Six Borescopes for Chimney and Flue Inspection
A comparison of six borescopes suited to chimney and flue inspection, covering probe diameter, cable length, lighting and the limits of camera evidence.
Read Guide→Thermal & Inspection Tools
Thermal cameras, infrared thermometers, borescopes and moisture meters.
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Buying Guides
Best USB Borescopes for Phones: 5 Picks That Use the Screen You Already Own
Five phone connected inspection cameras compared on probe diameter, cable stiffness, waterproof rating and whether the connector actually fits your device.
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Best High Temperature Infrared Thermometers: 5 Picks Reaching 1500 C
Five non-contact thermometers built for furnaces, kilns and forging, compared on stated ceiling, distance-to-spot ratio and whether emissivity can be adjusted.
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Best Thermal Cameras for PCB Work: 6 Picks for Finding Shorts and Leakage
Six thermal imagers built for electronics rather than buildings, compared on how close they focus, whether the lens detaches, and what they do with the image once they have it.
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General MMD4E vs Extech MO265: Simple Pins or a Combination Meter?
The MMD4E is a pin meter with tones, a hold button and a calibration cap. The MO265 does pinless scanning and contact measurement with a remote probe and a tri-colour bargraph.
Read Guide→General MMD4E vs Klein ET140: Pins in the Wall or Nothing at All?
The MMD4E is a pin meter with 8 mm stainless pins, audible tones and a calibration check built into the cap. The ET140 is pinless to three quarters of an inch and leaves no mark.
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Extech MO265 vs Klein ET140: Two Methods or One Done Simply?
The Klein ET140 is pinless only, stating detection up to three quarters of an inch using an electromagnetic field. The Extech MO265 adds a remote pin probe and a tri-colour bargraph.
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Extech MO257 vs MO57A: How Deep Does a Pinless Meter Need to Read?
Both are pinless. The MO257 states depth under an inch; the MO57A states up to 4 inches with a spherical sensor that glides over delicate surfaces.
Read Guide→Extech MO265 vs MO50: Combination Meter or Simple Pin Meter?
The MO50 is a compact pin meter stating 5 to 50 percent in wood and 1.5 to 33 percent in building materials. The MO265 adds pinless scanning and a remote pin probe.
Read Guide→Extech MO257 vs MO265: Pinless Only or Both Methods in One Meter?
The MO257 is pinless only. The MO265 adds a remote pin probe on an RJ45 lead, so one instrument does non-destructive scanning and contact measurement.
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TOPDON TC004 Mini vs FLIR C8: Budget Standalone Against a Professional Detector
The C8 states 320 by 240 true thermal with a 35 degree field of view. The TC004 Mini states 128 by 128 enhanced to 240 by 240, 25 Hz, a 450 C ceiling and onboard storage.
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FLIR C5 vs TOPDON TC004 Mini: Two Standalone Pocket Thermal Cameras
The C5 states 160 by 120 true thermal to 400 C with Ignite cloud. The TC004 Mini states 128 by 128 enhanced to 240 by 240, a 40 by 30 degree field of view, 25 Hz and onboard storage for 8,000 photos.
Read Guide→Product Reviews
Teslong 5.5 mm Articulating Borescope Review: It Names the Holes It Fits
A 5.5 mm joystick controlled articulating borescope with 180 degrees of movement, a five inch 1280 by 720 screen and a full automotive kit.
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DEPSTECH DS620 Review: Three Lenses, and an LED Layout That Tells You Which One Matters
A triple lens borescope with a five inch IPS screen, 76 degree field of view, built in storage, a 16.5 ft semi rigid cable and a ten LED layout split eight plus one plus one.
Read Review→DEPSTECH NTC55 Review: What 2K Actually Buys, and What 80 Percent Sharper Means
A dual lens 7.9 mm phone borescope capturing 2560 by 1440, with front and side cameras, an 80 degree lens, a 16.5 ft semi rigid cable and IP67.
