8 Best Trail Cameras Under $150 – Hunting Game Cameras for Wildlife of 2020

Review

When you need to capture activity remotely, the best HD trail camera will come with tons of features to make your job easier. That’s where this Victure comes in. Not only does it sell for a relatively more affordable price than other comparable models, but the camera is packed with technology that is hard to beat.

Night vision, waterproof sealant, and high-definition video are all packed into this device with many other capabilities. When you need a trail camera that won’t break the bank but capture great video, this unit should be sought out.

What Customers Are Saying

Customers were impressed with how well the device worked for their needs. Nighttime photography can be hit-or-miss, but many reviews noted that the quality of their shots turned out excellent.

Motion detection and audio recording are both critical areas for a trail camera to excel in, and users felt that the device scored highly in these aspects. Customers were able to monitor their property by keeping the camera on during the night to capture animals.

Although the camera requires eight AA batteries, buyers did not feel that it made it less desirable of a purchase.

Pros/Cons

Although it requires eight AA batteries to operate, its standby time is recorded at six months. The high-powered camera is the standout feature for this device, for 20 megapixels can deliver crisp videos.

Some people could need a trail camera with a very powerful lens, and this unit fits the bill. If you are out in the field and wondering about how your camera will take shots, the built-in screen can give you a preview of what kinds of pictures you can expect to capture.

What Customers Are Saying

Many reviewers bought this item to find out which animals were entering their property and causing their livestock to go missing. This camera exceeded their expectations, for they found that the built-in screen lets them check videos and photographs without having to remove the memory key and plug it into their computer.

The no-flash system came in handy in this instance, for animals were able to be traced in the night without being exposed to a bright light to scare them off. Customers loved the high-definition photographs and commented that this product performed better than similar trail cameras that they have had in the past.

Pros/Cons

That’s where cameras like this one from Campark come into play. With a 120-degree angled lens, this unit can be placed to cover open spaces for security or recreational purposes. Although it has a 14-megapixel camera, the unit has no-flash technology, a 20-foot detection range, and micro-SD card support.

This means that the product will have a slightly weaker camera than most models, yet it will be offset through its wide lens and other features to make it a good buy.

What Customers Are Saying

Buyers flocked to this camera for its excellent performance. This unit comes with a built-in screen to preview media, which many customers were happy to have. One customer had purchased trail cameras that were double and triple the price of this one, yet they were very happy with this model.

Photographs are sharp, and videos are taken almost immediately once the model picks up a disturbance. One review commented that their camera didn’t focus well on targets that were extremely close to and recommended to others to plan accordingly.

The unit’s use of energy was praised, for buyers were happy that a single set of batteries didn’t run out quickly.

Pros/Cons

This unit comes with powerful features like 65-feet detection, smartphone compatibility and a 1296p resolution. A tripod is included in the bundle for setting up the unit as well.

This all comes with a price, for the model is one of the most expensive on this list. But the specifications of this device are impressive, and this camera will be able to deliver a performance that other models might not be able to match. If you are a serious outdoor enthusiastic or need a trail camera for protection, investing in this high-performing model can be ideal.

What Customers Are Saying

Buyers were extremely happy with investing money into this device. One reviewer noted that they had previously purchased similar devices, but putting slightly more money into this model was well worth it. Out of all the features of this model, the remote connectivity to a smartphone was most praised.

One user placed their camera in a delicate spot and didn’t want to disturb its viewing angle. They enjoying being able to access their videos and photographs through the company-support application.

Although you must be fairly close the camera to access its media, being able to not disturb your camera at all for months at a time can be very useful. All of this makes it a good quality trail camera.

Pros/Cons

It doesn’t feature smartphone support, but it does have rapid trigger time to quickly capture targets with a sturdy exterior build. Customers who need more power than the average trail camera can buy this model to get the features that they need at the price that they want.

SD-card support is another great tool to have, for photographers can have more options to store their media for better record keeping.

What Customers Are Saying

Buyers were impressed at the value that they were able to have with this unit. One customer bought it to monitor deer on their property, and they were able to customize the camera so that it only captured large animals.

This customer noted that even after taking 3000 photographs a week for a month, the batteries did not need replacing. Other buyers were happy that they were able to find an affordable trail camera packed with powerful features.

Pros/Cons

A 12-megapixel camera is powerful enough to capture great images, and its no-glow technology can empower buyers to track animals during the night. Potential buyers who have never tried out a trail camera can get their money’s worth in this one: It is affordable enough to not be an investment, but is powerful enough to be fun to use and useful to operate.

What Customers Are Saying

Buyers who took the plunge on this camera loved it. They found that the device performed to their expectations, and many of them had a blast using it. The audio recording came out clean, and its video processing churned out videos full of detail.

One customer noted that they live in an area with sub-zero weather, but the device held up strong to the freezing temperatures. Buyers also loved the customization available with this trail camera.

Although not costing as much compared to other models, the features on this device left people excited to use it for home security, recreation and photography of local wildlife. It would be no surprise that buyers who purchased this model might want to upgrade in the future due to the pleasant experience that they had with this Victure trail camera.

Pros/Cons

A wide-angled lens makes a huge difference in the world of trail cameras, for the extra few degrees can be used to capture footage that could have been missed in the wild.

Powered with as low as four AA batteries, this excellent device can stay on standby mode for up to eight months and stay situated securely with the included mount strap.

