See
the unseen.
Hey,
hot stuff! No, we're not being creepy – you are hot. And when we
say hot, we mean hotter than your surrounding environment; something
we know all too well after playing around with a clever little add-on
for your smartphone. Exploring the world in a very different way, we
review the thermal imaging camera Flir One.
Just
like the Seek Thermal we reviewed last year, the Flir One is a
compact little gadget that plugs directly into your smartphone. It
comes in two versions; iOS and Android (Lightning and Micro USB
connectors) but is basically the same for both types, relying on the
same app. Once charged up and plugged in, and with the app installed,
you can use it to take 'thermies' as Flir say; photos of heat.
Unlike
the thermal imaging camera we previously reviewed, the Flir One uses
two separate cameras when snapping a picture; one that 'sees' the
heat (or lack thereof), and one that picks out actual feature
details. Because of this, you don't just see an item's temperature,
but also make out it's shape in the real world, making the image much
clearer.
The
app allows you to both take photos and also capture video through the
Flir One. There is also a great deal of choice of the mode of
visuals, whereby the colours used to represent the different
temperatures can be altered. As well as using the colour spectrum to
show variances in heat, the 'hottest' and 'coldest' settings
highlight the areas with the highest amount of difference – good
for identifying drafts or heat leaks.
Speaking
of leaks, the Flir One is a great tool to have for someone working in
construction or safety. As it comes with its own rubberised carry
case it can be dropped into your pocket or bag and retrieved when
needed. For everyone else... well, its just a bit of fun, isn't it?
Certainly we've enjoyed playing around with it, and we used it to
look around in Test Pit Towers to find interesting spots. For
example...
What
the hell is this? There's a spot in our hallway that is perpetually
cold; like a ghost was standing there or something. It isn't wet, nor
is there anything sticky in the carpet or pipes below that spot, but
there is a constant cold patch there. Really weird, and a bit creepy.
So
if you're looking for something truly unique to do with your phone,
this could be for you. Granted it is pricey (at the moment) but for
someone working in an industry where it is important to make sure
everything is working as it should, this is invaluable.
£199
Visit
www.flir.co.uk
