TOPDON TC004 Thermal Imaging Camera, 256 x 192 IR High Resolution 12-Hour Battery Life Handheld Infrared Camera with PC Analysis and Video Recording Supported, 16GB Micro SD Card

Great quality at half the price . Great tool for checking for vehicle misfires , catalytic converter temps. Coolant blockages , thermostat failure and parasitic draws among other things . I also use to to check for leaks in windows and doors at home as well as checking for roof leaks by seeing for any abnormally cold spots . The size of the screen is great. Picture quality is clear and connects to other devices . Display is bright and it’s designed to feel great and robust in the hand

I recently purchased the TOPDON TC004 Lite Thermal Imaging Camera, and I must say, it has exceeded my expectations. As someone who needs to monitor temperatures on process lines and equipment, including drums and frac tanks, this little device has become an indispensable tool.Here’s why I’m impressed:Picture Quality:The TC004 captures clear, detailed images. Whether I’m inspecting electrical panels or checking for hotspots in machinery, the picture quality is excellent.The 256×192 pixel resolution ensures that even subtle temperature variations are visible.Accuracy:The temperature readings are spot-on. I’ve compared them side by side with a higher-priced competitor (FLIR), and the TC004 holds its ground.It’s reassuring to know that I can rely on accurate data for my work.Comparable to FLIR:Speaking of FLIR, the TC004 competes admirably. Considering its significantly lower price point, it’s a steal.I’d encourage anyone in need of a thermal imaging camera to seriously consider the TC004.Ease of Use:The TC004 is straightforward to operate. The buttons are intuitive, and the menu navigation is user-friendly.Plus, it’s a standalone unit—no need to fuss with connecting it to a smartphone.Battery Life:With a 12-hour runtime, the TC004 keeps up with my busy workday without needing frequent recharges.In summary, the TOPDON TC004 Lite Thermal Imaging Camera delivers exceptional performance at an affordable price. Whether you’re a professional or a DIY enthusiast, this camera is worth every penny. Highly recommended! 👍🔥

I've been wanting to get a thermal imaging camera for a while and I'm happy I got this one. I'm looking forward to figuring out more practical uses for this tool.Pros:The build quality is superb - it's been smacked around in the garage a good bit already and I'm confident it will hold up to a decent drop.The imaging is sensitive, detailed and clear. I was already able to identify a sticking brake on my van. It's sensitive enough to be able to pick up where someone stepped for a good bit.The software can calculate and identify the hot and cold points as well as the temperature at the center. You can turn these off and on easily.Pictures and video are easy to take and review.The battery lasts a good while and it has an auto shut off. This is nice for being able to just put it down without worrying about going through too much battery.Cons:I wish it had a reference for emissivity values for different objects in the software or on the exterior. I'm going to print out a small table and tape it on.There are settings for emissivity, temperature and distance. I didn't see these explained during my first look through the manual. I'm not sure what temperature and distance adjusts.The display can get a little laggy with the point calculations running. I'd imagine a little better processor would help, but I don't have a good gauge for how intense the image processing is. It doesn't inhibit work, just not as smooth. It's a non issue if you turn off the post processing.I wish I could delete files using the on board image browser.I'll try to keep this review updated as I find more use cases.

The first unit I received worked well, but did not accept firmware updates. TOPDON worked with me to assess the problem. It was determined that the unit was faulty and should be replaced. TOPDON expeditiously replaced the failed unit. Shipping took a while because it travelled across the country and had to go by surface since there was a Li ion battery. TOPDON provided the shipper and carried the charges. They were good to work with.The TC004 is a good IR imager for the price. I have watched microbolometer array thermal imagers for years. This is the best thermal imager available for the price having a focal plane that is 256x192 pixels. Comparably priced devices generally have smaller arrays so less resolution in their field of view.The TC004 is a handheld unit with a pistol-grip type of handle. It is sturdy and well made. I like this better than a device that plugs into a smart phone. It is more stable and easier to point and shoot. It has a ½-20 thread in the handle bottom so it can be mounted on a tripod. Very convenient for stability.The battery life is excellent. I have not had it run down. I find when charged, it will run for quite a while.The manual is pretty lean. The first 15 pages are in English. The remaining 85 pages are in other languages, clearly an international product.The imager can take stills and video. Associated with the camera is a free downloaded software package, TDView that runs on PC Windows 7, 10 and 11. Thermal analysis can be done with TDView of acquired still images whether taken remotely or while tethered to the PC using TDView. Video taken with TDView while the TC004 is tethered is in .irv format and can be post processed for thermal analysis by extracting stills from the played back video. Video acquired remotely is in .h264 format and can only be viewed in TDView, but not post processed for temperature analysis.Overall, this is an excellent device for the price. I acquired mine on a Christmas sale. I give it 5 stars. This a helpful device for assessing heat leaks in my house. Scary! It has other interesting uses too. I recommend this as a useful addition to any measurement toolkit.