GuideIR PC210

[acanicio]

Dear All,

My name is Axel, I'm 54. I'm a newbie in the forum.

I'm looking for a not too expensive thermal imager for both house heat leak detection and for electronic repair.

I live in France. I originally was about to order a Uni-Trend Uni-T 260b thermal imager from a local reseller in Netherlands but all the ones he had are sold out and there is a 3 month waiting period.

But he proposed to me an equivalent model which has just appeared on the market from a brand I did not know :
The model is  Guide-IR PC210
https://www.guideir.com/product/detail/id/71.html

I've been looking for tests on this new unit but I cannot find any yet. Since it's (for me) a quite heavy investment I'm looking for advice about it.
Has anyone you know tested it ? How is it compared to the Uni-T 260b ?

For information, my needs are the following :
 - 256x192 Infrared resolution
 - 50cm minimal focus distance
 - Attachable to a kodak style screw stand. I need to attach it to an overhead stand (pointing down) on my workbench
 - Be able to live stream and record video to a PC via USB.
 - minus 20 to +500°C sensitivity

Thank you for any information !

Best regards
Axel

[Fraser]

I believe this camera contains one of the new miniature TIMO 256 cores from Guide Sensmart.

https://www.gst-ir.net/products/uncooled-thermal-modules/timo-series-miniature-thermal-modules/timo256.html

As to image quality when compared to the UTi260B…. Sadly I have not seen real world images from the PC210 camera with which to compare.

Fraser

[Fraser]

You might also want to look at other Uni-T offerings ? The UTi220A is said to be the UTi260B under a different number if this post is accurate….

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/thermal-imaging/uti220a-pro(uti260b)-disassembly/

Fraser

[irw]

Hi Axel,

Did you get the PC210? If so, what are your thoughts on it?

Thanks,
Diogo

[acanicio]

Hello everybody,

Finally, not having found any serious information or tests on the PC210 I did not order it.

Instead I ordered a UNI-T Uti260B, whose tests and reviews proved to me that it would comply to my expectations :
- Live PC streaming
- 256x192 IR resolution
- 25 FPS
- 1/4" screw mount adapter

I'll let you know what I think of it when I receive it.

Best regards
Axel

[jdev99]

A bit late, but there is a review now.

[krisch]

i'm exactly in the same position right now trying to devide between 260B and PC210.

When comparing the stills from the video of Eleshop, it seems to me like a nobrainer to pick the PC210 over the 260B for the sheer image-quality difference.
I wonder if its really THAT better despite the same resolution?

[ Specified attachment is not available ]

[Bill W]

Looks more that Guide have bothered to focus the lens - or got lucky !
The Uni-T (as with the Flir-One) is 'focussed' by that well known method of 'screw in well tight'.

There are always differences in how much sharpening is applied in software, and how much reliance is placed on the 'image fusion' side.  A similar effect might be if the Uni-T is in 'fusion' with the visible light camera blocked off.

Neither seem to have a ready way to refocus the final camera.

Bill

[optotester]

Actually, it seems that in latest firmware from Infiray (producing similar microbolometer), they are now using Machine Learning to sharpen the images - we can see OpenCV being loaded at device start.
It is most likely what they are using something similar in Guide PC210 for their SharpIR technology too : https://www.guideir.com/products/thermographys-tools/pc/data_23.html

UNI-T 260B most likely does not include ML as it was released quite a "long" time ago.

[DaneLaw]

From the footage above. the GuideSensesmart PC210 unit does look better and one precarious edge defection feature they have in place.   

Quite a lineup.. I take one of these IR 1024x768.https://www.guideir.com/products/thermographys-tools/ps/data_46.html
(Anybody' wanna buy a kidney)

but Ai enhancement can make quite a difference.
Example after I processed a picture a year or two back..

[matman1]

What AI model did you use for upscaling?