Browning Strike Force Pro DCL

Our
rating
7.5/10

Overview

The Browning Strike Force Pro DCL builds on the success of the Strike Force Pro XD. This compact camera retains the dual lens system, featuring a lens to enhance the quality of day images and another for those taken at night.

It has a faster trigger than its predecessor, particularly when used on video mode, and it recovers significantly faster as well. Ensuring you are getting the most out of every encounter. Photos triggers are the same 0.15 second speed and videos are a faster 0.45 seconds. This is a good middle ground specification for a trail camera.

This Strike Force model has low-glow LEDs, and is otherwise the same as the Dark Ops Pro DCL. These low-glow LEDs make it better suited to wildlife-only setups, rather than security. Read more about the LEDs further below.

This camera is particularly great if you’re after photos; it won’t give you anything like DSLR quality of course, but it is great at capturing all manner of daytime and night time activity, and with minimal motion blur at night. The video quality is 1080p and while this is good it doesn't quite compare to the Elite HP5 range. 

The build quality and overall design retains the excellent features of the Strike Force Range. It has a 1.5″ forward-facing colour screen to help with set up and so you can review images/videos without dismounting the camera in the field. It also has a great little steel bracket which the camera can pivot off for better positioning – if you’re used to fiddling around the get your camera trap positioned right, this makes things much easier!

The Strike Force Pro DCL is also straight-forward to use – uncomplicated, without a vast array of settings, but quick and simple.

Due to it’s 9V power system, night time videos are limited to 20 seconds per clip. However, if activity remains, the camera can recover in just under 2 seconds and record another 20 second clip. The warranty length in the UK through NatureSpy is 2 years.

This camera improves on the Strike Force Pro XD and its a good all-round trail camera. While it doesn't quite meet the quality of the Recon Force Elite HP5, we find it simple to use and appreciate the compact build. We would give the Browning Strike Force Pro DCL a 7.5 out of 10.

Video Quality:

Max res: 1080p (60fps day, 60fps night)    Max length: 2mins day, 20 secs night
Trigger speed: about 0.45 seconds    Recovery time: about 2.0 seconds

Night videos on this camera trap are really good for such a small and affordable unit. The flash and detection ranges have been improved on compared to its predecessor, the Strike Force Pro XD. Contrast is good and you’re never left wanting.

The Strike Force Pro DCL has a resolution of 1080p and 60fps, which is great for capturing footage in smooth high definition quality in both day and night.

The Strike Force Pro DCL has two video resolution settings; ‘High’ and ‘Ultra’. The Ultra resolution is uncompressed 1080p HD video. The only drawback here is the larger file sizes generated with this setting. If you want to use the Ultra setting, an SD card of at least 32GB is recommended, with a 1 minute daytime clip being around 376MB in size. We generally use the camera on the High resolution – the quality isn’t really much different at all and it relieves the pressure on the SD Card.

The Strike Force Pro DCL also records audio which is of pretty good quality, similar to that on other similar priced camera traps.

As with all Browning cameras, exposure control at night is also fantastic, with the Strike Force instantly adjusting to maintain the correct light levels.

Photo Quality

Max res: 26MP interpolated (lowest 4MP)    Max number per trigger: 8 photos
Trigger speed: about 0.15 seconds    Recovery time: about 0.35 seconds

Photo quality is solid on the Strike Force Pro DCL. This is where the dual lenses start to come in – Browning call this their ‘Dual Lens Technology’. One lens is custom-tuned purely for daytime shots, and the other for low-light to take clearer night time images.

Night time shots are good on this unit, helped by the low-glow LEDs. Whilst these LEDs glow red at night when the camera is triggered, it means that the camera has 30% more IR light to work with compared to no-glow LEDs. Therefore, the shutter speed can be slightly faster, meaning less motion blur in comparison. A good camera position is important to help this further.

We generally like to use the photo mode with ‘Rapid Shot’ and 8 images. This gives 2-8 images per trigger (pre-set by the user), at 0.2 seconds apart. This results in an almost stop-motion animation sequence which can be very rewarding. 

