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Brand deep-dive· Since 1948

Every Bushnell trail camera, reviewed and ranked.

Bushnell has manufactured optics since 1948, arriving in trail cameras with decades of lens and IR flash engineering behind it. The current lineup spans two primary families: the Core series (SD-card cameras with 4K video options) and the Cellucor line (cellular-connected with dual-SIM failover). Pricing runs $130 to $300. The Core S-4K No Glow ($169.99) records 4K video and 30MP stills with no-glow IR. The Core Ds 4K steps up to 32MP with a dual-sensor design (separate day and night sensors), uncommon at mid-range prices. On the cellular side, the Cellucor 20 ($129.99) lists a 100-foot detection range, a 0.4-second trigger, and dual-SIM auto-failover between carriers. The Cellucor Live extends to 32MP and supports live streaming to a smartphone, with onX Hunt integration. Best fit: hunters and property managers who want established optics heritage at mid-tier prices.

Jake Morrison, research editor at BestTrailCamera.com
By Jake Morrison · Research Editor · Updated May 2026

Lineup snapshot

6

models reviewed

Connectivity mix

Cellular× 3Non-cellular× 3

Brand Snapshot

Bushnell | Founded: 1948 | Best for: passive SD-card hunters who prioritize daylight image resolution over cellular convenience

Bushnell brings more than seven decades of optics heritage into the trail camera category, channeling that background into above-average daytime image clarity across its lineup. The Core 4K series anchors the passive side, while the CelluCORE family covers cellular connectivity at mid-tier prices ranging from $99.95 to $299.95.

Signature Positioning

Image fidelity is the thread.

The Core DS-4K, priced at $179.95, is built around two dedicated imaging sensors rather than one general-purpose unit. Bushnell rates the dual-sensor configuration as a method for reducing color noise when light transitions between dawn and full dark, and the 32-megapixel still resolution gives hunters the pixel density needed to evaluate antler detail at moderate standoff distances. Detection range is listed at 110 feet across both Core 4K models, placing them at the wider end of the passive category.

The Core S-4K No Glow at $149.95 holds the same 110-foot detection range and 4K video specification at a $30 reduction. Trigger speed across the Core series clocks at 0.2 seconds. The no-glow infrared flash rating on both models matters on high-pressure properties where any visible flash has historically pushed deer off a site before the season opens.

On the cellular side, the CelluCORE line leads with a dual-SIM architecture. The CelluCORE 20 at $179.95 and the CelluCORE 20 Solar at $199.95 each carry 20-megapixel resolution, 1080p video, and an 80-foot detection range, figures that appear directly on Bushnell's spec sheets for both models. The flagship CelluCORE Live steps to 32 megapixels and adds live smartphone streaming alongside onX Hunt platform integration, features confirmed on the product listing page. Cellular plan pricing is not publicly itemized, so buyers should contact the brand for current data rates before committing.

At the $99.95 entry point, the Prime Low Glow ships with a 24-megapixel sensor. The spec sheet shows that figure sitting measurably above the 12-to-16 megapixel range common at the budget tier. Across the lineup, the consistent emphasis on photographic output connects every price point: a hunter who wants to assess body mass or rack detail from a single frame can do so without paying premium prices for adequate sensor resolution.

Lineup That Wins

Mineral site or mock scrape on a low-pressure private parcel with no cellular service.

The Bushnell Core DS-4K at $179.95 fits here. The 110-foot detection range captures animals on approach, and the no-glow flash removes the red-flash tip-off that low-glow designs produce at close range. Across 23 Amazon reviews averaging 3.3 stars, the most-praised attribute among high-rating buyers was daytime photo sharpness, with a number of those buyers describing the image quality as sufficient to identify individual bucks across multiple visits to a single scrape line.

Remote cellular grid with spotty single-carrier coverage.

The CelluCORE 20 at $179.95 addresses this through its dual-SIM architecture. Amazon buyers writing about the model confirm that automatic carrier switching occurs without manual reconfiguration, which resolves the dead-zone problem that single-carrier cellular designs cannot. The 20-megapixel sensor and 80-foot detection range, as listed by Bushnell, hold their position against cellular-category competition at this price.

Budget entry with a recognizable optics brand.

The Prime Low Glow at $99.95 serves first-year buyers or anyone adding secondary stand locations. Twenty-four megapixels. The product listing confirms low-glow IR flash design, and across 102 Amazon reviews, the most frequently mentioned attribute is the accessible menu system, with buyers describing setup times well under 15 minutes from unboxing. For a hunter placing cameras on a new property and returning every two to three weeks, the Prime Low Glow covers the core use case without a large upfront investment per location.

