There are a number of common misconceptions about thermal cameras. They’re fantastic pieces of kit, but they don’t potentially do everything you think they can do!

This article is designed to help you get to the bottom of some of the myths.

Can Thermal Cameras See Through Walls?

Answer: Sort Of

This one’s a bit of a toughie. Many people think you’ll be able to see body heat and all kinds of stuff on the other side of a wall simply by pointing a thermal camera at it, but the reality is quite far from this perception.

Thermal cameras can – in a sense – see through walls. However, what they’re seeing on the other side of the wall is generally thermal cold spots/hot spots of the actual wall itself, not whatever’s on the other side. Of course, depending on how thin the wall is and if – for example – a person was leaning against it, that thermal signature might actually register on the device. But for thicker walls, chances are you’re not going to be able to see a whole lot through the wall.

If you believe a thermal camera will effectively allow you to see what someone’s up to behind a wall, always remember that the camera only gives a thermal image of what it can actually see, not an accurate representation of what’s behind materials such as walls.

Can Thermal Cameras Find Ghosts?

Answer: Unknown

Many paranormal investigators use thermal technology to help them find ghosts and apparitions. It’s a widely held belief among ghost-hunters that ghosts emit some form of thermal energy that can be read using a thermal imaging camera, but whether this is true or not remains a subject of mystery.

We also have another blog that looks further into this field. Check it out here.

Do Thermal Cameras Not Work As Well during the Day?

Answer: Utter Nonsense

If you’ve stopped yourself from buying a thermal camera because you think they only work effectively in darkness and you want to use it during the day, let us put your fear to rest. Thermal cameras do not detect visible light, so no matter whether it is day or night, the thermal camera can be used. You might get screen glare off the sun a little bit, but the readings taken by the camera won’t be affected at all by the change in time.

See thermal cameras detect infrared light which we can’t see with the human eyes. If we could, we could see as effectively as a thermal camera both during the day, and at night-time.

Do Thermal Cameras Take A Full Image of An Area With All The Details?

Answer: They can, but not all do

Certain types of thermal camera only take an image that shows the actual thermal readings, showing the world as an amalgamation of colours and no discernible details. In comparison, other thermal images use thermal fusion, which overlays the thermal image with a conventional photograph, allowing you to pick out the details of everything you’re looking at much more effectively.

Thermal Technology is Useless in Hot Countries

Answer: Varies, but generally nonsense

Thermal cameras are often used by the military in hot countries where they’re currently engaged in conflicts, but the fact that thermal cameras can’t be used in hotter areas is not true.

It’s the belief of some that because everything is red hot, everything displayed on the thermal camera will be a huge wall of red or white. This isn’t true – since a thermal camera is designed to detect the thermal emissivity of objects rather than the whole area as a whole, this means that thermal cameras can still be used effectively in hot areas.

Some military personnel have reported that working with thermal cameras when areas are as hot as body temperature means detecting people is significantly harder though.

Thermal Cameras Cost an Arm and Leg

Answer: Not as Much as You Might Think!

When thermal cameras were first introduced, you’d probably find yourself paying upwards of £20000 for one. Thankfully major innovations in the technology and the cost of what manufacturers have to pay to produce the equipment has dropped the prices dramatically in the last few years, meaning you can still get a high-quality thermal imaging camera for a much lower price than you might expect.

Take the Flir I3. Compact, light-weight and easy-to-use, this is the perfect entry-level thermal camera, and it retails for under a grand!