Acorn vs Bushnell trail camera

I own and use two different types of trail camera.

A Bushnell Nature View cam HD with live view and a Little Acorn 5210A. I have had the Little Acorn nearly 3 years now, but only bought the Bushnell in August 2015. I use them both mainly for filming badgers, but also anything that comes in to our garden.

Since I have been using a trail camera I have filmed Badgers, Deers, Foxes, a barn owl on our shed roof, mice, rats, squirrels and birds.

I have been asked many times which one is the best trail camera. I think that depends on what you want to film, how much money you want to spend, how often you are going to use it and what are you going to do with the footage, that is, are you going to put it on a website or is it just for your own records?

Little Acorn 5210A

• I paid around £100 for this camera 
• It takes 4 x AA batteries which only last a few weeks
• Size 14cm x 9cm x 6cm
• It has one fixed lens
• Trigger time is 0.8 seconds
• 12 mega pixel
• film size 640 x 480
• Set up is very easy
• LED IR flash shines red
• IR flash up to 20m

Footage taken using my Acorn trail camera

Photos taken by the Acorn 

 

Bushnell Nature View cam

• I paid around £275 for this camera
• It takes 12 x AA batteries which so far have last 6 months
• Size 15cm x 11cm x 6 cm
• Mine came with two lenses 460mm and 600mm
• Trigger time 0.2 seconds
• 14 mega pixel
• film size 1920 x 1080
• It took me a while to learn how to set it up
• Black LED no glow
• IR flash up to 18m

Both cameras are lockable, have adjustable video length, time stamp, daytime/night time modes, camera or video modes, a timer to only film within set times and operate in fairly extreme temperates. Both cameras can be attached to a tree or on a tripod.

Footage taken using my Bushnell trail camera

Photos taken by my Bushnell

Bushnell

Bushnell

Bushnell

My views

I find the Acorn cam very easy to set up and use. I can generally guess that I have set it at the right height and pointing in the right direction. It is small enough to fit in my pocket and it is light to carry. The night time filming is very good, the day time could be a lot better. The batteries don’t last very long and if you take them out when not in use, as suggested, you have to reset the clock every time. The red IR flash does scare some animals although my local badgers are now used to it, one of the badgers actively seeks out my Acorn camera and likes to lick it.

I have really enjoyed using this camera and I would recommend it to anyone wanting to start using a trail camera.

I think I have only just worked out the best settings on my Bushnell and what lens works best when. It is quite big and heavy for me to carry. My mum was shocked when I said it needed 12 AA batteries, but they have lasted 6 months so far. I pull one battery out when I’m not using it and I don’t have to reset anything. The Badgers don’t notice the IR flash coming on as much, although I do put a bit of tape to cover some of the flash up when filming close up as it’s too bright. I like the live view so I know I have put the camera in the right place, BUT I rarely take it as it’s another thing to carry.

I think I’m just beginning to get the best from this camera. The photographs and films it takes are much better quality than the Acorn, but it does cost nearly three times more.

There are other trail camera makes as well as Bushnell and Acorn, and Bushnell do sell cheaper models. I was recommended to try a Spy point trail camera which I will do one day.