Primos trail cameras make a great choice for those shopping for a simple and easy-to-use trail camera. But the last thing you want to do is go through the trouble of buying one, and then getting out into the woods and realizing your new camera lacks the features you really need. How do you avoid this? By doing your homework—and guess what? We’ve done it for you.
In this Primos trail camera review, we explore some of the top-rated models the brand has to offer. This is to help you choose a unit that will give you a simplified time in your hunting, tracking, or game scouting endeavors.
Our Top Pick
Primos Truth Swat 16MP 720P stands out from their other models in terms of performance, durability, and ease of use. With a 0.3-second trigger speed, 1-second recovery time, 36-LED IR flash, and HD time-lapse capability, this model offers the best features you can get from Primos trail cameras.
5 Top-rated Primos Trail Camera Reviews
1. Primos Truth Swat 16MP – Best Overall
If you are shopping for a fast trail camera, you should consider this model. It is capable of capturing splendid images in 16MP resolution or 720 high-definition videos.
Key Features
- 16-megapixel camera
- 720P HD video and time-lapse
- 3-second trigger speed
- 1-second recovery time
- 36 low-glow IR LEDs
- 100-foot night range
- Illuminated sliding switches
- 8 AA batteries
The Truth Swat is equipped with an auto-exposure feature, which enhances light detection and minimizes whiteouts. The quality of nighttime pictures is excellent.
You can also take advantage of the HD time-lapse feature to monitor your target environment or game over a set period of time, 24/7. And we love this trail camera’s battery life. It is powered by 8 AA batteries, which can keep it running effectively for up to 12 months.
The amazing features of this trail camera come at a price, however, making it an expensive choice. If you’re working with a tight budget, therefore, this may not be the right trail camera for you.
Pros
- Great picture quality
- Excellent battery life
- Easy to set up and use
- Exceptionally fast
- Durable construction
Cons
- Quite expensive
Conclusion
With exceptional trigger speed, faster recovery time, great detection range, superior image sensor, and best in class performance, the Truth Swat is worth considering if you are looking for a higher-performance trail camera. However, it’s a bit more expensive than the other Primos models.
Overall Rating: 4.5/5.0
2. Primos Truth Cam 35 – Best for Quick Set Up
If you are looking for an affordable trail camera that you can use straight out of the box, we recommend the Truth Cam 35 game camera. It has adjustable settings so you can customize it to your specific needs.
Key Features
- 3-megapixel camera
- 3-second trigger speed
- Backlit LED display screen
- 35-LED infrared flash
- 40-foot flash range
- Theft protection
- 4 D-cell batteries
- Up to 8GB SD card
This model takes 3MP quality daytime photos and videos; nighttime photos and video are pretty good as well, thanks to 35 infrared LEDs, which can capture animals up to 40 feet away. That’s a pretty good flash range for such a cut-rate trail camera.
When starting off, the camera can take up to 1.5 seconds to capture an image after detecting the presence of an animal. This speed drastically improves to 0.3 seconds when the camera is active. You can set the device to take up to five photos per trigger.
Another remarkable attribute of this game camera is that you can view images and video conveniently on its sizable backlit LED screen. The Truth Cam 35 is powered by 4 D-cell batteries, and if you want to enhance the battery life, you can turn off active LEDs.
The exterior of the Truth Cam 35 features a Matrix earth tone finish, which blends with the environment and hence minimizes the likelihood of attracting unwanted attention.
Pros
- Very affordable
- Long battery life
- Adjustable settings
- Ready to use out of the box
Cons
- Automatic changing of settings during light transitions can lead to some darker or lighter images
- Ongoing technology issues
Conclusion
Overall, the Truth Cam 35 offers excellent value for the money. It offers impressive trigger speed, great detection distance, and awesome recovery time. However, it has some firmware issues that cause it to malfunction after some time.
Overall Rating: 4.3/5.0
3. Primos 12MP Proof Cam Trail Camera – Value for Money
This is one of the most competitively priced, feature-packed cameras from the company. The Proof Cam utilizes Cam46 Matrix, which produces stunning 12MP images and high-quality video in any setting.
Key Features
- 12-megapixel camera
- 4-second trigger speed
- 100-foot detection range
- 45-degree detection angle
- 48-piece LED low-glow IR flash
- Capture modes: video, time-lapse, burst.
- 8 AA batteries
This model offers one of the longest detection ranges on the market—up to 100 feet away. Once the camera detects movement, it snaps the image or video within 0.4 seconds. The camera can also capture high-quality, black and white nighttime images and video, thanks to its 48-piece LED low-intensity infrared flash.
The Proof Cam can take pictures in standard mode, time-lapse mode, or burst mode. Moreover, it records audio, as it is equipped with a microphone.
Another feature of this trail camera we love is the well-designed, camouflaged casing, which makes it easy to hide in the woods, and also helps to protect it from harsh conditions. The camera is powered by 8 AA batteries, which can give you up to 9 months of battery life.
