testo 872s Review: 320×240 Professional Thermal Imager

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Verdict

The testo 872s is the camera for inspectors whose reports are challenged. It has a 320×240 detector (76,800 measurement pixels) with SuperResolution to 640×480, the best thermal sensitivity of testo’s compact handhelds, and every assistance function of the range: ScaleAssist, IFOV warner, hot and cold spot detection, an integrated visible camera and the Thermography App. It is not currently listed on Amazon US; this review is written from testo’s documentation, with the listed 868s as the reference for the shared features. For electrical inspection of switchgear from a safe distance, for roof and facade surveys, and for anyone who measures small targets rather than just seeing them, the resolution is the point. For close-range work it is more camera than most buyers need.

Who It Is For

Electrical inspection contractors who must measure terminals in switchgear from outside the arc-flash boundary.
Building envelope specialists surveying whole facades and roofs.
Industrial maintenance teams monitoring motors, bearings and process equipment at distance.

Our guide to choosing a thermal camera for electrical work explains why working distance drives resolution requirements.

Documented Specifications

Item	Documentation
Thermal detector	320×240 (76,800 pixels)
SuperResolution	640×480
Thermal sensitivity	Lower NETD than the 868s (see testo datasheet for the current figure)
Assistance	ScaleAssist, IFOV warner, hot and cold spot detection
Visible camera	Integrated
App and software	testo Thermography App; testo desktop software
Amazon US listing	Not currently listed

Resolution at Distance

The measurable spot size of a camera grows with distance, and the IFOV warner on testo cameras makes this visible. With 320×240 the 872s can measure a target of a given size from twice the distance of the 868s. In a switchroom, that is the difference between measuring a lug from the doorway and having to approach the live equipment. On a facade, it means a whole elevation from the street with reveals, lintels and slab edges each large enough to measure. SuperResolution to 640×480 improves the displayed image accordingly. See comparing thermal camera resolution for the arithmetic.

Sensitivity and Analysis

testo specifies a lower NETD for the 872s than for the 868s. Lower noise means subtle patterns, such as a slightly warm phase in a balanced three-phase feed or moisture wicking behind render, stand out from the background instead of hiding in speckle. The analysis workflow is the same across the range: radiometric images with emissivity and reflected temperature stored, hot and cold spots marked, and ScaleAssist for comparable building images. Reports come from the app for small jobs or the desktop software for large surveys.

Availability and Buying

The 872s is sold through testo and instrument distributors, usually as a kit with a case and sometimes with a calibration certificate. Because it is not on Amazon US, buyers should verify current specifications and warranty terms with testo. For a firm buying its first professional camera, the question is whether the distance advantage over the 871s justifies the price step; for switchgear and facade work it usually does. It is also worth checking whether the distributor offers the 872s with an accredited calibration certificate, because clients of electrical inspection reports increasingly ask for one; see how to read a calibration certificate for what the document should contain. Owners of the 872s describe the image quality as the main reason they stopped carrying a second, higher-end camera for difficult jobs.

Strengths

320×240 detector for measurement at distance.
Best sensitivity in the testo compact range.
Same reporting workflow and assistance functions as its siblings.

Limitations

Not currently listed on Amazon US.
Highest price of the three testo compact handhelds.
Fixed focus; extreme close-up work is not the intended use.

How It Compares

The FLIR C8 offers 320×240 in a pocket format with MSX and cloud upload, and is listed on Amazon. The FLIR E5 Pro is the pistol-grip FLIR at 160×120. Within testo’s range, the 871s is the value step at 240×180 and the 868s the entry point. Choose the 872s when distance and report defensibility are the job.

How We Research

This review is based on testo’s published specifications for the 872s and the handheld range, the Amazon listing for the 868s as the closest listed model, and owner reports. We did not run laboratory tests. Verify current specifications with testo before purchase.

Recommended Tools

Testo 868s Thermal Imager – High-Resolution Thermal Camera with 160

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Flir E5 Pro Thermal Imaging Camera, WiFi, 160x120 MSX, Ignite

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Products shown because their documented specifications fit this guide. Price and availability are on Amazon and can change.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the testo 872s on Amazon?

Not on Amazon US at the time of writing. It is sold through testo and instrument distributors. The 868s is the testo handheld that is listed.

Who needs 320×240?

Electrical inspectors working on switchgear from a safe distance, roof and facade surveyors, and anyone producing reports where small targets must be measured rather than merely seen.

Is the sensitivity better than the 868s?

testo specifies a lower NETD for the 872s than for the 868s, which means it resolves smaller temperature differences.

Does it use the same app?

Yes. The testo Thermography App and desktop software are shared across the 868s, 871s and 872s.

Affiliate disclosure: Akermin earns a commission from qualifying Amazon purchases made through links on this page. Our editorial picks are based on documented specifications and owner feedback, not commissions.

testo 872s Review: 320×240 Thermal Imaging for Professional Inspections