BCC2000 & BCC2000Plus FAQs

The camera that comes with the BCC2000 is the TLC2000.

Yes, the USB-C socket can be used to plug into external power via a standard electrical socket or by using a power bank. We recommend always using batteries as a backup in addition to an alternative power supply to prevent disruptions that could cause your camera to stop recording.

If you use a power bank make sure that you use one that allows for you to turn off the power saving mode. Most power banks will turn themselves off while plugged into our cameras because our cameras use very little energy to operate that the power bank thinks they don’t need power anymore and the power bank will turn off. In our office we use Voltaic brand power banks and they have proven to be reliable with our cameras because you can turn off the power saving mode however any brand power bank with that function will work.

There are four capture modes available: Time Lapse, Step Video, Stop Motion, and Still Photo.

1.Time lapse:Take a sequence of photos at interval and shoot schedule of your choice. The time lapse video is automatically generated when you finish recording.

2.Step Video:Record short video clips at selected capture interval and clips are automatically combined into a video file.

3.Stop Motion:Manually take multiple photos one frame at a time. Photos are automatically combined creating an animated stop motion video.

4.Still Photo:Take still photos.

The battery life and memory card space will depend on the capture interval and batteries you are using with your camera. We recommend using lithium batteries for longer projects, for example with a 5 min capture interval you can expect a battery life around 49 days with lithium batteries whereas if you are using alkaline you will get around 33 days. Please use the Time Lapse Calculator on our website to calculate estimated battery life, memory storage capacity, and clip length.

Make sure you select your battery type in the settings of your camera – instructions can be found on the Battery Settings page of your camera manual.
Download the newest version of the manual on our support page. By selecting the correct battery type your camera will adjust how it consumes power and optimize the longevity of your batteries.

Your camera is not waterproof, filming outdoors will require using the ATH2000 waterproof housing that came with your camera or you can get the ATH1000 for a smaller housing option.

The official operating temperature of our cameras is 32°F-113°F (0°C-45°C) however many of our customers have had success filming long term projects in locations such as Siberia and Dubai.

If you are in an environment with extreme temperatures make sure you are using high quality batteries such as Energizer Ultimate Lithium Batteries which have been made to withstand temperatures from -40ºC to 60ºC. Low quality batteries are unable to withstand extreme temperatures and using them will result in drastically lower battery lives.

There are a number of things that could contribute to having a shorter battery life than our estimations:

1.Battery typeWe recommend using lithium batteries in the TLC2000 camera for longer battery life. However, please be noted that the ATH2000 battery housing-battery case only supports Alkaline batteries. Lithium batteries, Ni-MH batteries, and Zinc-Carbon batteries will affect camera battery duration therefore DO NOT recommend them.

Make sure you select your battery type in the settings of your camera – instructions can be found on the Battery Settings pageof your camera manual.

Download the newest version of the manual on our support page.

By selecting the correct battery type your camera will adjust how it consumes power and optimize the longevity of your batteries.

Lastly do not use zinc-carbon batteries with our cameras or swap out single batteries. To optimize power and performance only use fully charged lithium, alkaline or rechargeable NiMH batteries.

2.Camera settingsOur battery estimations are calculated using the camera factory settings. If you change white balance, add flicker filters, or adjust any other of your camera’s settings it can have an effect on your camera battery life.

3.LCD screenTurning your camera on and off as well as using the LCD screen to adjust camera settings for extended periods of time can drain power. If you will be making big changes to your camera settings and require the use of your LCD for an extended period of time then we recommend using an external power source for the setup period so that you do not drain your batteries. When everything is set up and good to go unplug your camera and it will switch to using battery power.

4.Firmware versionCheck if your camera has the newest firmware version. The firmware version on your camera can be accessed by going MENU -> MORE -> System Info, please check that it matches up with the newest firmware version on our website.

5.Filming environmentYour battery life can vary depending on the environment you are filming in. The estimations in our time lapse calculator are done under 77 °F (25 °C) conditions.

The official operating temperature of our cameras is 32°F-113°F (0°C-45°C) however many of our customers have had success filming long term projects in locations such as Siberia and Dubai.

We recommend using lithium batteries in the TLC2000 camera for longer battery life. However, please be noted that the ATH2000 battery housing-battery case only supports Alkaline batteries. Lithium batteries, Ni-MH batteries, and Zinc-Carbon batteries will affect camera battery duration therefore DO NOT recommend them.

Your camera is not waterproof, filming outdoors will require using the ATH2000 waterproof housing that came with your camera or you can get the ATH1000 for a smaller housing option.

Frequent lighting changes can also affect the longevity of batteries and our battery life estimations have been calculated in a stabilized lighting environment.

