The Seek Compact is one of the most used thermal imagers available, and that’s not solely due to its size and durability.
Like its rival the FLIR ONE, the Seek Compact thermal imager can instantly turn your Android or iOS device into a capable thermal camera.
The Seek Compact is actually a very powerful thermal imaging system in its own right, and offers a lot of advantages over the FLIR One, but it is lacking in a few important ways.
- Home projects
- Preventative maintenance
- Entertainment
- Personal Security
- Repairs
Noteworthy Features
Many of the Compact’s advantages are noticeable right out of the box.
Size
This thing is small. The Compact fits right into your charging port, and you’ll barely even notice its presence. Weighing in at just half an ounce, and fitting in the palm of your hand, the Compact is far from being intrusive or a burden on your phone.
Temperature Range
The Seek Compact’s -40°F to 626°F temperature range is huge for how small it is. This allows the Compact to capture more extreme temperatures on both ends of the spectrum. If you need the Compact to provide thermal images for high heat objects, you’re in luck.
Thermal Resolution
The Seek Compact’s thermal sensor provides a resolution of 206 x 156, which is higher than some standard handheld thermal imagers. Because of this, the Seek Compact can show more details in the thermal image, picking up on more of the temperature differences in its 36 degree field of view.
No Battery
The Seek Compact draws its power from the phone, eliminating the need for a separate battery that has to be charged on its own. This does wear your phone’s battery down faster, but at least you don’t have to worry about charging two different devices. If your phone is on, the Compact is on.
Extra Features
One of the most handy features of the Compact is its ability to provide a threshold for certain temperatures. This means that you can set the camera to exclude temperatures above or below a certain point, eliminating some unwanted noise in the images.
The Compact also comes with a small waterproof case for easy transport It even has a keychain clip so you don’t lose it.
Limitations
Despite its powerful resolution and small size, the Compact is limited in some areas.
No Digital Camera
Unlike its competitor the FLIR ONE, the Compact doesn’t have a separate visible light camera to create a superimposed image with greater detail You’re left to decipher the thermal image on your own.
Lack of Extra Settings and Modes
The Compact is pretty vanilla when it comes to visual modes. No panorama, no time lapse, few color palette choices. A steady hand is needed to obtain an image that not blurred as well.
- Resolution: 206 x 156
- Temperature Range: -40°F to 626°F
- Weight: 0.50 ounces
- Sensitivity: 1°F
The Seek Compact packs a lot of image quality and range into a tiny device not much bigger than a few AA batteries. While the image quality could be made better with a visible light camera, the Compact’s durability and temperature range makes it quite useful for numerous applications.
Buy this if you want a smartphone thermal imager that you can use and bring with you nearly anywhere.
