Looking for an endoscope

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sudo

409 posts

Ultimate Geek
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#323165 2-Nov-2025 11:46

I'm in need of an endoscope to inspect/trace some wiring without ripping out sections of wall (and inspect some tight cavities)

It should be a min of 3m length, semi-rigid. I intend to get USB one that can plug into tablet/phone, as I have limited usage beyond my current project.

There are tons of really cheap ones ($5 etc) on Ali, but I'd rather spend a bit more and re-use in future (rather that being chucked in the cardboard box of Ali junk)

Brands like Kerui/Inksam fit in the $30-50 range. And Teslong(seems to be professional brand) start at twice that price.

Can anyone report on their experiences/recommendations?

pih

666 posts

Ultimate Geek
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Lifetime subscriber

#3430068 2-Nov-2025 13:29

AliExpress ones are not total rubbish, but they are pretty frustrating. Narrow field of view, poor contrast, mobile apps are rubbish. That's my experience.

FineWine

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Nurse (R)

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#3430120 2-Nov-2025 15:18

Try Temu - I have this saved in my Temu bookmark list:

Endoscope Camera, Waterproof IP67 Lens, 1m/5m/10m Optional Hardwire, 8 LED Industrial Borescope Camera, Compatible with iOS and Android Phones

Of course there are loads of others but this looked the best and has really good (????) ratings

Whilst the difficult we can do immediately, the impossible takes a bit longer. However, miracles you will have to wait for.

SCUBADOO

206 posts

Master Geek
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#3430217 2-Nov-2025 20:51

I purchased one of these about 4 years ago to check for an intermittent roof leak.

I was impressed with the image quality at the time.

Still working perfectly but admittedly now rarely used.

mentalinc

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#3430220 2-Nov-2025 21:27

@sudo apt @scubadoo endoscope

CPU: AMD 5900x | RAM: GSKILL Trident Z Neo RGB F4-3600C16D-32GTZNC-32-GB | MB: Asus X570-E | GFX: EVGA FTW3 Ultra RTX 3080Ti| Monitor: LG 27GL850-B 2560x1440

Quic: https://account.quic.nz/refer/473833 R473833EQKIBX

richms

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#3430249 3-Nov-2025 00:01

Having used a cheap one I got years back off aliexpress, and a friends pricey one with a built in screen and batteries, there was minimal difference in the image quality. Both were pretty crap, washed out, low dynamic range so if the light was on and something was close it would just blow out to white so you would have to turn the light down to see it, then it moved and everything was black - nothing auto for lighting or a usable range for the exposure of the camera.

Where the pricey tool brand one won out was the shaft was a little thicker, but a lot more positionable, whereas the aliex one was very floppy and would just point downwards once extended more than about 250-300mm thru an opening.

For $7 vs $300 or so, I would just get the aliex one that plugged into the phone and tape it to a stick if needed.

Richard rich.ms

johno1234

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#3430265 3-Nov-2025 06:42

Are any of these things steerable like medical endoscopes?