Portable Thermal Imagers
Last Updated: April 1, 2025
Description
Portable thermal imagers are devices designed to capture and display temperature variations across a surface by creating a visual representation of the thermal energy emitted by objects. These devices are handheld, allowing for easy mobility and use in various environments. They provide a thermal image or picture that highlights temperature differences, enabling users to identify areas of heat loss, overheating, or other thermal anomalies.
Working Principle
Portable thermal imagers operate based on the principle of infrared radiation detection. Every object with a temperature above absolute zero emits infrared radiation. The imager uses a lens to focus this radiation onto a detector, typically a Focal Plane Array (FPA), which converts the infrared energy into an electrical signal. This signal is then processed to produce a thermal image that displays temperature variations. These devices are useful because they provide non-contact temperature measurements, allowing for safe and efficient monitoring of thermal conditions without interfering with the object being measured.
Applications
Portable thermal imagers are used in a wide range of applications. In industrial settings, they are employed for preventive maintenance and inspection of electrical facilities and rotating machines. They are also used in the diagnosis of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems, as well as for quick analysis of automotive systems. Additionally, thermal imagers are valuable in monitoring high-temperature ovens and ensuring the thermal uniformity of materials in heat treatment processes.
Advantages over other Sensing - Humidity Measurement
While the documents do not provide specific examples of advantages over humidity measurement, thermal imagers offer unique benefits in scenarios where temperature distribution is critical. For instance, they can detect hot spots and thermal uniformity in environments where humidity sensors may not provide relevant data.
Limitations
One limitation of portable thermal imagers is their reliance on fixed emissivity settings, which can affect the accuracy of temperature readings. This means that while they are excellent for showing temperature distributions and identifying hot spots, the exact temperature measurements may not be precise. Additionally, the resolution of thermal imagers is generally lower compared to visual cameras, which can limit the detail in the thermal images produced.
Considerations
When considering the purchase and use of portable thermal imagers, several factors should be taken into account. Initial costs can vary significantly depending on the resolution and features of the device. Operating expenses are generally low, but users should consider the durability and maintenance requirements of the imager. Accuracy is a critical factor, and users should be aware of the limitations related to emissivity settings. Replacement and maintenance costs are typically minimal, but it is important to ensure that the device is regularly calibrated and maintained to ensure optimal performance.
from InfraTec GmbH
With the ImageIR ® 10300, users from industry and science for the first time can use a radiometric infrared camera whose cooled photon detector permits images in the format (1,920 × 1,536) IR pixels. Full HD resolution of about 3 Megapixels. Pixel pitch of 10 µm. Thermal resolution... [See More]
- Portable: Portable
- Spectral Range: 3.6 to 4.9
- Measurement Range: -40 to 1200
- Accuracy: 1
from Uni-Trend US
A highly advanced thermal camera designed specifically for efficiently diagnosing and resolving issues in industrial applications. [See More]
- Portable: Portable
- Ambient Temperature Range: -4 to 752
- Features & Options: Built-in Color / Visual Camera
from PCE Instruments / PCE Americas Inc.
Our Thermal Imager offers reliable temperature measurement within a range from -20 °C to 550 °C (-4 °F to 1022 °F). The infrared images are displayed with a resolution of 384 x 288 pixels on the 3.5 inch colour display. The Thermal Imager saves more than 40,000 images in the internal 6 GB memory in... [See More]
- Portable: Portable; Battery Powered
- Temperature Resolution: 0.1000
- Measurement Range: -20 to 550
- Weight: 1.4
from InfraTec GmbH
With its 3.1 megapixels in IR-format the worldwide unique infrared system VarioCAM ® HD head 900 gives a new definition to the premium segment of uncooled industrial cameras and guarantees for precise infrared recordings in brilliant photographic quality. Image format: (2,048 × 1,536) IR... [See More]
