Thermal Master DV2 detects wildlife with a drop-down screen

The folks at Thermal Master are producing so many devices it’s hard to keep up, but this one, the DV2, is worth a look, even if nature decided to fight me when testing it for the last six weeks.

If you’re a regular tech reader here, you’ll already be familiar with Thermal Master. But of all the company’s devices, this has been by far the most difficult to test, not because of the quality, but because of the nature itself. I have spent several months in the midst of devastating heat waves, humid monsoon weather, and a couple of typhoons. Therefore, spending time outdoors has become quite challenging.

So unlike my usual reviews, I’ve had trouble taking photos of the birds detected on the screen, because my iPhone is even less heat tolerant than I am. And you’ll know how fun it is to check phone screens in the rain, when the local birds tend to take refuge deep in the mountains surrounding my apartment.

Which is a shame, since really, In fact I love watching birds. (This now sounds stranger than written.)

The DV2 allows you to spot them where a pair of binoculars couldn’t; It uses thermal imaging, but its unique design is what sets it apart from more conventional units.

In some ways, it feels more like a lightweight camcorder, with a 5-inch flip-up screen that rotates smoothly and projects what its 10mm f/0.8 lens captures. It’s more like a smartphone that pops out of the side of a selfie stick than any similar technology I’ve seen before.

And while it is designed to detect elusive birds among the dense foliage, it is not limited to the world of birds. It can detect distant mammals from hundreds of meters away, even in broad daylight.

Thermal Master says its range is over 1,000 yards (914 m/3,000 ft), but I couldn’t confirm this accurately, given the climate and living on a mountainside where distances are harder to measure properly.

But like other Thermal Master devices, it punches above its weight when it comes to price and holds its own against much more expensive technologies in the same field, including Zeiss.

The screen is touch-sensitive (with 1280 x 720 resolution) and does a good job of detecting heat even in thick foliage. However, consider it more of a bird finder than something that can identify species. If you’re a serious birdwatcher, you’ll probably want to use it in conjunction with other technology if you want photography or species recognition, for example.

And because of the extreme heat, I found the DV2 wasn’t as effective as I’d hoped in colder climates. Even at night, the “sensitive” temperature regularly exceeds 100°F (over 40°C), which is not ideal for this device.

However, I think using it at night is its strong point, especially if you’re looking for elusive night types like owls. That said, the screen does project quite a bit of light, which can be disorienting and also frighten nearby birds. However, animals at a distance are likely to be less bothered.

Where I am now, I basically have birds of prey circling over the mountains during the day and tiny species hovering before nightfall. The DV2 will detect these smaller birds, but from a distance they will appear more like patches of heat than defined shapes; So, again, you will find them, but you may need other tools if you want to get a good look at these feathered friends or capture good images of them.

Now, talking about thermal detection is not my specialty, so you may need to check out the specifications on the company’s site. But what I do know is that the display is powered by a native 256 x 192 thermal sensor with a 10mm manual focus lens. There’s also image enhancement via AI, but whether you find this useful really depends on the conditions, time of day, and what you’re looking for in the trees.

One thing I have found most enjoyable with the DV2 is that it does not require squinting through the lenses and adjusting focus. In this sense, I see it as a fun device to take on excursions and camping trips, for example, since it is also lightweight.

There are limitations to the DV2, such as its app: it’s a little clunky and, at the time of testing, it doesn’t let you set up the device as a bird feeder camera for live streaming. But at the same time, it’s not really designed for this; He finds the animals and lets you do the rest. And giving credit where credit is due, birds generally don’t give off much body heat, so hats off to Thermal Master for undertaking a pretty challenging build.

The DV2 also has an interesting power system. Instead of a sealed, non-replaceable internal battery, the device incorporates a single removable standard 21700 rechargeable battery. While it may seem strange to use technology that doesn’t instantly power on via USB-C, this is intentional and allows for much longer use, like some flashlights, for example.

The DV2 comes with a battery charger, of course, but you can use commercially available batteries that will extend the function of the device. So the company’s claims of up to eight hours of uninterrupted use on a single battery are, as far as I could see, realistic.

Plus, although they are a small thing, it is these features that make life so much easier. The battery cover looks like you need a tool to unscrew it, but the middle actually lifts up to be used as a handle of sorts. It then folds down against the base of the device once the cover is screwed back on.

And the more modern technology I’ve tried or purchased, the more I appreciate having the option to carry a bunch of batteries in my backpack on a hike, instead of a power bank and cables. In this sense, the DV2 is ideal for excursions and camping, of course, if you also want to see birds. (Not that I’ve been able to walk for the past few months, given the weather.)

Sure, it’s not perfect, like almost every thermal imaging device I’ve used, but it’s a solid investment for anyone pursuing this specific type of “hobby” without spending thousands of dollars to essentially get a device that does the same job. And the thoughtful packaging, flexibility with battery usage, and overall architecture might be the best I’ve seen from Thermal Master so far.

With the battery charged, the DV2 weighs around 512g (18oz), and while the company has largely constructed its body out of plastic (the compromise if you want to keep things light, of course), it feels sturdy, comes in a really nice protective hard case, and so far I haven’t given it a scratch yet. Which is really kind of weird to me. It’s also been fine in the rain, although like your smartphone, the touchscreen becomes more complicated to use.

Right now, the DV2 is available at a discounted introductory price of $499.00, which is $100 off the MSRP. It also comes with a two-year warranty and excellent worldwide customer service. Visit the Thermal Master site for more information, including shipping. The company offers an additional 10% discount for New Atlas readers with code THERMBIRD10.

It is also available through Amazon.

I will update this review with images I took when I can.

Source: Thermal Master

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