The good news for consumers and professionals in 2019: even when you need highly advanced technology to perform certain tasks, you don’t have to imagine large, heavy equipment. What you need can come in a package as small as your mobile phone.
And that’s exactly what PerfectPrime succeeded in doing with the IR0006 model on their range of thermal imagers. It’s designed with professionals in mind, but some consumers may also want to try it out.
About PerfectPrime
In about six years of operation PerfectPrime first exploded onto the scene and then made a name for itself. Today you’ll find branches in several countries including the US and Australia. It all started in 2013 and they haven’t stopped innovating as they’re continually developing new tech.
PerfectPrime IR0006
When we discuss the IR0006 we’re talking about a unit similar to the IR0005: a thermal imager that can fit in your pocket, is easy to use and provides clear pictures. It’s worth a closer look.
What is the IR0006 Used for?
Technology like infrared has evolved and gadgets once only used by military can now benefit people in various scenarios. Because of its size and functions the IR0006 is popular for professional roles relating to moisture detection and home inspections. This can include HVAC companies, pest control and even electrical inspections.
Some home owners may obtain one for personal use to ensure effective home maintenance.
Design
The IR0006 looks like the IR0005 since it’s another compact device that resembles a mobile phone. This makes for easy handling, comfortable storage in a pocket or cupboard and most people will find it easy to navigate.
You can easily use it with one hand while doing something else with the other. This makes it practical for use in many industries, such as using it while perched on a ladder and holding on for balance while taking thermal images.
The design includes a built in rechargeable battery, so always make sure you charge it before you need to use it.
Specifications
Let’s list the details that make up the IR0006. Though there are models in PerfectPrime’s range that have similar specifications, this is a unique combination of features.
It has an impressive thermal resolution of 320 x 240, temperature accuracy of +/-2% and it can capture at a frequency of 9Hz. This is appropriate for most professional applications to deliver fast inspections and usable reports.
The temperature range is -4 to 572°F, which aligns with many other impressive models on the market. You’ll also get thermal sensitivity of 32.126°F.
The field of view is 56° x 42° with the shortest focus length being 4mm. The focus mode is fixed and you’ll have a wavelength coverage of 8-14um.
There are many features you can adjust such as the emissivity with a range of 0.01 to 1.0.
Menu & Navigation
Using the IR0006 is made easy thanks to the large buttons the brand embedded on the front and around the edges.
The buttons are relatively easy to use even if you’re wearing gloves. For example, to capture an image you simply press the button on the side. It’s located away from the other menu navigation buttons, so no danger of accidentally pressing something else and you can manage it while holding the unit in one hand.
Storage
Your images go onto the onboard storage which can take around 3GB of data. That’s enough in most cases, even for professional use. And when you need to export it it’s easily done via a USB cable.
Image Viewing
The brand made it easy to view your images as you simply connect the IR0006 to our computer. This is done with the USB cable and each image is dated. That makes for easy record keeping and reporting.
The images you’ll get are in JPG format.
When viewing images on the device itself you’ll appreciate the fairly large full angle HD 3.2” screen. The screen is full color with a resolution of 320x240 to help you discern what the thermal imager picked up. You can pick between two settings:
- Thermal view
- Visible light view
Pricing and Competition
At under $600 it’s an affordable gadget for home owners or companies. You won’t easily get one with similar features at this price range, except for the HTI HT-A2.
Warranty
For starters, on this unit the brand offers you a 60-day money back guarantee which is long enough to test it and make sure whether it’s what you need for your situation. Or if yours has a problem you can get a full refund.
There is also a two-year warranty and if you register yours after you receive it you can obtain a further 12 months of cover.
Sample Gallery:
FAQs:
Can it display a mix of thermal and visual images like the FLIR MSX?
Yes you can overlay different images and you can even decide how much visual overlay you want. But we doubt you’ll often use this feature because of the high thermal resolution. The images are so clear.
If you do overlay images, be prepared that the two pictures may not align 100%.
Is the battery replaceable?
The support team state that you can replace the battery, but you’ll have to contact PerfectPrime to obtain the replacement unit.
Does it record videos?
This thermal imaging camera can only capture images, not record videos.
IR00006 vs IR0019—A Comparison
Of course you’ll find different - even better thermal cameras on the market and the brand’s IR0019 is a crowd favorite. For one thing we appreciate the more impressive grip on the IR0019.
But in certain scenarios you need portability and in that category the IR0019 can’t beat the IR0006’s lightweight feature which make for ease of use.
Note that the models differ in some specs: resolution is similar but the IR0019 has a FOV of 27°x35°.
Final Thoughts
There’s no question that the IR0006 is a winner on the PerfectPrime list of products. It’s designed for a specific niche so other products may be more appropriate for certain professionals. But be prepared to pay more.
The IR0006 provides user friendliness and excellent features at a very reasonable price for this technology.
