Handheld Thermal Imagers: What you need to know
Whether you are new to the delights of handheld thermal imagers or an experienced pro, there are always new things you can learn about the technology or brands/models available to you.
The Benefits of Thermal Images
Many people assume that like infra-red optics, thermal imagers are best used at night or on darker days. However, one of the biggest advantages thermal imagers hold over other tech is their versatility, they are an excellent tool to use during the day too! Not only does this make them really good value for money, but if you’re going out to explore, you only have to carry one piece of kit, instead of both daytime and night time tools.
One of the other benefits of choosing a thermal imager for bird watching or nature watching in particular is budget. We stock NocPix, Pulsar and HikMicro models that range from £369 up to £5,000. This huge variety available means you can correctly choose what model will work best for you and stay within your budget without compromising on quality.
Most thermal imagers will be fairly compact and if you choose a reputable brand, they should be good to use in most weather conditions, which is perfect for the UK where we have less than ideal conditions for long observation times!
They are also available as monocular or binoculars, so you choose what works best for you without having to pay extra for binoculars if they are not needed.
Buying a Thermal Imager
When buying a thermal imager, there are several factors to consider, including:
- Resolution: The resolution of a thermal imager determines the level of detail that can be seen in the image. This is expressed in the number and size of pixels on the cameras sensor. 640 pixels wide is currently the best and the size of pixels is measured in microns (µm), the higher the better eg. 17µm.
- Temperature range: The temperature range of a thermal imager is expressed in the NETD rating – the lower the better. NETD determines the range of temperatures that can be detected and displayed by the thermal imager.
- Focal length: the native magnification of the thermal imagers before using an optical zoom. 15mm – 35mm is most useful especially for wildlife. If you wish to only observe over greater distances you may want the most powerful 50-60mm.
- Field of view: The width of the view you see is determined by the size of sensor and the focal length of the lens.
- Durability: If you plan on using a thermal imager in harsh environments such as the British weather, or are conducting industrial inspections, make sure to choose a durable and rugged model. NocPix, Pulsar and HikMicro models are all IP67 waterproof.
- Price: Thermal imagers can range in price from a few hundred to several thousand pounds. Consider your budget and the features you need before making a purchase.
Best Brands
HikMicro is a particularly good choice if you want to have options to choose from. They have cemented themselves as a top manufacturer of high quality products and have become a force in thermal imaging. Their entry level Lynx, Condor, Falcon and Habrok binocular ranges are on everyone’s shortlist!
They have long detection ranges, even on their cheaper models, and low NETD ratings, high sensor size (µm) all of which ensures you have better sensitivity and clearer, more detailed images. Their higher end models boast impressive resolutions and deliver great performance under all weather conditions.
We have great availability for their thermal imaging range and are always on hand to talk you through what would work best for you.
HikMicro Lynx PRO 19mm Thermal Monocular LH19
Price: £999.00 – view more information
HikMicro Falcon 35mm 640px FQ35
Price: £1799.00 – view more information
Pulsar are our other thermal imager brand that we stock here at Grovers Optics, and are widely considered the leading brand of thermal imagers thanks to their build quality and range of both monoculars and binoculars, as well as variety of accessories available for their thermal imaging products, including laser range finders.
Thermal Imager Issues
One of the most common “issues” we see here at Grovers with customers thinking they have purchased a faulty product, in particular with the Pulsar and HikMicro models, is the appearance of “dead” or defective pixels. This is simply a pixel in your thermal optic screen that seems like a bright or dark dot and will not go away after cleaning.
If you are relatively new to thermal imagers, this can seem like a huge problem, after all, you have spent your hard earned cash on being able to see nature in all its glory and there is an annoying spot on your screen! Even experienced nature observers can get caught out thinking there is an issue or that a dead pixel cannot be fixed.
Thankfully, that is not the case! You can find how to fix or correct defective pixels in either your Pulsar or HikMicro manual. If you have misplaced your manual, the following links can help you find them online.
https://www.pulsar-nv.com/glo/support/manuals/2966/
https://www.hikmicrotech.com/en_us/support/download-center/user-manual/
You can follow the instructions in the manual to re-establish normal view when these errors occur, we find it helps to consider it as not a fault but a maintenance routine that you may do occasionally, just like cleaning or calibrating.
The other common mistake is that users put their thermal imager into standby when they think it is shutdown. In sustained use it is normal to turn off the monitor by using standby and the clue is that the unit stays warm to the touch. Shutdown is necessary to stop the battery draining.
Thermal Imagers from Grovers Optics
Here at Grovers Optics we have a variety of Thermal Imagers, as well as various essential accessories. And don’t forget to purchase batteries!
If you are new to thermal imaging, then we would recommend reading our A Beginner’s Guide to Thermal Imagers, which is full of information that can help you find the right product for you.
You can order any of our products easily on the website or you can always pop into our store and our friendly team will be on hand to answer any questions you may have.
Alternatively, you can call us on 01609 898098 or email us at hello@grovers.biz.
