First off, you’ll notice the brilliant quality snake probe itself. The cable is 7.9 mm wide, so it’s not the narrowest, but it has unbeatable rigidity for getting round tight corners. You can bend it anywhere along its length and it will stay there, which is incredibly handy. It might not look like much, a kind of coated wire-frame arrangement, but it’s actually much easier to grip than, say, the plastic spools common on extension leads. That thoughtful quality extends to the highly durable display which is both waterproof and oil/chemical resistant too. You need to worry about delicate touch screens, as the controls are all on robust buttons around the display.

Some inspection cameras use disposable batteries. While these are more convenient because there’s no need to wait hours for the battery to charge, they may work out more expensive and you’ll need to dispose of the batteries after use. The Depstech DS500 includes a dual camera design, which not only features a forward-pointing camera but a second looking out to one side (yet it manages this with a narrower probe than the wireless WF028 further down this guide). Wi-Fi: this could be handy for viewing footage on your smartphone at a safe distance from the actual dirty workThe video inspection scope goes beyond vehicle inspection and can be used for applications in and outside of the car. View inside door panel or other limited access and poorly lit areas of your vehicle. Save time by not having to remove tire or engine components to inspect, retrieve, move, and help find items in hard to reach, compact spaces. If your inspection camera comes with a display, you should ensure it’s large enough for you to clearly view what’s going on. 3″ and above tends to be the best screen size for viewing. Any smaller than this, and you may not be able to get a good view of the area.

The most important bit of an inspection camera for me is the flexible camera cable and here the GIC 120 C scores well. The cable is long enough, flexible enough and importantly – waterproof, and can be used in most situations. The tough outer plastic covering didn’t mark easily and was easy to clean and dry off. This is important – it may be used to inspect the dirtier aspects of plumbing. Borescopes are designed for industrial as opposed to medical use. These have either a rigid or flexible stem and are suitable for large equipment inspections. They usually have a larger diameter lens than endoscopes, illuminating a greater area. Endoscopes are miniature cameras. These have very small lenses with a diameter of around 4 mm. Although used in a range of industries, these are most commonly associated with medicine. Endoscopes are used to view inside the human body and diagnose illnesses. Camera resolution: the more the better, though remember these cameras must be tiny to be useful. Be aware that some makers 'upsample' resolutions to make it sound better than it actually is (a common way is recording higher resolution video than the camera's sensor can make use of). The “Up is Up”™ function offers the user optimum orientation due to automatic rotation of the image

Wireless inspection cameras use wifi to transfer data. The images and videos taken can be transferred to a screen for viewing. These are used in any situation where you need to view the data being collected in real time. Anyone used to a tablet, phone screen or TV remote will be able to use the selector controls of which there are only seven. The on/off is self explanatory as are the light intensity button, the reverse image button and the magnify button. All other features are selected by holding down the oblong right hand button and then scrolling through the display menu before selection. To record onto the SD card simply press down the button in the shape of the SD card and it will start recording in whatever mode – still or movie – that you have selected. Transfer images and videos directly via a micro USB cable or a micro SD card for documenting critical areas Of course, you may not know exactly what task you are using your camera for. The models I’ve recommended have variable focal distances; a distance of between 3 and 10 cm would be suitable for a wide range of tasks. Cable Type and Length It’s worth noting that while the camera and cable itself may be waterproof, the screen and display might not be. This means a lot of care still needs to be taken when working in damp areas or around drain pipes. Focal Distance

How long is the camera cable. Will it reach up in to a ceiling void or under a floor-and does it include a torch to illuminate the working area? Shorter cables don’t give you quite as much versatility when it comes to the task, but you’ll have more control over the camera at the end. Battery LifeThe inspection camera GIC 120 C Professional is ideal for inspecting hard-to-reach areas and documenting the results. To achieve optimum spacial orientation, the ‘Up is Up’™ function rotates and simultaneously aligns the image on a large screen. For high-quality documentation and fast storage, images and videos can be directly transferred via micro USB cable. Dual Power Source technology allows for using 12 V Li-ion or standard alkaline batteries. Equipment & Application