What is the best bang for the buck with thermal imagers...

[alank2]

Hi Everyone,

I find these things very interesting, but I see there are different classes of them.  Some are "real" and have some sort of sensor that actually senses the temperature of each pixel and others seem to do some sort of combined approach that takes the temp in the center but still offers some sort of imaging.  Though I would think the first type would be superior I wouldn't mind hearing the pros/cons of it vs. the second type.  What is the best buy in each category (most bank for the buck!).

Thanks,

Alan

[alank2]

Anyone?

[frenky]

Best price/performance is probably hacked Flir E4...
You have hundreds of posts about this model on the forum.

Before/after the hack:


If this model does not fulfil your needs there are many thermal cameras for >10,000$. 

[alank2]

When I read the thread on the E4 it sounded like the hacking was closed up and older models that could be hacked have dried up...

[mikeselectricstuff]

When I read the thread on the E4 it sounded like the hacking was closed up and older models that could be hacked have dried up...

Current version is hacked - AIUI not all the extra features but the full resolution is enabled.
Best bang for fewer bucks is Seek Thermal.
 

[alank2]

AIUI not all the extra features but the full resolution is enabled.
Best bang for fewer bucks is Seek Thermal.

What exactly is hackable on the E4?  Why would they sell a product and limit the resolution?  To prevent it from competing with other models but use the same sensor?

[eurofox]

AIUI not all the extra features but the full resolution is enabled.
Best bang for fewer bucks is Seek Thermal.

What exactly is hackable on the E4?  Why would they sell a product and limit the resolution?  To prevent it from competing with other models but use the same sensor?

My car 150HP, just by changing the CPU code 200HP and 30% more torque 
Why  Marketing 

I suppose it is the same with Flir, more models, less cost just change the software and Fxxck the customer 

[mikeselectricstuff]

AIUI not all the extra features but the full resolution is enabled.
Best bang for fewer bucks is Seek Thermal.

What exactly is hackable on the E4?  Why would they sell a product and limit the resolution?  To prevent it from competing with other models but use the same sensor?

On the original version, you could get all the features of the E8 plus some extras on top of that.
It has been suggested that sensors may be selected so the E8 ones have fewer dead pixels and maybe better sensitivity but nobody has confirmed this.
The E8 is poor value compared to its competitors and the Ex0 range - I doubt they sell many - ISTR they did cut the price a lot a while ago.