Last updated on March 8, 2021

Seek thermal compact pro review

The performance of your HVAC system can be difficult to monitor with the naked eye. Traditional tools are also complicated for Do It Yourself lovers. That’s why a simple, compact device is needed to help monitor your building or home and help identify necessary repairs that need to be made.

Seek Thermal products enable you to see the different aspects of a system from energy loss to electrical shorts, missing insulation, air leaks, or even a failing motor. The Seek line has a series of products including the CompactPRO which we’ll be looking at today, the Compact XR, and the Seek Compact.

The Seek CompactPRO can be used in almost every commercial setting that needs the taking of thermal readings in a building or construction site. The CompactPro can be used for spotting overheating motors, identifying unbalanced loads on electrical circuits, finding lose connections and many more.

Users have also found great usage as a hunting companion when picking out targets in challenging backgrounds although this is not its main use.

Features on the Seek CompactPRO

Seek Thermal CompactPRO is a thermal imaging camera that attaches directly to your smartphone. It gives you thermal images directly on your iOS or Android smartphone.

This unit is a direct successor of the Compact XR. It boasts high-resolution thermal sensor, fastframe, auto-calibration, wide temperature range, emissivity settings, a wide field of view, and a long distance range.

Great Thermal Resolution

For such a compact product, the Seek Thermal Compact PRO features 320 x 240 thermal sensor. It has 76,800 pixels which can capture temperatures. It offers high thermal sensitivity and maximum clarity images. Its thermal sensor has a 15Hz refresh rate which is reasonably fast.

Videos and images captured on the Compact PRO can be stored directly on your smartphone. It allows quick and simple posting of pictures. With the new Seek Mobile APP, you can also take radiometric JPEG images.

Users get to choose between 4:3 and 16:9 formats according to your phone or tablet format and size. This helps in displaying of high-clarity temperature data.

Adjustable Focus Lens

Most advanced cameras come with a focus-free lens, but the Compact PRO allows you to focus the lens so that you can choose the right imaging area. With an adjustable focus lens, you can take thermal images from as close as 6 inches or as far as 1800 ft away.

Adjustable Radiometric and Emissivity Controls

This device gives the user more control over the imaging process. Surfaces emit thermal radiation in different ways. With the CompactPRO you can adjust emissivity settings to account for these differences.

Emissivity affects the amount of energy that objects emit which in turn influences a thermal camera’s temperature calculation. A temperature reading that reflects correctly regarding the energy it emits has an emissivity of 1.

The CompactPRO allows you to match an object with its emissivity for a more precise temperature reading.

You can highlight the focus of this camera by adjusting the level and span. This is in terms of adjusting minimum and maximum temperature change. This way, you can eliminate and reduce unwarranted distractions. It gives you better precision than if you were just using a low-end infrared camera.

Image and Video Recording

Seek Thermal CompactPRO does not really have a learning curve when it comes to taking pictures. You will need to set the focus correctly using the rotary knob. This allows capturing of images efficiently since you’ll be able to spot the margins of the object you intend to obtain.

You’ll notice the high resolution as it lets you see tiny details much better. It displays pictures with smooth edges and less distortion as opposed to devices with a lower resolution. It has a wide selection of color palettes for every purpose.

The quality of videos is also admirable. It has a 15Hz frame rate. You can record videos according to the orientation of your phone. Whether it’s in landscape or portrait, the app turns with the way you rotate your phone.

Lightweight and Subtle

Seek Thermal Compact Imager for iOS-Apple

One of the major attractions of the Seek CompactPRO is the small size. It is a perfect pick for beginners who are not looking to invest in a full-size camera as they begin the trade. It can fit in your pocket where it will be ready for use at a moment’s notice.

Professionals will also love it when handling small projects that don’t need a heavy thermal camera.

Seek Thermal Compact Pro uses the battery power on your smartphone. It could be a drawback if the device drains the power as soon as you plug it in, but CompactPRO has been engineered to use the least energy possible. It even meets Apple’s strict standards on low energy consumption.

This device is only 0.5 ounces. It comes with a shock and waterproof protective case that allows the user to take it wherever you’d like no matter the ground and the weather.

Wide Field of View

Although the CompactPRO is a small unit, it has a substantial field of view at 32 degrees vertical and 24 degrees horizontal. It is pretty good as it fits most demanding applications in the professional world. It provides you with a vast viewing area where you don’t need to keep on zooming in on the image. You’ll also do not need to move the camera constantly. This helps you spot potential dangers in seconds.

