5 Best Trail Camera for Home Security (Reviewed 2022)
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Last update on 2022-11-10 / Affiliate links / Ratings / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
11.01.2022
Written By: John Fox | Security expert / Locksmith 30 Years Experience
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If you’re looking to buy a trail camera, we’re here to provide you with the information you need. We tested some of the best-reviewed and highest-rated cameras in the market, and we will summarize our findings in this article. Whatever your particular needs are, one of these cameras is the one for you. Without further ado, let’s get right into it.
Best Overall
Last update on 2022-11-10 / Affiliate links / Ratings / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
1. Foxelli 57047 Trail Camera
For most applications, the Foxelli 57047 Trail Camera is the best choice for home security. It has a high-quality camera that can capture 14-megapixel photos. The Foxelli 57047 Trail Camera also captures video in 1080p High Definition for as long as 10 minutes with audio. It has a 120-degree field of view, and the camera is capable of detecting motion from a distance of 65 feet. The trigger time is pretty impressive too. It triggers in just 0.5 seconds.
The battery life on the Foxelli 57047 Trail Camera is up to eight months, and this camera does not emit any light in the visible spectrum when taking pictures or recording video, even at night.
It has 42 LEDs that emit infrared light, which is invisible to humans. The camera, however, is capable of capturing infrared light, allowing it to operate even in the dark without emitting any light and giving away its location.
Setting up the Foxelli 57047 Trail Camera is a walk in the park. There is a hinge at the front. When you open it, there is a 2.4-inch LCD display there that allows you to browse settings and set up the camera according to your specifications.
A strap is also included with the camera, which allows it to be mounted on a pole or a tree. The camera is water-resistant and resistant to other elements ensuring it will not easily get damaged by environmental factors.
A small portion of these cameras seem to have a problem with their motion capture sensor, but Foxelli offers great customer service and is excellent at helping customers solve these problems.
The Foxelli 57047 Trail Camera offers excellent performance while still being affordable. This makes us place the Foxelli 57047 Trail Camera atop the list of trail cameras for home security.
Features:
- Camera: 14 megapixels
- 1080p HD Video: Yes
- Coverage: 120 degrees
- Infrared LEDs: 42
- Waterproof: Yes
- Triggering Rate: 0.5 seconds
- Motion Sensor Range: 65 feet
What We Liked:
- Easy to set up
- Wide coverage with good quality video output
What We Didn’t Like:
- Some of these may have problems with motion capture
Verdict:
Foxelli 57047 Trail Camera has impressive features and is adequate for home security. Most people will find this camera the right one for their needs.
Best Value
Last update on 2022-11-10 / Affiliate links / Ratings / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
2. Wingham 859431 Trail Camera
The 859431 Trail Camera from WingHome is able to offer most of the features usually found in top-dollar cameras at a much more reasonable price. It has a really impressive camera that takes pictures in 24 megapixels. The camera is also able to record video in 1080p with a triggering rate of 0.8 seconds. All of this makes this camera pretty impressive, considering its price.
The camera’s viewing angle is pretty limited, however. It can only cover 52 degrees. This makes this camera pretty good for more focused viewing or when you wish to place the camera at a distance from the area you with to surveil. A smaller angle allows the camera to concentrate all its megapixels in a small area giving you better quality footage of objects far from the camera than a wide-angle camera would allow.
The Wingham 859431 Trail Camera also has 42 infrared LEDs giving it night vision. However, there have been some complaints that the pictures taken at night are not clear. The motion sensor can detect motion up to 65 feet away and trigger this camera which can capture footage easily from that distance.
Unlike some other cameras, the infrared LED in the WingHome 859431 Trail Camera does not produce any red light while shooting at night, making it undetectable. However, some users have complained that the pictures taken at night are not clear.
Another notable feature of the WingHome 859431 Trail Camera is that it is waterproof. You can place it anywhere outside without worrying about rainwater destroying it. A mounting strap is equipped with a camera making it easy to mount to a tree or a pole.
Overall, this camera is pretty good for home security; it’s certainly my favorite. It delivers a good value for your money and the night celerity can be increased with minimal background lights. This would not give the position of the camera away either.
Features:
- Camera: 24 megapixels
- 1080p HD Video: Yes
- Coverage: 52 degrees
- Infrared LEDs: 42
- Waterproof: Yes
- Triggering Rate: 0.8 seconds
- Motion Sensor Range: 65 feet
What We Liked:
- Inexpensive
- 24 MP camera
What We Didn’t Like:
- Narrow coverage
Verdict:
Perfect choice if you’re on a budget. You might place the camera at some distance from the surveilling area, however.
