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Early in 2014, FLIR - maker of many thermal imaging products - announced they were taking preorders for the FLIR ONE add-on camera for the iPhone. Many engineers, your author included, "geeked out" over the ability to have a thermal camera for just a few hundred bucks, a first in this arena. The actual units went on sale in August, and they're definitely more for consumers than professionals. Even so, they are useful within certain limitations.
THE BASICS
The camera is about the same size/thickness as an iPhone itself. There's a gap in the case to let the iPhone's own flash shine. The extra weight is relatively negligible (3.9 oz) and the camera has its own built-in rechargeable battery (via an included micro-USB cable, not a lightning connector, oddly enough) that's rated for two hours, although I found judicious use could extend that noticeably.
It comes with a nice, slim hardshell case that snaps onto your iPhone. It's meant to stay on all the time while the camera easily snaps on/off. I like the concept and the execution is well-done, but if you don't like the case it's pretty tough to pry it off.
The "back" of the camera has two...