Buyer Profiles

The Antler-Obsessed Whitetail Photographer

Pixel density is the priority. The Core DS-4K at $179.95 delivers 32-megapixel stills and 4K video through a dual-sensor design, and the 110-foot detection range handles full coverage of a food plot edge or creek crossing without repositioning. A buyer in this profile typically pulls SD cards on a weekly schedule rather than monitoring a phone feed; the captured frame is the workflow, not the notification.

The Multi-Property Cellular Hunter in Weak-Signal Country

Managing cameras across two or three farms with inconsistent coverage calls for a model that does not go dark when one carrier drops. The CelluCORE 20 at $179.95 fits that need directly. The CelluCORE 20 Solar at $199.95 extends the same dual-SIM design with an added solar panel for properties where battery access is infrequent, and both carry the 20-megapixel sensor and 80-foot detection range listed on Bushnell's published specifications.

The Live-Stream Scouting Enthusiast

Real-time confirmation before a sit. The CelluCORE Live at $299.95 is the only model in the lineup built for that purpose, offering live streaming and onX Hunt integration as confirmed on the product page. The 32-megapixel sensor supports positive identification at moderate distances, and buyers considering this tier should account for a cellular data plan as a recurring cost alongside the camera price.

The First-Camera Buyer on a Budget

Someone putting out a trail camera for the first time and wanting a recognizable optics name behind the hardware will find the Prime Low Glow at $99.95 a direct fit. The 24-megapixel spec clears the budget-category floor by a wide margin, the low-glow flash design works across standard placements from field corners to driveway scrapes, and the sub-$100 price keeps the initial commitment low enough to experiment with multiple stand locations before settling on a permanent setup.

Sources

This overview draws on the following sources:

Top picks from Bushnell

Three highest-scoring Bushnell models.

Bushnell Core S-4K No Glow trail camera
#1
Non-cellularNo-glow
8.8
Bushnell Core S-4K No Glow

4K video, no-glow flash, and Bushnell's legendary optics pedigree, the premium choice for wildlife photographers.

Bushnell CelluCORE 20 Solar trail camera
#2
CellularSolar
8.4
Bushnell CelluCORE 20 Solar

Bushnell's cellular entry, 20MP, AT&T/Verizon, and the image quality you expect from the optics brand.

Bushnell Core DS-4K trail camera
#3
Non-cellularNo-glow
7.5
Bushnell Core DS-4K

The Bushnell Core DS-4K is a wired, no-cellular trail camera featuring a dual-sensor design (separate day and night sensors), 32MP stills, and 4K video, aimed at hunters who need discreet no-glow operation at fixed locations.

The full lineup

All 6 Bushnell cameras.

Bushnell Core S-4K No Glow trail camera
8.8
Non-cellularNo-glow

4K video, no-glow flash, and Bushnell's legendary optics pedigree, the premium choice for wildlife photographers.

Bushnell CelluCORE 20 Solar trail camera
8.4
CellularSolar

Bushnell's cellular entry, 20MP, AT&T/Verizon, and the image quality you expect from the optics brand.

Bushnell Core DS-4K trail camera
7.5
Non-cellularNo-glow

The Bushnell Core DS-4K is a wired, no-cellular trail camera featuring a dual-sensor design (separate day and night sensors), 32MP stills, and 4K video, aimed at hunters who need discreet no-glow operation at fixed locations.

Bushnell CelluCORE Live trail camera
7.0
Cellular

The Bushnell CelluCORE Live is a cellular trail camera built around live video streaming and dual-SIM carrier switching, aimed at property security and split-coverage rural environments.

Bushnell CelluCORE 20 Dual-SIM trail camera
6.8
CellularNo-glow

The Bushnell CelluCORE 20 is a 20MP cellular trail camera with dual-SIM automatic carrier failover, making it a practical choice for hunters and wildlife researchers operating in areas with inconsistent single-carrier coverage.

Bushnell Prime Low Glow trail camera
6.6
Non-cellularLow-glow

The Bushnell Prime Low Glow is a budget-oriented, no-frills trail camera offering 24MP stills and 1080p video, best suited for first-time users and low-pressure monitoring situations where unverified performance specs are an acceptable trade-off.

Frequently asked

Questions buyers ask about Bushnell.

Other brands worth comparing

Brands in the same tier as Bushnell.

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