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ZEISS Unveils Secacam Trail Cameras

Photography and nature go hand in hand. With so many big-name brands catering to every wildlife lover, it’s no surprise that the optical experts at ZEISS have been exponentially growing their nature observation range.

Adding to their assortment of nature observation gear like their binoculars, spotting scopes, thermal imaging cameras and more, in December of 2023 they unveiled the ZEISS Secacam Trail Camera range with two compact yet powerful models. This is especially exciting for wildlife aficionados, as ZEISS’s famous quality has been assigned to the much-loved trail camera for the first time in its history.

Zeiss Nature Observation

ZEISS, world-renowned for its legendary image quality, has been a major player in the field of nature observation for some time now, with the philosophy that ‘every encounter with nature becomes a unique experience’. As the manufacturer of some of the most acclaimed third-party lenses available to consumers, it honours this commitment to a brilliant nature observation experience with its esteemed optical engineering. Not only do its binoculars and monoculars suit all kinds of wildlife lovers, but its spotting scopes deliver exquisite detail and colour too.

ZEISS has decided to step into the trail camera industry hand-in-hand with existing brand Secacam to bring their innovations to this field – by combining the products of a tried and tested brand with ZEISS’s innovative touch, the ZEISS Secacam 5 and ZEISS Secacam 7 are born from the perfect formula for a brilliant trail camera.

Are trail cameras worth it?

A trail camera’s main appeal is the perspective that it gives the nature enthusiast who’s using it. They let you see beyond what you could see on your own – they catch unsuspecting wildlife during both night and day, which provides unique and fascinating images that you wouldn’t be able to see any other way. This is appealing as it gives the user a peek behind the curtain, in a sense, almost as if you’re looking into a whole other world, which inspires enjoyment as well as intrigue.

Beyond this sentiment, they’re also greatly helpful for wildlife photographers. This is because they take the guesswork out of locating your subjects – with a trail camera, and some clever usage, you can work out when your local wildlife is up and about, meaning you know the right time to go out and shoot without even having to leave your house to find out (something that’s only truly respected after countless unsuccessful outings!). Furthermore, new trail cameras like ZEISS’s are starting to incorporate much higher image quality, meaning trail cam photography is becoming less of a surveillance tool and instead much more creative.

Zeiss Secacam Key Specs

Both the ZEISS Secacam 5 and 7 come with a 60° field-of-view, and a 5MP sensor that reaches up to 12MP of resolution when interpolated. This brilliant sensor, combined with the industry-standard ZEISS optics you’ve come to expect by now, means that the images that both options produce are sharp, vibrant, and with the perfect amount of contrast. Even during the night, they use an infrared flash that captures your subject without startling it at all.

Each ZEISS Secacam trail camera is built for the harshest of conditions. With IP 66 weather sealing that’s individually tested, and a precision-engineered body, these models can withstand everything, from harsh hail, rain and snow, to the strongest of heatwaves. They’re also compact, which when combined with this means they’re super versatile and will work almost anywhere, from trees and bushes to the smallest and most inaccessible spots.

Each camera is super easy to attach securely – using a strap, a cable lock or a tripod thread will quickly mount one in place. ZEISS’s smartly engineered plug-and-play functionality and intelligent default settings will have you up and running as soon as possible.

They’re also super easy to operate. While the default settings for these models are perfect for easy setup, they both have a large 2.4-inch LCD screen, big backlit buttons, and plenty of adjustable settings. They connect easily too – with a range of three cellular plans, the ZEISS Secacam range has a dedicated app downloadable from the App Store and Google Play that lets you monitor your trail cam’s output as efficiently as possible whilst maintaining the highest image quality.

What makes Zeiss Secacam outstanding?

One of ZEISS’s trademark qualities is its commitment to first-rate software engineering and technology. They’ve incorporated artificial intelligence into these trail cams, something that hasn’t been done by any other manufacturer, marking this new Secacam range as a huge advancement for wildlife photographers and enthusiasts alike. Their first innovation involves the cameras’ night shots – in complete darkness, the only way to capture trail cam photos is through an infrared flash, producing colourless images. However, the new ZEISS Secacam models incorporate AI to ‘Colour the Night’; they extrapolate the colours of the camera’s surroundings in the day and intelligently apply it to photos taken at night, which makes for brilliant output 24/7. Their app also uses Advanced Animal Recognition to make searching for specific subjects among hundreds to thousands of photos incredibly fast.

Aside from these great AI features, other additions like the high-brightness LED screen and backlit buttons make the camera much more usable and demystify what may be a confusing product for those just getting started. Furthermore, the app can live stream Full HD video, which is awesome for anyone looking to use their Secacam like a video surveillance camera, or just to spy on the local wildlife as it’s up and about.

What are the differences between the ZEISS Secacam 5 and the ZEISS Secacam 7?

While both the ZEISS Secacam 5 and the ZEISS Secacam 7 produce the same brilliant image quality and connectivity, with similar robust craftsmanship; the two models differ in their design. The Secacam 5 is slightly smaller, which could make it the way to go for those looking for a more compact model, which is easier to hide and camouflage. However, the Secacam 7 is categorised by its ease of use. The lens is placed above the front battery door, which hides the LCD screen, meaning you can directly check the field of view of your camera as you mount it, taking the guesswork out of your camera’s shot. It also comes with a handy battery magazine that allows you to conveniently replace batteries without having to even unmount the camera.

For those wanting a unique perspective on their local fauna or to streamline their wildlife photography and more, a ZEISS trail camera may be the perfect tool. Here at Park Cameras, nature and wildlife are essential to our ethos as the most inspiring place for all things photography. Shop our range of trail cameras, binoculars, spotting scopes and more if you want to enhance your encounters with nature today.

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By Thom Pyle on 19/12/2023