Our only complaint is that, while the infrared flash helps to minimize spooking of animals, the Proof Cam’s is so strong that it sometimes produces washed out pictures.
Pros
- Excellent picture quality
- Easy to set up and use
- Exceptionally long detection range
Cons
- Infrared is quite strong, resulting in some washed out images
Conclusion
This Primos trail camera model is an excellent pick if you want an inexpensive camera that takes great pictures. However, it has durability issues, which seem to undermine its ratings.
Overall Rating: 4.2/5.0
4. Primos Workhorse Trail Camera – Simplest but Powerful Model
If you are looking for the simplest, most affordable trail camera that can get the job done, our choice is the Primos Workhorse game camera. All you need to do is select photo or video and let the game camera do its job.
Key Features
- 3-megapixel camera
- 1-second trigger speed
- Early-detect passive infrared sensor
- Auto daytime/nighttime sensor
- 40-foot detection range
- Capture modes: burst, video
- 35-LED low-glow infrared flash
- 40-foot flash range
- 8 AA batteries
- Up to 32GB SD card
- Rugged weatherproof construction
You may think 3MP would be inadequate, but the picture quality is okay for basic game monitoring.
Utilizing early-detect technology, the Workhorse can quickly sense motion. With its 45-degree PIR sensor, it can detect motion up to 40 feet away, and snap an image in less than one second.
The camera can also take good quality nighttime photos and videos, without the worry of spooking the target, thanks to a 36-piece LED low-glow infrared system. What’s more, the Workhorse can automatically change to a suitable mode.
The camera is encased in a green, rugged, weatherproof exterior; it can withstand some of the harshest conditions. It runs on 88 AA batteries, which can give you up to 9 months of battery life.
The major discouraging aspect of this model is that the image quality is not the best…but for the price, it is satisfactory.
Pros
- Durable construction
- Easy to set up and use
- Good battery life
Cons
- Average picture quality
- Not many setting options
Conclusion:
The Primos Workhorse makes a great option for those looking to invest in a trail camera that doesn’t pack tons of features but can get the job done. While its low-glow flash is not invisible, there’s little chance it would scare off an animal.
Overall Rating: 4.0/5.0
5. Primos 6MP Bullet Proof Trail Camera – Best for Beginners
Here’s another feature-packed, affordable game camera from Primos. The Primos Bullet Proof trail camera can take 6MP high-quality, full-color daytime photos. It can also capture infrared nighttime images, thanks to its 13-piece 850nm LED low-intensity infrared flash system that is invisible to animals.
Key Features
- 6-megapixel camera
- 1-second trigger speed
- 30-foot detection range
- 45-degree detection angle
- 13-piece LED low-glow infrared flash
- Capture modes: burst, video
- Slide switch settings
- 8 AA batteries
Our favorite aspect of this camera is its user-friendliness. Simply insert a memory card, install it at your desired location, and let it do its job.
The Bullet Proof can detect objects up to 30 feet away. Likewise, the flash can illuminate objects up to a 30-foot distance—neither of which is very impressive. It takes less than a second to take a picture or image after sensing motion, however.
What I don’t like about this model is the 10-second recovery time, which is more than enough time for the animal to leave the frame before the camera can take another shot.
Pros
- Durable construction
- Easy to use
- Waterproof
- Good battery life
Cons
- Long recovery time
- Short detection and flash range
Conclusion
The Primos Bullet Proof is a budget trail camera that comes with limitations. It is one of the cheapest cameras in the industry, but it’s an excellent option for beginners to learn their way around trail cameras.
Overall Rating: 4.0/5.0
About Primos Trail Camera Brand
The history of Primos brand can be traced back to 1963 when 11-year-old Will Primos created his first duck call after a day-long hunting expedition with his Uncle Gus. Primos has since evolved into one of the premier brands in the manufacturing of hunting products and gear.
Headquartered in Flora, Mississippi, the company produces several models of trail cameras. Primos trail cameras are popular for their simplicity and user-friendliness. Moreover, since its inception, the company has consistently improved the design and efficiency of their game cameras.
While many Primos trail cameras are not waterproof, those that aren’t are weather resistant, and all Primos game cameras come with a one-year warranty. You just need to register your camera on the company’s website for the warranty to be valid.
Check out our other trail camera roundups, like this one of Moultrie models and this one covering Cuddeback.
Final Thoughts
If you are shopping for a reliable, easy-to-use, and reasonably-priced trail camera, you can’t go wrong with a Primos trail camera. These cameras are designed to deliver quality images and video while offering good battery life, with technologies like Early Detect. They are also built to stand the test of time. Most models offer some of the fastest trigger speeds, and longest sensor ranges on the market, with the exception being the 6MP Bullet Proof.
For our top overall picks for trail cameras, view this post.
