The HIKMICRO E01 is clearly aimed at beginners and occasional users who are looking for a compact, robust and easy-to-use thermal imaging camera without a smartphone connection. The areas of application for this handy gadget are versatile. In particular, it should offer an uncomplicated solution for general home inspections, moisture measurements or quickly locating thermal bridges. There are some exciting features such as intelligent scene recognition, SuperIR image enhancement and an integrated laser pointer. The camera promises an amazing amount of technology in a small format. In the HIKMICRO E01 test, I tested the thermal imaging camera at a fair price and was surprised at how much power it actually has.
Technical data
| Model | HIKMICRO E01 |
| IR resolution | 96 x 96 pixels |
| Display | 2.4 inch LCD display |
| Frame rate | 20 Hertz |
| Infrared thermometer | -20°C to 400°C |
| Memory | – 4 GB internal memory – not expandable |
| Battery life | – Manufacturer: max. 11 hours – Practical test: approx. 8 hours |
| Price | € 199.00 * |
Scope of delivery
- HIKMICRO E01 thermal imaging camera
- 2-in-1 USB-C cable (charging and data transfer)
- Wrist strap
- User manual
HIKMICRO E01 test: design and workmanship
The E01 is pleasantly compact and, at around 290 grams, fits comfortably in the hand. It measures 196 × 117 × 59 mm and is reminiscent of small handheld measuring devices with a pistol grip. There is nothing to complain about in terms of build quality. The workmanship is robust and the material is of a very high quality. Even if it is mainly made of plastic. Thanks to IP54 certification for protection against dust or splash water, the gadget can also be used outdoors without any problems.
In general, everything here seems quite robust. During the test, I never had the feeling that I had to protect the camera. According to the manufacturer, it should even survive drops from a height of up to two meters without damage. The 96×96 IR sensor and the laser pointer are located on the front, which helps enormously with precise aiming. Operation using the existing buttons is kept simple. There are buttons for on/off, menu, recording, video recording and color palettes.
Menu items and, of course, the camera recordings can be seen on the 2.4-inch LCD display. This fulfills its purpose, but is visibly smaller and somewhat darker than the displays of more expensive models. In strong sunlight or reflective surfaces, I sometimes had to change my position to be able to see everything clearly.
A suitable anti-glare screen could have helped here. There is no touchscreen, which makes operation a little more cumbersome, but in turn increases robustness and makes operation with gloves easier – an important criterion not only on construction sites, but also for hobby DIY enthusiasts.
HIKMICRO E01 test: Features
The HIKMICRO E01 is not a professional device. You can see that from the price. But that’s not what the thermal imaging camera wants to be. Instead, it deliberately focuses on functions that are really relevant for beginners and practical everyday applications. Despite its comparatively low price, it has features that are often only found in higher device categories. We have listed the most important features for you.
Intelligent superscene recognition (deep learning)
One of the most interesting features is the intelligent scene recognition, which HIKMICRO calls “Superscene” technology. This is based on a deep learning algorithm that automatically recognizes typical thermal patterns – such as moisture leaks, missing insulation, thermal bridges or electrical hotspots. In practice, this has many advantages. For example, you don’t have to search for a long time to manually adjust the temperature display.
Instead, the camera automatically marks relevant areas as warm or cold anomalies. This fits perfectly with the HIKMICRO E01. Finally, the target group becomes clear again here. This is a real advantage, especially for beginners who don’t yet know exactly what a thermal image typically looks like. And best of all: the algorithm learns over time. Announced firmware updates therefore promise that this feature could become even more reliable in the future.
3-in-1 measuring device: thermal imaging camera, thermometer & laser pointer
The combination of three tools in a single device makes the E01 particularly practical for quick diagnoses:
- Thermal imaging camera to display the temperature distribution
- Point thermometer for precise individual measurements
- Laser pointer for precise positioning
In my test, the laser was reliably aimed at the center of the image and made it easier to take measurements in dark places or confined spaces. This was particularly useful for heating pipes or fuse boxes.
SuperIR image enhancement
Although the sensor only offers a native resolution of 96×96 pixels, the camera uses the SuperIR algorithm to generate an improved image with 240×240 pixels – in real time and during the recording itself.
This is not a pure enlargement, but an intelligent interpolation that smoothes structures and makes contours appear sharper. In my test, this resulted in an image that looked visibly better than what you would expect from 96×96.