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MugEasy Borescope Review: A 1.29 Inch Camera Head Is the Spec Nobody Else Quotes
A 7.9 mm single lens borescope with a 4.3 inch screen, eight adjustable LEDs, IP67 and an unusually short camera head for tight bends.
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Klein ET30 Review: Autofocus, and a Tool Built Around a Fish Rod
A wireless 1080P inspection camera with autofocus and always up image orientation, sized by the hole it enters and designed to mount on a fish rod.
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DEPSTECH DS300 Review: It Publishes Both Focus Ranges, Which Almost Nothing Does
A dual lens borescope with split screen viewing, a 4.3 inch IPS screen and separately published focus ranges for the front and side cameras.
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Kinpthy 16.4 ft Borescope Review: No Screen, a 7.9 mm Probe, and a Real Immersion Figure
A phone powered 16.4 ft borescope with a 7.9 mm probe, 1920 by 1440 capture, eight adjustable LEDs and a stated immersion depth of 3.28 feet for one hour.
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TOPDON TC001 Plus Review: The Software Is the Product, and It Is Android Only
A one ounce Android thermal attachment with a 256 by 192 detector, per pixel chart export, nine measurement areas and waveform graphs. Not compatible with iOS.
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TGJOR 5 Inch Dual Lens Borescope Review: Read the Focus Range Before the Headline
A five inch dual lens inspection camera with a 170 degree view, 16.4 ft semi rigid cable, eight LEDs and IP67, whose stated focus range is 1.2 to 4 inches.
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Thermal Master Thor002 Review: Six Measurement Points and a Ten Hour Battery
A standalone handheld with a 256 by 192 detector upscaled to 512 by 384, 40 mK sensitivity, adjustable emissivity, six simultaneous measurement points and a 5000 mAh battery.
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Anykit 210 Degree Borescope Review: A 0.22 Inch Probe Is the Whole Argument
A two way articulating borescope on a 0.22 inch probe with a 4 ft semi rigid cable, 180 degree image flip, overheat alarm and a thumb slider control.
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T TAKMLY Dual Lens Borescope Review: The Listing Tells You It Cannot Record
A dual lens 8 mm borescope with a 4.3 inch screen and a 16.4 ft semi rigid cable, whose own listing states it cannot take pictures or videos.
Read Review→Learning Center
Thermal Camera vs Borescope: Which Inspection Tool Does What?
One finds where to look from outside; the other looks inside. They are a sequence, not a choice.
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What Is a Borescope and When Is It Useful?
A camera on a cable that goes where your eyes cannot: cavities, ducts, drains, engines.
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Can a Moisture Meter Detect Mold?
No. It detects the water mold needs. High readings say where mold could be, not where it is.
Read Article→Why Moisture Meter Readings Vary by Material
The meter measures electricity, not water. Every material turns water into a different electrical signal.
Read Article→Pin vs Pinless Moisture Meters: How They Differ
Pins measure at the point they pierce; pads scan without marking. Most inspectors carry both.
Read Article→What Makes a Good Thermal Image for Building Inspection?
Right conditions, locked span, square-on framing and a visible reference. The camera is the easy part.
Read Article→Why Thermal Images Change With Weather Conditions
Sun, wind, rain and the inside-outside difference all rewrite what a wall looks like in infrared.
Read Article→Can Thermal Imaging Find Water Leaks?
Often, because wet materials evaporate and cool. But a cold patch needs a moisture meter to prove it.
Read Article→Can a Thermal Camera See Through Walls?
No. It sees the wall's surface. But what is behind the wall changes that surface, and that is the trick.
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Thermal Camera vs Infrared Thermometer: What Is the Difference?
One pixel versus thousands. A spot thermometer reads a temperature; a camera shows where the temperature is.
Read Article→Why Shiny Metal Can Mislead a Thermal Camera
Polished metal is an infrared mirror. The camera sees the room, the lights and you, not the metal.
Read Article→What Is Emissivity in Thermal Imaging?
How well a surface radiates heat compared with a perfect emitter. Set it wrong and the temperature is wrong.
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