If a person were to compare the various mfg’s and models of IR cameras generally considered for HI applications what all specifications would be most important? I’ve started a list below but would like some additions or even deletions:
a. Image Sensor
b. Thermal
c. Sensitivity
d. Spectral Range
e. Display
f. Field of View
g. Memory
h. Focus
j. Temp Range
k. PIP
l. Est Battery Life
m. Laser Locator
n. Weight
p. Price
jpeg photos
or some proprietary bs
Resolution is very important in reporting anomalies.
That’s why I purchased the ThermaCam B2. It has a better resolution than the other B Cams.
That’s a good topic to add Brian, done.
David…what unit of measure is used for ‘resolution’?
David how much did this beauty run you?
Thermal sensitivity, and spatial resolution are important for detection. Resolution will show you a clearer image. At my level 1 , I was able to compare my 160x120 to a 120x120 and the difference was minor , but compare it to the 320x240 that the instuctor was using and it was night and day as far as clarity. Manual focus and the ability to manually adjust your span and level I believe are important as well.
OK, I’ve corrected a typo in my list…thermal sensitivity was there all along as well as spectral range and focus. The very first item, Image Sensor, is the pixel size of the sensor, i.e 160x120, 320x240, etc. That’s “Resolution”, right? Am I understanding and stating that correctly?
a. Image Sensor (i.e. 160x120)
b. Thermal Sensitivity (i.e. 0.2°C at 30°C)
c. Spectral Range (i.e. 7.5 - 13 µm)
d. Display (i.e. 3.5" VGA)
e. Field of View (i.e. 25x25)
f. Memory (i.e. SD)
g. Focus (i.e. auto, manual)
h. Temp Range (i.e. -10°C to 350°C)
j. PIP (yes or no)
k. Est Battery Life (i.e. 5 hrs)
l. Laser Locator (yes or no)
m. Weight (i.e. 1.2 lbs)
n. Price (i.e. $3800)
Sorry I made a mistake to , I didn’t mean spectral range I meant spatial resolution.
OK, so far the important item list is this then (I’ll sort it later):
a. Image Sensor (i.e. 160x120)
b. Thermal Sensitivity (i.e. 0.2°C at 30°C)
c. Spectral Range (i.e. 7.5 - 13 µm)
d. Display (i.e. 3.5" VGA)
e. Field of View (i.e. 25x25)
f. Memory (i.e. SD)
g. Focus (i.e. auto, manual)
h. Temp Range (i.e. -10°C to 350°C)
j. PIP (yes or no)
k. Est Battery Life (i.e. 5 hrs)
l. Laser Locator (yes or no)
m. Weight (i.e. 1.2 lbs)
n. Price (i.e. $3800)
p. Spatial Resolution (i.e. 2.5 mRad)
BTW, my goal is to develop a spreadsheet listing the various manufacturers and compare this list of most important features of their cameras. I only plan to compare the most likely cameras that a HI would consider…there’s too many to compare them all.
My camera resolution is 320 X 240. The typical BCam is 240 X 240.
Trust me, I compared these cameras while participating in a Flir course and I could clearly see a difference. The 240 X 240 is quite blurry and has a dirty background compared to my 320 X 240. The edges of the IR image get much sharper and have less background spots.
See the Comparison chart below…
It was approximately $8,400.00. I love this camera.
Our model 4010 (160 X 120 sensor) meets or exceeds all this specs and sells for ~ $3700.
I would add software to the list; good software for image analysis and reporting.
With our software you can customize your isotherms for an image, obtain the temperature profile along any cursor line you define in the image, obtain a histogram of temperatures for the image, and easily import the images and data into your own resport software. For ppts on images and software analysis email me at sales@pembrokeinstruments.com
Leslie,
Are you trying to say your camera has the same or better quality than David’s?
Leslie,
How does your firms’ IR camera dare to compare? It’s ugly, has low resolution and it’s a generic brand.
You’ve got nice marketing skills though.
David how long did it take you to get the word out and get people interested in hiring you for thermal inspections? How often do you do a thermal inspection?
OK, so far the important item list is this (I’ll sort it later):
a. Image Sensor (i.e. 160x120)
b. Thermal Sensitivity (i.e. 0.2°C at 30°C)
c. Spectral Range (i.e. 7.5 - 13 µm)
d. Display (i.e. 3.5" VGA)
e. Field of View (i.e. 25x25)
f. Memory (i.e. SD)
g. Focus (i.e. auto, manual)
h. Temp Range (i.e. -10°C to 350°C)
j. PIP (yes or no)
k. Est Battery Life (i.e. 5 hrs)
l. Laser Locator (yes or no)
m. Weight (i.e. 1.2 lbs)
n. Price (i.e. $3800)
p. Spatial Resolution (i.e. 2.5 mRad)
[RIGHT]
[/RIGHT]
I advertise Infrared Inspections on my truck, my website and my business cards. The IR requests and questions come in on a weekly basis.
Right now, I’m performing about 3-4 IR inspections a month.
A minimum of 120x120 resolution is what I recommend for home inspections
within the residential use. More is better, up to a point.
For the novice, too much resolution can make the diagnosis confusing, as there
will be so many anomalies within the anomalies. Each inspector must also
factor in their own cost vs benefit plan and future plans.
If doing flat roof inspections or EFIS, I would recommend a camera well above
the 120x120 resolution… IMHO.
Also, if you use the FLIR infrared camera, there is a certain marketing benefit
because many in the general public recognize that brand. Sometimes this
can make the difference in getting some jobs or not. It is an edge in your
benefit when client compares inspectors.
How much extra do you charge on top of your normal inspection fee for IR? I saw one guy can’t remember where he does IR on all his normal inspections free of charge. Couldn’t believe he owned such an expensive camera and didn’t charge extra to help offset the cost.