Just starting out, Im looking for an inexpensive but good thermal camera.
Is the Flir Iphone camera any good?
I hear the refresh in these less expensive cameras are a big issue.
Also can you recommend a good inexpensive drone as well?
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Good and inexpensive doesn’t really apply to infrared cameras, you can’t have both. So, in the end it depends on how you are going to use the tool.
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Then stay the hell away from the gimmicky tools, and focus on mastering the art of Inspecting and Report writing!! You don’t need any of that stuff to provide a high quality report!
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David, JJ’s advice is sound. Best approach to a subject like this is to get all the education you can FIRST. Then you will be able to assess your local market (no sense investing if it won’t make you money) and determine what equipment best suits your needs.
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The Mavic Mini is considered a good entry-level inspection drone. Great pictures, budget friendly, easy to fly. The trade-off for the lower price though is that it can’t handle as much wind as the bigger/heavier drones.
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Not true and that is a consumers perspective.
And the appropriate training on how to use these tools. Lack of is a disservice to your clients.
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Don’t know who told you that, but it is wrong right off the batt. This is why you need to do the education FIRST.
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If you just want to impress your clients and show that you have the same tools as the next guy, maybe a C-5. With some training, it will give you some rudimentary results.
My market is the same. Every website claims thermal scans with every inspection. The truth is, 99% of them are just looking around and making guesses as what the anomalies mean.
I have a thermal camera in my tool bag. I understand the limitations of the tool as well as my level of education. Therefore, it has a very limited application during an actual home inspection.
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This is the one I have and consider to be the best bang for the buck. It’s an E8 dressed in E4 clothes.
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You’re right agree
No, you can see how big the temperature differential was. Let me ask, was the floor tile? May have been surface evaporation etc. etc. Just saying, it can be very misleading.
So yes, a thermal can lead you to the right conclusion, or a very bad conclusion. I once saw an inspector report missing insulation in a ceiling, but in fact is was nothing more than reflective heat from the window. Tread lightly is my best advice.
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This is really hard to believe
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I hear ya…. I just wanted a recommendation for a decent tool that wont break my bank. And no the purpose is not to put on a show.
Thank you for your advice….
Like recommended above a C5 or even a C3 will work just fine for a home inspector.
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Well, you cannot control the thread. In truth, the seasoned inspectors here were helping you because they have been there, done that! So, recommending to spend your money elsewhere (at this time in your career) and the pitfalls associated with these types of tools was spot on.
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Thanks for your help.
Flir One Pro is good enough to find missing insulation.
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What did your research before coming on this forum lead you too?
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The Flir One Pro has better resolution than the C3 and the same resolution as the C5… and its cheaper than both.
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