If this camera were to take 15 day and 15 night videos every 24 hours, it would last 2.3 months in the field on a set of Lithium batteries.
Picture Trigger & Recovery Speed: 0.02 s. | 1.2 s.
Video Trigger & Recovery Speed: 0.36 s. | 1.0 s.
Detection Range & Angle: 80 ft. @ 47.4° (53.9° field of view)
This is a fantastic detection circuit from top to bottom. It has plenty of speed and can detect out to a max of 100 ft.
Dimensions: 5.5" x 4.25" x 3"
Battery Type: 8 AA (we recommend Lithium, nimh rechargeable will work)
External Battery Jack: 12-volt
SD Card Size: Up to 512GB
Case Design
The case design of the Recon Force Elite HP5 is exceptional and the camera feels sturdy and well-built. The strap and python cable are threaded through a steel bracket affixed to the case. Most manufacturers use plastic. The HP5 has a threaded slot on the bottom for a Slate River Mount and the battery compartment and SD card slot are both easily accessible.
The battery tray is tough to get out initially. However, after removing it several times it loosens up for future operation.
Temperatures recorded on the HP5's data strip are rarely accurate and can deviate by a significant margin. In general, this is an outstanding case design.
Camera Setup
The Recon Force HP5 has a 2" internal viewer for picture playback, live preview, and settings adjustments. The buttons respond quickly and the HP5 is very easy to program.
The Recon Force HP5 has nearly every programming option imaginable and accepts SD cards up to 512 Gigabytes.
Durability
The only criticism we have with the HP5 (and most other Browning trail cameras) is the failure to accurately record the temperature on each photo.
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.Â
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