FLIR thermal vision cameras offer a new way to see the world, providing clear views even in reduced visibility. These cameras are compact, lightweight, and easy to use, making them ideal for hunting, outdoor activities, and other tasks. The FLIR E6 Pro is a rugged point-and-shoot thermal camera that can efficiently inspect and diagnose problems with 240 × 180 resolution. For T-class surveys, explosive environments, or hot work permits, the Cx5 is the perfect choice.
FLIR stands for Forward Looking Infrared, an infrared imaging system that uses thermal imaging to detect heat emitted by objects. They are mounted on drones to provide real-time images. The FLIR A50 and A70 Thermal Image Streaming Cameras are suitable for users seeking camera control capabilities and image streaming over Ethernet. All Ex-Series thermal cameras feature FLIR’s unique Multi Spectral Dynamic Imaging (MSX), adding key details from the onboard visible light camera to the entire infrared image in real time.
The Ariel 4K UHD Dome is designed to handle diverse motion and lighting conditions found in critical infrastructure and commercial locations. The next generation FLIR ONE thermal cameras offer wireless connectivity to smartphones, providing unprecedented flexibility. The Flir Digimerge C233BD Outdoor Weatherproof 4-in-1 Security Bullet Camera offers 2.1 MP HD MPX WDR camera, 70ft night vision, and compatibility with various video analytics devices.
Teledyne FLIR drone payloads for unmanned aerial systems help save lives, dollars, and time, catering to every mission profile and budget. The Elara FC-Series O integrates with external video analytics devices to classify human or vehicular intrusions. Reolink offers a 12MP security camera system with 8CH 2TB NVR and 4 PoE wired cameras.
📹 The FLIR M300 Series Family Explained | Maritime Thermal Night Vision Cameras
The FLIR M300 Series, marine camera family, is comprised of 5 different models. FLIR’s Andrew Cox talks about each model’s …
Is it worth buying a thermal imaging camera?
Infrared cameras are a valuable tool for detecting and measuring differences in heat, making the resolution of the image quality crucial. Higher resolution infrared cameras can measure smaller targets from farther away and create sharper thermal images, leading to more precise and reliable measurements. It is important to distinguish between detector and display resolution, as higher resolution thermal imaging provides more accurate quantitative results and can be effective in showing findings in finer detail to customers, supervisors, repair crews, and insurance companies.
To present findings, consider a system with a built-in visible-light camera equipped with an illuminated lamp and laser pointer. This feature allows you to document a problem and communicate its precise location to decision-makers. An onboard lamp that doubles as a flashlight can illuminate darker areas, while built-in laser pointers are invaluable for isolating the location of a target surrounded by similar-looking components or pinpointing problematic energized electrical equipment. Laser markers are clearly visible on visible light pictures and are also indicated on IR images and the thermal camera’s display, ensuring that all necessary information is captured.
Choosing a thermal imager with accurate and repeatable results is essential for the best results. For best results, look for a thermal imager that meets or exceeds ± 2 (or 3. 6°F) accuracy. Infrared cameras should include in-camera tools for entering both “emissivity” and “reflected temperature” values, as well as multiple moveable spots and area boxes for isolating and annotating temperature measurements.
As you become more experienced with your infrared camera, these features will become more meaningful. However, before making your purchasing decision, ensure that the thermal imager you choose offers these capabilities.
What is the difference between FLIR and thermal camera?
FLIRs are used to create pictures from heat, not visible light. Heat and light are both part of the electromagnetic spectrum, but a camera that can detect visible light cannot see thermal energy. Thermal cameras can detect small differences in heat, as small as 0. 01°C, and display them as shades of grey or different colors. Every object in our daily lives emits thermal energy, and the hotter something is, the more thermal energy it emits. When two objects have subtly different heat signatures, they show up clearly to a FLIR regardless of lighting conditions.
How do I add a camera to my FLIR?
To connect your FLIR Ethernet camera to FLIR Tools, open Programs and Features in the Windows Control Panel, select FLIR Tools from the list, click the Change button, and click the Options button. For Gigabit Ethernet cameras, install the “Network Camera Support” for FLIR Tools and check the box for “Network Camera Support” during installation. If FLIR Tools is already installed, open Programs and Features in the Windows Control Panel, select FLIR Tools, click the Change button, and click the Options button to install “Network Camera Support”.
