Hand Held Thermal Imagers

Handheld Thermal Imagers From Leading Brands

A hand held thermal imaging camera shows the heat given off by animals, people and objects, so you can spot them in total darkness, fog, rain or light cover where your eyes and night vision can't. Our range covers compact thermal monoculars for foxing and pest control, long-range models with built-in laser rangefinders for deer stalking, and multispectral thermal binoculars for wildlife surveys.
We stock hand held thermal cameras from Pulsa, HIKMICRO, NocPix and Pixfra, and our team can help you choose the right detector, lens and range for the way you use it. On a budget? Start with our hand held thermal imagers under £1000.

A hand-held thermal imaging monocular can be used in daylight, low light and complete darkness, even in conditions such as fog, rain, snow or obstacles such as bushes, foliage etc even when traditional night vision struggles to provide an image.

We have partnerships with known brands that make a high-quality hand-held thermal imager for hunting, pest control, wildlife observation, security and surveillance. Pulsar hand-held thermal imagers such as the Pulsar Symbion thermal binoculars, providing the ultimate in long-range detection and identification and can be used for spotting wildlife, tracking quarry, thermal deer surveys and for surveillance.

Thermal Imagers, such as Pulsar Telos, can be used in poor weather conditions and will detect heat targets even through rain, fog, mist or foliage. Many conservationists are beginning to use thermal imaging for wildlife observation surveys, as these cameras are sensitive enough to provide an accurate understanding of how many of each species are present in long grass, for example.


At the lower end of our range, the HikMicro Lynx is a small compact unit that fits in the palm of your hand. Even this tiny thermal imager has a wide field of view and a sub 20mK NETD rating, making it a highly sensitive piece of kit. You can find more handheld thermal imagers under £1000 in our range.

Many of our thermal imaging monoculars and binoculars are available on finance, so you can buy now and pay in instalments over time, putting no level of quality out of reach.

Explore our full range of high-quality, hand-held thermal imagers and order online today.

Thermal Imaging Sub Categories

Thermal Riflescopes
Thermal Imaging Binoculars
Thermal Imaging Accessories
Thermal Imager Add Ons
Hand Held Thermal Under £1000
Entry Level Thermal Imaging
Best Selling Thermal Imaging Products 
Wildlife and Ecology Thermal

Thermal imaging cameras: common questions

What is a thermal imaging camera?

A thermal imaging camera detects infrared (heat) energy rather than visible light and turns it into a picture. Warm animals and people stand out clearly against cooler surroundings, day or night, without needing any light at all.

What is the difference between thermal imaging and night vision?

Night vision amplifies or illuminates the light that is there, so it shows detail and colour but needs some light or an infrared illuminator. Thermal imaging needs no light, sees heat through fog, rain and light foliage, and is the faster way to detect animals. Many shooters use thermal to find a target and night vision to identify it.

Should I choose a thermal monocular or thermal binoculars?

A thermal monocular is smaller, lighter and cheaper, which makes it the popular choice for scanning while foxing or stalking. Thermal binoculars use both eyes, so they are more comfortable for long observation sessions, and many add a daylight camera and laser rangefinder. See our thermal imaging binoculars.

What thermal resolution do I need?

The higher the detector resolution, the more detail you see and the further away you can identify an animal. 384 detectors suit closer-range pest control, 640 is the all-round choice for most stalkers, and 1280 gives the most detail at long range. Read our guide to 1280 vs 640 vs 384 thermal imaging.

Do I need a laser rangefinder (LRF)?

A built-in laser rangefinder tells you exactly how far away an animal is, which helps with safe, ethical shot placement. Models marked LRF, such as the Pulsar Telos LRF and HIKMICRO Condor LRF 2.0, include one.

How much does a hand held thermal imaging camera cost?

Our hand held thermal imagers start at under £400 for compact models such as the HIKMICRO Lynx 3.0 LE10, and go up to around £4,000 for high-resolution, long-range units with rangefinders. Finance is available on many models.

Can a thermal camera see through glass or walls?

No. Glass blocks the infrared energy a thermal camera detects, so you can’t use one through a car window or a glazed hide, and it can’t see through walls. It can see through smoke, light fog and thin foliage.