Bosch inspection camera UniversalInspect (Ø8mm endoscope camera for color images with flexible 0.95m length and integrated memory function)

Product Information

Borescopes are designed for industrial as opposed to medical use. These have either a rigid or flexible stem and are suitable for large equipment inspections. They usually have a larger diameter lens than endoscopes, illuminating a greater area. The Depstech DS500 includes a dual camera design, which not only features a forward-pointing camera but a second looking out to one side (yet it manages this with a narrower probe than the wireless WF028 further down this guide). Dual power source: can be operated both with 10.8 V-LI battery and with standard alkaline batteries Twisting cables and switching between 90° rotations is complex especially when viewing the screen, so the Bosch GIC 120 C has introduced the new ‘Up is Up’ function to simplify this for the user. This feature offers the best orientation by rotating the screen, therefore even if the camera is upside down, the image will always appear the right way up on the screen, this is a clear USP for the GIC 120 C. Inspection cameras are battery-powered, and the battery life is important. The charge time is also worth looking at.

Rechargeable batteries are convenient provided they last long enough. Ideally, you’ll want a few hours of run time. This is especially important if your camera takes a few hours to charge, as many do. Camera Resolution It could also be great for diagnostics – for example while testing this tool I found out that some of my radiators are suspiciously rusty at some of the joints where I would not have been able to inspect without this camera. I need to think about replacement before winter. An electrician I lent it to used it to help him locate wires, joists and positions for a set of downlighters he was fitting into a client’s ceiling - saving him a lot of exploratory drilling and making good afterwards. First off, and what makes this the best inspection camera on my list is the dual-camera setup. Not only do you get the main front-facing camera, but another one pointing at 90° for an unbeatable field of view.

Wi-Fi: this could be handy for viewing footage on your smartphone at a safe distance from the actual dirty work Screen size and resolution: the bigger and better the screen, the easier it is to get a proper view of what you're looking at. The inspection camera is perfectly suited for many tradespeople applications such as, for example, inspecting the interior of distribution boxes, pipes, and wall cavities as well as for hydraulic systems and applications in the automotive sector. Additional Information The camera lens itself has an excellent 70° field of view, and you can switch between three viewing modes with a single button. If the image on the screen is upside down, you can flip it through 180°. It’s a useful little feature you’ll use more often than you think.

Wireless inspection cameras use wifi to transfer data. The images and videos taken can be transferred to a screen for viewing. These are used in any situation where you need to view the data being collected in real time. Images can be recorded as stills or video to the SD card, or output via the analog connector. Admittedly the design features what feels like a historic connector – the Mini-USB –but this is a professional tool with a professional price and the cost of a USB adapter is hardly relevant. FAQs What is the difference between a borescope and an endoscope? Camera resolution: the more the better, though remember these cameras must be tiny to be useful. Be aware that some makers 'upsample' resolutions to make it sound better than it actually is (a common way is recording higher resolution video than the camera's sensor can make use of). The inspection camera GIC 120 C Professional is ideal for inspecting hard-to-reach areas and documenting the results. To achieve optimum spacial orientation, the ‘Up is Up’™ function rotates and simultaneously aligns the image on a large screen. For high-quality documentation and fast storage, images and videos can be directly transferred via micro USB cable. Dual Power Source technology allows for using 12 V Li-ion or standard alkaline batteries. Equipment & Application

Convenient inspection and documentation of hard-to-reach areas

Hook Clip - attach the hook clip to the end of camera to retrieve non-magnetic or other small items that may have fallen in the vehicle engine compartment. Move hard to reach wires or cables. Camera helps guide the user to the problem area. Inspection cameras generally have either a flexible or rigid cable. Rigid cables are better for areas above your head or in straight lines. These are best for inspecting drains and can also be useful if you’ve got some obstacles that you need to push through to get into a confined space. If you’re not going to be needing an ultra-sharp image, you’ll be able to get away with a lower resolution. Led Lights

