TOPDON NV001 Thermal Camera for Cars, Automotive Thermal Night Vision System with 656ft Long-Range Vision, AI Recognition of People, Vehicles, and Animals, Anti-Collision Warning, IP69K Waterproof

"Topdon NV001: A Game-Changer for Nighttime Driving Safety""Wait, this can't be right—this kind of quality at this price?!" That was my first thought when I unboxed the Topdon NV001 thermal night vision dash-mounted camera. From its impeccable craftsmanship to its innovative features, this compact powerhouse is an absolute steal for anyone serious about road safety.Why You Need the Topdon NV001Driving on long, dark roads can be nerve-wracking, especially when wildlife or poor visibility is involved. Whether it’s spotting a deer before it leaps onto the road or navigating through blinding snowstorms, the NV001 provides unmatched clarity to help you stay in control. Its thermal imaging and collision alerts add a layer of protection that could make the difference between a close call and an accident.Built for Performance and DurabilityRight out of the box, the NV001 stands apart from the competition. It’s heavy, well-made, and equipped with features that scream quality. The inclusion of a reliable coaxial cable, instead of the flimsy RCA cables found in other models, ensures a stable and clear connection. Plus, its built-in heater means it’s ready to tackle snowy mornings without skipping a beat.Compact Yet MightyThough smaller than I expected, the NV001 makes up for its size with top-tier functionality. It offers multiple mounting options to suit any vehicle and is compact enough to stay out of your way while driving. Voice and collision alerts keep you informed without distraction, making it the perfect co-pilot for nighttime or low-visibility conditions.Real-Life ScenariosSpotting wildlife: Avoid deer, elk, or other animals that tend to dart onto roads at night.Navigating bad weather: Snow, rain, or fog—this camera’s built-in heater and thermal vision cut through it all.Long-haul safety: If you’re a trucker or road-tripper, the NV001 is your best defense against fatigue-related accidents in the dark.Unbeatable ValueCompared to similar high-end devices, the NV001 offers premium features at a fraction of the cost. It’s a safety upgrade that doesn’t break the bank.Final VerdictThis little device is already a solid 6 out of 10 on my scale—and that’s only because I haven’t yet confirmed if it integrates with in-dash multimedia systems. If it does, it’ll easily score a solid 8. Either way, the Topdon NV001 is an impressive and affordable investment in your safety.If you’re ready to take your nighttime driving experience to the next level, this camera is a no-brainer. Don’t wait until it’s too late—get the Topdon NV001 and drive with confidence, no matter the conditions!

I'll be returning this as soon as I find time to pull it from my car. What a POS. The main reason, IMHO, that anyone would want to buy a system like this would be to have ample warning of hazards ahead. I live in rural Ohio and have totaled 3 cars to deer. This system doses absolutely nothing to identify deer either on the side of the road or even directly in front of the car. I know this because a deer jumped in front of me, not even 30 feet away, and this didn't give me a warning. I looked at the display and it did highlight the deer, but WTF? No warning? And why didn't I get a warning BEFORE it jumped out, I was going slow, under 30 mph, and was far enough away that the deer was within the field of view.Additionally, it shouts "Warning, too close!" nearly every time a car approaches from the oncoming lane. This is frigging ridiculous. And, and, and, it doesn't give that warning until the oncoming car is only 30 feet away! Yep, it's useless. I'm on the phone with my wife and she thinks I'm driving drunk, and she knows I don't drink!!Also, all cars appear much further away in the display than they really are. I think this can, in the wrong circumstance, cause a driver to misinterpret something significant and possibly cause a very bad decision.The manufacturer advertises "Dynamic AI Collision Alerts". Again, IMHO, the AI has a mental impairment.

The media could not be loaded. Thought this would be a somewhat of fast install. The metal camera mount was too thick to install on the Miata hood. It was hitting the outside vent area and I couldn’t close the hood. Moved to the License plate holder and found the manufacturer didn’t bother to measure American license plates mounting holes. See pic. The 2nd hole is off by 1/8” to a 1/4”. No way to make this work.The user manual is a useless. Just tells you how to power on/Off and some warnings. You’re left trying to figure out everything else.Updated: 12/28/24Now installed and working. Camera was tie-wrapped to the front grill and run up via the engine compartment. Image on the screen is very tiny and the lens appears to be a Fisheye lens, so everything is pushed back far from your car making the image even smaller. I’ve notice a tunnel effect as well. A blooming white tunnel with the image clearer in the middle of the tunnel.Good News: It does as advertised showing object close or approaching in red. Cars moving with you are in yellow. People are flagged in a bright red or orange color. Just wished the screen was bigger or I could zoom in on the image.There is an occasional pinging noise like glasses tapping together. Some kind of a warning?, but have no idea what it means.Update 1/1/25Giving this 1 more star. It does do what’s advertised! I even have gotten several warnings of “To Close” as I pull into the merge lane and cars are going by.The seller has reached out to me for a full refund, so that shows they stand behind their product.The lic. plate camera mount not having the correct hole location is a big screwup. I recommended they drop the holes and use long rectangular slots. This way you can adjust the mount to fit many different plates. Their supplied two side tape and mine couldn’t stick to the rubber on the base of the device. I used a rubber band to hold it to a cellphone rubber holder. Now it won’t fall off the dash.My entry to the passenger compartment for my Miata, where the engine compartment is jammed tight with components, was: 1. Grill to the engine area, 2. A space under and next to the hood to the whippers. 3. The cable then went outside the car for 1/2” near the windshield to the door (in a metal groove between the chaise). 4. Then down between the door and car mounting hinge, between the soft foam rubber that separates the inside & outside of the car.I’d love to see this with a bigger screen! Or at least a way to plug in a bigger screen.Updated 1/30/25:I’m really enjoy using this everyday. It’s warned me several times that I’m getting too close to objects. Increased 1 more star. It does actually give sounds that I have no idea what they mean. High pitch clacking “Ting ting” like two glasses being tapped together. No chance yet to see it work in the rain or fog.Update 2/4/25:Got a chance to see it perform in the rain during the day. It does work, but not with the same details. The tunnel vision I see in the sunlight is more pronounced. You’re lookin down a white tunnel. Image has a more blurry look. But good news. You can still get cars and people to stand out with bright colors. If the rain is intense this identification drops off. I’m betting at night these objects will be better identified.Update: 2/8/25I got a confirmation from the seller, that the “Ting-Ting” noise is alerting you to pedestrians or animals. But I see neither when I hear this alert. There is no noise when people go in front or on the sides of this camera. I haven't had an animal to test. I’m betting the AI software has a problem.I’d recommend this for a first time low cost infrared car camera! This is the way to go even though it can be painful install. You do see the cars and people even in rain.

This actually works amazing. The camera is of nice quality and is fun to use.

Having trouble contacting customer service already having issues with it everything is nothing but a blur