FLIR C5 review from a home inspector

FLIR has a relatively new pocket-sized infrared camera with all of the bells and whistles of the much larger and expensive E6. It boasts the same resolution as the E6 but it’s a fraction of the price at only $699. With these features and benefits, this camera ought to put the E6 out to pasture.
Edit 12/16/20: The fine folks at Monroe Infrared were kind enough to notify me that I don’t have my facts straight. The E6 is no longer available, so ignore the price I quoted. The E6 has been replaced with the E6xt, which has a resolution of 240x180. The new equivalent of the E6 is the E5xt, which sells for $1,399. However, even with that new information, I still say the C5 is a better deal.

[@bryanmorris4536]

Thanks Rueben, I’m on the fence about getting my first thermal camera in the next month or so - the side by sides really do help with understanding what I’m getting at each of those price points. Definitely leaning to the c5 based on this review!

[@scottm9867]

Great verse in the background

[@kituwahband]

The E6 has a little better resolution at 240x180 where as the C5 has a resolution of 160x120 (same as our Flir ThermaCam B2), still not bad. After a few months, what do you think of the battery life? Been thinking of getting one and connecting it to a portable dvr for video capture 🤔

[@a-ron9884]

This is the exact video i was looking for. Thanks!

[@alejandropoveda7731]

Hello Reuben, thank you very much for such a great review. Have you ever tried the HIKMICRO Pocket 2, it seems to be a great alternative.

[@propertysystemsinspection]

Hey Reuben, have you tried using the FLIR Protools app once you transfer your images from the C5? Does this app work?

[@caliperhomeinspection7739]

I have used the C5 for months and love it. The case clips onto my belt for easy access. Keep up the great content 👍

[@SignatureHomeInspectionIrvine]

Can you pull over images without uploading to Flir ignite first?

[@inspeg3853]

Correction - C5 has thermal sensitivity ~70 mK vs E6 with 60 mK. This explains the difference in the picture. C5 is like C3 on steroids. However, the price king this year is the CAT S62 phone with its 5.7” FHD touchscreen and the new, awesome FLIR Lepton 3.5 sensor. BTW, I love your smooth speech and natural behavior. Respect!

[@allusernamesistaken]

I have both (c5 and cat s62). The s62 images looks a lot better as there is a lot of sharpening and smoothing going on. Like with the flir one pro. On the C5 you get more raw data and it doesn't look as pretty. They both have the lepton 3.5 I believ. Same specs.

[@Blute72]

Hi, Are you saying the cat s62 is as good or better than the C5 as a thermal camera?

[@emiltchilev9026]

@@Blute72 For me CAT S62 is better. Same (or better) sensor, but wit bigger screen and many else. I am writing this comment from it. ;-)

[@Blute72]

@@emiltchilev9026 thanks for your feedback. I am thinking the cat62 might be better for me. Slightly cheaper and bigger screen.

[@emiltchilev9026]

@@Blute72 I tried C5, but it the CAT phone gives FAR MORE

[@ykc1800]

Thank you ! A very useful review.

[@ame4hi304]

Thanks for grt review. which one to use if we want to see pipes under the house (newly built)? we can hear water running through drainage pipes under one of the bedrooms when it is rainy...want to check it out (sewer pipe? why running under the house? how if it breaks or leak?)... curious, but want to figure it out. and which one would also show moisture? i mean one device to detect both moisture/water, and heat/cold leaks (insolation issues).

[@kykle90]

Awesome, Thanks for the review.

[@kayjet64]

I have a situation where the nearest I can get to the spot is 20’ . Will I still get a reading on both the C5 and Cat s62. Working on energized high voltage structures (Substations). Don’t want to carry around the $35,000 camera, it’s huge.

[@KittisakTemsirimongkhol]

Can we use C5 to inspect to high voltage system? Such as; temperature of drop out fuse and other.

[@danielfavelatentori4046]

Thank you for the review. This is exactly what I was looking for (performance/cost). Comparison pictures were super helpful.

[@pvsheridan]

Does the C5 add the FLIR logo to all images?

[@brandofalcon]

Hey Reuben, have you heard anything good about the new Flir moisture meter/ IR cam combos?

[@StructureTech1]

Heard, yes, but I haven't personally tested any of them.

[@StructureTech1]

I've heard about them, but I don't have any firsthand experience.

[@spaceandsky1829]

Never had flir before have night vision and want to get flir for hobby/fun do you recommend this model or is there anything better for around same price range thanks

[@StructureTech1]

I'm not aware of anything better in the same price range.

[@spaceandsky1829]

@@StructureTech1 thanks👍

[@MrBababuwi]

how much did flip pay for this ad?

[@happyn7817]

Can you replace the battery?

[@unds85]

I considered the C5, but I just bought the FLIR TG267 instead on Inspector outlet... No complaints thus far.

[@playzfahdayz]

Sadly the E4 has the same hardware as the E8, and with a simple firmware update the E4 produces the same performance as a camera nearly 3-4 times the cost. This is very sad from a business standpoint, and shows you just how greedy a company like Flir is to charge so much for something they can mass produce at such a small cost.

