Bushnell Core No Glow Review

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This is a discontinued camera

Bushnell Core No Glow Review

The Bushnell Core No Glow hangs its hat on extreme detection speeds and nearly 10 months of battery life on only 6 AA batteries. Outside of that, the rest of the camera is fairly average, but there also isn't a fatal flaw. We consider this to be a very solid no glow trail camera for security or wildlife surveillance. - TCP Staff

Model #11-9938C | Bushnell Core No Glow Owner's Manual

Bushnell Core NG FAQ's


Bushnell Core No Glow Trail Camera Review

Pros

  • Incredibly fast detection circuit
  • Almost 10 months of picture battery life
  • Easy and fast camera setup

Cons

  • Below average video battery life
  • Below average night picture quality

Picture Quality:

Photo resolution: 24 Mpxl (Interpolated)

Video resolution: 1920 x 1080 w/ audio

Flash Type: No Glow IR

Day pictures from the Core No Glow have average color (it is a bit dull) and average clarity. The Core seems to stop motion fairly well (minimal blurring). In general, day pictures lack pop and we would rate as average.

Night pictures have fairly significant "white noise" in several of the camera setups and offer below average clarity. Flash range is also slightly below average. The pictures are middle-of-the-pack when the animal is moving within about 30-40 ft. of the game trail camera, but ambient lighting will play a significant role in the brightness of the photo.

Keep in mind, the photos are being produced from a true No Glow camera, so there is no visible light being emitted (to the human eye). This generally results in darker photos, which is what we are seeing here.

Daytime videos have similar color to the pictures but do possess solid clarity. The resolution is 1920 x 1080 but are not at the same level as the dual sensor Bushnell cameras that offer the same video resolution. Overall, daytime videos are well above average but not elite.

Night videos lack top-end flash range, but when the animal is within around 40-50 ft. they turn out really well. In wooded areas the videos turn out much brighter (as you can see in our sample videos - this is also not unique and should be expected of all trail cameras). Contrast and clarity seem to be above average and the motion is fluid.

Audio seems to have a bit of fuzz, which you can potentially hear in the sample videos below.

What if you purchase from us and aren't happy with the image quality?

This is a common question and we have a very simple solution. Call, email, or chat with us and we can take a look at the images and offer suggestions or immediately tell if something is wrong with the camera. If so, we will warranty the camera for you (with the free 2-Year warranty you receive from us) or return the camera for a full refund (within 90 days of purchase). You have control of the process, remember, we work for you.

Megapixel Ratings:

In the past, many people get confused with the megapixel rating trail camera manufacturers advertise. Companies inflate the mpxl rating to attract eyes to their products. They do this through interpolation, which digitally adds megapixels to a photo without actually improving the picture.

The best way to judge picture quality is to look at actual pictures. You will notice this the most when you zoom in on a full-size image that a camera has taken. The details of the photo will appear hazy or even digitized. This is normal, and to be expected.

Battery Life:

Picture & Video Resting Power (on): 0.3 mW

Picture Daytime/Nighttime Power Consumption: 3.3 Ws | 4.3 Ws

Video Daytime/Nighttime Power Consumption: 22.2 Ws | 59.3 Ws

Picture Mode

If this camera were to take 35-day and 35-night pictures every 24 hours, the Core No Glow would last 9.6 months in the field on a set of 6 AA Lithium Batteries.

Video Mode

If this camera were to take 15-day and 15-night videos (10-second videos) every 24 hours, it would last 2.2 months in the field on a set of lithium batteries.

Detection Circuit:

Picture Trigger & Recovery Speed: 0.17 s. | 0.9 s.

Video Trigger & Recovery Speed: 0.5 s. | 1.0 s.

Detection Range & Angle: 90' | 41.9° (45.1° field of view)

The Bushnell Core No Glow has an extremely fast detection circuit, especially in respect to the impressive video speeds. The detection range is slightly less than the Bushnell 11-9936C (the Core Low Glow), but overall, this is outstanding.

