Outdoor enthusiasts who visit CES 2016 should take a look at the FLIR Scout TK, a pocket-sized thermal vision monocular that enables campers to fully explore nature, even at night.
Crafted to catch the thermal signature in lowlight conditions of people, animals or heating objects on a radius of 100 yards (90 m), Scout TK helps you get a better look at the surrounding area. The device can capture still images or record videos, and it is useful in the outback trips or in your own backyard.
The previous product from the company was the FLIR One, a professional-grade thermal vision camera with smartphone-connection compatibility.
The American manufacturer showcases a different approach at this year's technical show in Las Vegas. At CES 2016, FLIR released a compact thermal camera that requires no additional gadget to function and capture visual content.
Dubbed Scout TK, the cam is destined for use in harsh and tumble outdoorsy scenarios. The manufacturer equipped the steam-punk looking monocular device with weather resistant features that put the FLIR One to shame. What is more, the gizmo can record video footage and take photos.
Night hunting, pet searching and rescue missions have a higher success rate when you can rely on visual cues rather than barks, shouts or other sounds. The camera is also a great tool for scanning parks, sidewalks and parking lots in the dark, making it a go-to instrument for security enterprises.
When compared to FLIR One, the downside of the Scout TK is that its field of view is slightly narrower, at 20° x 16°. Where it excels, however, is in the increased range which reaches as far as 100 yards (90 m). Another plus of the monocular camera is its consistent Li-Ion battery, which offers five hours of standard use.
The build of the device makes it lightweight (6 oz. /170 g) and compact enough to be packed into any luggage and into most pockets (4.0" x 1.5" x 1.5"). There is no training necessary to properly use the device, as it sports an intuitive interface and a four-button design.
Scout TK is a solid piece of hardware, as it has the capacity to operate at temperatures between -4°F to 104°F (-20°C to 40°C), can withstand 6.56 ft./ 2 m drops and is IP-67 submersible.
If you want to take a snapshot, simply short press the image capture button, whereas if you aim to capture a video clip, long pressing the image capture button will do just that. Image/video download is available via an USB slot.
The device reveals all the thermal info on the 640x480p LCD Display.
Those who like to make the most of their devices should know that user may configure Black/White Hot, InstAlert, Graded Fire video palettes.
Users who tested the device at CES 2016 confirmed that it detects and reveals the heatmap of fellow participants.
"Scout TK is really meant for activities like camping, where you can use the camera to spot wild life or look for a missing pet," Engadget noted, citing a FLIR spokesperson.
The price point for the Scout TK is $600. Before you shake your head and reject the device as being pricey, you should know that as far as most thermal cameras go, this is an affordable price.
FLIR did not officially announce when the camera will be on sale, but we'll probably see it on the company's website sometime later this year.
Until then, watch it in action in the video below.
