ToolGuyd

Tool Reviews, New Tool Previews, Best Tool Guides, Tool Deals, and More!

  • New Tools
  • Reviews
  • Guides
    • Best Cordless Power Tool Brand
    • Tool Brands: Who Owns What?
    • Best Cordless Drills (2021)
    • Dewalt UWO Explained
    • Where to Buy Tools
    • Best Tool Kit Upgrades
    • Best Extension Cord Size
    • Best Tape Measure
    • Best Safety Gear
    • Best Precision Screwdrivers
    • Best Tool Brands in Every Category
    • Ultimate Tool Gift Guide
    • More Buying Guides
  • Hand Tools
    • Bit Holders & Drivers
    • EDC, Pocket, & Multitools
    • Electrical Tools
    • Flashlights & Worklights
    • Knives
    • Mechanics’ Tools
    • Pliers
    • Screwdrivers
    • Sockets & Drive Tools
    • Wrenches
    • All Hand Tools
  • Power Tools
    • Accessories
    • Cordless
    • Drills & Drivers
    • Oscillating Tools
    • Saws
    • Woodworking Tools
    • All Power Tools
  • Brands
    • Bosch
    • Craftsman
    • Dewalt
    • Makita
    • Milwaukee
    • Ryobi
    • All Brands
  • USA-Made
  • Deals
ToolGuyd > New Tools > New Fluke VT02 Super Low Resolution “Visual IR Thermometer”

New Fluke VT02 Super Low Resolution “Visual IR Thermometer”

Nov 30, 2012 Stuart 2 Comments

If you buy something through our links, ToolGuyd might earn an affiliate commission.

Fluke VT02 Visual IR Thermometer

Fluke, one of the top names in test equipment, has been facing fierce competition in the infrared thermal imager arena from Milwaukee, Extech/FLIR, and even Dewalt.

So what did Fluke do? They created their own super-low-resolution thermal imager and called it a visual IR thermometer. It’s the first second ever tool of its kind.

Advertisement

Fluke VT02 Hype

The new VT02 seems to closely compare to Dewalt’s new 12V imaging thermometer. Based on my recent testing of the new Dewalt imager, I feel that visual IR thermometer is actually a very apropos classification.

So-called visual thermometers have much lower resolutions than Milwaukee’s M12 thermal imager and others in the $1500-2500 price range, but even so they do provide substantially better temperature measurement context than single-point IR thermometers.

My search for VT02 thermal resolution specs came up short, but it is probably close to Dewalt’s 15×15 pixel resolution. While I would like to say Fluke’s marketing team isn’t purposely hiding this information, they obviously are.

If you’re shopping for a thermal imager or “visual thermometer” and compare one with a 15×15 pixel sensor and another with a 60×60 pixel sensor at a reachable higher price, which will you automatically gravitate towards? Exactly.

Also missing from the spec sheets is the visual camera resolution.

Advertisement

Most Notable Features and Specs

  • temperature range: -10°C to 250°C / 14°F to 482°F
  • accuracy of ± 2°C or ± 2%, whichever is greater
  • field of view: 20° x 20°
  • adjustable emissivity
  • storage medium: microSD card
  • visual and thermal images can be overlayed
  • bmp, jpg, and other image formats can be exported once the saved “.is2” files are imported into SmartView reporting software
  • powered by 4x AA batteries
  • MSRP: $895

It remains unclear whether Dewalt produces their new 12V imaging thermometer themselves or whether another company designed and manufactured it for them. There are many similarities between this new Fluke imager and Dewalt’s, but not enough to convince me that the Dewalt was co-developed with Fluke. Spec-wise the two models appear comparable, and they’re priced similarly, but it looks like the Dewalt might be slightly more user-friendly.

Buy Now(via Amazon)

Related posts:

Fluke PTi120 Pocket Thermal Imaging CameraFluke Pocket Thermal Imaging Camera Fluke ST120 Plus Outlet TesterFluke has a New Electrical Outlet Tester

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

« Get the Most Bang for Your Bucks with this Dewalt 20V/12V Drill/Driver Cordless Combo
Daily Deal: Shop Vac 12-Gallon Wet/Dry Vacuum »

2 Comments

  1. Dave tech

    Feb 18, 2014

    The Fluke has a lot more than 15 x15 pixels that was mentioned.
    15 x15 would not form an image at all. not even a blur.

    It has 11,025 pixels in a 105 x 105 element array.
    That’s rather impressive at this price point.

    Reply
    • Stuart

      Feb 19, 2014

      11,025 pixels is the visual camera resolution. The thermal sensor resolution is far, far lower. Temperature measurements are blended with the visual image in the form of large square pixel groups.

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Newsletter

Sign up to receive the latest tool news.

ToolGuyd Forum

Recent Comments

  • fred on I Am a Brand Name Tool and Equipment Snob: “You’re welcome. Some other specialty Automotive spanners: https://www.jegs.com/i/JEGS+Performance+Products/555/81802K/10002/-1?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIw8DpgO6n_wIVGr3ICh3pnAfOEAQYAyABEgKrnvD_BwE https://www.jegs.com/i/OTC+Tools/717/7307/10002/-1?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIm97lgO-n_wIVjdfICh1KmwzIEAQYBSABEgJ-RPD_BwE”
  • James+C on My CNC Mill Conversion – Motor Selection: “Sounds like this thing is one of the deeper rabbit holes one could go down. Good luck!”
  • MM on I Am a Brand Name Tool and Equipment Snob: “That seller has a random assortment of all kinds of merchandise, and most of it is stuff that makes no…”
  • fm2176 on Home Depot has HOT Ryobi Cordless Tool Deals Right Now: “I picked up a couple of the 4Ah battery kits and chose the Verse 2-speaker set and Whisper fan as…”
  • drewmcdan1 on I Am a Brand Name Tool and Equipment Snob: “Here’s a different take. In browsing Newegg.com yesterday, looking at their sales, I came across a Woodpeckers Mini Square that…”
  • MM on I Am a Brand Name Tool and Equipment Snob: “There are both high-end tools and cheap junk coming out of China, along with everything in between. The brand name…”

Recent Posts

  • I Am a Brand Name Tool and Equipment Snob
  • My CNC Mill Conversion - Motor Selection
  • Home Depot has HOT Ryobi Cordless Tool Deals Right Now
  • Harbor Freight Takes on Portaband with New Universal Band Saw Stand
  • Milwaukee Adds New Longer Pry Bar Sizes
  • Air Coupler and Plug Fittings Kits
  • HOT Milwaukee Drill Bit and Screwdriver Bit Set Deals!
  • HOT Home Depot Tool Deals of the Day and Memorial Day Sale (5/26/23)
ToolGuyd New Tool Reviews Image

New Tool Reviews

Buying Guides

  • Best Cordless Drills
  • Best Euro Hand Tool Brands
  • Best Tool Brands
  • Best Cordless Power Tool Brands
  • Tools for New Parents
  • Ultimate Tool Gift & Upgrade Guide
ToolGuyd Knife Reviews Image

Knife Reviews

ToolGuyd Multi-Tool Reviews Image

Multi-Tool Reviews

ToolGuyd LED Flashlight and Worklight Reviews Image

LED Light Reviews

  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Stores
  • Videos
  • Gear
  • AMZN Deal Finder
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Disclosure