Free camera trap guide
Set up a camera trap that films real wildlife, not empty frames
How to set up a camera trap properly, so you get real results with minimal disturbance. Five steps, the settings to start with, troubleshooting and field notes from Duncan Parker.Five steps, settings, troubleshooting and field notes from Duncan, in one free guide.
- Five steps, settings, ethics and a troubleshooting table
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What's inside
Everything to set up, check and fix your camera trap
Free guide
Camera Trap Wildlife Filming Guide
How to set up a camera trap properly, with field notes from Duncan Parker.
Step 3
Adjust trigger settings and camera setup
Wrong settings mean missed footage or hours of false triggers. These are good starting points.
- 01Trigger sensitivity
Start with high. Turn it down to normal if wind-blown plants or the sun give you false triggers.
- 02Clip length
20 seconds minimum (2 minutes maximum). Some cameras cap night clips at 20 seconds.
- 03Trigger interval
1 to 2 seconds, so it's ready to record again almost at once. At a very busy spot, a longer interval saves battery and card space.
In the guide
- Five steps to a good setup, from finding animal trails to reviewing your footage
- The settings to start with, and a worked example of a fox on a woodland path
- Ethics and permissions to sort first, and a quick setup checklist
- A troubleshooting table for false triggers, missed animals and flat batteries
I'm Sebastian Solberg, director of One Breath. I've made films for nearly 20 years, including as second unit director on the BAFTA-nominated The Eagle Huntress. I wrote this guide with Duncan Parker, and the field notes in it are his.
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