Night vision vs thermal imaging - what's better for indoor investigations?

Bit of a newbie question here, but I'm trying to decide what to invest in for investigating Borley Rectory (or rather, the grounds where it stood - obvious reasons we can't get in the actual building). I've got a decent budget saved up and I want to get it right first time rather than buying two different systems.

Night vision gives you a visual image of what's actually there, which feels more 'real' when you're reviewing footage. But thermal imaging shows heat signatures, which technically is more objective and less likely to be affected by pareidolia or shadows.

Anyone with hands-on experience? What's worked better for you? And please tell me one of these is better than just going in there with a torch like some sort of amateur...

Honestly? You want both, but if you can only get one, go thermal. Here's why: night vision relies on ambient light, so you're still dependent on whatever available light source there is - windows, moonlight, etc. And you're right about pareidolia being a massive problem with NV footage. Thermal is more objective because it's measuring actual temperature differences, not light and shadow.

We used thermal at Pendle Hill last month and had a much better experience than with the NV equipment we hired before. Less 'ghost hunting in a found-footage horror film' and more 'actual data collection'. The downside is that thermal can be a bit abstract to look at - viewers sometimes struggle to make sense of the footage.

And please tell me one of these is better than just going in there with a torch like some sort of amateur...

Borley Rectory grounds are brilliant for practice because there's so much public record of historical activity there. Just be aware that most thermal anomalies you find will have mundane explanations - pipes, outside walls, concrete retaining heat. The location's reputation is partly because it was investigated so intensively that researchers found *something* to fit the narrative.

Get a FLIR One for your phone if you want to dip your toe in without spending major money. About £400, which is less than a dedicated thermal camera. Test it out for a few investigations, then you'll know if it's worth upgrading to better kit.