Bushnell S-4K No Glow Trail Camera Review

The Bushnell S4K (119949C)  No Glow trail camera is a budget-minded trail camera that performs above its weight class in every category. There aren't many $150 cameras that delivery 21 months of battery life, incredible detection speeds and solid overall picture/video quality. We recommend the Bushnell S4K.  - TCP Staff

Model # 119949C | Bushnell S-4K Owners Manual

FAQ's

Trailcampro Comprehensive Score:

81/100

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Bushnell Core S-4K No Glow Trail Camera Review

 Pros

• Fantastic battery life in picture mode (21 months)
  
• Great case design and easy user-interface
• Very solid pictures and videos

 Cons

• Limited flash range
  

 

The Bushnell Core S-4K No Glow is a single sensor trail camera, meaning it only has one lens for day and night pictures.

Picture Quality:  88/100

Photo resolution:  30 mpxl (interpolated)

Flash Type:  No Glow IR

With only a single sensor, and not the dual sensor the Bushnell DS4K has, we justifiably found the pictures to be a subtle step down from the higher-end Bushnell no glow trail camera model. Day pictures are very solid but do continue the Bushnell tradition of being a bit inconsistent in changing light conditions. Night pictures have a somewhat limited flash range (keep in mind this is a no glow camera), but still have good clarity and contrast. Overall, we consider these to be very solid pictures and videos.

 

 

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 Bushnell Core S-4K No Glow 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:    85/100

Picture & Video Resting Power (on):   0.57 mW

Picture Daytime/Nighttime Power Consumption:   0.7 Ws  |  2.3 Ws

Video Daytime/Nighttime Power Consumption:   13.3 Ws  |  82.1 Ws

Picture Mode

If this Bushnell Core S-4K trail camera were to take 35-day and 35-night pictures every 24 hours, this camera would last 21 months in the field on a set of 6 AA Lithium Batteries. This is great battery life

Video Mode

If this Bushnell Core S-4K no glow 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:     94/100

Picture Trigger & Recovery Speed:   0.18 s.  |  1.3 s.

Video Trigger & Recovery Speed:    0.55 s.  |  1.6 s.

Detection Range & Angle:   90-100 ft. @ 29° (37.3° field of view)

This category is under evaluation.

Quality of Design:     87/100

Dimensions: 5" x 3.5" x 3"

Battery Type:  6 AA (we recommend Lithium)

External Battery Jack: 12-volt

SD Card Size: Up to 512GB

Case Design

The Core S-4K feels sturdy and well-built. The latch is easy to manipulate and has a positive snap when closing. The Core S-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 S-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. 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.

 

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