Budget 256x192 thermal imager - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: freebil
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 04, 2025, 08:25:20 am
content: Hello, I am interested in buying a 256x192 thermal camera and I need it to be as cheap as possible. I would like to be able to take photos and videos for post processing.I saw the following choices:1.) GW256 from Ali. It has very good reviews both on Ali and on Amazon. Is it ok for the money?2.) Uni-t UTi260B. I read about problems updating firmware.3.) Topdon tc002c for mobile.Do you have any other recommendations? I am new to this category of equipment.

author: Bill W
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 04, 2025, 12:39:45 pm
content: I am not sure I would believe many of the reviews, as a native English speaker many of them read like AI generated spam.In addition the product images are often faked, for example the Amazon GW256 has the screen changing aspect ratio and text showing well above 320x240 resolution.Most use the same sensor/core anyway so should be little to choose apart from form factor

author: EEEnthusiast
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 06, 2025, 06:22:42 am
content: I had seen good reviews for the TOPDON TC001 and have placed an order for it. It will be with me in a couple of days. I will post some pictures and test results here for that.

author: artag
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 06, 2025, 02:38:53 pm
content: I don't really like the phone plugin devices but I do have two of the Topdon ones. They're awkward to use on a phone but as cameras they're good value and seem a more economical and flexible option than the gun-style handhelds. Very much depends on how you want to use them but it's much more feasible to use the infiray devices as a thermal webcam than it was the flir and other devices.They mostly don't have video out. It would be nice if they did but it looks feasible to use a raspberry pi as a translater.

author: nidlaX
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 06, 2025, 05:49:35 pm
content: Still waiting to get a Guide PC210. If you value fast startup time, I'm not sure there's a better option available (someone correct me if I'm wrong please).

author: thephil
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 08, 2025, 09:31:12 am
content: I have anA-BF RX-500. It was cheap and certainly isn't a Flir cam but it does the job and performs ok.Potential drawbacks:No Tripod mountNo manual range settingDoes not act as a webcam. So you need to store on internal memoryBoot is a little slowfrequently pauses image for a second or so (can be seen in the video on my blog)I can totally live with those limitations and did not regret buying it. I wrote a little post about it on my blog (German only, but Google translate should suffice):https://techbotch-org.translate.goog/blog/thermal%20camera/index.html?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-US&_x_tr_pto=wapp

author: nzlamb
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: February 10, 2025, 06:16:41 am
content: I'm in the same position and ended up ordering a a GW256 last week. I will let you know what it's like once it arrives.A friend of mine bought a Victor 328B last year and is very happy with it. I was quite impressed myself and almost ended up buying one but the GW256 was the same price and spec and has the advantage of being self-contained rather than relying on a phone connection so I thought I'd try it. I suspect it will share many common internal parts with the 328B.

author: EEEnthusiast
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 15, 2025, 07:12:20 am
content: I just got my TC001. Overall seems to do a decent job. Not so sure of the accuracy of the readings, but the resolution seems to be great.Few sample pics.My WD cloud storage followed by the soldering station

author: nidlaX
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 18, 2025, 06:45:42 am
content: Got my Guide PC210 today. Camera works great, and startup time is very quick as advertised. Main downside is lack of ability to record videos, but you could buy the E2 / E2+ if you want that.UVC works on PC but not with most common Android apps.

author: freebil
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 18, 2025, 04:22:07 pm
content: Quote from: nzlamb on February 10, 2025, 06:16:41 amI ended up buying GW256 too. I received it today, but every 12 seconds I hear a clicky sound. Does this happen to yours too? Maybe color recalibration?Is there any mac os software to post process the jpegs that it creates? If anyone have any question about this thermal camera let me know.

author: DaneLaw
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 24, 2025, 05:02:39 pm
content: Quote from: freebil on February 18, 2025, 04:22:07 pmIts the non uniformity correction (NUC) its a common calibration process for many uncooled VOx microbolometer sensors.

author: Grzegorz
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: March 10, 2025, 10:21:56 am
content: I bought gw256, I have temperature measurement in steps of 17.7 18.8 19.7 20.9. others have every 0.1. what can I do?for example I can't measure between 17.7 and 18.8

author: FantaBH
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: March 11, 2025, 07:40:47 pm
content: There is plenty nice camera mentioned here , but I would add HTi HT-203U mobile usb C thermal camera , it supports imaging and video recording, however many are concerned about its app that in near future could lose support and app is not available on playstore as it coming from China. But it have resolution you asking, it have auto focus, 25 FPS and it cost around 130$ . Source AliExpress , eBay, Temu.

author: Silicium81
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 22, 2025, 10:54:28 pm
content: I ordered an HT 203U-i (256x192) that connects to a smartphone via USB. Although I already own a Uti690b, I couldn't resist an offer for less than €115 delivered. I appreciated the compactness of my Flir One Gen2 (160x120), which unfortunately showed disastrous reliability and no longer works.I'll give my opinion when I receive it.

author: Silicium81
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 25, 2025, 05:21:20 pm
content: I received the thermal imaging camera I ordered on Aliexpress (in 5 days! A record from China).I tested it a bit, and since I'm already familiar with the sensor, having also used it on my other UTi690B camera, I'll be able to compare the two.Well, the 'small' HT-203U-i camera works very well. The Android app works perfectly on my S25 smartphone and responds well. You can take photos as well as videos.I've currently used it to mark the location of a hole to be made in a ceiling by placing a hot water bottle above it, in the attic, between two joists.This is the image of the heat 'spot' as seen from the room.

author: SYOM
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: July 09, 2025, 08:23:32 am
content: I’d suggest looking at the P2 Pro. I went with the P2 Pro mainly because of the macro lens. You don’t see many phone thermal cameras that include one.It turned out more useful than I expected. I was able to spot a slightly warmer protection diode next to the USB port, which helped me fix a drone controller that wasn’t charging.