[SOLD] NEC Avio F30S Thermal Camera / MikroShot B 160x120

[marshallh]

Up for sale is my NEC Avio F30S which was rebranded by Mikron. It's been updated with the latest NEC firmware.


Resolution is true 160x120 at 9fps. Saves to JPEGs on a SD card (needs to be <1gb) which can be reviewed and edited with the highly superior NEC InfreC Analyzer software (which is free).
The sensor in this thing is huge - each pixel gives you some useful data unlike the Lepton and seek cores.


Powered by 3 AA batteries, you will definitely want to use Eneloop Pros with this bad boy, it makes all other rechargeables cry uncle. It does have a DC jack.


Focus is insanely easy and convenient to adjust, it can focus from very near touching the lens to infinity.
Highly superior in this regard to virtually all other cameras in this price range (to be fair, this originally cost $3000)


The only problem I'm aware of is 1 stuck pixel right on the very right edge, and sometimes the camera forgets its NUC image, just reset to defaults and it's back in business again.
I've had this unit apart and everything seems to be in order so that is the only mystery.


PCB troubleshooting is where this guy excels. You can zoom right on onto the board, and it's so small it does not get in the way.
It is not as good as FLIR units if you want to do home or commercial  thermal inspection (low delta temperature). I also have a Flir ONE Pro (3rd gen) for a little bit less if that's what you will be doing.


$430 + shipping worldwide. Payment via Paypal, money order or wire transfer.
Shipping ranges from $9 domestic to $40 international, exact amounts TBD.













The Keysight U5855A is derived from this platform. The size difference is huge -



Some sample pictures

[marshallh]

Still available!

[Asmyldof]

I shall ponder and weigh the merits in the weekend. (Read: Don't need, but might want, need to discuss with my Accounts (=my alter egos))
Doth thou accept ACH type bank transfers? I recently learned this is a thing in the US. I have favourable rates when I can pay using ACH.
Any opinions on having my UPS account arrange the shipping?

[marshallh]

I can accept bank transfer/ACH. (Former is used with international wires, latter is domestic). Some people have used Transferwise for international stuff. Been a while since I've shipped on corporate UPS account, it might be possible given more info.

[Spirit532]

Man, if that had double the resolution I would jump on it.
160x120 just doesn't quite cut it for my application, even considering the absurdly sized sensor.

[marshallh]

Price drop
$340

[Fraser]

Surprised this has not sold already !

I own four of these cameras and they are basically the thermal equivalent of a visible light compact camera.
They were designed to fit in a pocket and to be used by building surveyors for fast assessment of buildings and equipment. The microbolometer is a thing of beauty. The optics are very nice with a 'fixed focus' capability making regular focussing unnecessary, yet a full manual focus capability for close up working. I wish the FLIR E4 had such a lens.

For those interested, this is basically the same as the Keysight 5855A but in a different format. The resolution is the same, frame rate is the same and lens design is the same. The reason ? Keysight recognised NEC as a serious player in the world of thermography and partnered with them to produce a Keysight branded thermal camera. NEC AVIO tend to sell the top end types of thermal camera for industry and are better known in Asia than Europe and the US. I own several of their camera models. All, without exception, are great designs that perform well.

NEC AVIO made this compact camera and sold it under their own brand and that of Mikron. It remains a neat, compact and capable thermal camera design. It is a real thermal camera capable of good thermography, despite its somewhat 'simple' appearance.

Just my 5 cents worth. If I did not already have four, I would buy it $340 ..... a bargain

9fps also makes this camera exportable to friendly countries without an export licence

Fraser
(A self confessed Thermal Camera geek)

[Bratster]

Pm sent

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

[marshallh]

SOLD
thanks everybody (and Frasier)

[Bratster]

Received, pleasure doing business.

And holy crap does this thing chew through batteries, you weren't kidding on the Eneloops.

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

[Fraser]

Bratster,

Most integrated display thermal cameras draw around 500mA, so yes they eat batteries ! The Microbolometers can be temperature stabilised with a power hungry Peltier module but that draws the highest current during the initial 30 seconds after first switch on.

We are spoilt by modern cameras use of Lithium Ion high capacity cells.

From memory, the F30S was supplied with 2400mAh Ni-Mh cells.

On a positive note, at least AA cells are common and cheap. My FLIR E4 Li-Ion battery is neither ! It costs around £80 in the UK.

I think this is much like Digital SLR cameras. They used common AA cells and moved to Li-Ion to improve the run-time on a single charge.

I found the biggest hassle with the F30S cells was the fact I needed a charger that could charge individual AA cells rather than charging in series pairs. I found a decent charger that provided that capability, but it took some searching.

P.S. Eleloops are a low self discharge technology that often has lower capacity than standard Ni-Mh cells. They are great and I would choose them as well. However, expect lower capacities and shorter run-time as a result. They offer the great advantage of holding their charge though 

P.P.S. The combined power and USB Mini 'Y' cables designed for the Sony PSP work great with the F30S cameras 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/USB-2-0-POWER-DATA-CHARGING-LEAD-CABLE-FOR-SONY-PSP-2-IN-1-DUAL/171953427710?epid=509399537&hash=item28093914fe:g:YzkAAOSwVL1WC2im

I also found the video output cable type but would need to check specifics. The weird connector is used on another digital camera and is easily sourced.

Fraser

[Bratster]

Thanks for the info, going to grab one of those power cords.

Any more info on the video out would be much appreciated.

I did a quick look and found one connector that was close, but had 10 pins not 8.

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

[Fraser]

I will look in my archives for the video lead identity.

Fraser