Author Topic: My new Hikmicro Pocket 2  (Read 30272 times)

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Offline kultakalaTopic starter

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My new Hikmicro Pocket 2
« on: June 13, 2022, 09:25:03 am »
Hi,

I have a 6 year old Flir E4 which i succesfully hacked to the E8 specs and features and its a quite good device especially for the price.
Usually i use it to look for isolation of walls and windows...  heating pipes or electrical stuff.
And of course just for fun :)

But there are some things i dont like, for example the size which does not fit in a pocket, lack of video recording and the limit to display at only 9 Hz.

So i was looking for an alternative and tested a HTI HT-301 and had in mind the Flir C5.
The HT-301 delivers some good images but i didnt like the handling of the camera/smartphone combo and the manual focus.
Also the software was okay but had it quirks.
The C5 otherwise is pocketable but also lacks video recording, has a low resolution and also 9 Hz limitation.

Then i found out about the Hikmicro Pocket 2.
Its also pocket size (14 x 8.5 x 2 cm), has a 256x192 sensor with NETD < 40 mK, wide field of view (50° x 37°), has a 3.5" touchscreen, 16GB internal storage and has builtin WiFi (2.4 and 5 GHz) and Bluetooth (Audio only).
It can record video with 25 Hz and audio.

I received it last week and all i can say is that it is exactly what i was looking for.
The startup time is about 10 seconds, the display has good colors and brightness.
The menus are intuitive and there are a lot of settings. It has an optical camera with fusion display and configurable distance between 30cm and 3m and above. There is also a macro mode but i couldnt see any benefits using it.
The software for Android (Hikmicro Viewer) is also very good and stable.
Its possible to remote control the camera via WiFi, transfer the images and videos and its possible to edit the images afterwards and change everything from color palette to emissivity and set new measurement points, etc.

Overall i am very happy with the camera  :-+

I was not able to put the images between the text, is that possible ?
The images show the camera itself, electric kettle, mug before and after editing, the pulldown menu and display with all overlayed info enabled and disabled.
« Last Edit: June 13, 2022, 09:27:40 am by kultakala »
 
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Offline jeremy

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Re: My new Hikmicro Pocket 2
« Reply #1 on: June 13, 2022, 09:27:03 am »
Looks great! What did you pay for it? And where?
 

Offline kultakalaTopic starter

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Re: My new Hikmicro Pocket 2
« Reply #2 on: June 13, 2022, 09:29:03 am »
It was about 650 Euros at a german dealership.
 

Offline Fraser

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Re: My new Hikmicro Pocket 2
« Reply #3 on: June 13, 2022, 10:59:31 am »
That looks to be a neat little camera. Thank you for sharing your experiences with it  :-+

Fraser
If I have helped you please consider a donation : https://gofund.me/c86b0a2c
 
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Online svgurus

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Re: My new Hikmicro Pocket 2
« Reply #4 on: June 13, 2022, 06:16:48 pm »
can you post some pictures comparing e4(8) and this thingy? their fov is almost identical
 

Offline Someone

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Re: My new Hikmicro Pocket 2
« Reply #5 on: July 13, 2022, 07:01:48 am »
Lets keep all this pocket camera goodness together. I bought one as had a pressing need for some higher resolution imaging, and have been impressed so far. There was no need to perpetuate the bulky format that thermal cameras traditionally had and this dense slab is really an improvement in usability.

The not so good:
While it has a shutter for online calibration, the residual fixed pattern error is pretty distracting in smooth areas.
There is a macro lens option but its not appearing in the retail channels.
Some features are blocked when plugged into a USB host.
Latency to the screen is high enough to be difficult for handheld use (video frame rate is fine).
The shutter button is way too easy to accidentally press.
It has a soft-touch rubberised finish (have had similar surfaces go bad too fast for a tool).
Captive battery.

The good:
its cheap! (found a bargain for $400 USD).
USB C charge and photo offload.

So without being able to buy an OEM macro lens, I had to DIY something. Pictured below is a small folded metal can (like an EMI can but with 1mm thick sheet stock) that locates and sits on the casing protrusion around the lens(s), it has one of the cheaply available ZnSe =20mm 𝑓=50mm plano-convex lenses sitting flat which produces a good working distance and field of view. Lacking a USAF resolution test chart to hand, you'll have to put up with a cheap PCB ruler instead. It picks out the 0.5mm pitch pads pretty clearly, and easily shows 0402 components, field of view is 30x40mm with the macro lens in place.

