10 Best thermal cameras on the market in 2022: Comparison Table

Thermal cameras aren’t something new, having been used by the military for decades at this point, and in more recent years for security, surveillance, and nature documentation as well. They’re also known as infrared cameras, although infrared is actually a bit of a misnomer, given that they actually image based on a wide range of thermal differentials in the air.

Best Thermal Cameras Compared

Let’s take a look at the three most popular thermal cameras on the market — the FLIR One Android, FLIR ONE PRO LT, and the Bosch Professional Gtc 400C. All three products are manufactured by reliable brands with a long experience in the industry.

• Teledyne FLIR LLC, headquartered in the American states of Oregon and Virginia, is a subsidiary of Teledyne Technologies. Founded in 1978, the company focuses on the production of imaging thermal cameras, with the U.S. federal government being its major customer. FLIR products are used in surveillance, border patrol, critical infrastructure protection, rescue missions, and other applications.

• Bosch, a German brand with a 135-year history, needs no introduction. The conglomerate manufactures a great variety of consumer goods and industrial technologies, including professional thermal cameras for construction measurements as well as for security and surveillance applications.

How Thermal Cameras Differ: sensor’s resolution & temperature range

One of the most important features of a thermal image camera is the sensor’s resolution that determines the quality of the image. The higher the resolution, the more accurate and sharp the image will be. More importantly, high-resolution thermal cameras allow the user to measure small objects at a bigger distance.

FLIR One and FLIR ONE PRO LT models have a resolution of 80×60 pixels, while the Bosch Professional has a thermal camera with a resolution of 160x120 pixels.

Another essential factor is the range of temperatures that the camera is capable of measuring. The choice depends on what you are going to measure with the device. The two products from the FLIR brand have a temperature range of -20°C to 120°C, whereas the Bosch model can measure temperatures between -10°C and +400°C with an accuracy of ±3°C.

More to the point, the two FLIR models come without a display and are intended to be used with a smartphone, whereas the Bosch Professional thermal camera is equipped with a large, easy-to-read screen.

• The FLIR One works with an app that needs to be downloaded from the Google Play store and allows you to receive real-time tips or share thermal images on social media. 
• The FLIR ONE PRO LT gives you access to features associated with professional work, such as multiple spot meters, reporting, level controls, through the FLIR Tools Mobile App. 
• The Bosch Professional Gtc 400C also pairs with a smartphone and works with the app where you can download images to adjust opacity, edit, and save them as a PDF report.

The FLIR One is a more basic model and is not designed for professional use. At the same time, it is a powerful device able to see in complete darkness. With the FLIR One, you can solve problems around the house, such as why your room is cold, or find where your pet is hiding. Like the FLIR One Pro LT, this model uses MSX technology that blends thermal and visible spectrum for a better, crisper image.

The FLIR ONE PRO LT is a professional-grade thermal camera that helps to solve hidden HVAC, electrical, moisture, energy efficiency, or automotive issues. Note that the product can be used for commercial purposes only and is export controlled. The device features a VividIR image enhancement technology, a rugged drop-resistant design, and a spot meter function.

With the Bosch Professional Gtc 400C, you can quickly check cable connections and electrical components, inspect radiators and locate leaks, reveal faulty insulation, scan a vehicle’s heating and cooling systems, engine temperatures, or pipes. The include consists of a handle with the attached battery, a camera with a fold-up protector over the lens, and a 3.5-inch screen. The device is packed with useful features and settings, including automatic thermal range monitoring, scaling, audio signals, among other things.

Fans of junk food television will have seen these thermal cameras heavily used by people pretending to hunt ghosts in abandoned buildings, or their uses for military thrillers, or as said before, for capturing nightlife in nature documentaries. Thermal imaging usually displays the image in a range of blues, greens, oranges, yellows, and reds, though some cameras simply do a grayscale correction, or something similar.

The advantage to thermal cameras is that they don’t actually require any light, simply imaging-based on the differences in thermal radiation produced by the environment and anything that might move around in it. This allows for stealthy recording, as well as avoiding startling animals, or in seeing details which light can’t actually capture, which is at least the theory behind why alleged ghost hunters use the devices. 

10 Best-Selling Thermal Cameras in the UK Comparative Table