FLIR ONE Pro vs Seek Compact Pro

 Both the FLIR ONE Pro and the Seek Thermal Compact Pro are extremely compact thermal imaging cameras designed for smartphones. So what's the difference between the two? How to choose? Today, phonefix will compare these two thermal imaging cameras to see which one is better.

Sensor resolution

Sensor resolution is one of the most important variables for a camera. Sensor resolution defines how much data the sensor captures in a single image. The thermal sensor of a FLIR camera is only 160×120 pixels. In comparison, the Seek thermal sensor is twice the FLIR at 320×240. So the Seek sensor, while small, is a standout winner.

Temperature sensor range

The whole point of these thermal cameras is to capture the range of temperatures within a given view. Of course, every sensor has its limitations. Surprisingly, the temperature ranges for the two cameras are very similar. The FLIR ONE Pro can detect temperatures between -4°F and 752°F. The Seek Compact PRO can detect temperatures as low as -40°F, but only up to 626°F. So, which is better? 

Depends on our work procedure. Do we need more specificity in cold or sweltering temperatures? Either extreme is irrelevant to our needs, so we'll give FLIR a nod to the slightly broader scope, but also note that the distinction doesn't mean much to us.

Vision

Different lenses allow for different fields of view. In extreme cases, fisheye lenses can provide a very wide field of view, but at the cost of image distortion. Straight lines are curved, and objects in the center of the lens are much narrower than they appear. Because of this distortion, it's best to achieve the same coverage by shooting from a longer distance with a narrow angle of view. 

This approach captures roughly the same subject, but without the warping. Since our camper is a small enclosed space, these limitations meant that any photo we wanted to take would either cover a limited portion of the interior or capture a distorted perspective with a wide view.

In this case, we have a choice because the two cameras have very different fields of view. The FLIR camera optimizes for tight spaces with a wide 55° field of view, while the Seek prioritizes fidelity with a smaller 32° field of view. Both methods have their advantages. A "better" field of view depends on the subject, not the camera. If it is a wide field of view, then FLIR is a good choice.

Camera body size

The size comparison between the FLIR ONE Pro and the Seek CompactPRO is surprising. We're assuming -- assuming each camera does the same thing at a similar price -- that the FLIR and Seek will be relatively the same size. Instead, the FLIR camera is 2.7 x 1.3 x 0.6 inches—about the width and thickness of a standard iPhone, with an extra inch below. The Seek is almost a quarter the size of the FLIR, measuring 1.75 x 0.8 x 1 inches. Not only does it take up less space, but the Seek is small enough that we didn't have to worry about bumping and damaging the Seek, like we did with the FLIR on our phone.

In conclusion

Choosing between these two cameras is a bit difficult. Sometimes we prioritize the image quality of the FLIR ONE Pro and sometimes the better resolution of the Seek Compact Pro. But in the end the decision comes down to deciding which features are most important to us.

The above is the comparison of the two thermal imagers, I hope to help you choose the right one. If you want to know more about phonefix, please comment in the comments section below.