- Portable: Portable; Battery Powered; Removable Data Storage
- Spectral Range: 7.5 to 14
- Measurement Range: -40 to 2000
- Accuracy: 1
from Uni-Trend US
A compact and portable thermal camera that fits in your pocket, always ready to diagnose electrical, mechanical, and building issues, and more. [See More]
- Portable: Portable
- Ambient Temperature Range: -4 to 752
- Features & Options: Built-in Color / Visual Camera
from InfraTec GmbH
The high-performance infrared camera ImageIR ® 9400 hp from InfraTec is suitable for solving extremely demanding tasks. It impresses with absolute top figures for geometrical, thermal and temporal resolution. Cooled FPA photon detector with (1,280 × 1,024) IR pixels. Opto-mechanical... [See More]
- Portable: Portable
- Spectral Range: 2 to 5.5
- Measurement Range: -40 to 2000
- Accuracy: 1
from Uni-Trend US
Professional series thermal camera with a rugged IP65 rating for those harsh environments [See More]
- Portable: Portable
- Ambient Temperature Range: -14 to 752
- Features & Options: Built-in Color / Visual Camera
from InfraTec GmbH
Due to its extraordinarily high resolution, the ImageIR® 12300 can always bring its strengths to bear when large area measurement ranges need to be analyzed in detail and at once. The use of the camera provides a significant increase in efficiency and provides maximum accuracy by preventing... [See More]
- Portable: Portable
- Spectral Range: 3.4 to 4.9
- Measurement Range: -10 to 3000
- Accuracy: 1
from Uni-Trend US
Rugged and heavy duty thermal camera for the troubleshooting professional [See More]
- Portable: Portable
- Ambient Temperature Range: -4 to 1022
- Features & Options: Built-in Color / Visual Camera
from InfraTec GmbH
The infrared camera ImageIR ® 8300 hp of the high-end camera series ImageIR ® provides the requirements for high-speed thermography at the top level. Full-frame rate up to 355 Hz in the format (640 × 512) IR pixels. Opto-mechanical MicroScan with (1,280 × 1,024) IR pixels. [See More]
- Portable: Portable
- Spectral Range: 2 to 5.7
- Measurement Range: -40 to 3000
- Accuracy: 1
from Uni-Trend US
Professional series high-resolution thermal camera with a rugged IP65 rating for those harsh environments [See More]
- Portable: Portable
- Ambient Temperature Range: -4 to 1022
- Features & Options: Built-in Color / Visual Camera
from InfraTec GmbH
Combining the image format of (640 × 512) IR pixels with the exceptionally high frame rate of 1,105 Hz allows thermographic images, even of extremely fast moving objects or highly dynamic thermal processes. Thus, exactly the moment that matters is captured with absolute precision, displayed with... [See More]
- Portable: Portable
- Spectral Range: 1.5 to 5.5
- Measurement Range: -40 to 3000
- Accuracy: 1
from Uni-Trend US
High temperature thermal camera specifically design for extreme applications [See More]
- Portable: Portable
- Ambient Temperature Range: -4 to 1832
- Features & Options: Built-in Color / Visual Camera
from InfraTec GmbH
The fast stationary infrared camera for precise and spectral thermography. Calibration of various calibration curves for most precise temperature measurement. Motorized controllable filter wheel for spectral thermography with up to four special filters included. Snapshot detector for precise image... [See More]
- Portable: Portable
- Spectral Range: 2 to 5.5
- Measurement Range: -40 to 3000
- Accuracy: 1
from Uni-Trend US
Professional Enhanced Thermal Camera with Video and Voice recording [See More]
- Portable: Portable
- Ambient Temperature Range: -4 to 1022
- Features & Options: Built-in Color / Visual Camera
from Galco Industrial Electronics
T-CAM 300 P-Series Handheld Thermal [See More]
- Portable: Portable
from TELOPS, Inc.
The NEW FAST-IR MW Scientific Infrared Camera is THE REVOLUTION in high speed IR cameras. It is the first 1000 fps full frame solution for the infrared imaging expert. It provides either raw or calibrated data in real-time. Calibration coefficients are acquired automatically using built-in etalons. [See More]
- Portable: Portable
- Accuracy: 0.0100
- Spectral Range: 3 to 5
- Maximum Frame Rate: 1000
from JENOPTIK Optical Systems, Inc.
High resolution spectral selective temperature measurement in MWIR. With a bandwidth of 2 - 5 microns the new VarioTHERM ® InSb camera covers a wide spectral range ideally suited for spectral selective measurements in R &D, for example on glasses, flames or polymers. An integrated filter... [See More]
- Portable: Portable
- Accuracy: 2
- Spectral Range: 2 to 5
- Temperature Resolution: 0.0020
from OMEGA Engineering, Inc.
