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Description
Bushnell CelluCore 30 Trail Camera Review
The Bushnell Cellucore 30 impressed us with its picture quality, battery life and ease of set up. The Cellucore 30 has an internal viewer and a faster trigger speed than the little sister Cellucore 20. These are useful upgrades and we give this camera a big thumbs up. - TCP Staff
Model #119902A
Trailcampro Comprehensive Score:
83/100
Bushnell CelluCore 30 Trail Camera Review
Pros
- Really solid detection circuit
Cons
- n/a
Photo resolution: 30 mpxl (interpolated)
Flash Type: Red glow IR
Day pictures have impressed us with their consistency, clarity and solid color. The Bushnell CelluCore 30 seems to stop motion well and adapts to the ever-changing light conditions (something Bushnell cameras have struggles with in the past. The clarity seems to have an improvement over the lesser priced Cellucore 20.
Night pictures, as you can see from our sample photos below, illuminate fairly well. These aren't the brightest or crispest infrared photos we have seen, but they did a really solid job out to 50 or 60 feet.
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Night IR Blur Test The equipment for the test consists of a target moving along a track from left to right at a constant speed controlled by a stepper motor and a sensor to trigger the capture of a picture near the center of the field of view of a trail camera. The target is moving at 1.25 feet per second and is 10 feet from the camera at the center of field of view. The test is conducted in a dark room. Two pictures are taken, one with the target not moving and one with the target in motion. A visual comparison can now be made of the two pictures. All settings that affect the quality of night photos will be tested. |
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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 Bushnell CelluCore 30 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.
Picture & Video Resting Power (on): 0.51 mW
Picture Daytime/Nighttime Power Consumption: 62.4 Ws | 63.3 s.
If this camera were to take 15-day and 15-night pictures every 24 hours, the Bushnell CelluCORE 30 would last 3.4 months in the field on a set of 12 AA Lithium.
Picture Trigger & Recovery Speed: 0.35 s. | 35.2 s.
Detection Range & Angle: 80 ft. @ 37.7° detection angle (41° field of view)
The detection circuit is bolstered by a fast recovery time and a solid trigger speed. The 80 ft. detection range is good and the detection angle is a little less than the field of view. This should help keep the camera from false triggering (you will still want to clear out moving branches/weeds in front of the camera). Overall, this is a really good detection circuit.
Dimensions: 5.5" x 4.75" x 3"
Battery Type: 12 AA (we recommend Lithium)
External Battery Jack: 12-volt
SD Card Size: Up to 32GB
Case Design
A few things stand out on the CelluCORE case design. Right off the bat, as you attach the antenna you will notice a rubber sleeve that covers the raised antenna port. Currently, most cameras use a compression O-ring weatherproof seal, which has been a water entry port if the O-ring is missing or if the antenna is too loose or too tight. Our initial impression of the antenna design on the CelluCORE is positive and could potentially help eliminate water entry from that opening, even if the antenna isn't screwed all the way in.
The latches seem to manipulate easily and the camera has two brackets on the back for a Python Cable Lock and a threaded insert on the bottom for a Slate River Mount. Inside the 30 megapixel camera, is an unorthodox battery tray. A metal tab locks/unlocks the tray and a threaded string pulls the battery tray out. To be honest, this looks homemade. The function of the design seems to work but we can't quite come up with a reason for engineering it this way. In talking to Bushnell, they indicated that this design has been more reliable than a spring loaded battery tray. Regardless, the battery tray seems to work and there isn't a downside to it, just something worth noting.
The CelluCORE 30 has an internal viewer and setup menu (unlike the Cellucore 20). This makes camera set up and troubleshooting much easier.
Camera Setup
- Download or open the Bushnell Trail Cameras app. Login or create account.
- Hit the + button to add a camera. You can easily scan the QR code (under the battery tray) to add the camera to your account
- Select activate free plan (your first 30 days are free).
