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A Thermal Imaging device creates images by translating infrared radiation into visible light. Unlike a traditional photograph, a thermal image reveals different temperature ranges. By highlighting contrasting heat levels, you can see during day and night hours as well as during difficult conditions like bad weather, fire, or thick vegetation. Thermal technology often comes in the form of an infrared camera, monocular, or scope.
Thermal Imaging devices are expensive because they use complex image sensors for infrared imaging but are designed for intuitive use. You can expect to pay a few hundred bucks on the low end and on the high end, tens of thousands of dollars. However, inexpensive alternatives like a FLIR attachment for iOS or Android smartphones can be found.
The difference between an inexpensive and expensive IR camera is its features and image quality. The price usually increases when the infrared camera has high-resolution imagery, a high refresh rate, a high pixel count, an LCD monitor, WiFi connectivity, ergonomic design, and a rechargeable and extended battery.
Looking through a Thermal Imaging device, you'll see contrasting heat levels of the objects in the camera's field of view. The temperature differences are identified by colors and shades. A standard thermal image, or thermograph, uses shades of yellow, red, green, and blue, but many prefer grayscale.
In the image, you'll see the heat signatures of whatever is in view. High temperatures will appear as hotspots, and cooler temperatures will appear dark. You'll use the hotspots and other reference points, like the object's shape and other objects in view, to determine what you're looking at. However, the level of detail will vary depending on the quality of the camera. Infrared cameras with higher resolution or megapixels will show greater detail.
Unlike night vision, a Thermal Imaging device needs no light to operate. That's because a thermal image sensor picks up on infrared wavelengths, or heat, which is naked to the human eye.
Also, what you see depends on what you're looking for. Thermal Imaging cameras help various professionals conduct temperature screenings in real-time. This might mean conducting an energy audit of a building, finding a faulty HVAC system, automotive repair, firefighting, or law enforcement looking for a missing hiker during a search and rescue mission.
Yes, but maybe not in the way you'd think. A visible light camera will show you objects as they appear in visible light, while a thermal camera shows you their heat signatures. In other words, if an object doesn't emit much heat, it might not appear in the image. So in this sense, the thermal camera will detect the heat of your chest but not the thin cotton shirt covering it.
On OpticsPlanet, we carry a range of high-performance Thermal Imaging cameras, scopes, and monoculars by top brands like AGM Global Vision Thermal Imaging, ATN Thermal Vision, Pard Thermal Imaging, and more. Plus, learn more about thermography, thermal sensors, and camera systems by reading through our library of How-To Guides. Gear up with OpticsPlanet!
Other categories you might be interested in are 9mm Luger Ammunition, Thermal Imaging Accessories, Thermal Imaging Cameras, Thermal Imaging Monoculars, and Thermal Imaging Scopes.
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