We’re busy putting the Bushnell Core No-Glow through its paces for this review – check back soon for all the specs and example photos and videos
The 2019 Bushnell Core No Glow is a complete design departure from the tradition Bushnell designs of the last 5-10 years, with a one-body camera and small door opening.
It doesn’t depart however on where it matters, and Bushnell have always had a very strong showing in detection and speed. The new models, including this Core No-Glow, continue that tradition.
Video quality is a general improvement over the previous models and we finally have 30 frames per second at night on a Bushnell, rather than the 18fps on the last model.
It is straight-forward to use and the menu will be familiar to Bushnell users, with no major departures or changes in the settings.
Its powered by a 9V system from 6x AA batteries, less than normal in a Bushnell, but battery efficiency is a big improvement over the Aggressor models. This still means night time videos are limited to 15 seconds per clip with LED Control set to ‘High’. Turning this setting to ‘Low’ or ‘Medium’ means you can get 60 second clips at night. The camera will record up to 2 minutes during the day.
Also taking into consideration the price of this camera, we feel this Bushnell Core No-Glow is a solid offering and a return to form for Bushnell. There are still areas for improvement though…
Read more of our review below…
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Video quality
Max res: 1080p (30fps day, 30fps night) Max length: 2mins day, 15 secs night (can be up to 60s with LED Control reduced) Trigger speed: about 0.5 seconds Recovery time: about 1 seconds
Video quality has always been a strong point with the Bushnell cameras, and this Core No-Glow is no different. Day videos are good and the 1080p video is 30fps, an improvement on the previous models, allowing for smooth video.
Night videos are good, especially when working in ranges of 10-40ft. They are a good step behind those available on the better Core DS range.
In lower light conditions such as dawn/dusk or in a forest, the video quality does seem to suffer a bit.
We have also noticed that there is some background audio hum on the videos.
Photo quality
Max res: 24MP (lowest 3MP) Max number per trigger: 5 photos Trigger speed: under 0.2 seconds Recovery time: about 1 seconds
Day photos are pretty middle of the road – the colours are quite muted and dull.
Night photos are similar to previous Bushnell models, but there is less motion blur.
Essentially, if you’re only after a camera trap for photos this won’t be the one to go for, and the Bushnell Core DS cameras are significantly better.
Bushnell have always had some of the best detection circuits on the market, and the Core is no different. There are very little issues with it.
Video trigger speed is fast at just 0.5 seconds and recovery is about 1 seconds. Photo triggers are lightning fast at under 0.2 seconds.
Add that to a really strong detection range and you have a great detection circuit – definitely one of the Core trail camera’s main strong points.
Build quality & batteries
Warranty: 2 years (through NatureSpy) Batteries: 6x AA (Lithium recommended)
The Core represents a complete redesign from the previous Bushnell cameras. It actually is more like the Browning cameras now – with a battery tray to make replacing them easier, a forward facing colour screen and LEDs at the side of the lens, rather than above.
As you’d expect from the Bushnell brand, the camera trap feels sturdy and robust and will hold up well in the field for extended periods of time.
The latch is better than previous models, although the door is a bit lightweight. However, we have had no problems reported so far.
Battery life is far, far better than on previous Bushnells, with the camera using 6x AA batteries at a time. Lithium are strongly recommended to get the best out of the camera.
If using Lithium and taking about 20 videos every 24 hours, you will get just over 2 months from one set of batteries. If taking about 60 photos every 24 hours, you will get just over 9 months. Pretty impressive with only 6x batteries.
The Bushnell Core No-Glow is covered by a 2 year manufacturer’s warranty in the UK when bought through NatureSpy.
Ease of use
The redesign is very welcome departure from previous models and much easier to use than previous models. The forward facing screen makes setup far easier, and changing settings is very straightforward.
Those that have used Bushnell cameras will recognise all the settings – there are no major changes or departures here. The manual is clear and easy to follow.
Overall a very straight-forward camera trap to use, but if you do require any help or have any questions you can just get in touch with us.
If you’ve found our review useful, please consider supporting our work and purchasing your next camera trap from us.
Product Description
2019 Bushnell Core No-glow…
The Bushnell Core No-Glow trail camera is a completely redesigned offering from Bushnell and released as part of a new range of cameras, the first in over 2 years. A familiar name in trail cameras, this new model suggests its reputation will continue.
