Comparison: Guide PC210 vs Flir E6-XT

Infrared cameras can be used to monitor the temperature of electrical wiring and connections, but also to see exactly where a door or window is drafting. At Eleshop we have infrared cameras from the very well-known, but often expensive, brand Flir, but also cameras from more affordable brands such as Guide and UNI-T. A camera that we have been very pleased with lately is the Guide PC210. With a price of 271.2 €271.20 Excl. VAT is this very affordable en the specifications look very good. When you compare this PC210 with the much more expensive Flir E6-XT (at the moment of writing ~€2500, 01/09/2022), he even comes out better in many areas. In this article we make the comparison between these two cameras and explain that paying too much is not always necessary.

PC210 vs E6-XT

Below, the PC210 and E6-XT will be compared on the so-called hard and soft specs. The hard specs describe the specification differences such as range, accuracy, frame rate, etc. The soft specs are more the specification differences that you notice in the user-friendliness of the product.

Hard specs

Specification	Guide PC210	Flir E6-XT
Temperature range	-20 tot 550 °C	-20 tot 550 °C
Accuracy	±2 °C or ±2% (the largest value is applicable)	±2 °C or ±2% (the largest value is applicable)
Focal distance	Min. 30 cm	Min. 50 cm
Field of View	56x48°	45x34°
Frame rate	25 Hz	9 Hz
IR-resolution	256x192 Px	240x180 Px
IR thermal resolution	0.045°C	0.06°C
Spatial resolution	3.75 mrad	3.4 mrad
Detector type	Focal plane array	Focal plane array
Spectral range	7.5-14 µm	7.5-13 µm
Screen modes	IR, Visible, Picture-in-picture, MIF	Thermal msx, thermal, picture in picture, thermal blending, digital camera
Colour palette	6:White Hot, Iron Red, Hot Iron, Arctic, Rainbow 1, Rainbow 2	Black and white, iron and rainbow
Screen	2,4" (320 × 240 Px)	3" (320 × 240 Px)
Battery (charging time)	16 hours (2.5 hours)	4 hours (2.5 hours)
Interfaces	USB	USB, Wi-Fi
Dimensions	194×62×76 mm	244x165x315 mm
Net weight	0.375 kg	0.575 kg

Soft specs

As can be seen from the hard specs, the PC210 even outperforms the much more expensive E6-XT in many areas. These specifications, but also things like the software, influence the user-friendliness of these two cameras.

Camera

In terms of the camera itself, as can be seen from the hard specs, the PC210 looks better than the E6-XT in many areas. For example, the PC210 has a better IR resolution, spectral range and a much smaller thermal resolution. A thermal resolution of 0.04°C is the standard for professional cameras. The PC210 is very close to this at 0.045°C, but the E6-XT has a much lower thermal resolution at 0.06°C. The focal distance of the PC210 is also smaller, so you can get closer to images and the field of view is a lot larger so that much more information can be seen within an image. In addition, the PC210 has a frame rate of 25 Hz compared to the 9 Hz of the E6-XT. This high frame rate ensures that the image of the PC210 is much smoother than the E6-XT. (see GIF below) On the camera front, the spatial resolution is actually the only specification where the E6-XT scores better than the PC210. Although the difference between the two in this area is very small.

Battery

Another major difference between these cameras is the battery duration. You can use the PC210 for 16 hours whereas the E6-XT is already empty after 4 hours of use. This means that the PC210 can be used for two full working days whereas the E6-XT does not complete a working day. In addition, both cameras have an equal charging time of 2.5 hours. Furthermore, the boot time of the PC210 is much faster than the E6-XT. For example, the PC210 is ready for use within 1-2 seconds after switching it on and with the E6-XT this takes about half a minute on the first start-up and even out of hibernation it does not work faster than the PC210.

Robustness

In terms of robustness, both cameras are evenly matched. They both have a fall resistance of 2 meters high and an IP54 rating. The IP rating indicates that both cameras are dustproof and can withstand a downpour. This makes both cameras very suitable for work on-site without having to worry about dust or water damage.

Interfaces

In terms of interface, the E6-XT does have an advantage over the PC210, because it has Wi-Fi. Via the Wi-Fi, it can be connected to a phone/computer on which live images can be viewed and saved. This is also possible with the PC210, but this has to be done via USB, which ensures that there is always a cable in between. The PC210 does have a 1/4" screw thread in the handle, which makes it easy to place the camera on a tripod. The E6-XT does not have this.

Weight

As mentioned before, the robustness of both cameras makes them ideal for use on location. One thing that is important when carrying such a camera is the weight. For example, the PC210 is 35% lighter than the E6-XT. This can make carrying and long-term use of the PC210 much more user-friendly than with the E6-XT.

Conclusion

Taking into account all the aforementioned points, the PC210 actually appears to be better than the E6-XT in many areas. This, together with the much cheaper price of the PC210, means that we recommend the Guide PC210.