Quick Answer
The Caddx Eclipse 005SL is a dedicated 576×432 thermal camera for analog FPV — pure heat-vision, no daylight sensor. The Eclipse 005SL Dual adds a visible-light camera you can toggle mid-flight. For night flying and finding lost quads, the single is enough. For inspection work where you need to confirm what a heat blob actually is, the Dual earns its £30 premium.
The Difference That Actually Matters
Both cameras share the same thermal core: a 576×432 sensor running Caddx's third-generation Pixelpump-Gen3 processing at 50 Hz, with F1.0 / 5.1mm optics giving a 56° × 41° field of view. Both output PAL analog and UVC digital simultaneously. Both draw under 1.5W and accept 4.5–20V. The single weighs 50g; the Dual comes in at 100g because it carries a second sensor.
What the Dual adds is a standard visible-light camera beside the thermal module. You switch between them via a channel on your flight controller — thermal for spotting, daylight for confirming. The single 005SL is thermal-only. That's the entire decision.
When the 005SL Single Is the Right Call
If you're building a night-flyer or a long-range rig where thermal is the mission, the single makes sense. At 50g it's half the weight of the Dual, which matters on a 3-inch or sub-250g build. The 576×432 Pixelpump image is sharp enough to pick out a person at 30 metres or track a warm battery pack in tall grass.
Our workshop has fitted these to inspection quads and the PAL output drops straight into any standard analog VTX with no configuration drama. The OSD menu (UVC or ADKEY) handles colour palettes, contrast, and the 1.0–4.0× stepless zoom. You won't be adjusting it in-flight, but the setup takes minutes on the bench.
When the 005SL Dual Justifies Itself
The Dual earns its keep when thermal alone isn't enough. A thermal sensor tells you something is hot. A visible camera tells you why. If you're doing roof inspections, solar panel surveys, or building diagnostics, switching to daylight view confirms whether a heat anomaly is a real fault or just sun-warmed brickwork.
It's also the better search-and-rescue tool. Thermal finds the person in the dark; daylight view confirms identity and condition. The 100g weight penalty is real but not brutal — it fits comfortably on a 5-inch or 7-inch frame. The Dual strips out internal OSD to keep the feed clean, which means your flight controller handles any on-screen display work.
| Spec | 005SL Single | 005SL Dual |
|---|---|---|
| Thermal sensor | 576×432 Pixelpump-Gen3 | 576×432 Pixelpump-Gen3 |
| Visible camera | — | Yes, switchable mid-flight |
| Weight | 50g | 100g |
| Output | PAL + UVC | PAL + UVC (dual) |
| Frame rate | 50 Hz | 50 Hz |
| Power | <1.5W, 4.5–20V | <1.5W, 4.5–20V |
| Field of view | 56° × 41° | 56° × 41° (thermal) |
| OSD | UVC / ADKEY menu | None (via FC) |
| Best for | Night flying, lost-quad recovery | Inspection, SAR, dual-purpose |
Our Honest Take
For most pilots asking "which thermal camera should I buy?" — the single 005SL is the answer. It's lighter, cheaper, and the image quality is identical. You only need the Dual if your flying has a professional angle: inspection, survey work, or search and rescue where daylight confirmation matters.
For thermal on a digital HD system, look at the broader FPV camera range. If you want to understand the full Caddx thermal lineup — from 256×192 up to 960×768 — our complete Caddx thermal camera guide covers every model. And if you want night vision rather than thermal, the Caddx Infra amplifies available light instead of detecting heat — a different tool entirely.
FAQ
Q: Can I use the 005SL Dual's thermal and visible cameras at the same time?
No. It's switchable, not picture-in-picture. You toggle between thermal and visible via a flight controller channel. One feed at a time on your goggles.
Q: Is 576×432 enough resolution for serious inspection work?
It's the sweet spot for general thermal FPV. The Pixelpump-Gen3 processing sharpens edges meaningfully compared to raw sensor output. For professional surveying where you need to read fine detail at distance, step up to the 960×768 models in the full Caddx range — but expect to pay notably more.
Q: Will the 005SL work on my 4S build?
Yes. It accepts 4.5–20V, covering 2S through 5S. On 6S you'd need a regulated tap — most flight controller BECs handle this fine. Power draw is under 1.5W, so it won't noticeably affect your flight time.
Q: Do I need special goggles to see the thermal image?
No. The PAL analog output feeds any standard FPV goggles through your VTX, exactly like a regular camera. The thermal image appears in false colour on your display. No special hardware required.