Thermal Master USB-C Camera ZDNET's key takeaways It's the perfect thermal camera for professional and consumer use.
From my testing, the camera has great accuracy and temperature resolution.
While it works with Android and iOS, it's still fairly pricey at $300. View now at Amazon
I make no bones about being a huge fan of thermal cameras for smartphones. Initially, I dismissed them as a gimmick, but within minutes, I was sold on their practicality. I think they are a must-have for both engineers and home DIYers.
I've used mine for all sorts of applications, from finding out how much propane is in a tank (point the camera at the tank and you'll see the level), discovering pipes and electrical cables in walls, spotting draughts around doors and windows, and identifying faulty components on circuit boards.
Also: I take this $30 pocket multitool everywhere, and keep finding new uses for it
They are practical beyond words, so I'm always excited to test a new camera, so when the new Thermal Master P3 landed on my desk, I couldn't wait to try it out.
The P3 is a USB-C camera that works with Android, iOS, and Windows, making it great for engineers who work with Windows-powered tablets and laptops. At only 59 x 27 x 17.2 mm/2.32 x 1.06 x 0.68 inches and weighing only 26.3g/0.93oz, it's small enough to pop into a pocket or bag. It even comes with a carry case to prevent the unit from getting banged about in use and a 50 cm cable to allow for convenient positioning.
The P3 is very compact and portable. Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
The camera has a thermal range of -20°C to 600°C/-4°F to 1,112°F, with an accuracy of ±2°C, and can detect temperature differences as small as 0.035°C. It has a resolution of 512 × 384 pixels and a 25Hz refresh rate, all of which are vital if you're going to be looking for faulty components on tiny circuit boards.
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