10 Things You Need to Know About Thermal Imagers

Whether you choose a simple point-and-shoot model or a high-end thermal camera with all the bells and whistles, here are some key features and specs you should consider:

1-Resolution

• Detector resolution indicates the number of detector pixels on the camera. More pixels, means higher resolution.
• Spatial resolution is based on detector pixels and the field of view (FOV) spec, combining them to define the area the imager sees at any given moment. Spatial resolution can be used to help define the smallest object size that can be detected. A lower spatial resolution value means better detail and image quality.

2-Focus 

With a variety of focus mechanisms to choose from, it is important to consider your skill level as well as the application in selecting a focus type. Here are the common focus mechanisms:

• Fixed: Point and shoot simplicity
• Manual: Precise incremental focus
• Auto focus: Automatically focuses on a target but may require manual adjustment.
• Laser-assisted auto focus: Uses a built-in laser distance meter to calculate distance to the target.
• Multifocal: Captures and stores multiple images of the target from varying focal distances and uses software to blend them into one image with ultra-sharp depth of field detail. Fluke Corp., for example, calls its implementation of this technology MultiSharp™ Focus.

3-Temperature range 

The highest and lowest temperature you encounter in your inspection determines the temperature range you need from your thermal imager. Or, select a camera with a wide temperature range that automatically selects the range based on your scene, or allows you to manually select the temperature range.