Thermal Camera recommendations

[k1J]

Hello.

I wasn't sure where to post such general question and decided to make separate topic. I'm looking to purchase thermal camera mainly to check insulation in houses and to play a bit outside with it when it's dark (unfortunately am not that brilliant to work with electronics ;( ). Anyway ... I have rather odd requirement based on my needs, but I want to have it work on Linux system (I presume if something works on Linux it can work everywhere). I was trying to embrace the topics about pyThermalCamera and Thermovision_JoeC, but still it's hard to make decision based on it's current state. I wanted to invest into Infiray product, but i don't like the ecosystem where something can work only on android or iOS. That leads to question if the standalone camera is better option or usb-c camera can be picked without hesitation (?) as I would prefer to buy something small that can be plugged not just to phone, but even tablet or laptop - want to be sure that it won't become redundant due software issue. I hope it's the right place to state such question especially that is very general and maybe other people that struggle with their decision and are less tech savvy with similar requirement can use this place to make their mind. Sorry for my English it's not my first language I tried my best to sound reasonable (and in times where most of discussions are in social media and more live (instant)+compact to write little longer posts gets kinda forgotten and hard at the same time). Thanks in advance for any response.

[JOSDHO]

Hi, I’ve worked with some thermal cameras through my job (mostly electrical-related). Hopefully my experience can help.
As far as I know, nearly all phone thermal cameras rely on a mobile APP. If you want to avoid running into issues caused by app compatibility or lack of updates, I’d recommend going with brands that specialize in phone-based thermal cameras, as their apps tend to be better supported and updated more frequently. (That’s why I personally don’t recommend FLIR’s smartphone thermal cameras—their app updates are notoriously slow.)
Some Chinese brands do a pretty good job—Guide, Thermal Master, and Infiray (which you mentioned). I’ve used all of them and had good experiences. Thermal Master, for example, works with both phones and tablets. I also contacted their support and they told me they can provide an SDK for Linux, which might be helpful in your case. I think it’s a solid option.
But phone thermal cameras still don’t quite match the performance of handheld models. I have to say FLIR’s handheld cameras are solid...good contrast, clear images, and they’re not tied to Android or iOS. But yeah, they’re expensive. Unless it’s a company expense, I probably wouldn’t spend that much out of pocket myself.
Hope that gives you some useful perspective!

[SYOM]

FLIR is overpriced and kind of outdated at this point. A lot of their features have already been surpassed by newer models from other brands. I really wouldn’t recommend them unless you’re locked into their ecosystem or need something very specific.
I also used TM and HK. TM has got a new handheld unit out recently. A buddy of mine got a test unit from them and showed me some sample shots — honestly, the image quality looked pretty solid. It even had features like the overlay/fusion thing FLIR likes to push.
Anyway, I’d say don’t blindly trust the big legacy brands. Compare what’s out there, see real user feedback, and save yourself some money.