Does Lorex work with FLIR?
The Lorex Secure / FLIR Secure app is a tool for connecting to a DVR/NVR system on a smartphone or tablet. To use it, ensure your device has an internet connection, install the Lorex Secure app for Android or iOS (App Store), and connect your LHB Series DVR to a router using an Ethernet cable. Ensure the latest firmware is running on your DVR. The user interface may differ on iOS devices. To set up remote access, follow the instructions provided for Android smartphones, but note that there may be differences in the interface on iOS devices.
How do I transfer photos from my FLIR camera to my computer?
In the event that a user employs a camera with a legacy system, the IR and matching JPEG images will be automatically grouped.
How do I unlock my FLIR camera?
The unlock code, or verification code, is generated during camera registration and subsequently transmitted via email. The aforementioned information can be located within the account information section of the Support Center by first logging in to the FLIR website.
How do I know if my camera supports ONVIF?
To check if a camera supports ONVIF, contact the manufacturer or seller, provide the camera’s model and firmware version, and check if the ONVIF is supported in the camera’s specifications or documentation. Other less reliable methods include checking if the camera’s admin page has ONVIF options, if the ONVIF Device Manager program can find the camera, Xeoma detects the camera with URLs containing ‘onvif’, and for PTZ cameras, Xeoma finds the camera’s PTZ control set as ‘ONVIFPTZ’ in the Universal Camera settings. For assistance with Xeoma, feel free to contact them.
Who are the competitors of FLIR cameras?
FLIR, a thermal imaging technology, faces competition from companies like MultiSensor AI, InstaView, and TriEye. Workswell, a European manufacturer, specializes in thermal cameras and infrared imaging systems for various sectors, including fever detection, process control, UAV systems, early fire detection, agricultural solutions, and R&D software. Thermoteknix, a company based in Cambridge, England, focuses on thermal imaging systems and night vision technology, offering thermal imaging cameras for industrial monitoring, night vision devices for defense and security, and OEM camera integration solutions.
HIKMICRO, a company based in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, specializes in thermal product design, production, and testing, offering innovative IoT solutions incorporating advanced thermal sensors, modules, and cameras. They offer thermal imaging equipment for various sectors, including building diagnostics, electrical, industrial, mechanical/automotive, HVAC, and utility. HIKMICRO also offers professional acoustic imaging cameras for gas leak and partial discharge detection, as well as complementary software for image management and reporting on mobile and PC platforms.
What does ONVIF stand for?
ONVIF is a global industry forum established in 2008 by Axis Communications, Bosch Security Systems, and Sony to facilitate the development and use of a global open standard for the interface of physical IP-based security products. As a non-profit, 501(c)6 Delaware corporation, ONVIF membership is open to manufacturers, software developers, consultants, system integrators, end users, and other interest groups. The ONVIF specification aims to achieve interoperability between network video products regardless of manufacturer, ensuring open interoperability between equipment from different manufacturers.
Are FLIR cameras OnVif compatible?
The FLIR A310, A310f, and AX8 cameras are not OnVif compliant, limiting their direct support in security systems. To add these cameras, manual configuration is typically required. The FLIR A310pt camera is OnVif compliant, so instructions do not apply to this model. Typical settings include generic RTSP, URL, username, password, resolution, video format, compression, protocol, UDP, and frame rate.
Is Lorex still banned in the US?
The author of the post encourages readers to refrain from purchasing Lorex products.
