If you’re new to thermal cameras, they detect infrared radiation. Every object emits some of this radiation, and the camera captures a range of these emissions and displays the heat value through a range of colors. It is similar to how “regular” cameras capture visible light, but thermal cameras allow users to see beyond the naked eye.
Because thermal cameras can provide more information than night vision cameras, they are traditionally used in many applications. These include building maintenance (electrical/mechanical), science, search & rescue, and of course ghost-seeking TV shows. However, they can be a nice addition to your camera gear for nighttime wildlife viewing.
Note: Teslong sent me the Teslong TTS300 for review. However, this is a completely independent review. All thoughts about this item are my own.
Teslong TTS300 — Technical specifications
All technical specifications were taken from the Teslong website.
- Infrared Sensor Resolution: 256×192 pixels
- Screen Resolution: 640×480 pixels
- Display: 3.5 in
- Angle of Screen Rotation: 270°
- Frame Rate: 25 Hz
- Frequency Band: 8-14 um
- Digital Zoom: 1x, 2x, 4x
- Adjustable Focus: From Macro to Telephoto
- Temperature Tracking: Maximum, Center Point, and Minimum Temperature
- Color Palette: 6 modes (Black Hot, Green Hot, Iron Oxide Red, Rainbow Hot, Red Hot, and White Hot)
- Port: Type-C charging port
- Power Source: 4000mAh lithium battery
- Battery Life: 8-12 hours
- Operating Temperature Range: 32° to 113°F (0° to 45°C)
- Storage Temperature Range: -4° to 140°F (-2° to 60°C)
Pros
- Compact and convenient size
- Fully articulating flip-out screen
- Illuminated menu buttons
- User-friendly menu navigation
Cons
- Focus ring is detachable; doesn’t hug the lens tight enough
- Adjusting the focus ring in the dark isn’t user-friendly
Teslong TTS300 — In use
Having seen thermal cameras in use before, I was initially impressed by its compact and convenient size. It weighs only 1 pound, a little more if you count the included travel case. A fully articulating flip-out screen makes operation easy and gives it a video camera feel. The illuminated menu buttons are intuitive, and the menu navigation is user-friendly.
The camera’s infrared array is 256×192, and after some multiplication it comes out to 49,152 points of temperature detection. This is displayed on the 640×480 screen. The temperature tracking feature will display a crosshair and display the target temperature, and can also show the high and low temperature on the screen. The color palette shows temperature variations. There are six color modes to choose from, and you can switch between them with the touch of a button. For a look at the modes, the Teslong website has examples.
A telephoto lens and a macro focus mode provide a wide range of viewing. 4X digital zoom is available for items in the distance. An adjustable focus ring can allow you to get really close — about 8” away. However, the focus ring is a stand-alone piece that you need to place over the lens to turn and focus. While this works fine, the focus ring doesn’t hug the lens tight enough for me to trust it staying put. So, you have to keep the ring with you and place it over the lens when you want to make adjustments, which is not entirely user-friendly if in the dark.
Some other noteworthy features include a laser pointer (can be toggled on/off) to help guidance, battery life over 10 hours, image capture and video capture, and USB-C charging and file transfer.