The Multi-shot mode gives up to 2-8 images at 2 seconds apart, which means longer sequences and is useful if you want to record behaviour. Alternatively, turn this modes off and the camera will just take 1 shot every time its triggered.

Speed and detection

Trigger speed: approx. 0.15s (photos), 0.45s (videos)    Recovery speed 0.35s (photos), 2.0s (videos)
Detection range: approx. 100ft    LED type: Low-Glow LEDs

The Strike Force Pro DCL has a very fast detection circuit with a good recovery speed, which is great for capturing animals the moment they enter the camera's field of view. The camera can capture an image and recover, ready to take another in almost an instant. This helps avoid the problems experienced when recording videos of fast moving animals with older, slower camera models where you would often only catch the tail end or nothing at all. 

Photo triggers are slightly faster than videos, as always. Whilst it’s true there are certainly faster triggers for photos on some cameras (i.e. SpyPoint Force Dark, Browning Elite HP5, Bushnell Core DS-4K) it’s still easily fast enough.

Recovery times are also very strong. This is the time the camera takes after finishing once capture to be ready to trigger again. The lowest ‘Delay’ setting is 1 second; however, that just tells the Browning to recover as fast as it possibly can. We have consistently found that the Browning will generally re-trigger in about 1.5-2.0 seconds for video, and well-under a second for photos.

Detection is amongst the best currently available. The detection angle is narrow, but means it can detect out to around 100ft. Due to the way PIR sensors work, it is best to place the camera so that animals will move across the sensor, rather than directly towards it.

Build quality & batteries

Warranty: 2 years (through NatureSpy)
Batteries: 6x AA (Lithium strongly recommended)

We loved the previous Dark Ops and Strike Force Pro XD designs, at this new model builds on those nicely. The camera is sturdy, well-constructed and feels good in the hand.

One of our favourite things from last year’s designs, and something that customer’s also feedback to us, is the metal bracket on the back of the camera – and its great to see that on this new Pro DCL model. This allows you to strap it up – with the metal teeth gripping the tree/fencepost – and then tilt the camera down to whatever level required. It means an end to finding the perfect tree, or wrestling with sticks behind the camera. It’s quick, easy, and very well though out.

Battery life is exceptional on the Strike Force Pro DCL, particularly if you use Lithium batteries. It requires 6x AA batteries at a time. Generally, you can expect around 18 months battery life for photos (taking around 60 pictures every 24 hours) and about 3 months for video (taking around 20 videos every 24 hours). This will obviously vary depending on how active and how long each video is, and if there are more night shots than day. We’ve found that this camera is excellent on battery life, and one of the best available.

Browning cameras in general have been also very reliable for us and are covered by a 2 year manufacturer’s warranty in the UK when bought through NatureSpy.

Ease of use

The Browning Strike Force Pro XD is certainly easy to use. When turned on, you’re presented with an overview screen showing a view of what the camera can currently see and what it is set to take. It shows the files recorded and the space remaining at a glance. 

The forward-facing colour screen is extremely useful – you can strap the camera up, then use the screen (coupled with the bracket) to perfect the positioning. Its also very handy when you want to review the images/videos captured without taking the SD card out and using a computer/tablet etc – just open the door and have a quick check – useful if out and about, or a sneaky look before you head to work!

It is a small screen, at 1.5 inches, but actually still easy to use. You don’t find yourself squinting to read it and the text is nice and bold.

There are three main modes; Trail Cam (photos only), Video, and Timelapse Plus. Most of the time, you’ll be using either photos or videos. The timelapse function only works during the day – and with timelapse plus, you can have photos taken at set intervals plus the camera will trigger day and night based on any detections.

There is also a ‘Motion Test’ feature, like most camera traps have, where a test light on the front will blink when it detects you. You can use this to find the right distances or angles and it can help with setting up the Strike Force Pro XD in the best place possible.

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.

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