Accuracy? who knows, but it works and will be a companion on the bench from now on.
« Last Edit: July 13, 2022, 07:05:37 am by Someone »
 
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Offline markb1980

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Re: My new Hikmicro Pocket 2
« Reply #6 on: July 15, 2022, 12:42:27 pm »
I have created this closeup-lens holder: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5397821
If you prefer a ready made holder - I guess Hikmicro got inspired by us: https://www.hikmicrotech.com/en/accessory-detail/23

Results are as expected very good. I love the capability of the Pocket 2 to take videos... The slim design and low weight allow me to mount the camera on a flexible arm so that I have the hands free when I am working. That make it my favourite IR camera for electronics testing.
« Last Edit: July 15, 2022, 12:44:51 pm by markb1980 »
Pentester, Digital forensics examiner, Data recovery technitian, Author for various books
Learn thermal imaging: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B5KXF41Q/ | https://www.facebook.com/groups/1816479168568552 | https://thermal-image-samples.com/thermal-pixel-peeping/
 

Offline markb1980

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Re: My new Hikmicro Pocket 2
« Reply #7 on: July 15, 2022, 12:59:08 pm »
Brewing coffee and printing the closeup-lens holder as thermal video:
(just a pitty the video is not radiometric but to expect that would be a bit to much at this price-point)

https://youtu.be/HBQAI6GyIa4
https://youtu.be/sI09LponG7c

If you need radiometric data you can use the timelaps feature and take 1 image / sec.
Pentester, Digital forensics examiner, Data recovery technitian, Author for various books
Learn thermal imaging: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B5KXF41Q/ | https://www.facebook.com/groups/1816479168568552 | https://thermal-image-samples.com/thermal-pixel-peeping/
 

Offline Someone

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Re: My new Hikmicro Pocket 2
« Reply #8 on: October 30, 2022, 12:26:38 am »
Not dissimilar to the above by markb1980, but accidentally finding a dodgy (very cheap moulded strain relief banana) cable joint. Those connections are carrying a symmetric current!
 

Offline c00kemon

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Re: My new Hikmicro Pocket 2
« Reply #9 on: November 13, 2022, 06:57:09 pm »
@kultakala
Thanks for the review.
Can you take several thermograms on pocket 2 and E4 under the same conditions for comparison? It would be great if you take the facades of buildings as examples.
And what is the accuracy of Pocket 2 at ambient temperatures closer to 0 C and below?
 

Offline Pfriemler

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Re: My new Hikmicro Pocket 2
« Reply #10 on: November 24, 2022, 09:55:48 pm »
Got my Pocket2 a few weeks ago as a replacement for my not repairable FLIR Gen 2 Android mobile plug-on. I am very happy with it. Thermal picture qualitiy is way better than the poor FLIR - as expected.

But there are were things bothering me:
a1) the "fusion" is not that qualitiy known from the little FLIR. The slider in the app was easy to use to align optical and thermal cam (fusion contures). On the Pocket you have to use a scroll list on the touchscreen.
a2) my Pocket has not only a horizontal offset varying by distance to the object, but also vertical. I could live with that, if I can correct this in any way but
b) there seems to be NO WAY to realign optic & thermal pics afterwards. The HIKMICRO Analyzer PC software has nothing like that.
c) with the FLIR PC software I could blend both pics in adjustable transparence, very useful to show heat pipes in floors etc. Again: NO way here. For that few times I need that I have to export both pics and blend them externally with GIMP or something like that  |O

The good thing: The thermal resolution (pixels and delta) is really impressive so I do not really have the urgent need to blend both pics. 

No experiences yet if used at low temperatures, sorry.

edit: upgraded firmware and pc software solved b) and c), txh to hints here...
« Last Edit: November 25, 2022, 10:20:46 am by Pfriemler »
once you do it right, it works :-)
 

Offline markb1980

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Re: My new Hikmicro Pocket 2
« Reply #11 on: November 25, 2022, 05:44:32 am »
a1 + a2) can be done in the PC software.
b) update to the newest version (if you select fusion in the dropdown in the analyze view there is a point "adujst fusion alignment" in the dropdown)
c) same for blending - use HMA 1.2.0.3!

