FLIR ONE Pro Thermal Camera Review
by Ganesh T S on June 6, 2017 8:45 AM EST- Posted in
- Gadgets
- Thermal Imaging
- FLIR
- USB-C
Sample Thermal Images
Some sample thermal images (with annotations added using FLIR Tools) are provided below in the form of screenshots from the generated PDF report. We can see that the FLIR ONE Pro is able to track temperatures ranging from -17C to 150C.
Freezer Compartment
Refrigerator Compartment
Ceiling from Staircase Base in a Dark Room
Child
Notebook under Use
Composite Deck in the Sun
Open Flame on a 16000 BTU Natural Gas Cooktop Burner
We can also see the versatility of the FLIR Tools app, which allows tracking of multiple regions in the deck sample above. The ceiling shot (in the dark) also shows the wooden rafters standing out in the thermal image. Temperatures are fairly accurate, with the human skin temperature correctly being identified.
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RandomUsername3245 - Tuesday, June 6, 2017 - link
I believe FLIR typically quotes +/-5ºC on their spec sheet. In my experience, it is better than this. Also, there is a cap on the maximum intensity read out on this camera which is apparently set to 150ºC. Similar FLIR microbolometers can go way higher than this without saturating, so this is just a software limitation.JanW1 - Wednesday, June 7, 2017 - link
Sorry, my June 7 comment was meant to go here, not above...JanW1 - Wednesday, June 7, 2017 - link
Oh, so now it went back below to where it was supposed to be - edit function, maybe?JanW1 - Wednesday, June 7, 2017 - link
Isn't the goal of reviews to independently test the manufacturers claims? Of course I can read spec sheets, but then why review it? There are plenty of example pictures available from FLIR's website already.The review states that there is a cap of 400°C - that's way beyond the 150.3°C shown in this sample picture. Did Ganesh set the range to top out at 150.3°C (302.5°F) before taking that picture? That seems somehow unlikely. Or was the picture taken immediately after turning the burner on? But then, isn't the minimum temperature of 31°C reported for that entire frame kind of high? A serious review should include at least a few words about whether the results seem reasonable given the circumstances - otherwise, what's the point?
ThermalImager - Wednesday, June 7, 2017 - link
Unfortunately Anandtech's thermal imaging reviews aren't very useful. The key criteria when selecting a thermal imaging device for most applications is sensitivity - i.e. the minimum resolution of temperature it can distinguish, typically represented in terms of mK (millikelvin i.e. 1/1000 C). The previous Flir One was a little vague, the spec quotes 'as small as 0.1C' i.e. 100mK. Seek thermal state 100mK but only report in 1C increments - something which is difficult to interpret and may render their sensors useless for thermal imaging. A good thermal imaging camera will have a sensitivity of 70mK or less.Resolution is also useful, but you can compensate for poor resolution by moving closer, into the object, also some cameras compensate for poor resolution by clever image processing.
I carry out thermal imaging surveys professionally, so have some idea about this subject.
jabber - Tuesday, June 6, 2017 - link
So when are going to get a phone with this built it? Two years?wolfemane - Tuesday, June 6, 2017 - link
That's a lot of hardware to add to the internals of a phone. I wouldn't count on anything close to the quality of a FLiR system in a cell phone anytime soon... if at all.jabber - Tuesday, June 6, 2017 - link
It doesn't have to be in a 2mm thick 'marmoset' phone. It can go into one a normal human male can carry. I'm still fine with the idea of a 10mm thick phone with a big battery even more so if it has actually useful features.Mr Perfect - Tuesday, June 6, 2017 - link
The Cat S60 linked to on the first page of the article is just what you're looking for.Mr Perfect - Tuesday, June 6, 2017 - link
These things are pretty cool, and the reviews are fun to read too.In future articles, maybe you could show us example shots that appeal to our inner geeks? Pictures of things that give us a reason to buy one, like shots showing how to detect IT equipment that needs dust cleaned out, or a VRM that needs a heatsink. Something we can justify the price with.