📹 Infrared Thermal Camera Comparison- 6 IR Cameras Reviewed from $250 to $25K
Corbett breaks down the pros, cons, and best uses for six infrared thermal cameras: Flir ONE, C2, and MR160, ThermApp, Fluke …
Thank you for your comparison article! We are moving into a 20 year old home next month and I plan to make several changes to upgrade the efficiency. I’m looking at going with a new roof, removing the existing fiberglass insulation in order to apply foam around the drywall seems, use a mixture of cellulose insulation and rockwall insulation, new windows, and finally replace the original HVAC equipment and ducts. Being in Houston, I want the lowest electricity bills possible since its hot 8 months out of the year. I’ve read a lot of negative reviews about the FLIR iOS attachment having the battery go bad after a few months. I think for my situation, I’ll probably buy the FLIR iOS Pro attachment with slightly higher specs to do some before/after comparisons, and then list it for sale. I think with equipment like this, trying to rent it several times wouldn’t be worth it since I’m sure there is a bit of a learning curve when first trying it out. Thank you for taking the time to do this demonstration/comparison! I appreciate you.
Thank you for the great article but there is a correction that has to be made: the Israeli-made Thermapp has always had a manual focus feature (I’ve purchased mine 8 years ago) and it was worth a little over a half of the price you mentioned in your review (last time I checked a year ago, you could buy the pro version for under $1200). And they give options to customize it. Thank you!
Something you can add to the arsenal… A Flir E4 (easily purchased for $850) can be “updated” to the exact specs of the E8 ($2700)… 80×60 –> 320×240. The modification has been around for 5 years and still works on new units. Not recommended for a pro, but if you’re a home user and want a very powerful camera, you can’t beat the price/pixel.
Thanks so much for taking the time to review these thermal imagine devices. This is absolutely fascinating to me for a number of reasons. 1: (and the most important)…I have a leak in my “low-slope” roof in Sarasota Florida. I’m definitely in need of a complete new roof. Unfortunately, I’ll never be able to afford one unless I win the lottery – or sell the home “as-is” and take a beating on my asking price. I would really, REALLY like to find the source of the leak/leaks and patch them (until I win the lottery) LOL. To date, I’ve used 3 gallons of Henry’s wet-patch and the roof is STILL leaking. It’s driving me insane as I’ve patched every area with cracks and even some areas that are not cracked, just suspect areas that seemed logical based on the slight pitch of my roof. I won’t presume to pester you with the hundreds of questions I have – just one. Which of these models would be the most likely to detect the source of my leak, or leaks? Any insight you could lend would be GREATLY appreciated. Danny.
Great article. Thumbs up. I have a few questions that maybe you can answer. Which cameras are recommended for the following scenarios? I’m looking to purchase just one camera that hopefully does all these scenarios: 1. energy audit – finding doors, windows, and ceiling areas that are leaking energy and need more insulation. 2. moisture and mildew damage in walls – had water flooding in the basement. Despite most of the drywall being removed, not all was. I noticed mildew/mold in some areas. Can a camera show me how high, on the wall, mildew actually might still exist? (and If more drywall needs removing). 3. locating unwanted attic/crawlspaces wildlife (squirrels, raccoons, opossums) . I watched a few youtube articles about pest removal. Getting the WHOLE LITTER is important. The last thing you want is to remove a mother and not find/remove ALL of her litter of offspring. IR cameras would be beneficial, I would think, in locating wildlife in one’s own attic/crawlspace. 3a. I assumed an extra telephoto lens might be needed if the attic is large. 4. Can you recommend any INEXPENSIVE self-study courses that have a valid INDUSTRY certification? All I have found were LIVE courses costing like $2K and up, with certification provided by the vendor themselves.
@Home Performance Thanks to your article, I made the decision to buy the flir one for my phone and the water moisture detector and I found my copper pipe leak in my home that was wasting 0.2gpm every hour and inside my wall. I cut it open, fixed the leak properly, closed the wall, refinished the wall. NO MORE LEAK!!! Saved TONS of money doing this instead of calling a plumber that was going to charge me $3000 dollars to get the job done.
Definitely an educational article. Thank you! I used Flir One Pro today for a whole house insulation inspection (inside and outside). First time, still need to learn the equipment. It is probably not the best one for this purpose. Is C2 a better choice for these kind of inspections? Or you would recommend something else?
Great instructional article…thanks for making it. Question…I want to assemble an array of bright ir emitting LEDs and visualize them in the most cost effective manner. The LEDs will be mounted on a board and they’ll be placed 1″ apart and they array will be 12″ x 12″ for a total of 144 LEDs. Will the $250 device that attaches to the cell phone be sufficient for my application, I.e., resolving all 144 LEDs. Thanks.
