Thermal imagery of crop canopy has shown to be an accurate indicator of crop water status and successfully deployed as an irrigation scheduling tool for cotton. The objective of the current study was to validate a novel camera approach to other systems known for accurately represent crop water status, as IRTs and soil moisture sensors. To this end, a study was conducted consisting of a split plot randomized complete block design with three cultivars and 3 different irrigation treatments: Dryland, 100% of crop evapotranspiration (ETC) supplied (well-watered), and 125% of ETC (overirrigated). Crop water status (predawn water potential, midday water potential, and midday stomatal conductance) and crop response measurements (growth and physiology) were collected for each plot every week (when possible), beginning at cotton squaring. Several CWSIs were derived from thermal images and IRTs and relationships defined with the aforementioned plant parameters.Physiological (predawn and midday leaf water potential, stomatal conductance) and growth parameters showed no cultivar, irrigation or irrigation x cultivar treatment effect due to the enormous amount of rainfall observed during the growing season. The novel imaging system showed to agree with SmartCrop IRT (r2 = 0.842) and soil moisture-based (r2 = 0.585) methods indicating the system could be used to accurately estimate crop water status and as an irrigation scheduling tool.