TOPDON Thermal Camera TC001, Thermal Imaging Camera Android 256x192 Resolution, -20℃-550℃ Testing Range, 40mk Heat Sensitivity, Error Less Than 2℃, for Smartphones and Tablets

Product Information

The most versatile units come with three modes that record temperatures at a point, on a line and at the surface. Note: I need to mention that on the left, there’s the AGM Glory Pro, the TC001 being on the right. Since the left footage was slowed down by AGM, I had to cut some parts to make it match with the Topdon TC001. Also, the freezes that you see on the right side are not video cuts, it’s just the TC001 recalibrating. Boasting an incredible 256 x 192px display and a class-leading -20°C – 550°C temperature range, the TOPDON is one of the best IR cameras I’ve come across so far. With a <40 mK thermal sensitivity as well, it’s got better stats than the expensive professional-level tools.

One of the leading lights in the Infrared camera industry, TOPDON make more than a few of the best thermal imaging cameras on the market today. The TOPDON TC004 is a handy, lightweight thermal imaging diagnostic tool. It’s one of the most effective tools in the home draught chaser’s arsenal. Combined with its 15Hz refresh rate (many are only 9Hz), it can easily be used to spot animals or people in the dark, or through dense foliage. There’s also a 300-lumen LED light, should you want to surprise someone you’ve spotted in the dark. The simple menu system provides access to other useful features too, such as Level and Span adjustments (a little like manual exposure, allowing you to isolate a thermal range), and Emissivity adjustments (manual or pre-sets).

What’s in the box?

While the FLIR C-Series produces useful images in good light via MSX, this camera can do so at any time, since it doesn’t rely on visual light to boost its resolution. For our money, that makes it the best thermal-imaging camera for night use today. The resolution is fine at 256 x 192px, while the range works between -20°C – 350°C. What sets this camera apart is the excellent thermal sensitivity. If you’re doing delicate work, then the 0.1°C or <40mK is the best on my list. The temperature measurement accuracy of ± 2°C is up there with the best-performing devices too. Thermal imaging company Hti-Xintai produce all sorts of clever IR devices, from phone plug-in cameras to a very cool-looking thermal monocular. The HTI-19 is a handheld thermal imaging camera that shows off some excellent features. In fact, it’s the best thermal imaging camera in terms of IR resolution on my list. Storing images should not be a problem for any of these units. They either use phone/tablet memory, internal memory and/or flash drives. Hands-On Expertise & Collective Knowledge: Our team boasts extensive DIY experience and in-depth knowledge.

Thermal imaging works in the dark, or through smoke, but can be fooled by the reflectiveness (emissivity) of a surface. Because IR is part of the electromagnetic spectrum, like visible light, it also has similar properties when it encounters lenses or rain. For professional use, it pays to read up a bit on understanding thermograms, but you’ll understand the basics the moment you power on your thermal camera. Depending on the software, you can also take retrospective measurements from the thermal JPEGs. How we test thermal cameras

What I like

It is nevertheless a noticeably higher resolution than the device’s immediate predecessor, the IR0102, which had a 32 x 32-pixel resolution. As a low-priced device, adding this to your toolkit is a lot less painful than some of the devices on this list, and with fuel prices on the rise, locating leaks (an ideal task for this adapter) could cover the cost surprisingly soon. How thermal imaging cameras work Getting your hands on the best thermal imaging camera is like seeing into the future. An indispensable tool for chasing pesky draughts, underperforming insulation, or thermal bridging, they really do show you an invisible world of infrared heat. Types of IR Cameras For the most part, the best thermal-imaging cameras work like regular ones, except that the image sensor detects invisible IR light and it is translated to a visual “thermogram”. This is what you see through the creature’s perspective views in The Predator and Prey.