Victure HC300 camera trap

The HC300 camera trap, or trail camera, by Victure is an ideal choice for those who, like me, are interested in wildlife photography in order to monitor wildlife behaviour. It isn't a camera trap with an internet connection, so you can't check it remotely, or you can't receive an email/text with its activity, but if you have a place quite safe or private property, so this camera is basically suitable for any situation where you don't need to check it online.

But let's start with the specifications.

Specifications

• Image sensor: CMOS max. 20MP
• Lens: F=2.5 f=8.7mm, 55°
• Storage: SD or SDHC Card. Max 32GB
• Trigger time: 0.6s
• IR Leds/PCs: 850nm/40pcs, brightness adjustable
• PIR sensitivity: adjustable
• PIR distance: 0-18m
• PIR angle: 90°
• PIR dealy: 5s - 60min
• Screen: 2.0" TFT-LCD
• Working modes: Photo/Video/Photo+Video/Time lapse
• Photo resolution: JPEG 2M/3M/5M/8M/12M/16M/20M
• Video resolution: AVI 1920x1080P / 1280x720P / 640x480P
• Video length: 5s - 5min
• Languages: English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Chinese
• Mic: built-in
• Speaker: built-in
• Temperature monitor: yes
• Working voltage: DC 6V
• Battery type: 8 AA batteries
• External power supply: DC 6V/2.0A
• Waterproof level: IP66
• Dimension: 144(L)x104(W)x70(H)mm
• Weight: Approx 285g (battery excluded) 

Main features

Looking at the specifications, the first things that catch the eye are the sensor resolution, the trigger time and the video resolution as well. With 20MP we'll be able to take more detailed pictures and full hd (1080p) videos. So the image quality would have to be improved, and looking at the first samples I can confirm it. Then, with a short trigger time like that, the camera can activate itself really quickly, giving the opportunity to catch the better moment, mostly when you're using the multiple shoots (max 3 photos)

But there're some other interesting features like the opportunity to use it with an external power supply, when you are, for example, in a controlled environment. Then there're differents languages for using the camera and a USB plug for connecting the camera to a computer and watching the photos/videos.

The last important feature is the ability to change the battery without opening the main front panel because there's a small panel below the camera where accessing the batteries.

Photos resolution

Having the chance to choose from many different photo resolution, allow you to get different kinds of pictures, depending on your needs. For my needs a prefer to use the best resolution, I mean the 20MP in order to have the best image quality. Of course, that will reflect on the SD memory usage, allowing you to store fewer pictures. Instead, if you're only interested in monitoring the wildlife, you can use a lower resolution, maybe 8MP or 12MP. Not only you'll be able to store more pictures, but you'll need to check the camera less frequently.

Design

The shape of the camera is like many others, but it's not an issue. With a camouflage colour, you can hide it quite well everywhere in nature. The best solution to secure the camera is to use its belt around a tree, if you're using it on private property, where you're sure that no one will steal it, otherwise you'll need a security box to protect it.

In theory, you may use its back-rings for sticking the camera somewhere, using a metal cable and lock it with a padlock, but actually, I couldn't find a good solution in the market, so if you have a good idea for protecting the camera I'll appreciate it so much.

Once opened the front panel you'll have access to the screen and setting buttons, and the SD card slot as well.

Here there's not so much to say, there're the sensors, the IR leds and the lens, so let's crack on.

Settings

The menu covers all settings aspect of the camera, and it's really simple to use it. Moreover, the user manual is in different languages so you won't have any problem setting this camera.

For setting the camera you need to set it in TEST mode using the specific button (OFF-TEST-ON button), then select the function, press the OK button to see the different option. To get back to the previous menu options press the MENU button.

I think there're some important settings to consider, and I mean:

• Photo Series: how many photos taken during the trigger time. You can choose from one to three photos in series. Be aware that using three shoots on windy days it could be easy to capture the leaves movement if your camera is near some trees. 
• Video length: you can choose from 10 seconds to 5 minutes. Also in this case you'll have the same "problem" of the Photo Series setting.
• PIR interval: the default value is 30 seconds, so it's mean that the camera will trigger twice in a minute, but if you want to change it, you can set it from 5 seconds to 30 seconds, or from 1 minute to 60 minutes, according to your needs.
• Password protection: I know, this setting won't avoid stole your camera, but it'll prevent the use by other people, even though it's really easy to discover how to change it. In that case, I'd have preferred a different method for recovering the camera, like an option for changing the super password too.

How to put it in the field

Depending on your needs or the kind of animal you want to control, you can put the camera, using its belt, in a tree or in a bush, maybe using a metal stick as a support for the camera. As I said before, you could protect the camera with a steel cable, unless it's in a safe place. Anyway, for putting properly the camera you need to consider the environment, in order to understand eventually items that can get the camera in trouble, like near trees that move during a wind.

Photo or video?

That aspect depends on your needs. If you're more interested in taking photos you should use that option or the video if you prefer recording a small clip of your subject. At the beginning, just to understand if your subject is going around the camera area, you could use in photo mode, after you can switch to video mode for having extra documentation. Before starting with video, I never consider the idea to take videos about wildlife monitoring, but now I'm more interested in that aspect, so I think I'll use more that option.

Accessories

With the camera, there are some accessories, as the USB cable, the metal support for putting the camera in a wall, for example, the user manual (wrote in different languages) and a belt to ti the camera somewhere like a tree or a pole.

Conclusion

Considering the price and the features I can say that it has a really good price/performance ratio. In the market is not easy to find a good quality camera like that at a reasonable price, so if you have a limited budget and you want to start monitoring the wildlife, it's the perfect camera for you.

Thanks for reading, and if you have some question don't hesitate to write me or leave a comment using the link below.

Cheers.