Filming hunts or shooting activities is increasingly popular, and innovations involving camera sizes and mounting systems continue to roll out in response.
Getting unit price and weight low while preserving quality is the desired end game, but some popular units and required accessories can run into plenty of coin.
Introduced at last year's SHOT Show was the ATN Shot Trak HD camera. Lightweight and delivering full 1920p-by-1080p high-definition video, it mounts onto a rifle or shotgun's rail system. Priced at $119 for the model without laser pointing ($149 with laser), it seemed a nice option for filming solo hunts.
In testing this fall, the camera performed especially well on relatively static targets beyond 40 yards. The image is stable and the color crisp, even in waning light. Operation is a breeze with a flick of a toggle switch.
Without an integrated rail, you'll need an adaptor. During testing on dove and duck hunts, shooting a Beretta AL391 12-gauge, I used the Command Arms Accessories (CAA) Vent-Rib (HGA1) Barrel-Mounted Shotgun Rail. This mounts to shotgun and rifle barrels with just two screws tightening the unit. It fit well under the rib on the Beretta. The camera mounted easily and snugly.
The bad news with birds is the camera's 5-power magnification brings things in too close for good filming. Wood ducks appeared as big as pterodactyls and flew through the scene in a split second.
But the shotgun adaptor also attached securely to my CVA Accura muzzleloader and my old Marlin 512 Slugmaster shotgun. Except for muzzleloader smoke briefly obscuring the action downrange, the ATN camera and the CAA mount did a fine job.
Mounting the camera so that it was to the side of the barrel didn't interfere with any benchrest or shooting optics. You simply rotate the camera position to a position on the mounting bracket that preserves your horizontal image. For a 3 o'clock position, you rotate the mount 90 degrees counterclockwise looking at the rear.
Overall, these two products work well. The camera is a good option for hunters and shooters who want HD video and surprisingly decent audio. The barrel-mounted rail is an excellent choice for people with traditional firearms that don't have a rail system. For barrels with sensitive finishes, a thin barrier along the barrel can protect against any chipping or scratching from the adaptor.
Discount: ATN offers 5 percent off list price with military identification.
Camera specs (ATN Shot Trak HD):
- Memory: Requires micro-SD card (2GB to 32GB), not included
- Sensor: 5 Megapixel CMOS
- Resolution: 1920p x 1080p/30 frames per second (full HD)
- Audio: Built-in microphone
- Power: Uses one CR123A battery
- Operational time: 2 hours of recording
- Water resistant: Yes
- Mount: Standard Weaver
- Dimensions: 2.6 x 1.3 x 1.8 inches
- Weight: 0.3 pounds
- Warranty: Limited one-year
- Price: $119/$149
Rail specs (CAA Vent-Rib Barrel-Mounted Shotgun Rail):
- Material: CNC machined aviation-grade aluminum
- Length: 1.75 inches
- Fits: Plain or vent-rib shotgun barrels up to 12-gauge
- Weight: 1 ounce
- Price: $84
