Glossary
Trail camera jargon, explained
The terms you’ll meet on spec sheets and in reviews, in plain English.
0–9
- 1/4"-20 socket
standard tripod thread on many cameras. Bushnell manual
C
- Cellular / 4G trail camera
sends images over the mobile network to an app. Needs a data plan. Bushnell manual
D
- DC in / external power jack
socket for an approved battery pack or solar panel. Bushnell manual
- Detection zone / detection range
the area (and distance) in which movement can trigger the camera. Trailcampro
E
- exFAT / FAT32
file systems used by SDXC and SDHC cards respectively. SD Association
F
- False trigger
an image with no animal, caused by things like moving vegetation or sun. Moultrie
- Field of view (FOV)
the angle the lens actually records, such as 47° on Bushnell's Cellucore 30. Bushnell manual
- Fresnel lens
the ridged plastic cover over the PIR sensor that splits the view into detection zones. Trailcampro
H
- Hybrid mode
photo(s) plus a video clip from one trigger. Bushnell manual
I
- Interpolation
software upscaling that inflates megapixels without adding detail. Trailcampro
- IR-cut filter
filter that blocks IR by day and moves aside at night. Bushnell manual
L
- Lithium AA (Li/FeS2)
1.5 V primary cell rated -40°C to 60°C. Energizer L91
- Low glow (850 nm)
IR LEDs that show a faint red glow, with more range. Trailcampro
M
- Multi-shot / burst / capture number
photos taken per trigger. Bushnell manual
N
- Native resolution
the sensor's real pixel count. Trailcampro
- NiMH
1.2 V rechargeable chemistry. Energizer NH15
- No glow (940 nm)
IR LEDs invisible to people, with less range. Trailcampro; NatureSpy
P
- PIR (passive infrared) sensor
detects a warm object moving against a cooler background and triggers the camera. Trailcampro
- PIR delay / interval
wait time before the camera responds to another trigger. Bushnell manual
- Python lock
braided steel cable lock for securing a camera to a tree. Academy
R
- Recovery time
time to re-arm and take the next triggered photo. Trailcampro
S
- SDHC / SDXC
SD cards of 2–32 GB (FAT32) and over 32 GB up to 2 TB (exFAT). SD Association
- Security box
steel case that fits round a camera and takes a padlock or cable. Adorama
- Sensitivity
how readily the PIR triggers. It may be called Sensor Level or Motion Detection. NatureSpy
- Speed class (C10, U1, U3, V30)
guaranteed minimum write speeds of 10, 10, 30 and 30 MB/s. SD Association; PCWorld
T
- Time-lapse / Field Scan
timed captures without a trigger. Bushnell manual
- Timestamp
date, time and often temperature, camera name or coordinates printed on each image. Bushnell manual
- Trigger speed
delay between detection and the photo being taken. Trailcampro
W
- Walk test
test mode in which a light shows each detection so you can check the aim. Reconyx
- White flash
visible flash giving colour night images. Trailcampro
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