CAMERA TRAP

By Nick Guy

  • A high quality DSLR camera trap system
  • Compact – lightweight (4kg) – robust - weatherproof
  • Wireless triggering with adjustable sensitivity
  • Multiple triggers
  • Early warning system for hide filming

The Camera trap system takes remote filming to the next level. Using the latest digital SLR cameras, (capable of shooting amazing quality HD video), this set-up can capture images the likes of which have never been seen before. As used by Wild Horizons Ltd for Discovery and wildlife filmmaker John Aitchison.

OVERVIEW

The DSLR camera is mounted inside the trap case where it is protected from the elements and receives power and signals from thecontrol panel. The remote triggers are set up a suitable distance from the trap. When an animal walks through and the beam is broken it sends a signal to wake the camera, which starts recording. Careful positioning of the triggers mean that the subject will walk into frame after recording has started.

The system allows complete control over the duration of the recording, from 10 seconds to 12 minutes. It also includes an ambient light sensor to prevent unwanted triggering. Depending on when filming should take place, (night or day), this sensor will control whether the lights and camera react to a trigger signal, thereby saving precious card space and conserving power. A switched 12V output is available to power external lights for IR nighttime filming if using an IR converted camera. The entire unit is powered from any 12V battery enabling deployments of days or even weeks without being disturbed.

The beam break triggers have a range of over 70m from the trap, and each beam can span up to 10m. Multiple pairs of triggers can be set up with each trap (2 per trap as standard) allowing an area to be boxed, thereby ensuring successful triggering when your subject is in the vicinity of the camera.

The IR beam sensitivity can be adjusted to best suit your subject. For small animals a beam interruption of a little as 20ms will result in a trigger, quick enough for filming a mouse! This can be increased up to 2 seconds for filming very large animals. Once triggering has occurred and a timed filming event starts, an additional PIR sensor on the front of the trap will override the time set in the event that it continues to detect movement. This sensor helps prevent missing animal behavior if a short recording duration has been selected.

Inside the box, the camera is mounted on a sliding base plate. This allows for different lens sizes and enables the front element to be moved close to the port on the box. The box port is an optically clear, coated filter element of 82mm diameter and has the option of a screw on lens shade on the outside. The box can be tripod or ground spike mounted and also has inbuilt slots to allow 1” straps to be used to fasten it to any solid object such as a tree or post.

EARLY WARNING SYSTEM FOR HIDE FILMING

An early warning system is also available, taking advantage of the wireless triggering to provide a discrete audio and visual warning of a beam break to the camera operator in their hide.