Buying a thermal camera is not the same as buying a digital camera or even an SLR camera. Different thermal imaging cameras are specifically designed for different jobs. It is essential that you have a model with the right features. So whether you are a plumber, building inspector, electrician, mechanic or just a DIY enthusiast, this buying guide will be very helpful in finding the thermal imaging camera that best suits your needs.
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Our selection
"The market for thermal imaging cameras is now large enough that Bosch has decided to create its own camera, the Bosch GTC400C. This model is…"
"The Flir One is one of the most popular thermal imaging cameras for Android and iOS. This Android version has its own dedicated app, offers…"
"The FLIR E5-XT is an industrial grade thermal imaging camera that can be used in a variety of thermal inspections. It is primarily suited for…"
"The HTi HT-19 is a successful portable thermal imaging camera that offers very high infrared resolution, high thermal sensitivity and wide viewing angle."
The market for thermal imaging cameras is now large enough that Bosch has decided to create its own camera, the Bosch GTC400C. This model is waterproof, has high thermal sensitivity and its flexible battery system is smart.
635 £ on AmazonThe Bosch GTC400C is the first professional thermal imaging camera from Bosch. It comes with micro USB and wireless connectivity in the form of Wi-fi. The Wi-fi allows you to wirelessly transfer images to your Android or iOS smartphone, while the micro USB is just there for data transfer via a USB cable (cannot be used for charging). This model has a 3.5" screen that displays two dynamic spots that indicate the coldest and the hottest point. Of course, this screen also displays the settings menu.
The Bosch GTC400C is equipped with an infrared camera with a resolution of 160 x 120 pixels, This puts it on a par with other infrared cameras in its price range, with a total of 19,200 measuring points.. Bosch did not specify a refresh rate for the camera, but it appears to display a frame rate of 8 to 9 Hz. It should be noted that the Bosch GTC400C does not have a manual focus mode.
The Flir One is one of the most popular thermal imaging cameras for Android and iOS. This Android version has its own dedicated app, offers a high-resolution image and an efficient video capture function. Unfortunately, its battery life leaves something to be desired.
180 £ on AmazonThe FLIR One is a thermal camera that you connect to your Android smartphone via the USB-C port. The device consists of a Lepton Imaging infrared camera with a resolution of 80 x 60 pixels and a 17 µm thermal sensor. The refresh rate is 8.7 Hz. This thermal camera has a manual focus mode. The digital files are recorded in JPEG format with all the thermographic data integrated in the files. The video is captured in MP4 format.
If the accuracy of the temperature measurement is decent, the range remains relatively low. But we should not really expect more, given that it is an entry-level model. The 350 mAh Li-ion battery life is also very limited. You'll only get 45 minutes of continuous thermal imaging capture.
The FLIR E5-XT is an industrial grade thermal imaging camera that can be used in a variety of thermal inspections. It is primarily suited for construction, mechanical and electrical professionals.
1 764 £ on AmazonThe FLIR E5-XT has features and specifications that more than justify its price and reinforce its place as the best professional thermal imaging camera. Compared to its predecessor, the FLIR E5, the FLIR E5-XT benefits from a better temperature range, better infrared resolution and Bluetooth connectivity. This thermal camera also allows you to define 4 different types of color palettes.
The infrared resolution is 160 x 120 pixels. This means that the captured image will have 19200 measurement points in total. But resolution is not everything. What sets the FLIR E5-XT apart is the combination of the visual image and FLIR's dynamic multi-spectral imaging (MSX) technology. The thermal images are recorded in JPEG format and are in radiometric form, which means that they contain all thermal data encoded in 14-bit format.
The HTi HT-19 is a successful portable thermal imaging camera that offers very high infrared resolution, high thermal sensitivity and wide viewing angle.
407 £ on AmazonThe HTi HT-19 is a portable thermal camera with an infrared sensor and a visible light camera. The device has a micro USB port that you can use to charge and transfer images via a USB cable. It is interesting to note the presence of a cap to cover the infrared sensor and the camera lens, so that you do not get dust, dirt or scratches on it. The front of the thermal camera shows an LCD screen and a set of no less than 8 buttons as well as the shutter release to capture images.
The HTi HT-19 has an infrared resolution of 320 x 240 pixels for a total of 76,800 measurement points. The camera has several image enhancement modes. You can simply view the visible light camera image or blend it to some extent with the infrared image at 25%, 50% and 75%. The temperature measurement accuracy is more than adequate and the field of view is sufficiently wide.
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The best thermal camera in 2021
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OUR SELECTION |
Bosch GTC 400C
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FLIR One for Android
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FLIR E5-XT
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HTi HT-19
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The market for thermal imaging cameras is now large enough that Bosch has decided to create its own camera, the Bosch GTC400C. This model is waterproof, has high thermal sensitivity and its flexible battery system is smart.
|
The Flir One is one of the most popular thermal imaging cameras for Android and iOS. This Android version has its own dedicated app, offers a high-resolution image and an efficient video capture function. Unfortunately, its battery life leaves something to be desired.
|
The FLIR E5-XT is an industrial grade thermal imaging camera that can be used in a variety of thermal inspections. It is primarily suited for construction, mechanical and electrical professionals.
|
The HTi HT-19 is a successful portable thermal imaging camera that offers very high infrared resolution, high thermal sensitivity and wide viewing angle.
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Camera resolution
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160 x 120 pixels
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80 x 60 pixels
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160 x 120 pixels
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320 x 240 pixels
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Temperature range
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-40 to +400 °C
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-20 to +120°C
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-20 to +400 °C
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-20 to +300 °C
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Field of view (horizontal / vertical)
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53° / 43°
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46° / 35°
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45° / 34°
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56° / 42°
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Precision
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+/- 3 °C
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+/- 3°C
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+/-2 °C
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+/-2 °C
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Connectivity
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Micro-USB, Wi-Fi
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Micro-USB
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Micro-USB, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
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Micro-USB 2.0
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