Bushnell DS4K Trail Camera Review

The Bushnell Core DS4K (#119987C) is a fantastic low glow trail camera that excels in nearly every area. Daytime pictures are great, video resolution is 4K, you can expect multiple years battery life and the case design is solid. Our only real complaint is limited flash range, overall, this is an excellent Bushnell No Glow trail camera. - TCP Staff

Model #119987C | Bushnell Core DS-4K Owners Manual

FAQ's

Trailcampro Comprehensive Score:

93/100

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Bushnell DS4K Trail Camera Review

 Pros

• Fantastic day pictures and videos
• 25 Months picture battery life
  
• Outstanding detection circuit
• Great case design and easy user-interface

 Cons

• Limited flash range

 

The Bushnell Core DS-4K is a dual sensor trail camera, meaning it has two lenses, one for day pictures/videos and one for night pictures/videos.

Picture Quality:  91/100

Photo resolution:  32 mpxl (interpolated)

Video Resolution: 3810 x 2160 (30 fps) w/ audio

Flash Type:  Low Glow IR

Daytime photos offer beautiful color and outstanding clarity. As with Bushnell cameras of the past, they can overexpose in direct sunlight, however, there isn't much to complain about here. There are fantastic day photos.

Night photos are exceptional when the animal is fairly close but the detection range can be quite limited, overall. Keep in mind, this is a low glow trail camera so it isn't producing as much infrared glow as a red glow camera would.

 

Video quality mimics photo quality except maybe even a touch better. The 4K video resolution is at 30 frames per second and we love the videos. The audio seems to be impeccable as well. Be prepared for large video files, but overall, image and video quality are top-notch.

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.

Fast Motion No Motion	Fast Motion W/ Motion	Long Range No Motion	Long Range W/ Motion	Low Glow No Motion	Low Glow W/ Motion

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:    98/100

Picture & Video Resting Power (on):  0.44 mW

Picture Daytime/Nighttime Power Consumption: 1.6 Ws  |  1.0 Ws

Video Daytime/Nighttime Power Consumption: 10.9  Ws  |  45.5 Ws

Picture Mode

If this Bushnell Core DS 4K trail camera were to take 35-day and 35-night pictures every 24 hours, this camera would last 25 months in the field on a set of 6 AA Lithium Batteries. This is great battery life

Video Mode

If this camera were to take 15-day and 15-night videos (10-second videos) every 24 hours, it would last 3.7 months in the field on a set of lithium batteries. 

Detection Circuit:     95/100

Picture Trigger & Recovery Speed: 0.15 s.  |  0.7 s.

Video Trigger & Recovery Speed:  0.68 s.  |  0.5 s.

Detection Range & Angle: 90 ft. @ 42.4° (41.5° field of view)

The detection circuit is super fast and detects out to 100 feet! Nothing to complain about here, the Bushnell Core DS4K is fast enough for any animal.

Quality of Design:     87/100

Dimensions: 5.5" x 3.5" x 3.5"

Battery Type:  6 AA (we recommend lithium)

External Battery Jack: 12-volt

SD Card Size: Up to 512GB

Case Design

The Core DS 4K feels sturdy and well-built. The latch is easy to manipulate and has a positive snap when closing. The Core DS 4K has a bracket on the back of the camera for a python cable lock and a threaded insert on the bottom and back (we like the optionality) for a Slate River Mount.

The SD card slot is easy to locate and easy to get a card in and out. Batteries load easily into the tray and slide in and out of the camera effortlessly. This is a really good case design.

Camera Setup

The set up menu is very easy to navigate and would be intuitive for first time trail camera users or experienced pro's. The Core DS 4K has popular settings like Hybrid Mode (picture + video), time lapse, and start/stop time (AM, PM, or 24 hours). The internal viewing screen makes field set up extremely simple, letting the user see exactly where the camera is pointed.

Some of the writing on the set up screen is fairly small, it might be hard to read for older eyes.

Durability

We have no current concerns over durability but will update the review as anything happens. 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.

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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. 

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.

 

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