Extensive measurement and analysis functions
The camera offers several automatic measuring points:
- Hot spot (hottest point in the image)
- Cold spot (coldest point in the image)
- Center measurement
- User-defined temperature alarms for high or low values
This allows critical areas to be identified very quickly. In addition, the emissivity and object distance can be adjusted manually. This is particularly important if you want to measure metal, plastic, wood or concrete correctly, for example. Here again, the HIKMICRO surprises. After all, this option is by no means standard for inexpensive cameras.
Several color palettes are available for better display (e.g. Rainbow, Ironbow, Gray, etc.). In the test, depending on the situation, I mainly used Rainbow for maximum contrast and Ironbow for finer temperature gradients. The fact that you can switch quickly using a button is particularly practical.
Large 50° field of view
The wide-angle field of view with a field of view of 50° is particularly useful when shooting indoors. This means you don’t have to constantly take one or more steps back to be able to capture a complete area. For example, the thermal imaging camera is also ideal for inspecting walls and attics or for checking heating systems.
4 GB internal memory and analysis software
The E01 has 4 GB of internal memory, enough for over 30,000 images or 14 hours of video. The transfer takes place via USB-C. The camera is connected to the computer like a normal removable disk. Unfortunately, the memory cannot be expanded. A corresponding MicroSD card slot would certainly have been interesting for power users. However, the 4 GB should be perfectly sufficient for the average consumer.
There is also no app connection. So if you want to make more detailed settings or transfer images, you have to use the free HIKMICRO Analyzer software. However, this not only helps with file transfer, but also offers additional setting options. This is also not usual in this price range. People who need to document their recordings will be particularly pleased. The software is very easy to use:
- Set measuring points retrospectively
- Create 3D temperature diagrams
- Generate reports
- Analyze alarm limits
- Go through videos frame by frame
Practical test / camera quality
In practical use, the HIKMICRO E01 shows its strengths in typical household and craft tasks. Although the sensor only delivers 96×96 pixels, the results are surprisingly clean thanks to SuperIR. Of course, you should not expect fine structures or great distance sharpness. However, the camera provides clearly recognizable temperature differences for wall surfaces, radiators, pipes or temperature bridges.
The thermal sensitivity of < 50 mK is a real highlight in this price range. Particularly in the case of moisture problems or poorly insulated windows, the differences should be clearly visible. The wide 50° field of view also makes it easy to capture entire walls or larger sections. The automatic hot/cold spot detection also worked very reliably in the test. I often didn’t even have to intervene manually as the software marked the relevant areas itself.
The laser pointer is a handy extra, but I sometimes had to tilt the camera slightly downwards to get the target exactly in the center of the picture. This gives small deductions in terms of ergonomics and takes a little time to get used to. The four buttons are functional, but the menu navigation is a little convoluted. However, once you have got used to it, it is easy to operate. This also applies to shooting. The trigger is easily accessible on the handle.
The camera is protected to IP54 and, according to the manufacturer, can even withstand drops from a height of 2 meters. In the test, the device actually felt very robust thanks to the rubberized outer skin. According to the manufacturer, the battery lasts up to 11 hours – in my case it was realistically just over 8 hours, depending on the display brightness and usage. That should be more than enough for a long working day.
Conclusion
In my test, the HIKMICRO E01 proved to be a surprisingly powerful thermal imaging camera for beginners and occasional users. Despite its low price, it offers an impressive combination of robust construction, long battery life, intelligent scene recognition and effective SuperIR image enhancement, which largely compensates for the supposed shortcoming of the low native resolution. I was particularly impressed by how easy the camera is to use in practice – from the laser pointer to the automatic hot and cold spot markings and the clear menu.
But I still have a few complaints. The display could be a little brighter and larger. In addition, an optical camera for superimposed images would make analysis easier in some situations and a Bluetooth connection would make file transfer more convenient. In view of the price, these limitations are absolutely bearable. If you are looking for a reliable, compact and uncomplicated thermal imaging camera for home inspections, moisture analysis or manual tasks, the HIKMICRO E01 is a well-rounded overall package with a very good price-performance ratio.
PRO
CONTRA Compact, robust and powerful: The HIKMICRO E01 offers convincing thermal imaging quality for beginners at a very good price.
HIKMICRO E01
Design and processing
Hardware
Performance
Price-performance ratio
91/100