Very helpful, Corbett! Seeing images back to back is really useful. On a production note, I love your background, it looks like the tool shed is coming along well, and the translucent roofing gives nice light. Not unlike you, I bought an iPhone SE so I could keep using my Flir One. I LOVE that thing! So nice that you can jam it in your pocket and head off into an attic or crawlspace without hurting it. Too bad the new models don’t do that. If you don’t have an IR camera and have ANY use at all for one, pop for a Flir One.
I’m buying a “cheap” $400 Chinese thermal imager. It’s my first thermal camera. I totally plan to outgrow it and buy an entry level pro-level tool in the $1000 to $2000 range (probably a Flir) once I’ve learned everything the $400 camera has to offer so I can know what I want and what to look for in the next camera.
Great review! I am a research conducting wildlife surveys in canopy of the Amazon, and am hoping to use something like the FLIR one to spot sloths and other arboreal species at night (would love thermapp but don’t have that budget). Would this work for this purpose? I am wondering at what distance the flir one would be able to detect thermal radiation, as some of those amazonian trees are pretty tall. I would only need to spot animals in the darkness, which could then be identified with a good flashlight – I would only need the thermal camera to notice the animals under the cover of darkness. Thanks!
I would greatly appreciate you helping out you showed a flare one that fits into a case like Mobic case u stated it’s not a camera Hooks in to the bottom of the phone but a case I can find nothing on the website for this also spoke with them and I thought I was from Mars Did not know when I was talking about please advise
Hello, I’m looking for a camera that has a long shutter speed to look at mountainsides for temperature differences. Do you know which one would be best? I suppose it does not need to be a really good one, because it does not have a short shutter speed like the pros use. But likely it needs an adjustable shutter speed and every pixel needs uniform sensitivity. It also probably needs a long focal length or range. Would you be able to point me in the right direction, I’m looking for something less than $300?
.. just a note, for people in 2020 about flair1 addon .. get rid of the I-phone BS or BS attachments, get a Real job sight phone – that comes with a Flir cam built-in. I personally wanted a FAST well-built phone that can also play modern 3d / retro gaming, so I got a BlackView 9900-pro, but I also have a co-worker that tried to one UP me, he went out and got a (CAT-phone) Cartepillar CAT S6xx, while not as fast and supper, it was also a magical Swiss army knife, (laser measurer, flair, RF transmission, physical buttons, air toxins/cem/carbon dioxide detector?, +many others……. while my 9900 takes (4 main cams +1 selfy (48-MP main, 16-MP night, 5.5-MP microscope/Very small print reader, Flir cam (the model is the same FLIR used on flair one device at 2.2mp
All true. Mostly I have my $500 FLIR but the 30k one is nice at times. Plus the $500 one I don’t mind handing to homeowners and they can do their own “testing”, makes it pretty ez since the cam and the homeowner sells/sells themselves jobs and the homeowner does all the “testing” for me. Depending on the season I hear a lot of ” oh man, look at that waste of energy” staring at the exterior or interior walls/windows and then I lead them or they lead themselves to the ductwork which I usually hear “oh shit, I’m cooing/heating the attic more than my house!” .
Have you tried the FLIR camera that is in the CAT phone s62? I have been looking into building my own house, and with an engineering background all of this building science that is starting to become more popular is very interesting to me, so I thought having an IR camera might be useful while under construction. Since I need a new phone anyway this phone piqued my interest, but I’m not sure how good the FLIR Lepton sensor in it really is, and since the rest of the phone is kind of dated I don’t want to get it just for that camera only to find out it isn’t very good.
I use a Seek Sureshot Pro on my home inspections and energy assessments. I’ve gone through numerous from a phone attached to Testo. I’m very happy with the Seek Sureshot for its slim pocket size, resolution, and price. Not a fan of moisture meters. Moisture meters do not detect moisture! The inexperience will get false positives.