I have used some of them, and let’s face it, some of the cheaper inspection cameras on the market can be confusing rather than illuminating. The images they produce can be very poor and they can’t record their results. They do a job, but in the age of accountability, we might need to show clients or specialists exactly what is hidden in the wall or ceiling cavity that is causing the problem. The main differences are the softness of the tube. These are rigid, semi-rigid, and flexible. Rigid is good for things like gun barrels, while flexible can be directed. These are sometimes called fibrescopes (a reference to optical fibre.) Other names are inspection camera and even 'burner cam' (the camera pushed round into the hot and dangerous parts or machines). The best borescopes: What we look for Inspection cameras are versatile cameras that enable you to look at areas you wouldn’t normally be able to access. They consist of a tiny camera at the end of either a rigid or flexible cable. Whether you’re inspecting an area behind a wall, down into a drain or inside your car, an inspection camera can give you a clear view. Types of Inspection Cameras The “Up is Up”™ function offers the user optimum orientation due to automatic rotation of the image

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A borescope is used for a wide variety of inspections, while an endoscope – while similar in concept – is for medical inspections. Borescopes can be used to inspect machinery and engines, pipes and gun barrels, and hidden areas inside the home live cavity walls. Endoscopes, by contrast, are used to inspect body cavities and organs. What kinds of borescope are there? With an incredible range of webcams, endoscopes and even otoscopes for looking in your ear, Depstech are surveillance experts. Their DS300-SJ dual-lens endoscope is one of the best inspection cameras available right now. The screen is crystal clear, and you don’t need to fiddle around with mirrors to get a better viewing angle. Whether you’re buying an inspection camera, a CCTV camera or a bird box camera, the resolution is always going to be a factor. The higher the resolution, the clearer the image will be, but the camera will also be more expensive. Magnet - attach the magnet to the end of camera to find items that may have fallen in the vehicle engine compartment or cylinders. For example, use the magnet to locate and retrieve screws or bolts that fell within the engine compartment and cannot be reached by hand. Locate and retrieve metal particles that may have fallen in the cylinder.

It might not look like much, a kind of coated wire-frame arrangement, but it’s actually much easier to grip than, say, the plastic spools common on extension leads. That thoughtful quality extends to the highly durable display which is both waterproof and oil/chemical resistant too. You need to worry about delicate touch screens, as the controls are all on robust buttons around the display. Some inspection cameras use disposable batteries. While these are more convenient because there’s no need to wait hours for the battery to charge, they may work out more expensive and you’ll need to dispose of the batteries after use. Depstech are leading the way when it comes to the best snake camera thanks to the clever dual lens technology. You don’t need to fiddle about with tiny mirrors as there’s a second camera at 90° to the main one. They’re both well lit with an array of six LED lights for when things get dark.If your inspection camera comes with a display, you should ensure it’s large enough for you to clearly view what’s going on. 3″ and above tends to be the best screen size for viewing. Any smaller than this, and you may not be able to get a good view of the area. It’s important that your inspection camera is waterproof, especially if you’re going to be using it in damp areas or to inspect drains. Those with a fully waterproof rating can be used underwater. Semi-flexible cables are better for getting around corners. These can be manoeuvred and directed and will stay in the position you place them in. However, they are slightly more practical than rigid cables because they can be manoeuvred around bends. Next was the image quality of the camera – the images were clear enough to see and recognize most features whether close or within range of the maximum light output, although they become quite grainy as they reach the limits of light output. On close ups, the glare of the light can cause reflection, so the ability to tone the light output down is a good feature. It really helps me to be able to understand easily the orientation of what I am seeing, so the “up-is-up” pictures offer a realistic view, although there is a way of manually selecting the top of the picture via the control screen. Also, as digital imaging has improved and we have become used to our phones and tablets automatically showing “up is up” as we rotate them, it was clearly time to incorporate these into a newer generation of inspection cameras.