Also update the Pocket2 firmware for increased sharpness and better thermal contrast as well as fixing some bugs with the date and time.
« Last Edit: November 25, 2022, 05:46:47 am by markb1980 »
Pentester, Digital forensics examiner, Data recovery technitian, Author for various books
Learn thermal imaging: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B5KXF41Q/ | https://www.facebook.com/groups/1816479168568552 | https://thermal-image-samples.com/thermal-pixel-peeping/
 
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Offline Pfriemler

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Re: My new Hikmicro Pocket 2
« Reply #12 on: November 25, 2022, 10:41:01 am »
well, that was too easy ...  |O

honestly |O ... I got the cam just a month ago, checked available firmware updates (there were no) and missed the blending feature in live view at the cam (a thing the FLIR does not at all - at least until my device died) as proved in the gun style HIKMicro and many other - and, tataa - there it is! with the firmware 5.5.29, just released a week ago. And a portrait mode, too. Damned banana ware!  ;D. Even fusion seems to be better than before ...?

And with the PC software: I got a German (!) 1.1.somewhat just a few days before the release of the 1.2.0.xxxx (which turns out as a 1.2.0.3 if installed). And - yeaah - there are blending and image position correction just where I expected them before. Works fine.

Meanwhile, I found out that the vertical alignment issue is more on the left, looks like one of the sensors is tilted (I think the thermal is).

And: I was not able to connect my Pocket 2 to my MS Surface Pro to get the firmware file into device's root (I had to consult youtube that only the digicap.dav is to be copied - found no written hint neither at the website nor the manuals   :-- ) - the cam draws too much current from the USB and was rejected to connect. I charged it and it took 1.8A (in words: one point eight ampere) from the wall plug. Nice to know that the cam can charge in that fast way, but what if I have to connect to get the pics from it?  :-- :-- :--

Nevertheless: with the fresh upgrades really more better.
I miss a (live) viewer for the PC - the Android HIKViewer works fine.
once you do it right, it works :-)
 

Offline markb1980

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Re: My new Hikmicro Pocket 2
« Reply #13 on: November 25, 2022, 11:12:25 am »
Even fusion seems to be better than before ...?

Yes that's true and thermal only also improved a lot in situations with a narrow span!

The PC anlysis software got also new tricks like the focus mode palettes and color alarms... I suggested them to add the same pallete as I have used in my profile picture and I guess the focus mode palletes are the way how the developers did understand my suggestion - at least you can decide so if you want to gray out above, below or ouside a certain temperature / temperature-range.

not the same as a palette but basically you can controll it this way even better.

And with the PC software: I got a German (!) 1.1.somewhat just a few days before the release of the 1.2.0.xxxx (which turns out as a 1.2.0.3 if installed). And - yeaah - there are blending and image position correction just where I expected them before. Works fine.

I am an author of a beginners guide to thermal imaging and I have suggested that to hikmicro a while ago. Great they are listening to clients and people as me. I have also a thermal imaging group in facebook and I am in contact with many thermographers around the globe to discuss new cameras and new functions...

Meanwhile, I found out that the vertical alignment issue is more on the left, looks like one of the sensors is tilted (I think the thermal is).

I would talk about that with my reseller.

I was not able to connect my Pocket 2 to my MS Surface Pro to get the firmware file into device's root (I had to consult youtube that only the digicap.dav is to be copied - found no written hint neither at the website nor the manuals

Before there was a manual in the ZIP-file - maybe they forget to include it for this update.

The old firmware was also not adjusting the time when switched off. So I had to set date and time each time I power the camera on. (Very annoying) But that was fixed in the latest update as well.

Nice to know that the cam can charge in that fast way, but what if I have to connect to get the pics from it?

My office PC has no issues with the USB connection but you could try to use bluetooth or WLAN. If not write them a email - they usually respond to issues quite fast. I recently asked them to include one more color palette.