- Install 12 Lithium batteries and an SD card. Turn the camera on, monitor the status lights (there is a guide on the camera explaining what the lights mean)
The cellular set up is incredibly easy. Big thumbs up from us. From start to finish, it may have taken a minute or two. The app is also easy to navigate, fast, and the settings are simple to navigate. There currently isn't a good camera status indicator but Bushnell has plans to add this in a future app update. This will be an important update as the status indicator is very helpful in troubleshooting.
Data Plans
| Up to 2000 Photos | Unlimited Photos |
| $9.99 per month | $14.99 per month |
| 10 Hi-Res images | Unlimited Hi-Res images |
| 5 monthly video downloads | Unlimited Video Downloads |
The data plan costs are VERY reasonable. Unlimited thumbnails, high resolution images, and video downloads for $15 is an outstanding value.
Durability
We will monitor the durability on the CelluCORE and update the Bushnell CelluCORE review accordingly.
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.
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: Trail Camera
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 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.
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.
Read Reviews From All the Game and Trail Cameras
Trailcampro's 2 Year Warranty | 90 day Return Policy
Trailcampro 90 Day Return | 2 Year Exclusive Warranty Details
If you purchased your trail camera from us (Trailcampro.com), here are the following warranty stipulations. If you purchased from another retailer, we recommend contacting that retailer or the manufacturer of that product for their warranty details.
If You Purchase From Trailcampro.com
We attempted to make our return policy and 2-year exclusive warranty as simple as possible. However, there are a few stipulations.
90 Day Returns
You may return or exchange anything purchased from Trailcampro for a full 90 days from the date of purchase. Please use the items as you normally would and much as you like subject to the rules below.
Our return policy lets you field test products, at no risk to you!
- Buyer's remorse? Return the camera to us for a full refund (minus shipping).
- Purchased the wrong camera? We will ship you the right camera.
- Something wrong with the camera you received? We will replace it at no cost to you.
90 Day Return Policy Rules:
- 90 days from date of purchase.
- In order to receive a full refund, items must be returned with their original packaging (including UPC code) and all contents
- Cameras or products must be returned in their original condition. You cannot write on the cameras, paint them or deface them in any way. This completely voids the warranty with both us and the specific manufacturer.
- If you purchased one of our "Package Deals" and only return part of the package, we will refund the items full price minus the package discount.
- Orders with quantities of 5 or more are not eligible for a refund or exchange. They are still eligible for warranty replacement.
- There are no returns on used cameras or cameras that clearly state "No Returns"
- If you are returning for a refund, you are responsible for return shipping. Your refund amount will be minus the cost of the initial shipping to you.
2 Year Warranty
We strive to make our customer experience superior to anything available. Traditional warranties only last a year and must be processed directly through the manufacturer. This process usually involves frustrating minutes on hold with call centers and oftentimes weeks, if not months of down time waiting for your replacement product. We process our warranties in-house and expedite the replacement process. When you call Trailcampro you'll speak directly with an expert who will immediately identify the problem and offer a solution.
2 Year Exclusive Warranty Details:
- Warranty starts from the time of purchase and continues for a full 2 years.
- Replacement cameras receive the remainder of the 2-year warranty leftover from the original purchase.
- Warranty is only valid for full retail priced orders (quantity discounts void our 2-year warranty). Discounted items still receive the manufacturer warranty. Price matches void the 2-year warranty as well.
- If your defective camera has been discontinued, we will exchange it for a similarly priced item to your liking.
- If you have a 3G cellular trail camera, it is not considered manufacturer defect if you lose 3G reception in your area.
- Used cameras do not apply for our 2-year warranty
- Cameras cannot be marked on, damaged, or defaced in any way. Warranty is for manufacturer defect only. Defect does not include damage, whether intentional or not.
If you have any questions that were not answered here please feel free to contact us.
To warranty a camera please use the form below. Upon receipt of an RMA number, you will need to ship the camera back to us. You will be responsible for the shipping charges of the defective camera back to us. We will ship the replacement back to you for free.
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