Thermal imaging cameras can be used for a wide variety of R &D applications. Until today using a thermal imaging camera was often the privilege for large R &D departments. With the extremely affordable OSXL-A35SC/ OSXL-A15SC and OSXL-A5SC thermal imaging systems are now bringing the... [See More]
- Portable: Portable
- Spectral Range: 7.5 to 13
- Measurement Range: -40 to 550
- Accuracy: 5
from Vibration Specialty Corporation
JENOPTIK Infrared Camera. The new VarioCAM ® HiRes product line from JENOPTIK is a range of high-quality tools for all fields where perfect image quality and measurement precision are crucial to successful work. For the first time, a mass-produced thermal imaging camera can be used to take... [See More]
- Portable: Portable; Battery Powered; Removable Data Storage
- Spectral Range: 7.5 to 14
- Measurement Range: -40 to 1200
- Temperature Resolution: 0.0060 to 0.0080
from ANVS, Inc.
Viewer comes with soft case and IR filter, 30 ° field of view [See More]
- Portable: Portable; Battery Powered
- Cooling: Uncooled
- Spectral Range: 0.3500 to 1.55
- Features & Options: Infrared / Spectral Filters
from OX Creek Energy Associates, Inc.
The CoroCAM 8 is a combination of a radiometric FLIR ® thermal LWIR camera, a solar blind UV camera and a high specification Sony visible camera. It can be used to inspect High Voltage infrastructure operating at 3.3kV and above. The CoroCAM 8 is intended for use by professional High Voltage... [See More]
- Portable: Portable
- Features & Options: Infrared / Spectral Filters
from Fujian Lilliput Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd.
Temperature range: -20 to 400 ℃,suitable for various industrial and civil scenarios. Accuracy:±2 ℃or±2% (the maximum value), ensuring precise measurements. Emissivity: Adjustable from 0.1 to 0.99, allowing settings based on different materials and surface properties.IP65 protection... [See More]
- Portable: Portable
- Accuracy: 2
- Measurement Range: -20 to 400
- Temperature Resolution: 0.1000
from Galco Industrial Electronics
T-CAM 380 P-Series Handheld Thermal [See More]
- Portable: Portable
from TELOPS, Inc.
The NEW HD-IR Scientific Camera is the REVOLUTION in high resolution IR cameras. It is the first 1280x1024 pixels camera solution for the Infrared imaging expert. It provides either raw or calibrated data in real-time. Calibration coefficients are acquired automatically using built-in etalons. For... [See More]
- Portable: Portable
- Accuracy: 0.0100
- Spectral Range: 3.6 to 4.9
- Maximum Frame Rate: 75
from JENOPTIK Optical Systems, Inc.
Measurement and monitoring of temperature distributions. Infrared Thermographic Camera Modules from Jenoptik are designed for exact and non-contact measurement or automated monitoring of two-dimansional temperature distributions, especially in environments that cannot be accessed by a human... [See More]
- Portable: Portable
- Accuracy: 2
- Spectral Range: 7.5
- Maximum Frame Rate: 50 to 60
from OMEGA Engineering, Inc.
The OSXL-101 is a compact infrared thermal imaging sensor utilizing a thermopile array detector. The OSXL-101 sensor measures realtime temperature and a thermal image up to 300 °C (572 °F). Ethernet connectivity allows the sensor to communicate with the PC running the application software or... [See More]
- Portable: Portable
- Accuracy: 2
- Measurement Range: -20 to 300
- Temperature Resolution: 0.5000
from Fujian Lilliput Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd.
middot; Infrared thermal imaging 320*240 resolution(TI332); 220*160(TI322). · Three fusion modes of visible and infrared. · Three image enhancement modes for different applications. · Customized high and low temperature limit alarm. · Computer analysis software meets... [See More]
- Portable: Portable
- Temperature Resolution: -20 to 350
- Accuracy: 2
- Maximum Frame Rate: 9
from Galco Industrial Electronics
T-CAM 600 P-Series Handheld Thermal [See More]
- Portable: Portable
from TELOPS, Inc.
The Hyper-Cam-MW / Hyper-Cam-MWE sensors are ideal for measuring the spectral signature of warmer than ambient objects such as rockets and missiles over an extended field of view. [See More]
- Portable: Portable
- Detector Type: Array
- Spectral Range: 3 to 5
- Cooling: Closed Cycle
from JENOPTIK Optical Systems, Inc.
Whether visualizing or measuring heat distribution charts, the new uncooled OEM IR camera module IR-TCM 384 outputs stunning infrared images of 384 × 288 pixel resolution with a sharpness and distinctness so far unknown at commercial level. What ’s more, it does so in real-time!. Scope... [See More]
- Portable: Portable
- Accuracy: 2
- Spectral Range: 7.5 to 14
- Maximum Frame Rate: 50 to 60
from OMEGA Engineering, Inc.