Hey, finally super explination and lot information. I’m looking for one Infrared camera for my work. Detecting broken tubes or simple infiltration, Or other kind of (Pluming/heating problem) do you think the MR160 or the MR176 are the right one for my work? Maybe a C2 as detector what is behind the wall? If you have time, i would apreciate some of your tips. Thank you
Great review. I’m looking to purchase one that I can use to make some art pieces by capturing (via the article feature) an ice climbing via one of these devices. Which do you think is best for these purposes? Also, I will not use it all beyond this purpose but since I will be showing these pieces, I would like a high resolution thermal image.
Nowadays these cameras are getting cheaper and cheaper. That $250 FLIR ONE and that $700 FLIR C2 both have a thermal resolution of only 80×60 pixels. Sure they enhance the image by overlaying the edges of the regular camera (which is useless in the dark), but the thermal image behind the edges is still blurry. There are interesting alternatives, like the $700 Seek Thermal Reveal Pro or the $500 Hti HT-19 both with a thermal resolution of 320×240 pixels. That’s even a lot sharper than that $5000 Fluke TiR110 (160×120!). Sure you won’t get the ruggedness of a real Fluke, but the difference in resolution and price is huge. If I had only $250 to spend, I would buy a Seek Thermal Compact and get 206×156 pixels. Here’s a guy comparing the older $400 Hti HT-18 (220×160) with a $2500 Fluke: youtube.com/watch?v=6Si1sXO1og0 Open your eyes, people. FLIR and Fluke are great brands, but they are not your only options. Use the google. Read and watch reviews.
I get the idea of keeping clients occupied with a toy, but why not buy a cheap disposable camera (with the right android version) for about $100 (ATT prepaid price at Walmart for a Motorola Play) and the cheaper FLIR attachment with bluetooth capability, and send them on their way to play for an hour taking pictures of their cat on the bed, their spouse, or checking out the cold spots in the house? That’s about $200-350 instead of $750, and if they drop it looking down the septic well, or happen to ‘pocket it’ and ‘can’t find it’ and ‘I don’t know what to tell you …”, you’re out only half the investment of the $750 version. Bill them later to replace the loss and buy another ensemble with it.
Hello there, excellent article! I bought my thermal cam in late 2011, before any of the smart phone thermal connectors existed, that are now all the rage. I love my Old School FLIR i3! On the temperature spectrum from lowest to highest, it has a feature where you can LOCK a certain range, and I often Lock it on a cold night at -40 F-100 F, and just like you said, it is like total night vision and the resolution becomes almost like visible eyes except you still see in the dark, and you see the heat! It also has a built in lens cap! You can change the emmissivity, and reflection temperature, etc. It is simple, has the removable SD card, rechargeable battery, button trigger to take a picture, the 3 original palette selections of Gray and White (Clearer Resolution), Iron-the orange and purple (Clear Resolution Balanced with More Sensitivity of Detail), and Rainbow (It may not look as CLEAR, but boy because of the color spectrum, anything sticks out like a sore thumb!) It does not have the digital camera overlap, so it is all IR in its sensors, however, because it has that lock mode on the range, if you take the average temperature of the surroundings as a sort of baseline, lets say for example 71 F, I could keep it unlocked and the ranges would change as I move the camera, but I could lock it lets say from 61-81 or 51-91 or even 65-75. The Larger the gap of the range that is locked, the larger the spectrum it detects and things are seen more clearer, to the point where the graininess or glossiness subsides to where it appears as if it was overlapped with a visible digital cam anyway.
So…I stopped perusal about nine minutes in. Not because I wasn’t curious about the rest of the equipment, but because of the guy. For those of you perusal who are guys in the home inspection business, listen up, and I will tell you why I’d never hire him. As soon as this guy started talking, he reminded me of a dozen guys who’ve shown up over the years coming to work on my house or my rental or some other project I’ve got going. A guy like this is accustomed to being much brighter than most of the people he works with, and he’s contemptuous of them. He’s contemptuous of most people. He’s often just tolerating being around you. So I wasn’t surprised to hear that he was using that second camera as a toddler toy to distract his clients with while he got work done. Now, when a guy like this comes to my house on a job, he’s probably not brighter than I am; he just knows more than I do about the thing I’ve hired him for. But he’s still going to talk to me like I’m an idiot who has no idea what I want and needs to be told. Eventually he’ll notice that I’m not an idiot and that I do actually know quite a bit about whatever I’ve called him there for, but it’ll take SO MUCH WORK to get that through his skull, partly because I’m a woman. Then the whole tenor of the conversation changes and we can work together. And I do not want to work that hard to make a partner out of someone I’m paying money to employ. I’m done doing that. I would much rather take the time to learn to fix whatever it is myself, or find a woman to hire, or basically do anything rather than invite another guy like this into my home and pay him money.