What Customers Are Saying

Customers were happy with this purchase because of how great their pictures came out. After installing the micro-SD card, buyers were able to leave their trail cameras out and come back to hundreds of photographs of wildlife in great quality. They enjoyed having the ability to customize the sensitivity levels and leave their device in freezing weather without worry of it breaking down.

There were no complaints about the quality of the images, but some reviewers did find some fault with the build of the trail camera. One found that releasing the back cover to replace the batteries was slightly difficult to do, and another buyer lamented the placement of the micro-SD card slot.

Although these concerns could be addressed in a future model, this device still received praise for being affordable and being built well to offer excellent photographs and to stand up to bad weather.

Pros/Cons

This unit is affordable and offers nice bonuses like a built-in screen to preview media, waterproof protection, no-flash technology and a fast trigger time to quickly capture whatever comes in the unit’s field of vision.

The unit’s specifications are impressive for its price, and this makes the product an excellent purchase. 20-foot range detection could be slightly limiting for bigger projects, however. If a bigger recording space is not needed, then this unit will be a smart buy.

What Customers Are Saying

Buyers were largely pleased with their purchase. The device received almost no criticism, for it was able to be used to track trespassers on private property and local wildlife without being presenting any issues.

One reviewer expressed their satisfaction in the camouflaged device, for trespassers were completely unaware that they were being filmed.

The device offers flexibility to customize how it reacts to objects that it detects. This feature was used by buyers to tailor the model to their needs. Through its ability to consume only four batteries at a time, this unit will be used to save money in the long term.

Pros/Cons

There a lot of trail cameras to choose from, so the following four considerations should narrow down your search to help you find the best model that suits your needs. The general advice of picking the highest priced cameras doesn’t apply here, for there are many reasons for why the latest model might not work for you. On the other hand, good cameras might be the best for option based on the following points of reflection.

Recreational Versus Professional

Consider your hobbies and profession to determine if owning an expensive camera is worth it for you. Higher-priced cameras on this list come with advanced cameras and useful features that can help advance your hobbies and your job.

If you just want to have fun and watch the local wildlife at the end of the day, plenty of entry-level cameras can keep you entertained and save you money.

Danger of Wildlife

It’s pretty common to hear about how technology was attacked by wildlife. Trail cameras are no exception. Consider how many animals will cross paths with your device and investigate it with their claws and teeth.

If you lose an expensive trail camera to one of these attacks, it could discourage you from buying another.

There are many ways around this problem, however. If you are set on taking photos of wildlife, consider owning a few replaceable models.

The difficulty of Reaching Your Camera

Some of the best spots for filming can be difficult to access on a regular basis. This is where smartphone compatibility comes in handy.

If you know a great location but aren’t able to regularly reach it, consider buying a smartphone-compatible trail camera to remotely access all of your media.

As long as it isn’t in danger of being carried off by wildlife or a trespasser, then this set-up can bring you great photographs and video.

Home Security

Finally, owning a trail camera for security should make you want to spring for the higher-end models. Home security is not a laughing matter, and a few megapixels can mean the difference between safety and risk.

A top camera can bring 20 megapixels to the table to help identify trespassers or thieves to the police for a higher chance of keeping you safe in the future.

Used in conjunction with other security devices, cameras can help your home-defense system. You also need to know where to properly install the cameras.

Do I Need to Buy the Best Camera to Get a Decent Model?

This isn’t the case. Great, powerful cameras are available at affordable prices, and some have been reviewed in this guide. Expensive cameras are excellent for getting the most features, but there a plenty of reasons for why getting one is not practical or desirable. Less expensive models come with powerful 12-megapixel cameras that still provide great image quality.

How Do I Know That I Am Buying a Good Camera?

The best camera will empower you. If you need it for home security, then it should have the highest resolution available in the event that you need to bring it to the police as evidence.

On the other hand, outdoor enthusiasts might only need to know what animals are nearby. Cameras with fast trigger speeds could be sought after in this situation.

What Are the Most Important Features to Have?

If you are struggling with wildlife destroying your property, your camera should have no-flash technology to keep animals from being scared off from the flash in the middle of the night.

The camera should also offer customization to let you program it according to your needs.

In any other event, consider why you need it and determine how important the following criteria are: long battery life, high-definition photography and video, trigger speeds, a wide-angle lens, tripod compatibility, smartphone compatibility, long-range motion sensing, water-resistance, and user-friendly interfaces.

What Are Some of the Best Uses for My Trail Camera?

You can use your trail camera to act as a surveillance tool around your property, or you can use it to observe wildlife in less-traveled areas of wilderness.

They can also be used to take time-lapse photos to create albums of stunning photographs.

The possibilities for their use are endless, for you can imagine trail cameras as home-surveillance cameras with a tank of armor to withstand harsh weather to record almost anywhere.

How Do I Pick Between My Two Favorite Models?

The best game cameras for the money will give you the features that are most important for your situation. For example, going camping with a trail camera will let you record your surroundings at night to ensure that nothing dangerous enters your camp while you sleep.

Two similar models for this situation should be evaluated upon how well they take nighttime photography. Consider your needs and when your trail camera will be active, and make your choice on the model. Eight-month standby time is impressive, but it won’t impact you greatly if it is always near you to replace the batteries.