The headline upgrades are;
A completely redesigned camera casing, now with a battery tray and the camera body enclosed, rather than as part of the door
Image resolution is now up to 24MP (interpolated from 3MP)
Improved trigger speeds for both photo and video
Change in LED type
Better battery life compared to previous Bushnells off 6x AA batteries
Marginal improvement in the detection circuit
The 2019 Bushnell Core No-Glow is a weatherproof wildlife camera that records 1080p HD video @ 30fps, with motion detection out to 100ft and an internal LCD screen for setup only.
Not sure which is the right camera trap for you? Try our camera trap chooser…
The Bushnell Core No-Glow has a trigger speed of just under 0.2 seconds and recovery between triggers is around 1 second. Video trigger speeds are about 0.5 seconds. The Hybrid Mode allows you to record both images and video for each trigger. The trigger interval can also be adjusted – this is the time inbetween capture events – between 1 second to 60 minutes. In a first for Bushnell, you can also get up to 5 images per trigger event.
The 2x Field Scan function uses time lapse technology to capture images at specified intervals (1 minute to 1 hour) between the hours of your choice. You can programme two separate time lapse windows so that you can monitor both dusk and dawn activity at your survey site.
The Core No-Glow is powered by 6x AA batteries and they will last, under average use, 2 months for video mode and around 9 months on photo mode (using Lithium). For long-term use and to get the best from the Bushnell Core No-Glow, it is important to use Lithium batteries. Using inferior batteries, and batteries with below a 2500mAh capacity will seriously affect the performance of the camera.
The Infrared LEDs are no-glow which makes them completely invisible to animals and people, with no light whatsoever given off. No-Glow LEDs offer a reduced flash range compared to Low-Glow LEDs however, but are more suitable for sensitive animals and security use.
As a fully authorised Bushnell dealer, we supply the 2019 Bushnell Core Trail Camera with a 2 year manufacturer’s warranty.
2019 Bushnell Core No Glow Features:
24MP high-quality full colour resolution
HD Video – 1920 x 1080 pixels at 30 frames per second
Dynamic video – 1s to 2 minutes; PIR activity regulates length and stops recording after 5 seconds of inactivity (Night recordings between 5-60 seconds with LEDs on Low or Medium, 5 to 15 seconds with LEDs on High). Custom video lengths also can be set within these boundaries
Hybrid capture mode; capture a full-res image and then take full-res video in same trigger
Day/night autosensor
36 No-Glow with 80′ range, invisible to wildlife and people
Adjustable PIR (Lo/Med/High) or Auto PIR
0.2 second trigger speed (0.5s video) with improved 0.5 second recovery speed
Programmable trigger interval: 1 sec. to 60 min.
Multi-image mode: 1-5 images per trigger
Video length: 1 second to 60 seconds, programmable
Field Scan time-lapse mode takes images at pre-set intervals, 1 minute to 60 minutes
Temperature range -5° F to 140° F
Black & White internal screen
PIR sensor is motion activated out to 100′
Adjustable web belt and 1/4-20 socket
SD card slot
Fully weather proof
2 year warranty
For full specs, click the tab above.
Our Bushnell camera traps are central to what we do. Their sturdy build quality, strong detection and video quality sets them apart. We have an intimate knowledge of what makes them tick after years of working with them.
The new 2019 Core and Core DS models represent a big step forward for Bushnell, with much improved case design and battery life, along with faster speeds and better video quality. The Core DS models in particular, with dual sensors for better day and night imagery, have been giving great results.
We ran a crowd-funding project at the end of 2013 to raise money for Bushnell camera traps as part of our Yorkshire Pine Marten Project, and still use more up-to-date Bushnell camera traps in our iWild North Wales and Deescover projects.
We used Bushnell cameras solely in the iWild North Wales project and to a lesser extent in the Deescover project, mainly due to their high video quality.
All of our environmental projects generate hundreds of camera trap videos every single month; you can see some of the highlights and quality of the Bushnell footage on our YouTube channel. Please note that all this footage comes from a variety of Bushnell models at different resolutions.
They are extremely hardy and able to resist both low and high temperatures very well, and the case is well designed.
The image quality is consistently good and it’s main stand-out feature is the video quality.
If you aren’t sure which camera trap is for you, don’t hesitate to contact us and we’ll provide the best advice we can. All of our staff actually use different camera trap models in the field every single day, so we are ideally placed to help you make the right choice.
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