Browning Recon Force Elite HP5 Ultra Trail Camera

The best video quality on any trail camera we sell

We test a lot of cameras. The Browning Recon Force Elite HP5 Ultra is the one we reach for when video quality is the whole point — and it's the camera most of the Vantage team runs personally.

It builds on the HP4, a camera whose footage was good enough to appear in broadcast wildlife television, and improves on it in the two places that actually matter: night-time light and trigger speed.

• 1440p video at up to 60fps with sound — a genuine step above 1080p cameras
• Adjustable trigger from 0.1 seconds, with 0.5s recovery
• Radiant 5 long-range LEDs — 130ft infrared flash, and efficient enough to run on rechargeable AAs
• 2in forward-facing colour screen — set up and review without taking the camera down
• Programmable start/stop timer — film the wildlife, ignore the school run
• Up to 512GB SDXC support

Night footage is where this camera wins

The headline change over the HP4 is the Radiant 5 LED array. It throws further — 130ft — and it throws better, with Illuma-Smart automatically balancing output so a fox at 15ft isn't blown out while a deer at 60ft stays visible.

The efficiency gain has a second benefit: unlike previous generations, this camera runs happily on rechargeable AAs, which over a few seasons is both cheaper and considerably less wasteful.

One thing to know honestly: the 12V power system that makes the night video this good also caps night clips at 20 seconds. If activity continues, the camera recovers in under a second and starts another clip.

Fast enough to catch what's actually happening

Trigger speed is adjustable from 0.1 to 0.7 seconds and recovery is 0.5 seconds. Manufacturers' trigger claims are famously optimistic across this industry; these hold up in the field, which is not something we say about many cameras.

Detection reaches 100ft and is adjustable, so you can tighten it down when you don't want every swaying branch triggering a recording.

Simple, despite the specification

Browning have resisted the temptation to bury the useful settings under forty menu screens. The Recon Force Elite is quick to set up, and the forward-facing 2in colour screen means you can frame the shot, check focus and review last night's captures standing at the tree.

The camouflage on this generation has moved away from the American hardwood scheme towards something better suited to UK and temperate conditions.

Low-glow, and how that compares

The Recon Force Elite HP5 Ultra uses low-glow LEDs — a faint red shimmer when it fires at night. The trade-off is more light and better night footage than a no-glow camera can deliver. If total covertness matters more to you than ultimate video quality, look at the Vantage Scout Nova, which is fully no-glow.

Who this camera is for

Buy the HP5 Ultra if video quality is your priority, you're filming for a project or a client, or you want the best night footage available at any price in our range.

Look at the Browning Strike Force Pro X 1080 instead if you want the same Browning reliability in a smaller, cheaper body and 1080p is enough.

Full technical specification

What's in the box

• Browning Recon Force Elite HP5 Ultra trail camera
• Steel adjustable tree-mount bracket
• Instruction manual
• Batteries and SD card not included — add both above

Frequently asked questions

Why are night videos only 20 seconds?
It's a consequence of the 12V power system that makes the night footage this good in the first place — sustaining that much infrared output for longer would drain the batteries unreasonably. If the animal is still there, the camera re-arms in under a second and records another clip, so in practice you rarely lose anything.

Can I run it on rechargeable batteries?
Yes — and this is a real improvement over earlier Browning generations. Use 2500mAh or higher (Eneloop Pro or equivalent). Lower-capacity cells will struggle with the flash demand.

Does it send pictures to my phone?
No. This is a non-cellular camera with no WiFi — you retrieve the SD card. That's why the battery life is what it is. If you want images pushed to your phone, look at the Camojojo Trace.

What's the difference between this and the Spec Ops Elite HP5?
The LEDs. This model has low-glow LEDs, which give more light and better night footage. The Spec Ops has no-glow LEDs, which are completely invisible but throw slightly less light.

What size SD card should I use?
A branded Class 10 / U3 card, 64GB or 128GB, is the practical sweet spot for 1440p60. The camera will accept up to 512GB.

Why buy from Vantage

• Real-world tested — we field-test every camera we sell before it goes on the site.
• Warranty: 2-year warranty administered by Vantage, handled by our own team — no being bounced to a factory abroad.
• Expert support — email us with a setup question and you get an answer from someone who actually uses these cameras.
• Fast UK dispatch — orders placed before 2pm on a working day are picked the same day.
• Secure checkout — Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal, Klarna and all major cards.