Exploring practical methods for preparing for the end times, including analysis of end time scripture and prophecy, current events, prepping and self-defense.
...and were underwhelmed by it. Their take was, essentially, that it lacks the range and resolution to be truly useful--i.e., it is basically a toy for the tech geek.
The Seek thermal camera certainly looks interesting for its $250 MSRP. When I first saw the specifications for it, I thought it would be good as an thermal inspection camera, but not terribly useful for outdoor hunting/tactical use, and TTAG's review confirms my opinion. It is certainly a good option for "getting your feet wet" with thermal imaging technology.
Personally, I took the plunge recently and purchased an EOTech X320 thermal camera (http://www.eotechinc.com/thermal-vision-devices/model-x320xp). The X320 is a tactical thermal camera intended for outdoor hunting/tactical use, although it is not designed to be mounted on a weapon. It is roughly the size of a pair of 8 x 25 mm compact binoculars. And, important for me, it operates on a pair of AA cells - the similarly priced FLIR thermal camera uses a built-in rechargeable battery.
The EOTech X320 is a pretty nifty device. I have only played with it briefly outside, but it does some pretty interesting things indoors. The objective lens can be twisted to focus on things at a relatively short distances. Warm blooded pets look positively demonic though a thermal camera, with their noses being cold, and their eyes and ears being very hot. The camera is sensitive enough to see gaps in insulation in the walls and ceilings, and even see the studs in the walls and ceilings (the wood studs have a different thermal transmittance than the insulation between the studs).
Thermal cameras do not see through glass. Windows look cold, or you see your own reflection from the window.
Standing in the front yard, and looking at a nearby busy street, the heat produced by cars, and the heat from people walking by is visible. I have transformer sitting on a concrete pad in a corner of my yard, and that transformer looks surprisingly warm through the thermal camera.
Except for twisting to focus the objective lens, all interaction with the X320 is through a single knob. The knob is rotated to turn the unit on or off, and adjust the eyepiece display backlight brightness. Pressing the knob is used to switch between different display modes and activate the digital zoom. It does not do true the false coloring everyone is familiar with, instead relying on gray scale and limited color highlighting of temperature. (The color temperature highlighting might extend the practical detection range of warm targets that might be overlooked in the gray-scale-only modes.)
The X320 has more features than the single knob allows the user to access. It comes with software to allow for some customization of its features, when plugged into a computer with the supplied USB cable. For example, it comes from the factory with digital zoom set to 2X, but through the software, digital zoom can be set to 3X or 4X. So far, the default factory configurations seem reasonable to me.
The Seek thermal camera certainly looks interesting for its $250 MSRP. When I first saw the specifications for it, I thought it would be good as an thermal inspection camera, but not terribly useful for outdoor hunting/tactical use, and TTAG's review confirms my opinion. It is certainly a good option for "getting your feet wet" with thermal imaging technology.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I took the plunge recently and purchased an EOTech X320 thermal camera (http://www.eotechinc.com/thermal-vision-devices/model-x320xp). The X320 is a tactical thermal camera intended for outdoor hunting/tactical use, although it is not designed to be mounted on a weapon. It is roughly the size of a pair of 8 x 25 mm compact binoculars. And, important for me, it operates on a pair of AA cells - the similarly priced FLIR thermal camera uses a built-in rechargeable battery.
I went to the weblink and have to say that looks like it could be a lot of fun. I would be interested to hear your thoughts on it.
DeleteThe EOTech X320 is a pretty nifty device. I have only played with it briefly outside, but it does some pretty interesting things indoors. The objective lens can be twisted to focus on things at a relatively short distances. Warm blooded pets look positively demonic though a thermal camera, with their noses being cold, and their eyes and ears being very hot. The camera is sensitive enough to see gaps in insulation in the walls and ceilings, and even see the studs in the walls and ceilings (the wood studs have a different thermal transmittance than the insulation between the studs).
ReplyDeleteThermal cameras do not see through glass. Windows look cold, or you see your own reflection from the window.
Standing in the front yard, and looking at a nearby busy street, the heat produced by cars, and the heat from people walking by is visible. I have transformer sitting on a concrete pad in a corner of my yard, and that transformer looks surprisingly warm through the thermal camera.
Except for twisting to focus the objective lens, all interaction with the X320 is through a single knob. The knob is rotated to turn the unit on or off, and adjust the eyepiece display backlight brightness. Pressing the knob is used to switch between different display modes and activate the digital zoom. It does not do true the false coloring everyone is familiar with, instead relying on gray scale and limited color highlighting of temperature. (The color temperature highlighting might extend the practical detection range of warm targets that might be overlooked in the gray-scale-only modes.)
The X320 has more features than the single knob allows the user to access. It comes with software to allow for some customization of its features, when plugged into a computer with the supplied USB cable. For example, it comes from the factory with digital zoom set to 2X, but through the software, digital zoom can be set to 3X or 4X. So far, the default factory configurations seem reasonable to me.
Thank you for the review.
Delete