Compact point-and-shoot OSXL-I Series cameras are the most cost-effective choice for getting your new infrared program off to a strong start or arming everyone on your team with the power of thermal imaging. OSXL-I Series cameras provide high-quality thermal images and temperature data to help find... [See More]
- Portable: Portable; Battery Powered; Removable Data Storage
- Spectral Range: 7.5 to 13
- Measurement Range: -20 to 250
- Detector Type: Array
from JENOPTIK Optical Systems, Inc.
Whether visualizing or measuring heat distribution charts, the new uncooled OEM IR camera module IR-TCM 640 outputs infrared images of 640 × 480 pixel resolution with a sharpness and distinctness so far unknown at commercial level. What ’s more, it does so in real-time!. Scope of... [See More]
- Portable: Portable
- Accuracy: 2
- Spectral Range: 7.5 to 14
- Maximum Frame Rate: 50 to 60
from OMEGA Engineering, Inc.
Automatic. Focus Free. Outstanding Measurement and Accuracy. Compact and Lightweight. SD Card Storage (SD Card Included). Reporting Software Included (Compatible with. Windows ® 7 & 8). Applications. Inspection and Diagnostics in Factory Automation. Process Control. Building HVAC. Solar... [See More]
- Portable: Portable; Battery Powered; Removable Data Storage
- Accuracy: 2
- Measurement Range: -20 to 250
- Maximum Dimension: 9.2
from JENOPTIK Optical Systems, Inc.
VarioCAM ® high resolution thermographic cameras deliver thermal images of high precision suited for demanding applications in industrial R &D and other fields. Excellent thermal and spatial resolution, ease of operation versatile functionality and flexible interfacing options are... [See More]
- Portable: Portable
- Accuracy: 2
- Spectral Range: 7.5 to 14
- Maximum Frame Rate: 50 to 60
from OMEGA Engineering, Inc.
bull; Superior Thermal Imaging —Up to 76,800 Pixels (320 x 240). • Improved Digital Camera —3.1 Mega Pixel Resolution. • Wi-Fi Connectivity. • Scalable P-i-P and Thermal Fusion. • Instant Report in PDF Format. • Long Battery Life (Lasts Over 4 Hours). • 8.9... [See More]
- Portable: Portable; Removable Data Storage
- Spectral Range: 7.5 to 13
- Measurement Range: -20 to 650
- Detector Type: Array
from JENOPTIK Optical Systems, Inc.
The VarioCAM ® high resolution inspect 384 model features and uncooled microbolometer detector and captures highly detailled thermographs with resolutions of up to 384 x 288 Pixel. Included is an color camera working in the VIS spectrum as well as an high resolution (VGA) 3.5 ” swivel... [See More]
- Portable: Portable
- Accuracy: 2
- Spectral Range: 7.5 to 14
- Maximum Frame Rate: 50 to 60
from OMEGA Engineering, Inc.
The OSXL-T620 (FLIR T620) has the highest thermal imaging resolution in its class. With 307,200 pixels at 640 × 480, OSXL-T620 (FLIR T620) gives professional thermographers the highest thermal resolution and sensitivity for the best-looking images and most accurate temperature measurements. [See More]
- Portable: Portable; Battery Powered; Removable Data Storage
- Spectral Range: 7.8 to 14
- Measurement Range: -20 to 650
- Accuracy: 2
from JENOPTIK Optical Systems, Inc.
The VarioCAM ® high resolution inspect 768 (RE) model features and uncooled microbolometer detector and captures highly detailled thermographs with resolutions of up to 768 x 576 Pixel. Included is an color camera working in the VIS spectrum as well as an high resolution (VGA) 3.5 ” swivel... [See More]
- Portable: Portable
- Accuracy: 2
- Spectral Range: 7.5 to 14
- Maximum Frame Rate: 50 to 60
from OMEGA Engineering, Inc.
The OSXL-TIC is ideal for revealing hidden heat-driven processes and problems. Applications include: equipment maintenance, repair and operations (MRO); building energy audits; process/manufacturing plant maintenance; water damage restoration; firefighting; navigation; surveillance. By converting... [See More]
- Portable: Portable; Battery Powered
- Spectral Range: 8 to 14
- Measurement Range: -20 to 1500
- Accuracy: 2