FLIR C2 Thermal Camera Small is the next big thing

The big news in FLIR Thermal Cameras is small!

If you had told me 5 years ago that a full-featured thermal imaging camera would be able to fit inside your shirt pocket, I would have thought you were mad as a hatter. Well, luckily for everyone, the folks at FLIR have decided to take that challenge dead on. They have recently announced the brand new FLIR C2, which is a thermal imaging camera that is small on size, light on price and heavy on professional features.

Now, before you start salivating on your keyboard, while it is “professional grade” it’s not for all professions.  The FLIR C2 thermal camera is geared toward building professionals. So, for applications such as HVAC, water damage, light electrical and energy loss, it should be a great tool for taking initial surveys and seeing if there is more to be investigated.

Will this replace a high-end thermal imaging camera, like the FLIR T420 or even an E60BX? Hardly. It is a much better alternative to thermal “overlay” devices, such as the FLIR TG165 hybrid IR Thermometer. The FLIR C2 will also give the FLIR E4 thermal camera a run for its money.

Quick Comparison Chart

 *Radiometric JPGs contain all measurement parameters. Radiometric BMPs only show the heat map, emissivity and spot temp.                                                             
So, at a quick glance, they seem fairly similar. But where the thermal cameras differ is pretty important. Let’s go over these points.

1. Thermal Sensitivity – this is the increment of change the sensor can detect. So, like golf, the smaller the number, the better.
2. Image Size – being able to fit a thermal camera in your pocket is good. Having a FLIR C2 in your pocket, with a 3” screen, is great.
3. MSX Enhancement – the technology behind this is pretty slick. It basically draws an outline from the visual image to make your thermal images much easier to discern.
4. Image Format – Ok, I saved the best for last. The FLIR TG165 is a glorified point-n-shoot IR Spot Thermometer. It has center spot only and while it does have a thermal overlay, you cannot see any of the underlying data, other than the spot temperature and emissivity value, when you download the image. Both the FLIR C2 and FLIR E4 capture radiometric JPGs. This means that when you load up the images into FLIR Tools software, you get all the data, from every point and all the underlying details. If you need to thermally tune your image, this is great news, when it comes to trying to pick out possible issues.

Here are some comparative images between the FLIR C2, FLIR TG165 and the FLIR E4:

 
Here are some videos of each of the thermal imaging cameras:

 

Conclusions about the FLIR C2 Thermal Camera
FLIR is once again stepping up their game and putting everyone on notice. For building professionals, the FLIR C2 will be a great, inexpensive (relatively) tool that you can outfit your entire crew with. They will be able to gather quality information to bring back to the office or show a customer out in the field. For spotting trouble with insulation, water damage or heat issues, this should be a must have, along with a good pinless moisture meter and a thermo-hygrometer (preferably with a wind meter). While the FLIR C2 is not RESNET compliant (which mandates a 120x120 resolution minimum), for a quick survey, it will collect much better data than anything currently in its price class.

What's Included with the FLIR C2 Thermal Imaging Camera
FLIR C2 Imaging System
Battery (inside camera)
Lanyard
Power supply/charger with EU, UK, US, CN and Australian plugs
Printed Getting Started Guide
USB memory stick with documentation
USB cable

Learn More About the FLIR C2 Thermal Imaging Camera
FLIR C2 Thermal Camera Data Sheet