8 Reasons Why Thermal Images Are Better Than Night Vision

1. Sure, thermal imagers are cool. Once you see what you've never been able to see before, its hard to think of where you cant use it. But is cool-factor enough of a reason to add a thermal camera such as the FLIR Scout to your gear? Definitely! Here are a few tips to help you find the right thermal imager for your outdoor adventure needs

2. During daylight hours, thermal imagers are ideal for seeing through camouflage, light foliage, smoke, dust and haze. Thermal imagers create their own contrast based on the temperature differences of the objects in the frame. Traditional night vision optics is useless during daylight hours

3. Unlike night vision goggles, thermal cameras generate images based on infrared radiation (basically heat, which everything emits). The technology inside the cameras is so ensitive and powerful that even the smallest temperature differences will be revealed in the darkest of conditions (e.g., spelunking, hiking under overcast night skies, exploring after dark beneath thick tree canopies, etc.).

4. Night vision equipment is restricted by available illumination, such as moonlight, star light, city lights, etc. Thermal imagers have no such limitation and optics are available in the FLIR Scout series to detect a man-sized target more than two kilometers away.

5. The temperature differences of the objects in the scene determine how the image is rendered. Live bodies are typically going to be the hottest objects in your scene, and most likely what you're looking for. With tools like InstAlertTM (available in FLIR Scout cameras), the hottest object gets highlighted in red so it stands out among the clutter.

6. Be wary of any boasting about LCD resolution. What matters is the resolution of the detector or microbolometer. LCD resolution pertains to what you're seeing on the display. Detector resolution pertains to the sharpness of the image being captured. A 240 x180 detector is sharper than a 160 x 120; a 320 x 240 is sharper than the 240 x 180; you get the drift.

7. Handheld thermal imagers aren't for photographers; they're for adventurers. Make sure you get a thermal imager that can:
- Do anything its designed for at the push of a button: instant on, e-zoom, change palettes, record, etc.
- Handle abuse. Youve got no patience for dainty gear on your trek!

8. Not all thermal imagers save stills or record video, because digital storage comes at a premium. For use in the outdoors, most adventurers are only concerned with seeing what's here and now and not recording a scene for extended review later. Once you see what your thermal imager can do, you're going to invent reasons to use it. At that point, you may want to record video or capture a still image. Will your buddies believe your story about the 14-point buck? Here are a few other storage examples.