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ToolGuyd > New Tools > Fluke Pocket Thermal Imaging Camera

Fluke Pocket Thermal Imaging Camera

Feb 21, 2020 Stuart 12 Comments

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Fluke PTi120 Pocket Thermal Imaging Camera

I don’t know how I missed this, but Fluke came out with a new pocket thermal imaging camera, PTi120, which they say puts “the power of a professional-grade thermal imager” in your pocket.

The Fluke PTi120 thermal imaging camera has 120 x 90 pixel sensor resolution with full radiometric sensor data. It has a 3.5″ LCD touchscreen display, IP54 enclosure rating for water and dust resistance, and can withstand drops from up to 1 meter.

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The PTi120 has a temperature measurement range of -20°C to 150°C (-4°F to 302°F).

Fluke boasts that their new pocket thermal imaging camera is small enough to carry every day without worry, and that it’s ideal for quick scans of electrical equipment, machinery, and other assets.

The device has an IR-Fusion mode, which blends visible light and thermographic images for a composite view, and a touchscreen slider can be used to adjust the settings.

  • 120 x 90 pixel sensor resolution
  • -20°C to 150°C (-4°F to 302°F) temperature range
  • Temp accuracy of ±2°C or ±2% at or over 0°C
  • 7.6 mRad IFOV spacial resolution
  • 50° x 38° (HxV) field of view
  • Fixed focus, minimum distance of 22.8 cm (~9″)
  • Mini USB for image transfer
  • WiFi
  • 3.5″ 320 x 240 pixel touchscreen
  • 60 mK thermal sensitivity (NETD)
  • 9 Hz framerate
  • “≥ 2GB internal memory”
  • Built-in Li-ion rechargeable battery
  • Micro USB charging port
  • Emissivity correction
  • Background temperature compensation
  • Automatic shutdown power-saving modes
  • 6 color palettes
  • High/low/isotherm temperature alarms
  • 8 µm to 14 µm spectral band
  • -10°C to 50°C (14°F to 122°F) operating temperature
  • Weighs 0.514 lbs
  • Measures 3.5″ x 5.0″ x 1.0″

Price: ~$1000

The thermal imaging camera comes with a USB cable, soft carrying bag, and adjustable lanyard. Fluke Connect software is a free download, as is the user manual.

Buy Now via Amazon
Compare: Flir C2 via Amazon (Learn More)
Compare: Flir C3 via Amazon

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Discussion

Compared to Flir’s C2 and C3 pocket-sized thermal imaging cameras, Fluke’s PTi120 has a significantly larger thermal sensor.

Flir’s C2 and C3 thermal imaging cameras both have 80 x 60 pixel sensors, with 4,800 total data points. Fluke’s PTi120 has a 120 x 90 pixel sensor, with 10,800 total data points.

What’s strange is that Flir’s product page for the C3 doesn’t explicitly mention the thermal resolution, although they do subtly mention that it has jpeg images that “store 4,800 individual thermal measurements.”

Fluke’s pocket thermal imaging camera is pricier than Flir’s, but this is why – Fluke’s has a larger/more detailed sensor. You get 1.5X the vertical resolution and 1.5X the horizontal resolution, for 2.25X the total thermal measurement count.

Additionally, Fluke’s thermal sensitivity is said to be 60 mK (0.060°K), while Flir’s C2 and C3 are said to have “<0.10°C” thermal sensitivity. Fluke’s lower number is better.

So while the Flir C2 is ~$500 and the C3 $700, and Fluke PTi120 $900 and up, Fluke’s higher price gets you greater thermal imaging resolution and better sensor sensitivity.

In my past experiences with Fluke and Flir thermal imaging cameras, Flir had an edge, with their MSX contrast-enhancement algorithms. It’s unknown to me whether Fluke has improved upon their IR-Fusion image blending processes.

It could be, potentially, that Fluke’s higher thermal resolution negates any image quality advantage of Flir’s MSX feature.

Fluke has developed their Fluke Connect software, for sharing images, collaborating, and report generation.

I have had mixed experiences with Fluke thermal imaging products before, but generally have high trust in the company and their test and measurement products. If I were in the market for a pocket-sized thermal imaging camera, I might request a demo if possible, or order from a retailer with easy return policies.

The PTi120 seems like a well-thought out pocket-sized thermal imaging camera.

To determine whether it’s right for you, consider the form factor first. Are you looking for a traditional handheld thermal imagine camera, or a rectangular block with touchscreen display that you can slip into a pocket? If you’re eager for this almost smartphone-like form factor, the Fluke is one of very few options out there, and among those options it has the best on-paper thermal sensor resolution and sensitivity specs.

