2026 Night Owl™ HD · 640×512 thermal driving camera
See deer, people and cars up to 3,000 ft past your headlights.
The Night Owl™ HD is a thermal night vision camera for cars, trucks and RVs. It reads heat, not light, so it shows animals, pedestrians and vehicles in total darkness, glare, fog, smoke and dust, long before they reach your headlight beam. The new 640×512 sensor gives you a sharper, wider picture in a housing about the size of your thumb.
- 3,000 ft+heat detection range
- 640×512VOx thermal sensor
- 48.3°wide field of view
- 65 g28 × 28 × 40 mm
Night driving without the guesswork
At night a deer can step out just beyond what your headlights reach. A thermal driving camera picks up the body heat of animals and people far down the road, so you see them on your screen while they are still out of your headlight beam.
- Sees heat signatures up to 3,000 ft and beyond the headlight beam
- Works in complete darkness. No visible light or IR illuminator needed
- Cuts through fog, smoke, dust and oncoming headlight glare
- 3D noise reduction and AI image enhancement for a clean, steady picture
What it picks up
Deer, elk, moose, dogs, pedestrians, cyclists and other vehicles all stand out as bright heat shapes against the cool road and roadside.
Plugs into the screen you already have
The Night Owl HD sends standard composite video over an RCA connector (720×480 NTSC or 720×576 PAL). Connect it to any head unit or monitor with an RCA video input, a heads-up display or an add-on dash screen.
- Runs on 12 V and 24 V systems (9–32 V DC)
- Draws just 2 W, 6 W with the lens heater on
- Heater turns on by itself below 35.5 °F (2 °C) to keep the lens clear
- IP68 sealed and rated from −40 °F to 185 °F
Built for any vehicle that drives at night
The same camera also works for drones, industrial inspection, security, and fire & rescue. Ask about fleet and dealer pricing →
See it on the road
New Night Owl™ HD vs. the original Night Owl™ Plus
| Night Owl™ HD (2026) | Night Owl™ Plus | |
|---|---|---|
| Thermal sensor | 640 × 512 | 384 × 288 |
| Pixels | 327,680 (about 3× more) | 110,592 |
| Field of view | 48.3° × 38.6° | 27° × 18° |
| Size | 1.6 × 1.1 × 1.1 in | 3.0 × 2.5 × 2.25 in |
| Power draw | 2 W (6 W heater on) | 9 W |
| Waterproof rating | IP68 | IP68 |
Full specifications
| Detector | Vanadium oxide (VOx) uncooled focal plane array |
|---|---|
| Sensor resolution | 640 × 512 |
| Response band | 8–14 μm (long-wave infrared) |
| Field of view | 48.3° × 38.6° |
| Spatial resolution | 1.86 mrad |
| Focal length | 9.1 mm @ f/1.0 |
| Frame rate | 50 Hz |
| Heat detection | 3,000 ft+ |
| Video output | CVBS composite, RCA connector, 720 × 480 NTSC / 720 × 576 PAL |
| Image processing | 3D noise reduction, AI image enhancement |
| Startup time | 3.5 s (heater off) |
| Rated voltage | DC 12 V / 24 V (9–32 V) |
| Power consumption | 2 W, 6 W with heater on |
| Lens heater | Automatic below 35.5 °F (2 °C) |
| Waterproof rating | IP68 |
| Operating temperature | −40 °F to 185 °F (−40 °C to 85 °C) |
| Dimensions | 28 × 28 × 40 mm (1.6 × 1.1 × 1.1 in) |
| Weight | 65 g (2.5 oz) |
| Warranty | 1-year limited |
What one wildlife collision costs
The FHWA estimates 1 to 2 million collisions between vehicles and large animals in the U.S. every year. Average total cost per collision, including repairs, injuries, towing and cleanup:
- Deer$8,388
- Elk$18,561
- Moose$30,773
Source: U.S. Federal Highway Administration (fhwa.dot.gov).
Night Owl™ HD questions
How far can the Night Owl HD see?
It picks up heat signatures up to 3,000 ft and beyond, well past the reach of standard headlights. The 640×512 sensor and 48.3° lens show both the road ahead and the shoulders where wildlife steps out.
Does a thermal driving camera work in fog, smoke or total darkness?
Yes. It senses long-wave infrared heat (8–14 μm) instead of visible light, so it needs no light at all and sees through fog, smoke, dust and headlight glare that blind your eyes and a regular dash cam.
What screen do I need?
Any screen with an RCA composite video input: most aftermarket head units, heads-up displays and add-on dash monitors. The camera outputs 720×480 NTSC or 720×576 PAL video. See our screens.
Will it work on my truck or RV?
Yes. It runs on 9–32 V DC, so it works on 12 V cars, trucks and RVs and on 24 V commercial and armored vehicles.
Does it work in snow and freezing weather?
Yes. A built-in heater turns on below 35.5 °F (2 °C) to keep the lens clear, and the IP68 housing is rated from −40 °F to 185 °F.
What warranty comes with it?
The Night Owl HD comes with a 1-year limited warranty, with support from our U.S. team.
Finish the install
Add a matching Night Vision switch
Laser-engraved rocker switches with your icon and your label, like the red Night Vision switch shown here. Wire one in to turn your Night Owl on and off.
