IR Thermal Imagers Comparison Guide

Comparison Summary

The FLIR C3 and Seek Thermal RevealPRO are compact, handheld thermal imaging cameras which easily fit in a pocket to comfortably carry with you all day. The form factor for these cameras is what sets them apart – the fact that they are so small and portable with such powerful infrared imaging capabilities means these cameras each present great value for money.

The form factor for these cameras is similar yet slightly different – on the C3, you get a device that’s about the size and shape of a smartphone with a built-in 3-inch touchscreen display and WiFi connectivity for fast, easy image transfer. On the RevealPRO, you get a similarly-sized device with a 2.4-inch screen and no Wifi connectivity. Another crucial difference here is the orientation of the screen to the device – on the RevealPRO, you must hold the device so the screen is horizontal (parallel to the ground) in order to capture images as the lens is on the top of the unit, not the rear. The C3 lens is on the rear of the device so you can hold it just like you would when using a standard smartphone camera.

The specifications for these cameras differ as well. On the C3, you get an 80x60 resolution IR sensor as well as 100mK thermal sensitivity and a 9 Hz frame rate. Field of view is 41°x 31°. The C3 can measure temperatures from 14°F to 302°F and has an accuracy rating of ±2°C or ±2%. The camera also has 2-hour battery life from a rechargeable Li-ion battery.

The C3 also lets you stream live non-radiometric IR video to mobile devices over WiFi, a feature usually only found on high-end cameras. With WiFi, you can also transfer images wirelessly from the C3 to mobile devices with the free FLIR Tools App installed. Then you can use FLIR Tools to analyze and edit images before sending out reports directly from the App.

Sample Images from the C3 w/ MSX:

 

The C3 also includes FLIR MSX Image Enhancement technology which embosses visual details onto your infrared images. When MSX adds in these details to your IR images, you get unmatched clarity and detail where numbers, labels, and structural elements are clearly visible. This makes reporting easier and eliminates the need for visible light reference images.

The RevealPRO is Seek Thermal’s most advanced handheld thermal imaging camera to date. Highly durable and easy to use, RevealPRO combines a high-performance 320x240 thermal sensor with intuitive software to help you work smarter. Plus, a powerful 300-lumen LED light is available when you need it at just the touch of a button. The RevealPRO also offers adjustable thermal span, level, and emissivity settings. Unfortunately, it doesn’t include any type of image blending or enhancement technologies like FLIR MSX on the C3.

Sample Images from the RevealPRO:

 

The RevealPRO covers temperatures from -40°F to 626°F and features 4x digital zoom as well as a 15Hz frame rate when using FastFrame in Normal Mode. Thermal sensitivity is 70mK. It also includes a 2.4-inch Corning Gorilla Glass screen and 70mK thermal sensitivity. The RevealPRO also has 4-hour battery life.