Nevertheless: with the fresh upgrades really more better.
:-+
« Last Edit: November 25, 2022, 11:33:00 am by markb1980 »
Pentester, Digital forensics examiner, Data recovery technitian, Author for various books
Learn thermal imaging: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B5KXF41Q/ | https://www.facebook.com/groups/1816479168568552 | https://thermal-image-samples.com/thermal-pixel-peeping/
 

Offline Pfriemler

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Re: My new Hikmicro Pocket 2
« Reply #14 on: November 25, 2022, 11:53:27 am »
Nice to read that they are interested in suggestions. That's what we thougt here about MicSig scopes ... turns out that it is only to very special persons.

Quote
... looks like one of the sensors is tilted (I think the thermal is).
I would talk about that with my reseller.
The question is: is it that much to return it? We are talking about 4-8 cm in a 5m distance. I try to make a demo pic...

Quote
Before there was a [upgrade] manual in the ZIP-file - maybe they forget to include it for this update.
They did. That was the place where I expected it. I have a device which expects a zip file instead of the pure binary, that's why I looked for instructions.

Quote
The old firmware was also not adjusting the time when switched off.
My Pocket came with the .25 and all files were dated correctly.

Quote
My office PC has no issues with the USB connection but you could try to use bluetooth or WLAN.
My home PC do not care about USB currents, too. But I blowed a fuse on the mainboard by an accidental short circuit, leading to a dead USB 3 port.
Both things should never happen. Many devices cut their current to 500 mA when there are data on the lines.
I had the hope that there's a FTP or something like that, but there are only ports 80, 443, one in the 5xxx (streaming) and 8000. I love this on my MicSig Scope, so I use my phone to transfer the screenshots to my home server via android ftp client without the need to turn on the PC at this time. That would be nice here, too. That's worth an email, I think...

« Last Edit: November 25, 2022, 11:55:13 am by Pfriemler »
once you do it right, it works :-)
 

Offline markb1980

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Re: My new Hikmicro Pocket 2
« Reply #15 on: November 25, 2022, 12:08:10 pm »
My home PC do not care about USB currents, too. But I blowed a fuse on the mainboard by an accidental short circuit, leading to a dead USB 3 port.
Both things should never happen. Many devices cut their current to 500 mA when there are data on the lines.
... my Pocket2 take 0.46A when hooked up to the PC and 0.82A when hooked to a 1A charger.

So maybe your model has some issue. I will ask another Pocket2 owner if he can confirm that maybe...
Pentester, Digital forensics examiner, Data recovery technitian, Author for various books
Learn thermal imaging: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B5KXF41Q/ | https://www.facebook.com/groups/1816479168568552 | https://thermal-image-samples.com/thermal-pixel-peeping/
 

Offline Pfriemler

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Re: My new Hikmicro Pocket 2
« Reply #16 on: November 25, 2022, 08:06:37 pm »
... my Pocket2 take 0.46A when hooked up to the PC and 0.82A when hooked to a 1A charger.
As it should be.

Quote
So maybe your model has some issue. I will ask another Pocket2 owner if he can confirm that maybe...
Would be fine. But in my experience, the weather outside is more predictable than how much mA a (charging) device on USB will take. With my mobile, that varies from 0,8 to 1,8A - cable, usb output voltage and behavior - all at 5V, no PD, no QC. The mentioned wall plug is a good one and is stable on 5.2V @ 3A. I have a bunch of USB voltage/current meters and will check that next time the battery of the Pocket is at least 30% down. I do not think this is an issue, but we will see.
once you do it right, it works :-)
 

Offline c00kemon

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Re: My new Hikmicro Pocket 2
« Reply #17 on: November 26, 2022, 06:39:38 am »
Can you post some sample pictures after the update?  And how the camera behaves in terms of measurement accuracy at temperatures closer to 0 or below.
 