Quality of Design:

Dimensions: 5.75" x 4" x 3"

Battery Type: 6 AA

External Battery Jack: 6-Volt

Case Design

The Core is a medium sized trail camera that has a well thought out design and appearance. The latch manipulates easily and allows the front cover to open and close with ease. All the buttons to control settings are prominent and have a positive click when using them. The battery tray ejects easily but does not always click into place on the first try. Make sure you press and hold firmly until you hear an audible click, otherwise the tray might not be properly seated.

The Core No Glow has a threaded insert on the bottom for a Slate River Mount and a bracket on the back to fit a Python Cable Lock.

Camera Setup

For anyone that has used a Bushnell camera in the past, you will find the settings quite familiar. The simple settings and easy to read screen should get the camera up and running quickly. You shouldn't even need to break out the manual. The Core does have the option for AM, PM, or 24 hour mode and also has Hybrid Mode (picture + video). It does not have a password option.

Overall, programming is very easy but doesn't have quite all the settings we like. The Core No glow does not come with an internal picture viewer, so field setup will have to be done intuitively.

Durability

We don't have any durability or warranty concerns with the Core at this time. If something changes, we will update this review.

Keep in mind, our 2-year warranty program is your free insurance program in case something goes wrong with a camera you purchase from us. This warranty protects you from any manufacturing defect the camera might experience for two years.

The Bushnell Core No Glow hangs its hat on extreme detection speeds and nearly 10 months of battery life on only 6 AA batteries. Outside of that, the rest of the camera is fairly average, but there also isn't a fatal flaw. We consider this to be a very solid no glow trail camera for security or wildlife surveillance.

Since 2005, our mission has to been to provide consumers with unbeatable value, advice you can trust, and customer service that exceeds expectations. There are plenty of places you can choose to do business with, if we are lucky enough to earn your support, we promise to give you our undivided attention. Trailcampro has grown each year not only by relying on your happiness but on the assumption that if we blow you away with customer service, you will brag about us to your friends (have you seen our referral/reward program?).

As always, if you have additional questions, feel free to call, email or chat with us. We look forward to helping you find your next trail camera!

Enjoy our reviews? Please consider purchasing your next trail camera from us.


FAQ's: Bushnell Core No Glow Trail Camera

Q: How do I view the pictures?

A: There are a number of ways to do this. Pictures/videos are stored on the SD card you place in the camera. Here are some other methods for viewing images:

  • View pictures on your computer. Plug the SD card in a desktop computer or laptop via the built-in SD card reader or use a USB reader if your computer doesn't have one. This method works for most tablets as well. With this method, we recommend having two SD cards per camera so you can swap them in the field.
  • Trail Camera Viewers. While more expensive, handheld viewers are useful if you don't have a smartphone or run multiple trail cameras.

Q: Will this trail camera trigger on small animals (birds, rodents, etc.)?

A: Trail cameras detect on a combination of heat and movement, so, yes, small mammals will trigger the camera. However, if you are going after smaller warm-blooded mammals, we recommend getting the game trail camera closer to your target. For best performance, place the camera in an area that would enable picture detection from 3 - 20 ft.

Q: Can animals see the infrared flash on this camera?

A: This is somewhat controversial. Humans can't see the flash as the nanometer spectrum is above what the human eye can detect. It's also much harder for an animal to see, but that could depend on the species of animal as different species see in different light spectrums.

Q: Where can I purchase this camera?

A: From us! We hope to woo you with our incredible charm, two-year warranty, 90-day returns, free continental U.S. shipping, and technical expertise. If that isn't enough, we give you a 16 Gig SD card with this camera and you can call and talk our ear off anytime.

Seriously, though, we know you have plenty of options of where to spend your hard-earned money. The internet can be the wild, wild, west of too-good-to-be-true deals. If you choose to do business with us, we will go out of our way to make sure you are happy with the camera you select and the service we provide you.

We are passionate about testing and reviewing trail cameras, but most importantly, we are passionate about treating our customers the right way. We do things differently from what you have come to expect from other internet retailers and we hope you give us the opportunity to prove that to you.

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