AGM Global VisionTaipan Thermal Imaging Monocular for Hunting 12μm Sensor, Hot Spot Tracking, 8× Digital Zoom, Video Recording, WiFi, IP67 Waterproof

The AGM Taipan TM15-384 is the second thermal imager I've used, the first was the built-in thermal mode for CAT phones. This monocular works well for spotting animals and finding weak points in house insulation, among other uses. It obviously lacks features present in a construction-grade thermal imager such as temperature readouts, but it's really a spotting device, not a measuring one. As another reviewer pointed out, it's great for finding studs through drywall, since they'll be a slightly lower temperature and they stand out nicely most of the time. There are a lot of uses for thermal imaging but this device seems best for general purpose at around 5-300 yards. I wouldn't count on it for close-in use.The optic: You can easily spot a possum through light brush at 100 yards, but if it is stationary and not in profile, you will need to get very close to positively identify it as a possum rather than a cat or fox. The 384x288@50hz sensor seems to be the standard for the midrange price point of $1,000-$2,000, and I would absolutely not want a lower resolution or refresh rate. This model, at 17.5 x 13.1 degrees, has one of the wider Fields Of View available at this price point, but the fixed 1.5x magnification exaggerates the narrowness of the FOV. This unit would be much better served with either a wider FOV or the ability to dial back the magnification to 1.0x or 0.9x. First, it would provide more area for a "baseline" thermal reading, which should help with contrast of the "scene." The optic seems to register relative thermal readings, not absolute, and with a bit of a delay, so as you pan the optic you'll see false heat until it adjusts to the new "scene." Second, a wider FOV (or ability to zoom out) would mean less panning for spotting. The optic is very sensitive, and any body heat really will pop, especially outside, so if an animal is in your field of view you will probably spot it extremely easily, even without the hot spot identification feature. You will only want to use this monocular while staying still. Trying to navigate with it will likely result in disaster. Aftermarket head mounts exist for this unit but you're probably better off keeping it in a pocket until needed. You can use the unit indoors but any distances under 8 feet are less than ideal. The digital zoom doesn't seem hugely useful, it just magnifies the existing information displayed on the screen, so at distance, a visible blob of pixels becomes a larger visible blob of pixels. Probably the best feature of the optic is that it's single focus and everything past 8 feet feels completely in focus. It really has a high quality feel.The display: 1280x960@50hz with great color, but the display is bright and not dimmable which means you WILL be COMPLETELY night blind in whichever eye you use for the monocular. The listed brightness and contrast adjustments are for the optic input, not the display itself. This is fine for daylight use, but this will hugely complicate your use case in low-light situations. This isn't the biggest problem if you're in a tree stand, can use your non-dominant eye or have a thermal rifle scope, but it will get complicated quickly if you're on the move, using your dominant eye and using traditional optics. Being able to adjust the brightness of the display itself down to ambient levels would be a huge improvement.Other features: The controls are responsive, the buttons are simple and work well. The diopter adjustment knob works easily, but should have a locking mechanism. The lens cap is a soft rubber that pops into place, I'm not sure how long it'll hold up in comparison to a lens cap which would screw into place. The battery life seems very good so far, but not having a removable battery means that once the battery fails either the unit will have to be sent back somehow or it will have to be permanently tethered to an external battery, if it will still function on external only. I used the included cable and charger, but other reviewers have mentioned that it only works with USB A to C cables, which is a problem. The IP67 rating is reassuring for an outdoor device, but it should really be increased to IP68. It handles temperature changes well, going from warm to cold or cold to warm without problems. The lens will frost slightly but it doesn't affect the picture quality too much. The storage not being removable presents a similar problem to the battery if you will be relying on the recording features. I haven't used some features yet, like distance measurement, the wifi/app or recording but if it follows the pattern then it will likely be basic but functional.The biggest factor helping my choice of this device is the price point. I got it for a little over $1,000 during the Cyber Monday sale, which makes it hugely affordable compared to other optics of similar quality. In the near term, I don't expect prices to decline, but in the long term I think the $400 bracket will get more competitive as better technology is released, so make your buying decision after evaluating your budget, use case and time frame.

Very good budget thermal, the resolution is not the greatest but it's very useful with a max identification range of around 50 yards in a lit urban environment at sundown, at sunrise it raises to detection at over 100 meters, identification depends on your paired optic and ability to recognize patters.. haven't taken it to the open field or wooded area to test it more thoroughly, but I know what I got when I paid this price for it. I recommend it for a budget vermin detector for your garden or small farm. Or even looking for a chicken that got out and it's been hiding in your neighbors bushes at night.

This IR viewer is relatively sensitive. The one I got does not have focus for the objective, it's fixed. But it does have an adjustment knob for your eye to see the screen.What I don't like is that it has a magnification at 1.5. In other words, when you hold it up, it's slightly magnified, larger than what you actually see. Awkward. It would be much more usable if it was 1.0. You can also set it to 2x, 4x and 8x, which are pretty useless. 2x might be useful, but 4x and 8x are just magnifying blurriness.The display is not like your normal thermal camera, especially in terms of color. It does have white hot display, where the hottest object is white. Black hot is the reverse. Red Hot which is the same as white hot except that the hottest object is colored red very prominently. And you can set a green plus sign to indicate the hottest object. There's also a colored spectrum which is very strange and not particularly useful. The instructions say that the Red Hot setting uses more battery. I use it with the white hot, green plus sign, setting.It's important to know that there is No indication of temperature. Whatsoever. This is unlike other thermal cameras which indicate high temperature in C or F. I must admit that for this price I expected to see a temperature reading but it doesn't exist in any way shape or form. All you get is an image that shows the hot and cold and in between as shades of gray, or color. And 1.5x magnification is a nuisance.It is expensive at about $1100. I got a second hand unit for around $800 and it's still expensive. Especially for the awkward usefulness.A strange aspect is that as you rotate the viewer, holding it horizontally, it turns off. In other words, with the buttons at the top, 12 o'clock it works normally. As you rotate it to buttons at 3 or 4 o'clock you still have an image. Once you rotate it to when the buttons are at the bottom, 5-6 o'clock there is NO image whatsoever. It just a gray blob. If you rotate it further so the buttons are at the top, still holding it horizontally, the image reappears.However you can point it more or less straight down or straight up and you still have an image. It's just when it's horizontal and "upside down' it completely cuts off. Go figure.CHARGING . I tried to charge it when the battery got near one bar. But absolutely could not. Nothing, no light or no charging. I was about to send it back.Now, it has a C USB charging connector and I have a whole bunch of C chargers and a multitude of C-C cables. None of them worked. NONE. Wouldn't charge or recogniez that a charger was attached.So.... I read the manual.Was instructed that I MUST use the supplied charger AND cable.I did, and it charged.Yet again, strange.What I found out is that you must, MUST use a USB A to USB C cable. And. then connect it to any USB A charger, and it will work.I have a bunch of C to C cables and NONE of them would work.I even have a C-C safe charging cable that does not connect data. It's used, for example, at public charging station to prevent possible malware installation. Even this one failed.So, what I found is that ANY USB A charger connected to ANY A-C cable would work. Go figure.In summary, you do not get any temperature reading, you must hold the viewer with the buttons pretty much at the top, the choices of spectral/color display are kind of weird and could be better, and you must use an A-to-C charging cable. Cost lots of moneys.

I am an AGM fan. This monocular is outstanding even given the price point. I have mine mounted to a helmet and use it for hog hunting. The functions are easy to use and honestly, there are way more options than I need. I am considering adding a second monocular as moving around with one is a bit tricky. I would recommend this monocular to anyone I know interested in seeing what's out there at night.