Offline markb1980

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Re: My new Hikmicro Pocket 2
« Reply #18 on: November 26, 2022, 08:54:02 am »
Hi. This are images from an old and a new report with the newer processing. I will try to get a sample of a narrower span image but I am not sure if I have one stored in the office.
Pentester, Digital forensics examiner, Data recovery technitian, Author for various books
Learn thermal imaging: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B5KXF41Q/ | https://www.facebook.com/groups/1816479168568552 | https://thermal-image-samples.com/thermal-pixel-peeping/
 
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Offline markb1980

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Re: My new Hikmicro Pocket 2
« Reply #19 on: November 26, 2022, 09:22:21 am »
That's a 2°C temp. span and it's rendered great. The old version was much more grainy and much lower in contrast even with a bigger span (see 2nd image).
« Last Edit: November 26, 2022, 11:08:09 am by markb1980 »
Pentester, Digital forensics examiner, Data recovery technitian, Author for various books
Learn thermal imaging: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B5KXF41Q/ | https://www.facebook.com/groups/1816479168568552 | https://thermal-image-samples.com/thermal-pixel-peeping/
 
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Offline c00kemon

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Re: My new Hikmicro Pocket 2
« Reply #20 on: November 26, 2022, 12:33:50 pm »
Thanks for the image examples.  Amazing image enhancement, more detail in pictures.  It looks like a super resolution algorithm.  And at what price did you buy your camera?
 

Offline markb1980

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Re: My new Hikmicro Pocket 2
« Reply #21 on: November 26, 2022, 01:04:11 pm »
To be hornest - I got from Hikmicro a M10, B20 and Pocket2 to test for the 2 books I have written about thermography. When I decided to keep the Pocket2 I got a surprisingly great deal. I guess they sell me one for aprox. the production cost so I will not disclose that.

I think the 550 EUR + Tax they charge for the camera are very fair. Compared to a C5 (I own also a Cat S62 which has the same sensor) the Pocket2 is really great in terms of price and performance. But I had also criticized them for the softer image rendering compared to GuideIR or InfiRay multiple times in my FB group and some blogs and for the grainy thermal images with a very narrow span.

I was in contact with then for a while and I shared samples from the other cameras I own (GuideIR PC210, InfiRay C210 Pro and P2 Pro) and I have tryed also various image editing tools and techniques to "improve" images and I have shared that results too. So I am also very pleased to see improvements and new functions in the software because I was talking with them about these things many months ago. I was also in contact with a few Level 2 and Level 3 ITC certified thermographers for the book and we where talking about some of the critique points I had in some of the cameras to get a better idea what can be improved and what is a limitation of the technology or the price range in which the cameras are placed.

When looking back a few years where cheap thermal imaging started with a VT2 (aprox. 32x32 pixels) and where we are now just a little over 10 years later I am pretty impressed.
« Last Edit: November 26, 2022, 01:08:48 pm by markb1980 »
Pentester, Digital forensics examiner, Data recovery technitian, Author for various books
Learn thermal imaging: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B5KXF41Q/ | https://www.facebook.com/groups/1816479168568552 | https://thermal-image-samples.com/thermal-pixel-peeping/
 

Offline c00kemon

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Re: My new Hikmicro Pocket 2
« Reply #22 on: November 26, 2022, 01:48:00 pm »
Wow. I also have many thermal cameras such as Infiray c200, P2, Guide Pc210 and the reference for me is a hacked Flir e4 wifi.  I, too, all the time something does not suit me in the software of Chinese thermal imagers and I try to help them, especially Guide IR, I wrote bug reports for them, but so far without much success.  I'm just as surprised how thermal imagers became available to a not so rich person.  Give me a link to your community, it will be interesting for me to read new information.
 

Offline markb1980

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Re: My new Hikmicro Pocket 2
« Reply #23 on: November 26, 2022, 02:23:11 pm »
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1816479168568552

Please also share your bug reports and informations with the group. I have also a few people from Flir, Guide, Infiray and Hikmicro in the group...

For now Hikmicro is the best company to deal with in therms of suggestions but Guide was also open to it. Hikmicro really listen to their clients and their distributors.
Pentester, Digital forensics examiner, Data recovery technitian, Author for various books
Learn thermal imaging: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B5KXF41Q/ | https://www.facebook.com/groups/1816479168568552 | https://thermal-image-samples.com/thermal-pixel-peeping/
 
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Offline c00kemon

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Re: My new Hikmicro Pocket 2
« Reply #24 on: November 26, 2022, 02:28:37 pm »
Ok, thanks for the reply.  I finally found the right person with similar interests)
 


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