The official operating temperature of our cameras is 32°F-113°F (0°C-45°C) however many of our customers have had success filming long term projects in locations such as Siberia and Dubai. If you are in an environment with extreme temperatures it might affect the battery life of your camera.

Your camera is not waterproof, filming outdoors will require using a waterproof housing such as our ATH1000 or ATH2000 housings. To avoid fogging please use desiccant packs or anti-fog pads inside your waterproof housing and replace them every few weeks (or as needed).

Make sure you are using high quality batteries such as Energizer Ultimate Lithium Batteries which have been made to withstand temperatures from -40ºC to 60ºC. Low quality batteries are unable to withstand extreme temperatures and using them will result in drastically lower battery lives.

Files can be downloaded by connecting your camera to your computer using the USB-C cable that came with your camera or inserting your microSD card into your computer.

If you want easier access to your camera and to download files directly without stopping your recording the Camera Extender Kit (AFB1000) will allow you to connect to your camera through a laptop using the kit’s 32ft (10m) long cable.

If you are using a Mac computer you may need to download a video player called VLC, HandBrake or something similar because AVI files cannot be opened by Mac computers. In some cases your Mac computer will auto-convert files to MOV format and auto-play in QuickTime.

VLC can be downloadedhere.
HandBrake can be downloadedhere.
If you are still having issues opening your video files contact customer service at: customerservice@brinno.com 

If you are using a Mac computer you may need to download a video player called VLC, HandBrake or something similar because AVI files cannot be opened by Mac computers. In some cases your Mac computer will auto-convert files to MOV format and auto-play in QuickTime.

VLC can be downloaded here.
HandBrake can be downloaded here.
If you are still having issues opening your video files contact customer service at:customerservice@brinno.com

Your camera is only compatible with SD cards up to 128GB. If you insert a card that is larger than 128GB you will get the “SD Card Error” message.

Brinno cameras need their SD cards in FAT32 format. Format your card in your camera by using the formatting prompts or use your computer to reformat your card to FAT32.

If the SD card you are inserting is the correct size and you are still getting the message that could be a sign that the SD card you are using is damaged. Please try using another SD card. In the case where you continue to get the same error message even when replacing your card, the SD slot might be damaged. Please contact our customer service team at:customerservice@brinno.com

A filming schedule can be set up through your camera menu, choose the days of the week and required filming times.

Through the schedule settings you can also choose whether you want daily files or continuous. If you choose daily your camera will produce one time lapse video per day whereas with continuous your camera will continuously create a file until it reaches 500MB.

The maximum file size for our cameras is 500MB so if you are filming a long-term project you will end up with multiple video files with a maximum file size of 500MB.

You can use any free video editing software that comes on your computer. If you are using a Windows computer the Video Editor app on your computer will work fine. With Mac computers you may need to convert the files to MP4 or MOV. If your computer does not auto-convert the files you will need to use the application VLC, HandBrake or another file converting software and then combine the files using iMovie.

VLC can be downloaded here.
HandBrake can be downloaded here.
For more complicated editing, Adobe Premier Pro and other professional editing software can be used.

In rare cases an issue might occur with the auto-save function. To avoid these types of issues make sure you always use new batteries that are fully charged and even if you are using external power always use batteries as a backup.

Our cameras have been designed to auto-combine photos into AVI time lapse videos. If you require individual JPGs you can use the Brinno Video Player to convert your AVI files into JPGs.

Brinno Video Player can be downloaded – For Windows computers ONLY
To save a single JPG go File -> Save Current. If you would like to convert your entire video to JPGs go File -> Export.

If you have replaced or changed your lens to one of our BCS lenses make sure that you did not forget to put in the IR filter.

In the case where you have not adjusted the camera lens check if your camera has the newest firmware version. The firmware version on your camera can be accessed by going MENU -> MORE -> System Info, please check that it matches up with the newest firmware version on ourwebsite.

The LED light on the front of your camera will blink Green every 10 seconds to indicate that you are recording.

If you are filming outdoors or in an environment where there is a risk of your camera getting wet you will need to use one of our waterproof housings, either the ATH1000 or ATH2000.

While filming in high humidity environments you can use desiccant packs or anti-fog pads to absorb excess moisture from the inside of your waterproof housing. Swap old ones out every few weeks to maintain a low humidity environment inside the housing.

Keep your waterproof housing and clamp in the same position and only remove your camera and battery slot every time you need to swap batteries or SD card. By only removing your camera and not the housing you will maintain the same view angle and focus area.

The firmware version on your camera can be accessed by going MENU -> MORE -> System Info, please check that it matches up with the newest firmware version on our website.

To upgrade your camera firmware make sure you use a Windows computer and follow the instructions found in our PDF guide.

Firmware upgradevideo tutorial.

Yes, the time stamp can be removed through your camera’s settings MENU -> MORE -> TIME STAMP.

