There are different types of thermal imaging cameras you can choose for different purposes. This means that not all thermal imager can be used for all purposes. When looking for an ideal camera to buy, you need to consider your unique needs and intended uses for the camera.
Continue reading this guide to learn a few important things about thermal imagers to help you get the most out of your device.
Resolution
The resolution of the detector indicates the number of pixels on the camera. This means that when the pixels are more, the resolution is higher. The resolution of a camera is based on the detector pixels and the FOV or the field of view specification, putting them together to define the total area seen by the imager at a given time. You can use spatial resolution to define the smallest object that your camera can detect. When buying a thermal imager, keep in mind that a lower spatial resolution value of the camera means that you will achieve better image quality and detail from your camera.
Focus
You have a wide range of focus mechanisms to choose from when choosing the right thermal imager. It is, therefore, important to consider your skills and the application when choosing a focus type. Some of the most common focus mechanisms you can consider include manual, fixed, autofocus, laser-assisted autofocus, and multifocal.
Temperature range
This is another important feature to look for in night vision equipment. The lowest and highest temperature you will encounter in your inspection will determine the range of temperature you need from your camera. You can choose a camera with a wide range that selects the range automatically based on your scene or lets you select the temperature range manually. All this depends on your preferences.
Lens options
The market is full of lenses – both fake and original. Be very careful not to be conned when buying lenses for your camera. A thermal camera lets you change the lenses to increase your versatility and allow you to inspect more types of situations and equipment. There are a lot of choices for a lot of applications – wide-angle, standard, macro and telephoto.
Image saving
Save digital and infrared images and in some cases, you can save voice notes to the camera’s internal memory, a USB flash disk or a removable SD card. It is crucial to have the necessary flexibility to save images and more data to different media for sharing or backup.
Colour palettes
It is very easy to see small differences with a monochromatic colour palette such as amber or grayscale. High-contrast colour palettes can make it very easy to find obvious abnormalities. It is therefore important to choose a camera that allows you to change the colour palette.
Battery life
Different thermal imaging cameras use different batteries and different batteries have different levels of battery life. No one wants a battery that runs out quickly before completing their work. It is therefore important to choose a camera with a long battery life.