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Video Mode Settings

When the sensor is set to Video Mode, three additional menu screens become available: Recording Time (Time), Extend Time (EXT), and Video Trigger Mode ([MODE]). These settings control how long the camera records, whether recordings are extended when movement continues, and how the sensor communicates with your camera model.

Recording Time (Time)

The Recording Time screen sets how long the sensor will command the camera to record each time motion is detected.

Adjusting the Recording Time

  1. From the Home Screen, press the Right Arrow until you reach the TIME screen.
  2. Use the Up or Down buttons to adjust the recording duration.
  3. Press the Set button to confirm and save.

The duration can be set from 10 seconds up to 15 minutes using the same adjustment method as other time-based settings.

This value represents the length of each video clip triggered by motion detection.

Extend Time (EXT)

The Extend Time option determines whether new motion detected during a recording will extend the recording duration.

Adjusting the Extend Time

  1. From the Home Screen, press the Right Arrow until you reach the Ext Time screen.
  2. Use the Up or Down buttons to adjust the number of seconds to extend the recording by from 10s and 99s (10s by default).
  3. Press the Set button to confirm and save.

Enabling or Disabling Extend Time

  1. Navigate to the EXT screen.
  2. Press the Up or Down button to toggle between ON and OFF.
  3. Press Set to confirm.

When Extend Time is ON, the recording timer resets each time additional motion is detected. The camera will continue recording for the full period set in the Recording Time setting after the last motion event.

Example: [- check]

If the Recording Time is 1 minute and the extend time is 1 minute and new motion is detected 30 seconds into the clip, the camera will continue recording for another 1 minute from that moment, creating a total clip of 1 minute 30 seconds.

This feature is useful for capturing continuous activity without cutting off prematurely when animals remain in view.

Note: An advanced variable (see the Advanced Variables section) can be used to limit the total recording length when Extend Time is enabled.

Video Trigger Mode ([MODE])

The Video Mode screen defines how the sensor sends start and stop signals to the camera. Different camera brands and models interpret these signals differently, so selecting the correct mode ensures reliable video triggering.

Mode Description Compatible Systems
Full Press (FP) Sends a full-press signal to start recording and another full-press signal to stop recording. Most Canon and Nikon mirrorless cameras.
Half Press (HP) Starts and stops recording using half-press signals. Older Canon DSLRs running Magic Lantern firmware.
[Sony] Mode Sends a full-press signal to start recording, then repeats a full-press signal every [15 seconds] to maintain recording. If more than [15 seconds] elapse without a signal, the camera automatically stops recording. Sony cameras connect to the Camtraptions Sony Video Cable.

[Sony] Mode is typically the most reliable option, as it ensures that if any trigger signal is missed, the camera will automatically stop recording instead of continuing indefinitely or becoming out of sync with the sensor’s start/stop commands.

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