You will need to loosen the tiny screw on the camera lens. Just loosen it, not remove it, once it's loose then the lens will rotate. With each movement the focus will change.

Once the lens is loosened and able to move you can access the focus settings within your camera. Go to Menu -> More -> Focus. Here you can change the focus of particular points of interest and zoom in.

After playing around with your lens and the menu settings and finding a good focus, you will need to tighten the screw on the lens so that it doesn't accidentally move out of focus again. Make sure you tighten it without OVER tightening it.

You can find a quick video tutorialhere.This video starts around 1:35 because the earlier info is not relevant to your problem.

Files can be downloaded by connecting your camera to your computer using the USB-C cable that came with your camera.

If you want easier access to your camera and to download files directly without stopping your recording, the Camera Extender Kit (AFB1000) will allow you to connect to your camera through a laptop (Windows 64-bit OS) using the kit’s 32ft (10m) long cable.

In cases where setting up your camera is difficult because the LCD screen is too small or the camera is set up too high, we recommend using our Camera Extender Kit (AFB1000). The kit comes with a 32ft (10m) cable that can be used to access your camera liveview, change settings and download files directly to your laptop (Windows 64-bit OS) using the Brinno Command Center platform.

If you do not have the Camera Extender Kit (AFB1000), you can use a regular USB-C cable to plug into a laptop however you will only be able to view your liveview using your laptop camera app. Make sure HDR is turned off in your camera settings before your camera is plugged in.

For Windows, plug your camera in and go to the built in camera app on your computer. You may need to switch cameras in the application so that it shows the camera view instead of your webcam.

For Mac, plug your camera in and use Skype or another IM app. Once in the app go to Setting -> Video and Audio to select your cameras the video source.

An OTG cable can also be used to connect your camera to your Android smartphone. You will need to use an App like Elementary USB Camera to then access the live view. Please note iOS devices (iPhone) are not compatible.

If you are unable to access the camera via your computer or phone then we recommend using a mirror or turning on the front view of your cellphone camera to get a reflection on the LCD screen.

No, none of our cameras are capable of livestreaming.

No, none of our cameras are capable of recording sound.

The minimum focus distance of your camera is 60cm. If you need to shoot closer then we recommend purchasing one of our BCS lens accessories so you can zoom in on your filming targets.

No, your camera is not waterproof. If you want to use your camera outdoors or in wet environments please use one of our waterproof housings such as the ATH1000 or ATH2000.

Yes, you can change the lens on the TLC2000 camera with one of our BCS lenses.
A tutorial on changing your lens and adjusting the focus can be found here.

No, the new larger battery cover that comes with the TLC2020 is not compatible with the TLC2000 camera. Do not use the battery cover on any model other than the TLC2020.

1. There needs to be at least some ambient light for our cameras to film during the night. The footage gets all pixelated and dark because there isn't enough light in the filming environment.

2. Turning off HDR could lower the pixilation. The HDR sensor is very sensitive and sometimes over compensates in low light conditions by trying to capture as much as possible.

3. If you are filming consistently from a light to dark and then light environment then we recommend using the Twilight scene. It will not affect your filming in bright environments and will better balance out the low light environment.

1. If you are filming consistently from a light to dark and then light environment then we recommend using the Twilight scene. It will not affect your filming in bright environments and will better balance out the low light environment.

2. Turning off HDR could lower pixilation. The HDR sensor is very sensitive and sometimes over compensates in low light conditions by trying to capture as much as possible.

3. There needs to be at least some ambient light for our cameras to film during the night. The footage gets all pixelated and dark because there isn't enough light in the filming environment.

If you use a MacOS and want to use Premiere Pro to edit your footage, you will need to download a video converter such as VLC, HandBrake, or Any Video Converter to convert your footage from AVI to mp4. After converting your video you can use Premiere Pro.

Any Video Converter can be downloaded here.
 VLC can be downloaded here.
HandBrake can be downloaded here.
If you have any questions, send us an email at:customerservice@brinno.com

When the Live View on the Brinno Command Center is unstable, we suggest switching to your laptop's camera and then switching it back to the Brinno camera to access the Live View. Please stop the recording first on the Brinno Command Center before you check the live view via the laptop’s camera. When finished checking the live view, go back to the Brinno Command Center again and restart the recording.

No, the BCS 18-55 adjustable lens is not compatible with the BCC2000/BCC2000Plus when used alongside the ASP1000-P. Using this BCS 18-55 with these products may result in the ATH2000 housing being unable to close properly.

Each ASP1000-P solar panel kit bundle is necessary to be used with an ATH2000 waterproof housing. The ATH2000 waterproof housing includes a Type C adapter for insertion into the ASP1000-P rechargeable battery kit’s cable, enabling connection to power sources such as BCC2000, BCC2000Plus, TLC2020, and TLC130.