Buying a thermal imaging camera is always a long-term investment. Although, at first, it may seem that price is one of the main elements to take into account when choosing, there are other aspects to keep in mind when making the final decision. Whatever camera you need for your work, it is obvious that it should have the best quality and reliability as well as the highest quality service and support.
Nowadays when we want to buy a thermal imaging camera we find that there are a wide variety of types. These can range from very affordable handheld models that serve, for example, to analyze the air conditioning system of a house, to highly specialized cameras with HD resolution for scientific research.
It is clear that there are many factors to consider when buying a thermal imaging camera. Here are 6 points to take into account that will surely help you make an informed decision when purchasing this technology .
1. Purchase a thermal imaging camera with the highest resolution possible.
Most thermal imaging cameras have a lower resolution than visible light cameras, so it is necessary to pay special attention to the resolution of the device. Cameras with higher resolution can measure the temperature of smaller objects at a greater distance and, in turn, provide sharper results. This makes the measurements obtained more accurate and reliable.
Also note the difference between the resolution of the detector and the resolution of the camera's built-in display. Some manufacturers boast high resolution LCD screens and hide the low resolution of the detector, when the latter is undoubtedly the most important.
When buying a thermal imaging camera it is important to always have good technical advice from a thermography expert to help you choose the model that best suits your needs.
Learn more about the resolution of thermal imaging cameras in this post:
"THE IMPORTANCE OF RESOLUTION IN THERMAL IMAGING CAMERAS".
2. Select a thermal camera that provides accurate and reliable results.
Thermal imaging cameras not only show heat differences, but also allow you to measure them, making the accuracy and uniformity of the measurements a very important factor in determining the value of a thermal camera.
For optimal results, look for a thermography device with an accuracy equal to or better than ± 2% (or 3.6ºF), as well as making sure it has internal tools that allow you to enter emissivity and reflected temperature values. It is also important to have tools such as moving dots and area charts to isolate and annotate temperature measurements that can be saved as radiometric data and incorporated into findings reports.
All these aspects may not seem relevant at an early stage, but as you gain more experience with the thermal imaging camera, these features will be very useful.
Learn more about the emissivity of thermal imaging cameras in this post:
"HOW DOES EMISSIVITY AFFECT THERMOGRAPHIC IMAGING?"
3. Buy a thermal imaging camera that is comfortable for your work.
Aspects such as the weight of the camera, its ergonomics or the mobility of the lens will be relevant in days full of inspections. In addition, if the camera has simple additional buttons that are intuitively placed, they can make your tasks easier, compared to a system that requires you to use a single button to navigate through all menu options.
In the case of handheld models, before purchasing a thermal imaging camera, make sure that it is also equipped with at least two batteries that can be easily and quickly changed in the field so that your work day is not interrupted and you can work efficiently.
4. Get suitable software that is compatible with the devices you are already working with.
The creation of reports is an indispensable function to document and report the data obtained and thus improve the efficiency of our work. Nowadays, when we want to buy a thermal imaging camera, most of them already include free software that allows us to perform basic image analysis and create simple reports. On the other hand, there is also advanced software with the ability to perform more comprehensive analysis and create more customized reports, which allows us to take full advantage of the camera's features and functions.
At this point it is important to bear in mind that, if we have a supplier that offers complete services whenpurchasing a thermal imaging camera, it will also be able to offer us a software package designed for specific purposes and that is perfectly suited to the development of our work.
5. Make sure you have a close and quality after-sales service.
On numerous occasions we have witnessed companies that decide to buy a thermal imaging camera without anything else through online stores and non-specialized platforms and, at the time they have had any other need, they have not been provided with any support. This can affect them very negatively to the point of making an important investment such as buying a thermal imaging camera lose all sense.
Make sure that when youbuy a thermal imaging camera you will have an after-sales service and customer service nearby so that they can provide good support when needed. That way, in case you need a maintenance service, repair, or simply to solve some technical and operational doubts that may arise, you will always have someone you can trust by your side. Always make sure to buy a thermal imaging camera through specialized companies and you will see how your investment will have the return you expect.
6. Invest in training to complement the purchase of a thermal imaging camera.
The world of thermography is not just about knowing how to use a thermal imaging camera. When purchasing a thermal imaging camera, make sure you select a supplier that can also provide you with specific training. In the case of thermography, make sure you receive specific training from an official body such as the Infrared Training Center (ITC), the world's leading infrared training center.
Investing in training will not only allow you to get the most out of your investment, but will also empower you to move up the career ladder and increase your company's value with an accredited certification.
If you keep all these recommendations in mind when you have to buy a thermal imaging camera , we are sure that you will not only get a device that perfectly suits your needs. You will also be sure to get a reliable supplier by your side that will help and advise you on what you need at all times.