Wide Temperature Range

The CompactPRO has temperature measurement range from -40° F to 626° F. It gets you into different environments from taking measurements in subzero temperatures to inspecting machines over 600° F.

It combines a wide temperature range with high sensitivity, standing at 0.07 C. It is no wonder many professionals and savvy homeowners see it as an equal to other high-end cameras!

Enhanced Seek Thermal App

Seek has a free Seek Thermal App available for download in Google and iTunes stores. It has an intuitive design which adds essential features for the professional user. It maximizes your phone’s power so that you can get the most out of this software.

Here are some features to expect from the Seek Thermal App:

Seven User modes

It helps you to control High/Low Temperature, Spot temperature, Above Threshold, Below Threshold, Equal Threshold, Level and Span, and Thermal + Visible.

Different Color Palettes

Users will have an easy method of examining data by the visual capabilities of the CompactPRO.

Thermal Level and Span

This feature allows users to select and lock a temperature range when you want it to display every thermal detail of a scene or object. Now you can capture the details that matter.

The Seek Compact vs. Seek Compact XR vs. Seek Compact PRO

Comparing Resolutions:

Seek Thermal Compact Imager for iOS-Apple

Seek Compact

Seek is pushing the limits in the world of thermal imagery. Three of its models have successfully been on the market offering users an easy time with a compact and portable infrared camera.

The Seek Thermal Compact and Compact XR both share a resolution at 206 x 156 pixels. They can detect and capture thermal images but not with the clarity showcased by the Compact PRO which has the highest resolution at 320 x 240 pixels.

The Compact and Compact XR also have an auto emissivity while emissivity is adjustable for the CompactPRO. The two devices also have an auto mode only, while the CompactPRO has Auto & Span/Level control.

Comparing Detection Range:

Seek Thermal XR Imager for iOS-Apple

Compact XR

The main difference between the Compact and Compact XR is the detection range which stands at 1000ft for the former and 1800ft for the latter. This is where Seek draws the line between the two models.

From what we can deduce, the Compact PRO is obviously the most advanced of the three models, yet it is tailored at a very reasonable price.

Common Uses of the Seek CompactPRO

  • Monitor Utility Components: Users can quickly identify plumbing and HVAC issues with the CompactPRO. If you like doing it yourself, the device is straightforward to use. It allows homeowners to undertake preventive maintenance.
  • Find lost persons or animals: This thermal camera can easily pick up on body heat. It allows the user to track a person in thick vegetation or wooded areas. Hunters also use it to know the location of an animal that could be lurking dangerously around their home.

Limitations of the Seek CompactPRO

  • It does not have true image combining: 

    The CompactPRO does not have an inbuilt visible light camera. As such, it will not capture details that can help identify the location of a problem without using a reference picture.

    It’s pleasing that it has a high thermal sensitivity which can identify the smallest temperature differentials when locating an issue.

  • It’s not easy to adjust the adjustable focus lens: The adjustable focus lens can be time-consuming to use. Although it provides more accuracy, you might prefer a focus-free lens if it’s going to slow down your inspections.
  • Autocalibration is a bit disruptive: When making video recordings, the camera manifests continuous calibration which is indicated by a distance internal shutter every 2 seconds. It causes the image to flicker which may distract you.However, the flickering goes away after recording for some time.

Conclusion

The CompactPRO is a palm-sized device but with the features of a high-end thermal camera. It is an advanced model seeing that has the highest resolution, frame rate, and detectable range in the Seek line. It also has multiple controls and emissivity is adjustable.

The lightweight and compact design make it an easy tool to take to projects where carrying a large thermal imaging camera would be too much on your hands.

It connects directly to your Android or iOS Smartphone. The Mobile App is quite intuitive, and we believe if you are looking for an affordable thermal camera, the Seek CompactPRO is a great choice. It made it to our Best Cheap Thermal Cameras in recent comparison.

PROS

  • Very Compact and Versitile
  • Great for home owners and DYI'ers
  • Very reasonable for what you get
  • Adjustable focus lens

PROS

  • Not intended for highest demanding applications
  • Lacks features found in higher end models

Want to know how SEEK Compact stacks against Flir One? Read Seek vs Flir

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About the author 

Randy Angwin

Randy Angwin is an avid outdoor enthusiast and has been with TICR since the beginning. He helps create new articles and reviews latest infrared and night vision devices for the site as well as staying on top of the latest trends in the thermal industry. When not working, Randy likes to hunt and spend time with his two German shepherds.

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