Premium Choice
Last update on 2022-11-10 / Affiliate links / Ratings / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
3. CLOBO Trail Camera
Being a premium camera, the CLOBO Trail Camera has features that cannot be matched with a camera that is less expensive. It takes 20-megapixel pictures and records High Definition 1080p video with sound. The camera has a wide-angle with a field of view of 120 degrees. The CLOBO Trail Camera has an impressive triggering speed of just 0.2 seconds. The motions sensors detect motion from up to 65 feet away and trigger this camera.
The CLOBO Trail Camera also has a pretty cool time-lapse feature that takes pictures periodically and allows you to see the progression of changes such as those in nature and seasonal changes.
This trail camera also has 48 LED infrared cameras, which do not emit any visible light while the camera is shooting at night. The battery on this camera also lasts several months. The CLOBO Trail Camera is designed to be unnoticeable in nature which makes it perfect to be mounted on a tree or a wooden background. It is also waterproof and is protected against other environmental elements.
The CLOBO Trail Camera is pretty easy to mount, but it may prove difficult to set up since the instructions are a bit unclear.
This is easily a great premium choice product with extremely rapid triggering speed as its standout feature, but the hard-to-follow instructions made us place this in the third place. If you can figure out how to set this up, this camera can prove really useful.
Features:
- Camera: 20 megapixels
- 1080p HD Video: Yes
- Coverage: 120 degrees
- Infrared LEDs: 48
- Waterproof: Yes
- Triggering Rate: 0.2 seconds
- Motion Sensor Range: 65 feet
What We Liked:
- Wide coverage
- Fast trigger
- Amazing build
What We Didn’t Like:
- Unclear instructions
Verdict:
The most heavy-duty camera you can buy. If you can afford it and figure out how to set it up, definitely go for this one.
Balanced Features
Last update on 2022-11-10 / Affiliate links / Ratings / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
4. Campark T40/P Trail Camera
The Campark T40/P Trail Camera is another great camera worth considering when you’re looking for a trail camera for home security. Its picture quality is pretty decent as it takes pictures in 14 megapixels.
The Campark T40/P Trail Camera also captures 1080p High Definition video for up to 10 minutes with sound, which makes this camera pretty impressive. This camera is able to cover a good area as it has a 120-degree wide-angle lens. The trigger rate of this camera is 0.5 seconds which is pretty adequate for home security purposes.
One standout feature of this camera is its ability to detect motion from 75 feet away, which allows the motion sensor to cover 33 percent more area than a 65 feet sensor. The battery life is quite impressive as well, lasting up to 8 months.
The camera includes the equipment needed to mount it to trees or a pole, and it is pretty easy to mount, set up, and use. It is also waterproof, sturdy, and protected from environmental factors.
One complaint is that this camera gets is that its sensor is too sensitive and often takes a picture when there is no subject in the picture.
Nonetheless, the Campark T40/P Trail Camera is definitely worth considering and an amazing option for home security, especially if they is not a lot of inanimate movement in the field of the camera.
Features:
- Camera: 14 megapixels
- 1080p HD Video: Yes
- Coverage: 120 degrees
- Infrared LEDs: 42
- Waterproof: Yes
- Triggering Rate: 0.5 seconds
- Motion Sensor Range: 75 feet
What We Liked:
- Impressive motion sensor range
- Wide coverage
- Overall good features
What We Didn’t Like:
- Overly sensitive motion sensor
Verdict:
A good competitor to the first entry in the list. However, it may take too many pictures if there is a lot of uninteresting motion in the area such as moving leaves.
Standout Features
Last update on 2022-11-10 / Affiliate links / Ratings / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
5. Meidase SL122 Trail-Camera
The Meidase SL122 Trail-Camera has its own place in the trail camera market. With its characteristically different specifications from most other cameras, it is certainly worth considering. It may be the right one for your needs.
The Meidase SL122 Trail-Camera takes pictures in 16-megapixels and is able to record High Definition 1080p video. Its lens is only able to cover a limited 90-degree area, however. This makes the camera a good option if you wish to place the camera at a distance to the area being surveilled.
One feature that stands out is the ability of the Meidase SL122 Trail-Camera to deter motion from 85 feet. This enables this camera to surveil 70 percent more area than a 65 feet sensor. This might make up for the camera’s limited field of view.
Another impressive feature is its trigger rate of 0.2 seconds which is pretty impressive considering the price.
The Meidase SL122 Trail-Camera has 38 infrared cameras that are not visible at night while giving the camera night vision. The battery life is lower compared to others. It lasts six months. The Meidase SL122 Trail-Camera can be easily set up and mounted on a tree or a pole. The mounting equipment is included with the camera.
The camera is “waterproof”, but some users have complained about the camera being compromised because of water. The quality of the pictures taken at night is not particularly good either.
The Meidase SL122 Trail-Camera offers really impressive features that might be of interest to you based on your needs. However, complaints about it not being completely waterproof should make you be more careful.