Buy Now via Amazon
Compare: Flir C2 via Amazon
Compare: Flir C3 via Amazon

Related posts:

Klein IR07 Dual IR Probe ThermometerNew Klein Tools Dual IR and Probe Thermometer Amazon Commercial Heavy Duty Digital MultimeterAmazon Commercial Electrical Tools – Multimeters, Testers, More

Sections: New Tools, Test & Measurement Tags: thermal imagerMore from: Fluke

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12 Comments

  1. jbongo

    Feb 21, 2020

    I’ve considered buying a thermal camera in the past, and even more so in the near future when we start looking at houses this spring/summer. I like collecting tools that I use once or twice and then might be useful in the future (or useful for my friends). My main problem is that most of them have li-on batteries that probably won’t last more than a couple years if it’s just sitting most of the time.

    Reply
    • Stuart

      Feb 21, 2020

      The benefit of handheld cameras is that you can replace the battery at a later time.

      For infrequent use, a smartphone add-on module might be worth considering.

      My E4 isn’t used very often, and the battery does self-drain, but it doesn’t seem to have been a problem thus far. Eventually I’ll replace the battery for $50.

      Reply
      • Nate B

        Feb 22, 2020

        The FLIR Ex series battery is just an 18650 inside, you can pop the bottom cap off the battery and slide the guts out. Buy a tabbed cell for the replacement and you won’t even need a spotwelder.

        I have a Seek phone accessory and I likewise find the images unimpressive, but it’s the only one with the Otterbox Universe case system that relieves stress on the connector, and thus the only one I’ll own — breaking my phone’s USB port was a mistake I’ll only make once, thanks. I might end up with a Thermapp someday, but those use a cable.

        The Fluke might be worth owning if the software doesn’t suck. Sadly there’s very little detail about the wifi functionality — can it stream video over the wifi? FLIR’s implementation can’t do anything useful over the wifi at all, and that’s sad. Fluke’s page mentiones one auto-upload feature and even that is “coming soon”. Yikes.

        Fluke’s own page calls it Mini USB in one place, Micro USB in another, and that doesn’t instill a ton of confidence. Plus who brings out a new product in 2020 without USB-C? That might be okay for a dollar-store toy, but for a kilobuck professional tool that’s expected to last for years, what are they thinking?

        Reply
    • Dust

      Feb 23, 2020

      That’s why I bought the Milwaukee camera, around $300. I use it all the time and it’s always charged because I can slap a drill battery in it.

      Reply
  2. Lance

    Feb 21, 2020

    The FLIR One Pro offers 120×160 resolution as well as their visible/IR image tech (MSX) for far less. For anyone who doesn’t need a ruggedized package it’s hard to beat, and likely offers a more useful/detailed image.

    I don’t write reports, so the software options for pricier professional cameras may hold value for some.

    Reply
  3. Sergey

    Feb 21, 2020

    Seek has way better thermal resolution in their Shot Pro camera at a lower price point. Why look at Flir or Fluke at all if you don’t need reporting features?

    Reply
    • Stuart

      Feb 21, 2020

      Thanks – I didn’t know Seek came out with a new pocket imager. My experience with Seek has been with their smartphone modules, and I was less than impressed with the quality.

      Reply
  4. fred

    Feb 21, 2020

    I drove by the FLIR factory on the way from Tallinn to St. Peterburg a few years back.
    The driver just whizzed by – and most of my compatriots didn’t even notice. Ah well – I’m not sure that there was much to see – and St Petersburg was calling.

    Reply
  5. Bonson

    Feb 21, 2020

    The HTI-19 has a cult following…320×240 IR sensor at $558.

    Doesn’t have the bells, whistles, software or durability as a FLIR but it’s an incredible thermal camera at a bargain.

    Reply
  6. Wayne R.

    Feb 22, 2020

    Can IR cameras use an attenuating filter to extend their range? I’d expect so, but don’t know the physics of it.

    Reply
  7. Oleg K

    Apr 3, 2020

    I never understood the prices these cameras command, why do they charge so much for them when there are $400 (or less) phone attachments and standalone devices made by Seek Thermal available that have higher resolution sensors and work beautifully? Seek Thermal isn’t the best flir-making company out there, I’ll grant you rhat, but, for the majority of the tasks their products are more than enough! 320×240 flir Sendor with a 15hz refresh rate sounds great to me when it costs $400 or so but Fluke and FLIR charge upwards of 4k for theirs. Why? Are there some special features or requirements that I’m not aware of? Or their sensors are nitrogen cooled and made from some bleeding edge tech???

    Reply
    • Stuart

      Apr 3, 2020

      Calibrations? Accuracy? Reliability? Full thermographic sensor data output?

      While Seek products have evolved over the past few years, are they good enough to be used in mission-critical applications?

      Perhaps with top brands, part of instrument costs are attributed to “because the market will support these prices” reasoning.

      Consider digital multimeters. Sure you can buy one for $10 from Amazon, and Fluke’s are pricier, but you get a much better system for the premium. Some of the benefits there are obvious in the specs, others require a look under the hood or become apparent with safety testing.

      Reply

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