Automotive Endoscope Cameras for Professional Vehicle Inspections

Endoscope is a term generally used to describe medical tools used to look inside a body during an operation or other medical procedure, but the term has been adopted to describe a device used to look inside other things as well. Here are our most frequently asked questions about endoscopes answered.

An endoscope camera is a tiny camera attached to the end of a long cable, that enables people to view hard-to-reach areas that they otherwise would not have seen with the human eye.

The endoscope was traditionally used for medical purposes only, but it has since been developed for use within commercial and industrial applications. Endoscopes are great problem solvers for mechanical inspection, car repair, plumbing fixes, electrical installs, house DIY, wall upgrades, HVAC maintenance, and more.

Many endoscope cameras are compatible with Android and or IOS operating systems so that they can be viewed directly through a smartphone, either using WiFi or with a USB cable.

The cost of endoscopes varies greatly depending on the complexity of the equipment, ranging anywhere from $50 to over $1,000, though you’ll typically find them for $50 - $500.

A simple USB endoscope, for example, that you plug into your phone or computer is a lot cheaper than an endoscope with its own high-resolution screen and battery.

What app you use will depend on the endoscope you buy, as they’ll often come with their own app or recommend one that works well.

For example, our NTC125 Autofocus Endoscope, we recommend you use a free app called Smart Endoscope.

Most of the endoscopes available for rent are made for specialized applications like sewage inspection cameras for plumbers. That is great if you are a plumber, but for basic home and mechanic DIY use it’s usually less expensive to just buy a USB or WiFi endoscope as your first endoscope and see how it works for you - they really aren’t that expensive.

When it comes to choosing an endoscope, there are several factors you need to consider:

Compatibility

Endoscopes can work with a smartphone or laptop either via WiFi or through a USB connection, otherwise, you can select an endoscope that works independently, without the need for any other device.

If you require your endoscope to be as mobile as possible you are going to want to choose one that works with a smartphone or on its own, rather than having to carry around a laptop.

Image Quality

Most endoscopes will now offer an HD image quality or at least 720p, so this shouldn’t be an issue. However, if you require a very high image quality for your application, keep that in mind as you do your research.

Cable Length

Although you may think that longer is better, you are likely to find that having too much cable simply gets in the way. With this in mind, it is recommended that you choose the length depending on the specific application you wish to use it for. You might find that just a few feet are all that you need.

Flexibility

You also need to think about the flexibility of the cable. If you are looking to use an endoscope to explore pipework or similar installations, you are going to want to choose a flexible endoscope that will allow you to feed the camera around bends with ease.

On the other hand, if you need your endoscope to hold more of a structure you will want to choose either a rigid endoscope or at least a semi-rigid endoscope.

Battery Life

If you choose an endoscope that works with its own battery power, rather than through a smartphone or laptop, you will need to select an endoscope with an appropriate battery size.

Some endoscopes will have a battery size of around 1000mAh or less, which is likely to only give you up to two hours of battery before it needs to be recharged.

Others, however, will have a battery size of 2000mAh or more which will last for around 5 hours or possibly more. This means that it will last for the majority of a working day before it needs to be recharged again.

To use an endoscope camera on your computer, you should be able to simply connect the endoscope using a USB and view the captured video on the camera software of your computer, such as PhotoBooth for MacOSX or Windows Camera, although this may depend on your operating system.

A WiFi endoscope will be equipped with a WiFi adapter that will allow you to connect your smart device to the endoscope wirelessly and view the images picked up by the camera through an app.

An endoscope camera uses a digital camera sensor and lens at the end of a long camera probe (flexible or rigid) to capture video and photo images in hard-to-access areas. Wires transmit the imaging data along the length of the camera probe to the monitor or the WiFi transmitter.

Endoscopes can be used for many applications to enable you to see areas that would otherwise be left unseen.

Common uses for endoscopes include vehicle repair work, HVAC maintenance and repairs, plumbing, and many other types of systems and machinery. By making use of an endoscope, troubleshooting can be performed, and repairs made, without having to entirely dismantle structures or equipment.

If you need to see an inaccessible area, an endoscope will be a great tool to have at your disposal.

At Teslong we have several endoscopes available for purchase depending on your individual needs and budget. Many of our models are equipped with their own screen and, along with long-lasting battery life, are perfect for inspections no matter where you are.

Most of our models are even waterproof (IP67) so that you can use your endoscope no matter the weather or application.

Teslong cares about quality, and that is why we offer both a 12-month warranty and a 30-day money-back guarantee on every one of our products. Check out our full range of endoscope inspection cameras here.

An all-in-one endoscope or borescope is one that includes its own screen and does not require another device to function. All-in-one endoscope cameras also have their own rechargeable battery and a memory card to store photo and video content.  

An endoscope with a screen is very easy to use. First, make sure the device is fully charged. Next, install the camera probe into the monitor - it will either thread onto the monitor or it will plug into the monitor. Press the power button for a few seconds and the screen will illuminate. Use the Mode (M) button to switch between photo, video and viewing modes. All you have to do now is insert the camera probe into something you are inspecting and record photos and video by pressing the camera button.

Generally, “endoscope” is a medical term for a surgical device, but we frequently call our products “industrial endoscopes” to avoid confusing them with medical endoscopes. Teslong does not make any medical-grade surgical products. “Borescopes” is a term that is basically interchangeable with “industrial endoscopes,” however we refer to all of our firearm inspection cameras as “borescopes” and the rest of our inspection cameras as “industrial endoscopes.”

Although the screen sizes and resolutions are different on some of our endoscopes, they all record video at 720p resolution or higher. The resolutions you see on the screen can range from the smallest 854 x 480p resolution, 4.5-inch screen up to the 1280 x 720p resolution, 5-inch screen. Obviously, larger screens are going to give you a better view of what the probe sees so if you need an inspection camera to perform on-site inspections and solve problems right away then you’ll want the biggest screen. If you are more interested in the recorded video and photo content, then a smaller screen should work just fine. 

Telsong’s camera probes typically are available with either a single-lens design, plus a right-angle mirror, or they are available with a dual-lens design. The single-lens-with-mirror probes are less expensive, and they are better for looking sideways at surfaces up close. Most commonly, this benefits Teslong’s gun borescope customers. If you use a dual-lens probe for this type of application the right-angle lens will actually be too close to the gun barrel surface and sharp focus will be impossible. This is why all of our gun borescopes use a single lens with a mirror instead of a dual lens. For most other applications, like looking down a spark plug hole into the combustion chamber of a car engine, the dual lens design typically works better and gives a wider field of view.

That depends on what you consider cheap! In general, affordable endoscopes are good for a wide range of applications, and you’ll only need to spend a bit more if you’re looking for something with specialized features.

Endoscopes are often cheaper when you use them plugged into your own device, such as a smartphone or laptop. However, just because they are less expensive doesn’t mean they won’t work perfectly well for basic applications, such as looking for plumbing leaks. In fact, many smartphones will be able to display a high-resolution video, you just might have to view it on a smaller screen than you would compared to a more expensive endoscope.

The brand that makes the best endoscope inspection camera will depend on what you’re looking for. When you’re looking for the best endoscope inspection camera, consider:

What you plan to use it for.

Whether you want to use it with your own device or choose one with a screen.

Your budget.

Whether you want the probe to have some flexibility (articulated) or be rigid.

The resolution of the image you want or need.

The field of vision and/or autofocus.

Teslong endoscopes are suitable for a wide range of applications at affordable prices, so to explore our range, click here.