With Thermal Cameras, Image Matters

The simple fact is: not all thermal security cameras are created equal. Simply comparing manufacturer's specification sheets won't give you the information you need to get the most effective imagers for you money.

A 640x480 infrared detector like this packs all of its imaging power into an area less than 12mm across.

For many security professionals, the process of evaluating thermal cameras for purchase or recommendation is a new endeavor that exposes them to a whole new set of specifications and performance parameters that they are unfamiliar with. This unfamiliarity makes them vulnerable to the vagaries of slick marketing literature.

So, how can you get the right cameras? Don't leave it up to an analysis of specifications; see the camera's image quality for yourself, because image quality matters.

The quality of the images a given camera produces is a function of a number of factors including detector resolution, optics, and image processing.