I love this guy.. I had to stop in the middle of perusal this, and express that I’ve been perusal his articles for a couple of years now, and wanted to say that he is by far the one of the best (Top Five) person that I’ve seen simplifying information, and explain it so simple that a dag could understand it… It’s a natural to him..all of his other articles are the same.
3:23 not quite, importen to point out that certainly not all Flir have MSX, the hole midrange section do not have it, like TG130 and TG165 and newest TG167 with wifi… if you want MSX outline tech, you need the small pocket ones, or jump to the E series and above.(at least my understanding) but on the other hand, Im only a rookie, have just purchased my first cam after checking the market and alternatives for weeks. Purchased an new 240×320 (76.800) sensor IR-cam for 250 euro incl. shipping to Scandinavia.(been playing with it these last days and also put up some articles of our cat and some article with distance think the result is deent for the price and the sensor. Its adjustable but will put a few more bucks out there and get me some IR lenses to make me an DIY makro feature.(but sofare im blown away with the possiblelities, very fascinating)
I don’t buy Fluke products anymore. Try to get something repaired or a replacement part from Fluke is very expensive. I purchased a $300.00 meter and when it was time to have it calibrated Fluke charged $200.00. When you send anything in for repair the base price is $200.00 no matter if the unit costs $150.00, 91 days after the purchase. You have to ship it to the company and it will take months before they send it back! I will never deal with Fluke again!
Autofocus. !!. I doubt that.. Its likely fixed focus. 11:43 hmm autofocus a microbolometer sensor.. meh is not something that are hanging on the threes…that cost an arm and a leg… you have likely misunderstood it.. cheers thx for the vid.. next time, state the res- that are the most vital and usually the spec your often paying for. when elevating alongside brand tax, quality etc.. but res is a mustinfo.. noob or not intended article.
I missread the title… I thought this article was mentioning the $25 “thermal cameras” out there. Based on the article I assume those are completely useless. I was looking for a cheap way to do some experiments where I’d like to know the temperatures… But it seems That won’t happen until I’m willing to spend at least $250
Random question alert: do you have any thoughts regarding using any of these devices in sea turtle conservation? I live in Costa Rica and we have a huge problem with humans poaching the nests so we patrol the beaches at night looking for turtles and their nests so we can relocate the eggs to a safe place. I’ve been thinking about getting a thermal imaging drone or a handheld camera to help us see turtles and poachers down the beach and maybe even find the nests in the sand. You are so knowledgeable about these cameras and their strengths, I’d be very appreciative of your advice. Thank you
Excellent article thanks . I’m retired and had done IR scans mainly electrical and mechanical systems going back 40+ years I’m looking for something to check out rentals mostly preventative maintenance. I’m not sure if you work much around electrical but it’s a fantastic tool to avoid potential fires. It’s actually required on commercial and industrial properties.
fantastic article thanks for posting! I’m looking into a flir one pro (android), but worried about battery life. The Flir C2 was my next choice, but it has a smaller sensor. My budget is sub $1000 for my first camera and really having a hard time deciding. (currently working in renovations and going to school for home inspection) I want something to learn with for the next year or two before shelling out the big bucks for a proper unit, and I am afraid of buying a toy. I’d appreciate any advise!
Ok so here’s my question . If I were hypothetically speaking, in Montana, in the winter time, on a mountain, in the daytime and I was staring across the valley at another Mountain say 500 yards away looking for elk or deer would I be able to spot them from that distance with any of those thermal cameras?