When it comes to choosing thermal tools, there are many different factors to keep in mind, but one that might not be the first considered is temperature range. For most home inspections you don’t need a very wide range of temperatures to spot issues, but there are some cases where you are dealing with very high temperatures. For example, some machinery operates at a very high temperature, and if it needs to be checked while running, a camera in the lower range would not be able to detect temperature differences.
Most cameras designed for home use can’t measure temperatures above 300 Fahrenheit, but there are cameras that can go way above that. When dealing with industrial and commercial settings, a camera with a higher temperature is usually necessary. These cameras are naturally more expensive, which is the reason why cameras sold for DIY use usually stay in the lower temperature range.