FOTRIC 326 vs FLIR E8 Thermal Camera Comparison
What's the difference between the FOTRIC 326 and FLIR E8 handheld infrared thermal cameras?
Key Differences
| FOTRIC 326 Thermal Camera | FLIR E8 Thermal Camera |
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Key Feature Differences
Both FOTRIC 326 and FLIR E8 are the high-resolution models of compact handheld industrial thermal cameras with durable rugged, durable, accurate and portable design. Same specifications include an accuracy rating of ±2°C or ±2%, thermal sensitivity of 0.06°C (60mK), picture-in-picture feature, adjustable level and span. a 2-year warranty on the cameras.
The top key difference between these two thermal cameras is the infrared detector resolution - Fotric 326 has 384x288 resolution compared to 320x240 resolution on the Flir E8 (44% more pixels on Fotric 326). It means the Fotric 326 thermal camera can provide higher quality and larger radiometric images, and can reveal more details.
The second key difference between them is the adjustability of the lens focus. Flir E8 has a fixed focus lens which means you can only get a clear picture at a certain distance from the object. When the object is further away or closer to the camera you will get a blurred or vague thermal image. Fotric 326 has an adjustable focus lens and you can easily adjust the focus to get a precise view of the object of interest by gently rotating the lens' ring. An adjustable focus lens is preferred by most professional inspectors to supply high-quality images to their customers. Some inspectors like the FLIR MSX feature on E8 which overlaps the objects' profile lines from the built-in visible light camera to the thermal image. The infrared image looks clearer with MSX, however, MSX has nothing to do with the focus. You may get an out-of-focus infrared image behind MSX. Sometimes the MSX can create misleading information, such as seeing through a glass window with a thermal camera.
The third key difference between them is the temperature measurement range - Fotric 326 has -4°F to 1,202°F compared to -4°F to 482°F on the Flir E8. This means Fotric 326 can cover more application tasks, especially the inspection high-temperature object.
The fourth key difference between them is the camera sensor frame rate - Fotric 326 has 30Hz compared to 9Hz on the Flir E8. This means you can see a smoother thermal image and video on Fotric 326 without ghosting.
The fifth key difference between them is the screen size - Fotric 326 has 3.5-inch touch screen displayer compared to a 3-inch non-touch screen on the Flir E8. This means Fotric 326 has a larger screen display and you can see the details better and easier. All operations can be done directly on the touch screen of Fotric 326 instead of pushing the buttons of Flir E8 thermal camera.
The sixth key difference between them is the laser light spot - Fotric 326 has the built-in laser pointer while Flir E8 doesn't. FLIR put the laser pointer on some of their expensive models, but not the Ex series. Laser point can be very helpful sometimes to show the customer whether the camera is observing.
The seventh key difference between them is the voice and text annotation function - it is available on Fotric 326 while not on Flir E8. Instead of taking note by hand and write down the image file name number, it is sometimes very convenient to just record short audio memo to the infrared image taken. The audio memo is saved along with the thermal image and can be retrieved in the post-processing.
Other Important Features
Visible light camera
Both Fotric 326 and Flir E8 have a built-in visible light camera and can take picture-in-picture fusion image, however Fotric 326 has a 8MP industrial visible light camera which can capture a clearer image than Flir E8.. Fotric 326 also has the flashlight which can be helpful when you are inspecting in a dark or low-light environment, such as the attic. The flashlight can help shot a bright visible light image.
Internet Connection
Both cameras can connect to the internet but with different methods. Flir E8 Wifi has a Wi-Fi connection with a smartphone or a tablet so the image can be streamed. Fotric 326 can connect to a WiFi or act as a hotspot for FTP file transfer.
Radiometric and Non-Radiometric Video
Flir E8 thermal camera cannot record any videos. Fotric 326 can record both radiometric and non-radiometric MP4 videos.
Movable Measurement Spot, Box or Line
While Flir E8 provides 1 center spot and 1 area box measurement tools. Fotric 326 offers 10 spots, 8 area boxes, and 2 lines measurement tools, and all the spots, boxes and line can be movable to the area you desired. This can be very helpful when multiple areas are inspected simultaneously.
Storage Capacity
Internal memory in Flir E8 can store at least 500 sets of images. Fotric 326 provide 64GB memory SD card which can store at least 4,000 sets of images. You can also upgrade the memory SD card to larger storage for your Fotric 326 thermal camera.
Color Palettes
3 color palettes, Iron, Rainbow, and Gray, are available in Flir E8. 8 color palettes are available in Fotric 326.
Product Specifications
Purple color indicates the spec is different!
| Fotric 326 | Flir E8 | |
| IR Detector Size | 384 x 288 Pixels | 320 x 240 Pixels |
| Thermal Sensitivity | <0.04°C (40mK) NETD | <0.06°C (60mK) NETD |
| Temperature Range | -4°F to 1,202°F | -4°F to 482°F |
| Frame Rate | 30 Hz | 9 Hz |
| Field of View | 28x21 Degrees or 49x36.8 Degrees | 45x34 Degrees |
| Spatial Resolution (IFOV) | 1.27 mrad | 2.6 mrad |
| Screen Size | 3.5 Inch touchscreen | 3.0 Inch |
| Color Palettes | 8 | 3 |
| Video Output | Yes. HDMI. | No |
| Lens Focus | Adjustable | Fixed |
| Laser Pointer | Yes | No |
| Picture-in-Picture | Yes | Yes |
| Radiometric Video Recording | Yes | No |
| Moveable Spots | Yes | No |
| Moveable Boxes | Yes | No |
| Moveable Lines | Yes | No |
| Touch Screen Display | Yes on Smartphone | No |
| Minimum Focus Distance | 0.5 Ft (0.15m) | 1.6 Ft (0.488m) |
| Accuracy | ±2% or 2°C | ±2% or 2°C |
| Battery Use Time | 4 hours | 4 hours |
| Battery Type | Standard Li-ion | Flir's Li-ion |
| Camera Light | Yes | No |
| IR Digital Zoom | 1-8 times, continuous | No |
| Voice Annotation | Yes, 120 seconds | No |
| Data Logging | Yes | yes |
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Warranty |
2 YEARS |
2 YEARS |
| Calibration Included | Factory Calibration | Factory Calibration |
| Power Supply Voltage | 120V/220V Universal | 120V/220V Universal |
| Interfaces I/O | Wifi, Type-C USB, HDMI, Micro SD Card | Wifi, USB |
| Storage | SD card 64GB, upgradable | Internal Memory, 500 images |
| IP Rating | IP54 | IP54 |
| Product Weight | 1.006 kg (2.22 lbs) | 0.576 kg (1.27 lbs) |
| Battery Type | Li-ion | Li-ion |
| Dimension |
310mm×130mm×110mm |
406mmx330mmx178mm 16.00inx13.00inx7.00in |
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Level and Span |
Yes, adjustable. Support touch span. |
Yes, adjustable |