DSLR Camera Trap Build

Wanted to share my build here. I am a hobby photographer from New England and never could get enough time in the woods to capture the kinds of photos I wanted. I hang a lot of game cameras throughout the year and can find where the different animals move through but just couldn't get there in time to capture them. So I decided to step the camera trapping up and build a few DSLR camera traps.

I shoot canon so I bought some older Canon Rebel T2i and T3i cameras and some 18-55mm kit lens(fairly cheap if you spend enough time on eBay). I used a 3D printer for most of the supports/dummy batteries/ lens mounts ect..

Here are some photos of the camera box build, just a used Pelican 1300NF off of eBay. (There is an eBay theme here). I 3D print a camera mounting plate to be the height I want and glue it to the inside of the box.

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I use Ram Mounts for mounting and a ratchet strap to keep it all steady.

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I have made a box with an internal flash as well for a quick set type of deal. this one has a homemade PIR sensor for a trigger. (Shown here with a Yongnu flash, have since switched to Nikon SB-25/28)

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I have a mix-match of PIR sensors, I have a Camtraptions V2 and a few different homemade PIR sensors.

The next post will be about Flashes.

For the flashes, I use cheap Harbor freight hard cases (APACHE 1800) and mount with RAM mounts as well. I 3D print a lens mount for it and use Lexan or Plexi for the lens.
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For powering the flashes, I use 2s LIPO batteries. I 3D print dummy batteries to fit the Nikon SB-25/28's. I use a mix of Camtraptions flash triggers and some knock-off eBay triggers with external C batteries.
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Everything I 3D print and glue to the camera housing or flash housing gets a good coat of flex sealant to ensure watertight. All lenses (flash lens or 77mm UV lens for the camera) get siliconed in to ensure watertight.

Each housing has wire plug holes as an option for hard-wired flashes(2 flashes) and 1 for the external trigger wiring. I 3D print a hole insert then a cap that fits it with a siliconed tight hole that fits the associated cord.
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Here is a sample photo I captured while trying to work out the kinks.

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Good looking build. What kind of battery life do you get with the Yongnou flash and aux battery pack? Does the flash wake quickly on the first trigger?

Thanks for sharing your build with the forum users.

I have since moved away from the Yongnou flash because of the wake up time and now use the trusty Nikon SB-25 or SB-28s.

I have one flash pack(Nikon SB-25 and 5200mAh 2s lipo) that has been out for about a month and a half and still has 70%. It's not a hight trafficked camera/flash set but it triggers every few days.

The 5200 mAh 2S lipo is anywhere from $12-$20 depending on the brand, it's cheaper in my mind than AA or even a C battery pack. You can usually get 100-200 charge cycles out of them.

Looks like a neat set up. The Lipo battery looks like a good direction to go.

Some more results using this set:

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That setup is producing some great results. Thanks for sharing.

Great setup and some amazing results.

Interesting build… thanks for posting

Some more recent photos from the set, still haven't gotten a clear front-facing photo of the moose calf. But I am hopeful!

Your getting plenty of action and some great images from this set up. Nicely done!.
Good luck with getting the calf image.

Some more updates from the camera traps!

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Nice images. Looks like you got the shots of the calf you were hoping for.

Got a few bull moose on one of my other sets!



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Nice, thanks for sharing.

Here is my 4th version of my camera box, as with all things the more you do it the more you tweak it and refine the design.

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Some more:
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Looking good. I really like the camo job.

Thanks, it worked better than I expected for how simple it is! Sometimes simpler really is better!

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The structure is attractive. What is the Yongnou flash and aux battery pack's battery life? When you first trigger the flash, does it wake up quickly?

Thank you for sharing your creation with the rest of the forum community.

Thanks! I have gone away from the Yongnou flashes, I only use the Nikon SB-25s now. I have not changed any of my flash batteries since I put them all out in June (I have 3 camera sets with 2/3 flashes each). The Nikon flashes wake up fast, once in a while it will not flash on the first camera trigger but it's very few and far between.

Few updates, always take a few weeks to get the setups dialed in.. the Moose wasn't quite at the focus point so the pics are a bit blurry.
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Beautiful animal. Thanks for sharing.

Another one of my sets, still playing around with flash locations. Now he's just gotta walk towards the camera!

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Got a new animal on the trap.

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Great image. It looks like he is posing for you.

Some great images! You really are getting some wonderful images for your efforts.

Set up a new set to target some whitetails, got some good results so far!
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Nicely done. 2 in the same shot.

Haven't updated in a while but here are some that I was able to capture last fall and into the winter.
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Awesome job! That picture of the moose is fantastic! Thanks for the update.

Is your camera setup on public land? I'm worried about theft.

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Originally Posted by Badguano

Is your camera setup on public land? I'm worried about theft.

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It is all public access land owned by paper companies. They are, in general in the middle of nowhere. I do cable lock some that I feel could be found closer to a logging road but otherwise, I do not.

An update from my Robert Yone inspired set (winter scene over a cliff). When I set it there was plenty of bobcat sign all over the place, the only animal to show up so far was a coyote.

It's been -25

Excellent. The background info really make this shot interesting. Thanks for taking the time to show the setup.

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Originally Posted by -jeff

Excellent. The background info really make this shot interesting. Thanks for taking the time to show the setup.

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Agreed! Great job!

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Originally Posted by nrake

Agreed! Great job!

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Agreed! Awseome Job!