Best thermal imaging cameras for night investigations - budget guide

Right, so I'm putting together a proper ghost hunting kit and I want to upgrade from my rubbish smartphone night vision app to actual equipment. I'm on a budget (under £500), so I need recommendations for thermal imaging cameras that are actually good rather than gimmick products.

I've been looking at:

FLIR C3-X - around £250, seems decent for the price, compact
Seek Thermal CompactXR - about £200, portable, Android/iOS compatible
Hikvision handheld thermal - £350-400 range, more "professional" but overkill?

Has anyone used these for actual paranormal investigation? I want something that's going to pick up temperature anomalies reliably without needing a PhD in thermal imaging to operate. Also needs to work in Yorkshire moorland conditions (cold, damp, windy as hell).

What've you lot found works best in the field?

FLIR C3-X is solid. I've used mine for about two years now. Definitely picked up some odd thermal signatures at Pendle Hill (unexplained warm spots in areas that should be ambient temperature), but you need to understand baseline thermal patterns to interpret the data properly. Don't just assume every warm blob is a ghost - radiators, pipes, thermal stones all mess with readings.

Save up a bit longer and get a proper FLIR unit if you can. The smartphone attachments are genuinely rubbish. I wasted £60 on a Seek thermal phone clip and it was basically useless. The resolution is too low to catch subtle anomalies. Spending the extra for a dedicated device is worth it.

I want something that's going to pick up temperature anomalies reliably without needing a PhD in thermal imaging to operate.

You'll need to learn the basics though. Thermal imaging's not straightforward. Surface reflectivity, emissivity, ambient conditions - they all affect readings massively. Watch some YouTube tutorials before you take anything into the field. Otherwise you're just going to confuse normal thermal variance with paranormal activity.

Don't forget you'll also need proper EMF metres (Mel meter or K2, roughly £80-150), digital thermometers, voice recorders, and a decent torch. Budget £500 just for thermal imaging means you're underspecced for proper investigation. Most serious groups spend £1500+ on kit per person.

For moorland investigations specifically, check weatherproofing ratings. You want something rated for moisture exposure and temperature extremes. The Seek has decent IP ratings. FLIR's slightly more robust. But anything electronic on the moors is going to take a beating. Consider durability, not just features.

I've had good results with the Hikvision, though it's probably more than you need to start with. If you're serious about this though, it's a better long-term investment than the cheaper models. They hold their value and the build quality is genuinely better. Might save up a bit longer?