Thermal imaging cameras

 

— cameras that work on the principle of thermal imagers and react exclusively to thermal (infrared) radiation from objects: the higher the temperature of an object, the brighter it will glow in the frame. This gives features that are not available with conventional optical cameras. For example, using a thermal imager, you can distinguish between a person or an animal that is invisible to ordinary optics due to a masking background or dense vegetation. In addition, cameras of this type can work without special illumination even in absolute darkness.

One of the main disadvantages of thermal imaging models is the very high cost, primarily due to the price of specialized lenses. In addition, in some situations, the thermal imager is ineffective — for example, it is not able to clearly identify an object if its temperature matches the background temperature (which, in particular, makes it difficult to use in hot weather). And the resolution and detail of the picture, usually, even in advanced models is quite low. As a result, there are few thermal imaging surveillance cameras in their pure form — hybrid models of the “optics + thermal imager” type, which have a wider operating range and do not require such expensive equipment, have become much more widespread.