[@spaceandsky1829]

Seek shot pro updated software or flir c5 which is better? What is the max range of these cameras ie security purposes could you see animals in forest? thanks

[@StructureTech1]

I've used the Seek Shot Pro, but I don't know if I've used it with the updated software. Comparing to the Seek Shot Pro that I've tested, the C5 is way better. The MSX technology is fantastic. As for the max range, I've never tried that. As a home inspector, I'm typically looking at stuff close-up.

[@spaceandsky1829]

@@StructureTech1 Any chance you can test it at range or give a rough idea what it would be no good reviews on c5 yet other than yours be greatly appreciated as want to purchase it👍😉

[@propertysystemsinspection]

The Seek shot pro is an ok camera, you will be fighting a lot with it when it comes to thermal tuning and clearity. I find the images always to dark compared to flir. The FLIR one pro in my opinion is much better than the Seek, but I have had issues with the little thing loosing it's connected with the phone. Again, FLIR one pro is a toy and not reliable for home inspections. For pricepoint and reliability, the C5 seems to be the winner.

[@spaceandsky1829]

@@propertysystemsinspection thanks waiting for it to come down in price of see if they release c6 👍

[@michellebaltazar2447]

Can it capture videos

[@Stygy81]

Flir E4 = Flir E8 just crippled through firmware. Hacked in 2013. look for E4 hack in eevblog

[@LuiKast]

Buy the Flir E4, install a fix for the crippled firmware (google is your friend for that), and you get an E8 for cheap. Both have the same sensor... it's just crippled by the firmware!

[@chipfornaris]

Hi, can you just download this “fix” and update the E4 ? Or, do you have to know how to code software?

[@motivationbrain2785]

It can see liking water pipe under the ceramic floor? (im a plumber)

[@biagiomancino6008]

Not really a fair comparison between the C5 and E6. The thermal scale on both the images are not identical.

[@RileyGoss]

Are you a home inspector?

[@StructureTech1]

Yes. Well, I'm the owner of a home inspection company. I no longer inspect houses myself. - Reuben

[@sooptime]

I first started using a Milwaukee many years ago, then a Flir E5 for 8 years until the USB port broke, then a year ago I bought a C5 based on value and expectation that it would render images at least as good as an E5. I just sent it in to be replaced under warranty. The images are disappointing even relative to the E5, it freezes randomly both during boot up and use, the paired real image comes out black frequently, the boot up is excruciatingly slow, the MSX fails far too often to capture outlines and does not render in images, the calibrating when adapting to an object or view is extremely slow, the time it takes to take the shot is slow. In my mind, the C5 is barely suited for inspection, primarily due to image quality. For the specs, it just doesn't cut it. It should have been better than an E5 and it just isn't. I am looking for an alternative at the moment and will likely end up selling the C5. Very disappointed. Edit: To add, the MSX is glitched. Regardless of where I adjust it to for distance, the MSX overlay is far off from the thermal image. It is displaced. The two do not line up. It can be 3 feet away or 20 feet, it does not matter.

[@JohnR84]

Nice verse, but as a Building Inspector posting Hammurabi better, ; ) Earliest construction law is the Code of Hammurabi who was the 6th King of Babylon 1792BC > 1750 BC. The Code has 282 laws carved on 12 stone tablets for public reading. Five are for the built environment: 229. If a builder builds a house for someone, and does not construct it properly, and the house which he built falls in and kills its owner, then that builder shall be put to death. 230. If it kills the son of the owner, the son of that builder shall be put to death. 231. If it kills a slave of the owner, then he shall pay, slave for slave, to the owner of the house. 232. If it ruins goods, he shall make compensation for all that has been ruined, and inasmuch as he did not construct properly this house which he built and it fell, he shall re-erect the house from his own means. 233. If a builder builds a house for someone, even though he has not yet completed it; if then the walls seem toppling, the builder must make the walls solid from his own means.

[@SignatureHomeInspectionIrvine]

Can you pull over images without having to upload to their Flir cloud first? If you cant just pull images directly to computer with usb then this camera is junk.

[@allusernamesistaken]

Yes, you can connect it via cable like any other camera.

[@SignatureHomeInspectionIrvine]

@@allusernamesistaken not on a Mac. Just found out you have to download an Android driver to do it.

[@_Per_Aspera_Ad_Astra_]

Flir commercial

[@mh5764]

This is a great video but he needs to get to the point and know his numbers so that he doesn't sound like a casual consumer. Other than that, his dialogue is informative but monotone and dull.

[@123badman]

Flir cams are all garbage. They never last 😊

[@kevenswartz8712]

I took the C5 out of the box and threw it back in within 10 min. Terrible camera. Maybe Ive been spoiled with my T-440BX and E85 having done over 6000 inspections using IR on every one, but the C5 is garbage on every level. Do not buy. The screen drags/delays terribly in real time, focus - terrible, accuracy - terrible. Waste of money. Go to an E6 at minimum.

[@Rick-lf1wy]

So the E85 seems to cost 8700.00 and the t-440BX costs 12,000. And they are better than the C5? You don't say, most unhelpful comment I have seen for people really trying to find an affordable camera that will do the job. I don't want to sell my truck to buy a damn camera for home inspections.