A manhole inspection camera is a pole camera, and the one with a listed price in the Fiberscope.net catalog, the Dual View Pole Camera COBRA, is from $4,110. The zoom models built for long straight mainlines, CYCLOPS TZ and CYCLOPS HD, carry their own prices on their product pages. If you only need a camera for one or two jobs, renting avoids buying the system at all.
- Manhole inspection camera cost starts from $4,110 for the Dual View Pole Camera COBRA.
- CYCLOPS TZ covers straight mainlines and culverts from 4 to 80 inch and pairs by Wi-Fi to a 10.1-inch tablet.
- CYCLOPS HD shows its image on a monitor over Wi-Fi and has a 30 ft (9 m) submersible camera.
- For short jobs, Fiberscope.net rents cameras; buying pays off when manholes are a regular part of your work.
A manhole survey starts at street level: lift the cover, lower a camera on a pole, and see how the pipe looks before anyone climbs down or sends a crawler. The price you pay depends on how far you need to see, whether the image must reach a tablet, and how often you will use it. Fiberscope.net sells the cameras covered here and services them in-house.
How much does a manhole inspection camera cost to buy?
The COBRA is the entry point at from $4,110. CYCLOPS TZ and CYCLOPS HD are the step up for longer straight runs and wireless viewing, and their current prices are on their product pages. Prices checked September 29.
| Camera | Built for | Viewing and recording | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dual View Pole Camera COBRA | Manholes, roofs, attics, gutters, walls, tanks | Rotating side-view, records to SD card | from $4,110 |
| Mainline Inspection Zoom Camera CYCLOPS TZ | Straight mainlines and culverts, 4–80 inch | WiFi module to a 10.1-inch tablet, IP68 | See product page |
| Pole Inspection Camera CYCLOPS HD | Pole-deployed inspection, Made in USA | Monitor via WiFi, camera submersible to 30 ft (9 m) | See product page |
The COBRA's price covers a general-purpose pole camera that happens to work well in manholes. The CYCLOPS pair are the more specialized tools for sewer work.
Dual View Pole Camera COBRA: from $4,110
The Dual View Pole Camera COBRA is a telescopic pole camera with a rotating side-view head that records to an SD card. It suits a plumber, property inspector or municipal crew that needs to look down a manhole, up a chimney or into an attic with one tool.
It has no Wi-Fi link and no app, so you watch the image on its own screen and review the SD card afterwards. It has no sonde, so it cannot be located from the surface. For a lateral that runs away from the manhole at an angle, a push camera is the right tool.
Watch the COBRA recording rooftop footage on Fiberscope.net's YouTube channel.
CYCLOPS TZ: the zoom option for 4–80 inch mainlines
The Mainline Inspection Zoom Camera CYCLOPS TZ is a pole-mounted zoom camera deployed from a manhole for straight mainlines and culverts from 4 to 80 inch. Its camera is IP68 rated, and a WiFi module sends the picture to a 10.1-inch tablet.
This is a pole camera, not a push camera. It looks along a straight run from the manhole and does not travel through bends. For a mainline with offsets or a lateral launch, pair it with a crawler or push camera rather than expecting it to reach around corners.
The price is on the CYCLOPS TZ product page at store.fiberscope.net. For municipal programs, see the guide to choosing a sewer camera for municipal contractors.
CYCLOPS HD: Made in USA pole camera with a submersible head
The Pole Inspection Camera CYCLOPS HD, made by Zistos in the USA, shows its image on a monitor over WiFi. The camera is rated as submersible to 30 ft (9 m), so a surcharged manhole with standing water is not a reason to pull it.
It records footage and suits contractors who want a rugged pole system with a monitor rather than a tablet. Current pricing is on the product page.
Why manhole camera prices vary
- Zoom or fixed view. The CYCLOPS TZ zooms along a straight run; the COBRA uses a rotating side-view head.
- Pipe size range. The CYCLOPS TZ is specified for 4–80 inch pipes and culverts, a wider range than a general-purpose pole camera.
- How the image reaches you. A built-in screen, a monitor over WiFi (CYCLOPS HD) or a 10.1-inch tablet (CYCLOPS TZ) change the system.
- Waterproof rating. The CYCLOPS TZ camera is IP68; the CYCLOPS HD camera is submersible to 30 ft (9 m).
- Recording. The COBRA records to SD card; the CYCLOPS models record footage for reporting.
- Country of manufacture. The CYCLOPS HD is Made in USA.
What you'll also need
Pole cameras lower the cost of manhole work, but the job around them adds requirements. Keep a non-conductive pole and OSHA clearance distances in mind near overhead lines (OSHA 1910.333). For entering a manhole itself, OSHA's confined-space rules apply; a camera exists so that you can avoid entry. See the confined-space inspection camera guide for the access details.
For reports that follow the NASSCO PACP standard, you need recorded footage with defects logged against distance, so choose a model that records.
Other options
If you survey mainlines daily, dedicated mainline systems from Envirosight and Vivax-Metrotech (vCam) are worth pricing. They are built around that workflow and a pole camera does not replace them. For a manhole look once a week or less, a pole camera costs less to own and is faster to set up.
Can I rent a manhole camera instead of buying?
Yes. Fiberscope.net runs a rental program for short jobs and offers demos before you buy. If you need a camera for fewer jobs than it would take to justify buying, call 1-877-613-2210 for rental terms.
Is a pole camera cheaper than a push camera for manholes?
A pole camera such as the COBRA, from $4,110, is the lower-cost way to see down a manhole and along a short straight run. Push cameras reach farther and through bends, and some carry a 512 Hz sonde for locating. Compare the options in our guide to the best pole cameras for manhole inspection and in how much a pole inspection camera costs to buy.
FAQ
Does a manhole inspection camera need Wi-Fi?
No. The COBRA has no Wi-Fi and records to an SD card. The CYCLOPS TZ pairs by WiFi module to a 10.1-inch tablet, and the CYCLOPS HD shows its image on a monitor over WiFi.
Is a manhole camera waterproof?
The CYCLOPS TZ camera is IP68 rated, and the CYCLOPS HD camera is submersible to 30 ft (9 m). Rating applies to the camera, not to every part of the system, so keep handsets and monitors out of the water.
Can a manhole camera be used near power lines?
Use a non-conductive pole and keep to OSHA clearance distances from overhead lines (OSHA 1910.333). A telescopic pole near a line is an electrocution risk regardless of the camera.
Can a pole camera locate the pipe from the surface?
No. The COBRA and CYCLOPS pole cameras have no sonde. Locating needs a camera with a sonde in the head plus a separate receiver such as the SnapTrack, which uses 512 and 640 Hz.
What pipe sizes does the CYCLOPS TZ cover?
The CYCLOPS TZ is built for straight mainlines and culverts from 4 to 80 inch, deployed from a manhole on a pole.
Get the configuration right
Send us your pipe ID, run length, the bends between manholes and whether you need locating, and a Fiberscope.net specialist will match the right camera. Call 1-877-613-2210 (Mon–Fri 8:00–18:00 CST) or use the contact page on store.fiberscope.net.
About the author. Vladimir Khubiryants, Founder & President, Fiberscope.net (MEDIT Inc.). Vladimir founded Fiberscope.net to give professionals access to reliable video inspection equipment without enterprise pricing. For over 20 years he has sourced and tested borescopes, sewer cameras and fiberscopes in Fiberscope.net's in-house test and repair facility, helping plumbers, pipeline engineers, aviation and military teams choose the right tool for the job. See our cameras in use on YouTube and Instagram.
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