Thermal Review: Thermal Master DV2, with Black Friday discount is just $449
I took a new Thermal Master DV2 thermal scope/camera to Florida last weekend for a test drive it and liked it very much.
I reviewed two Thermal Master cameras before here. Their T2 Max and T2 Pro models are tiny cameras that attach to your phone. I was impressed by both of them because they offer great image quality and value for money. But I found it difficult to adapt to searching with an external screen instead of the monoculars I am used to. But I also know that that learning curve is probably more to do with me than the thermal device: if you saw me trying to play a new video game – as my kids will be all too happy to tell you – you would not be shocked at my lack of adaptive prowess.
But this new Thermal Master scope was much easier even for me to use straight away.
It looks like a compact video camera, and comes with a screen already attached so though it is not as small as their other models there is no problem with sometimes temperamental connections to your phone.
The screen flips down onto the handle when you pack the device.
And opens up like this when you are using it.
It is lightweight, simple use and because of the excellent image resolution and built in laser pointer, it is remarkably easy to locate in real life whatever heat you detect. In Florida we spotted a small heat blob on the ground (a deer mouse it turned out). Because of the laser pointer I was able to find it immediately with my flashlight … I am sure it would have taken me more time using my Zeiss monocular or any other piece of thermal gear I have used.
Another gripe I had with some of the phone attachment cameras was that the connections could be a little temperamental. This is obviously not an issue with this model.
You can take photos and shoot video. Thermal Master advertise this as “the first ever DV thermal camera”. I am not sure what this means or whether it is all that significant other than that it is something to do with the format of the image. But the quality is good.
There are all manner of adjustments on the menu to select different colour schemes and more. I am not convinced most of them make a great deal of difference. But I am convinced that in a side by side comparison with my Zeiss scope (which costs more than 6 times as much) this camera was performing about as well at detecting mammals … at least in the 20C temperatures of November in Florida.
We also tried pointing it out the car window while driving at 50 mph and the image processing didn’t struggle at all to keep up. The rechargeable battery, which can be removed, lasted for hours.
Thermal Master sell an optional laser range finder for an extra $200 (in the image below you can see it attached to the left hand side of the camera). This might be useful if you are trying to estimate the size of a distant heat blob but suspect it is designed more with hunters in mind.
In short I am very impressed, And so was my buddy Todd who was with me in Florida and is ordering one for himself.
I plan to take this on all of my trips from now on: this type of scope is easier to use than a monocular, at least some of the time: eg when searching from a moving car.
In most countries – including the USA – the DV2 is only available from the Thermal Master storefront. It is retailing right now for $499 which includes taxes and free delivery.
If you use the discount code “mammalwatch1” at checkout (see the image below) you should get a further 8% discount that will also help support me to run this website.
And if you buy one any time from now through December 1 the discount increase to 10% because of a Black Friday sale.
Here is the link: https://tidd.ly/4hUgl62
All the other Thermal Master gear, including the T2 Max and T2 Pro, will also benefit from an increased mammalwatching discount for Black Friday.
Here are the links for those models, both retailing at $399 before the 10% discount.
T2 Max with laser pointer: https://tidd.ly/42DiWuB (see my review here )
T2 Pro: https://tidd.ly/3Xrt06O (see my review here)
Let me know if you buy the DV2 and what you think of it!
Jon
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