Features:
- Camera: 16 megapixels
- 1080p HD Video: Yes
- Coverage: 90 degrees
- Infrared LEDs: 38
- Waterproof: Yes
- Triggering Rate: 0.2 seconds
- Motion Sensor Range: 85 feet
What We Liked:
- Quick trigger
- Amazing motion sensor range
- Good image quality
What We Didn’t Like:
- Narrow range
- May get damaged by water
Verdict:
This camera certainly stands out from the rest with its 85 feet motion sensor range and 0.2-second trigger rate. This may be the right one for you if you wish to surveil from a distance.
Value Editorial and Buying Debates (Buying Guide)
What Should I Look for in a Trail Camera for Home Security?
The one thing a trail camera must have for it to qualify as adequate for home security is night vision. Some cameras with night vision have infrared LEDs that also emit some red light. This makes the camera visible at night while it is shooting, which is not something you want. Verify that the camera does not give off red light while shooting at night.
Another factor that might be important for you, depending on where you wish to place the camera, is water resistance. The camera has to be water-resistant and protected from environmental elements for it to stay functional for an extended period of time. (1)
Why Should I Choose a Wide-angle Trail Camera for Home Security?
A wide-angle camera is able to cover more area around it than a narrow-angle camera. This means that a wide-angle camera will detect movement in a wider range and capture pictures/videos that span more area. In most cases, a wide-angle trail camera would be better for house security than a narrow-angle trail camera. (2)
There is one case, however, in which you should prefer a narrow-angle camera to a wide-angle camera. If you wish to place a camera at some distance from the area you want to surveil, choosing a wide-angle camera would be a waste because it would also cover areas that you have no interest in. This would result in a decreased resolution of the images of your house. Hence, if you wish to place a camera at a distance, it is better to choose a narrow-angle camera that focuses on your area of interest.
What is the Ideal Motion Sensor Range in a Trail Camera for Home Security?
The ideal motion sensor range for you depends on your particular setup. You do not want a camera that has an unnecessarily long-range and gets triggered for unimportant distant events.
If you wish to surveil the area around the location of the camera, a trail camera with 65 feet sensing range would be adequate. But if you wish to place the trail camera at some distance to the area you wish to surveil, you might need a camera with a longer sensing range.
What Trigger Rate do I Need in a Trail Camera for Home Security?
Having a higher trigger rate is always a good thing. However, for practical purposes, a trigger rate of 0.5 seconds is more than adequate for home security. You do not have to pay a high amount for a faster trigger rate. However, a faster trigger rate is immensely useful in hunting. If you plan on using this camera for hunting as well, do consider the trigger rate.
Wrapping Up
Trail cameras take pictures and record video whenever they detect motion and are really quick at performing this action. When deciding to buy a camera, there are certain features that you must consider.
These features are picture quality, angle of coverage, trigger range, battery life, trigger rate, and sensor range. The ideal angle of coverage and trigger range depends on your specific needs.
If you want to place the camera close to the area you want to surveil, a wide-angle camera with a short-range sensor would be best for you.
Whereas if you want to place the camera somewhere afar from the area you want to surveil, A narrow-angle camera will work better for you.
Before you make a purchase, make sure that the trail camera is waterproof and that it does not emit any red light while capturing at night. Some cameras have night vision but their camera result is not good at night. Installing a small light source in the area under surveillance can also improve results.
References
(1) environmental elements – https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/social-sciences/environmental-factors
(2) wide-angle camera – https://www.britannica.com/technology/wide-angle-lens
Our Recommendation Again
- HIGH RESOLUTION PHOTO & VIDEO: Provides excellent 14MP, sharp and vibrant photos, as well as 1080P Full HD clear videos with sound up to 10 minutes long. 120-degree wide angle lens offers huge shooting scope. Comes equipped with a 2.4” LCD color monitor, which is used for previewing photos and videos, camera targeting and browsing the menu for easy operation. Capture stunning wildlife images – with vivid colors during the day, and detailed black & white shots at night.
- UPGRADED NIGHT VISION: This hunting camera is motion activated with up to 65-ft detection range, and equipped with 42 Low Glow IR LEDs which provide fantastic lightning at night. Superfast PIR motion sensor with 0.5-second trigger time, and adjustable sensitivity, assure that whether using this camera on the hunting trail or in your backyard, it will not miss a thing!
John Fox
Allow me to introduce myself. My name is John Fox and I’ve been working as a security consultant for over 20 years now. During my time in the industry, I’ve learned about what it takes to ensure your home and family are always safe. With Safe Now, I’ve tried to take those two decades of experience and share it with others. My goal now is to help others figure out how to make the right choices for their businesses and families. On my website, you’ll find tips and guides on how to prevent crimes, as well as product recommendations. What’s more, my readers can learn more about what to do in case of an emergency and how to protect themselves at all times. So, if you want to know everything there is about security systems and home safety, I invite you to join me and my team and help us build a community together.
