If you want a recommendation and want to overpay for plug and play out of the box then the ones from FLIR.
They do work as advertised
About $300-$350 (just checked-now down to $199 on their GEN 3
CLICK LINK!) for the IOS/ANDROID attachment with software, and it comes with support and huge user-base with forum and knowledge base ..... and you know it will work as advertised and will have service through warranty period! FLIR was suing every importer/seller of he camera attachment but its like an invasion of ants-you just can't win- Plus I am not certain that their patents are within enforcement term. I occasionally use the GEN 2 at work so I can state these things.
This device has an extremely narrow temperature/IR sensor (~250F max) with extremely poor scan resolution but for electrical applications where you are looking for resistive/dirty connections, failing components, anomalies within ambient/near ambient conditions it is perfect. It lets you down at a distance (hundreds of feet) if you are trying to find a small dirty connection due to low resolution-the real dedicated IR cameras with high resolutions and quality lenses and zoom features are the ones to get. The cheap devices may advertise high resolution of the captured image but the detectors resolution is probably much less. This device is extremely useful for home applications (finding wet areas, poor insulated areas, etc) but not much use for automotive applications due to the narrow temperature range.
They also sell the $50K+ specialty cameras for industrial use designed for specific use (gas leak detection, Furnace tube temperature monitoring, electrical contact resistance finding). These have a refrigeration circuit (tiny compressor and evaporator) to cool the IR sensors to increase sensitivity over background noise-temperature.
They also sell mid-range cameras for $500-$5000 without coolers for general commercial popular with electricians and HVAC community.
The company was the original US owned/operated one that developed this technology for the USA DOD use on aircraft and nightsights/thermal sights that came of age and recognition during the first gulf war.
Now since copied really cheaply from many chinese manufactures who do not pay any royalty or manufacture licensing fees after the technology was stolen when FLIR moved most of their manufacture overseas. Since then Chinese engineers have surpassed the US FLIR engineers -at first just for engineering cheaper manufacturer solutions, and now designing far superior units from scratch as well. I pray we in USA will never be in their sights!
The company that graciously employs me .... and continue to do so through this period of government mandated unemployment (I am thankful for sure!).....-is a major integrated oil company ... -and only buys the US FLIR cameras (we have the Android GEN 2, gas detector, furnace tube temperature scanner, electrical camera) even though FLIR's are now designed and manufactured overseas (exception is the DOD stuff). Due to PSM requirements (da government regulations for training, certification, maintenance, safe operation of the oil industry) my company is terrified of buying cheaper chinese branded products because of the Legions of US lawyers (and now foreign law firms as well) and additional liabilities they would assume buying and using such in their maintenance programs. This is probably the reason that ghostwriter's managers responded as they did.....to not question their purchase wisdom. If you have the money and can afford it .....I recommend the FLIR product for true plug and play ability with its huge support base.
For at home occasional use/hobbyist though the Chinese knockoffs are very appealing since I have seen for as little as $75 (then add the other stuff)...... ANYONE? ........out there that actually has a knockoff that they can recommend for allot less than the FLIR model and that has good software that easily works? From reviews I read several years ago looking for my personal one (instead of unauthorized borrowing of a work camera which I officially would never do!)... it was the mastering of the included app and bugginess of the app that was leaving buyers disappointed. I have not done any checking of these in the last few years.
Another option is the hunting IR cameras-a fully integrated solution-no PHONE required. These have the same small temp range but for electrical stuff can be used-again looking for changes from ambient/near ambient temperatures.... and the chinese knockoffs can now be had for less than $100, respected brand names more like $300.
