Ecology Cameras
Thermal imaging and infrared cameras are extremely popular with ecologists for the observation of wildlife at night. Being able to observe animal behaviour in complete darkness is invaluable and many ecologists rely on our cameras to undertake bat, bird, mammal and amphibian surveys.
How to hire
1.
Check availability
Drop us an email or give us a ring on 0161 806 1200 to let us know what kit you would like to hire and when.
We’ll check if it’s available for your dates and pencil them in our calendar.
2.
Open an Account
If you’re a new client, we’ll need you to fill out a new account form. You can upload your insurance details here too.
If you’re an existing client, skip this step!
3.
Pay for your hire
As soon as we’ve received and approved your account form, we’ll send you an invoice. Once this is paid for, everything is set!
We’ll arrange the courier and prep the kit ready for use.
4.
The kit arrives
Inside the case you’ll find an itemised list of all the included kit plus a return shipping label.
We’ll arrange for the courier to come and collect on the pre-arranged date.
FAQ
Which camera is right for me?
The right camera may depend on your budget and application, however the primary difference between thermal and infrared is their type of night vision capability.
Thermal cameras detect wildlife by the heat they emit. This is useful to spot camouflaged creatures, however are perhaps less effective at detecting cold blooded animals such as frogs and other amphibians. Infrared cameras are sensitive to light in the infrared spectrum, so provided that the target area is suitably lit with infrared lighting, the infrared cameras can see in the dark.
The thermal camera has a fixed lens with a focal length of 166mm*. The infrared camera however has a 29-601mm* zoom lens and is therefore much more flexible with regards to framing and subject size.
Thermal imaging is great at detecting and identifiying numbers of wildlife, whereas infrared cameras are possibly more suitable for surveying and determining individual characteristics by their markings, sex, pregnancy or other distinguishing features.
*full frame equivalent.
What can these cameras be used for?
Within ecology, both thermal cameras and infrared are often used to conduct wildlife surveys.
Thermal cameras can be used to identify warmer pockets where bats may be roosting – a hole in a tree or roof for example – and are also great for counting ground nesting birds.
Infrared cameras can be used for many of the same applications, and whilst the wildlife will not glow like with a thermal camera, they are perhaps better at identifying species or individuals.
How easy are the cameras to use?
Our thermal cameras are incredibly easy to use. Turn them on and they’re ready to go – the image will auto expose, all you need to do is focus manually. There are very few settings to think about and even fewer buttons required to operate the camera.
The infrared cameras are semi-professional broadcast cameras and, depending on how much control you require, can be as simple or as nuanced as you’d like. You can operate the cameras in full auto or manual modes, including exposure and focus. That said, the cameras are designed to be intuitive and easy to operate regardless of mode or operator experience.