Thermal cameras do not work in the same way that regular cameras do. Think of the thermal camera for car. They are not cameras that are held by the user but rather are placed in a specific area to take pics. They take pics from heat. One area where thermal cameras became really popular was in the wildlife arena. People would put thermal cameras by waterholes or by spots where they thought animals would wander by. The footage can be checked, live or in the future, to see what animals are in the area. Thermal cameras are used in the security industry, the tourism industry and the hunting industry, but there are many more industries that use these kinds of cameras.
High-range thermal cameras
Thermal cameras need to be of good quality with good sensors or they will not capture the images that you need to capture. You need to look at the resolutions, field of view, thermal sensitivity, focus, and what is known as the spectral range. If all of this sounds like gobbledegook to you, ask the specialists what you need. It is nice to empower yourself and to learn how thermal cameras work so that you get the best out of them, but you can ask a specialist to guide you and lead you into buying a thermal camera and to setting it up. And of course, to the entire operation of the camera.
Can thermal cameras detect anything?
It all depends on which thermal camera you use. Anything that is living gives off heat or thermal energy. A thermal camera can see things that we cannot see, which means it does recognise and capture small and big things. Yes, it will capture the leopard coming to drink at the waterhole but it will also capture the tiny beetle that you are studying for your PhD. And if you are using thermal cameras for security, it will capture the people trying to steal your car or break into your home. Thermal cameras are often used for surveillance, by the army or by the navy, but also used for firefighting, as well as for building inspections, temperature screening and scientific research.
Airports and thermal cameras
When you enter an airport you are generally screened, even if you do not know it, by a thermal camera. It records your temperature. If your temperature is higher than normal, you may be asked to use a different line. Thermal cameras were set up at airports when Covid became prevalent and many airports have kept thermal cameras in place. A thermal camera may be used in hospitals and in offices. Generally, an airport, hospital or office should tell you that they have thermal cameras that are installed. There are different rules and regulations, depending on what you are using the thermal camera for.
Get a thermal camera for car if you want to be able to detect things, people, anything unusual and also, to prevent overheating in your car!