EEVblog Electronics Community Forum
Products => Thermal Imaging => Topic started by: Logan on December 24, 2020, 10:49:49 am
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Hi guys.
Here is a quick personal review about Seek Shot Series, for anyone interested.
Good
Self-contained, do not need a phone or a host like a dongle. The form factor is comfortable to use.
The “performance/cost/size” triangle is good enough. Also included various of functions.
Pro version have 57 degrees wide FOV.
Minimum auto range is only 1 Kelvin, which makes contrast much better than Flir’s 4 Kelvin.
Built in video recording ability.
On device analysis and post processing for still pictures.
Wireless transfer/live-view.
Bad
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/thermal-imaging/anyone-knows-how-to-modify-seek-shot-pros-firmware/msg3346858/#msg3346858 (https://www.eevblog.com/forum/thermal-imaging/anyone-knows-how-to-modify-seek-shot-pros-firmware/msg3346858/#msg3346858)
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/thermal-imaging/anyone-knows-how-to-modify-seek-shot-pros-firmware/msg3346870/#msg3346870 (https://www.eevblog.com/forum/thermal-imaging/anyone-knows-how-to-modify-seek-shot-pros-firmware/msg3346870/#msg3346870)
Although the bugs listing are longer in text length, I still consider them as good products, especially for the price.
Here’s some differences between Pro/Non-Pro, besides the resolution/FOV: https://www.eevblog.com/forum/thermal-imaging/seek-shot-(non-pro)-quick-review/ (https://www.eevblog.com/forum/thermal-imaging/seek-shot-(non-pro)-quick-review/)
I kinda wonder why they don’t get popular on this forum, I think they have good performance/price ratio, and are general purpose TICs, without ITAR.
Thanks for reading!
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I have also wondered why the Seek Shot did not appear to be more popular. I own the seek Reveal series of cameras and only decided to buy one after using a standard Seek Reveal while visiting a friend. I was pleasantly surprised by its imaging performance considering its cost. My only previous experience of Seek Thermal cameras was their original MK1 Dongle and it was not a very happy experience so I rehomed it. I bought the Seek Reveal PRO FastFrame model at a very good discount and consider it to be a very neat and capable little ‘budget’ camera. I was attracted to the Reveal by its very nice case design and decent imaging performance. It could have come straight off the set of Star Trek ;D I went on to buy a used but ‘as new’ Seek Reveal Pro <9fps model. That model also performs well. The last Seek Reveal cameras that I bought were faulty standard and XR models in Fast Fame and <9fps variants. I repaired them and they were absolute bargains for what I paid for them.
The Seek Thermal Dongles have a far greater following in this forum as some users prefer the Dongle format and experimenters like the ability to choose their host and modify/create the software that interprets the output of the dongle. The Dongles are very much like SDR receivers in this respect. ‘All in one’ solutions appeal to those of us who just want to use the camera as a tool and gather data with as little fuss as possible.
I still like the Seek Reveal series and there are even Fire Fighting and Law Enforcement variants now. How appropriate they are for Fire Fighting or covert Law Enforcement is open to discussion but it shows that Seek Thermal were keen to push the Reveal series into some pretty specialist markets.
I suspect Seek Thermal are now VERY focussed on the fever detection thermal camera market as it offers a huge sales opportunity to them if their products are adequate for the role. I say “adequate” because Fever Detection Thermography demands excellent temperature measurement accuracy and reasonable resolution. Seek cores may be capable of both if used with an accurate temperature reference in the FOV and lock-in thermography techniques. Without a lock-in reference I believe the Seek Thermal cores would struggle with measurement accuracy. I wish them well in that market as we need affordable medical thermal imaging technology that actually delivers on its promises.
Fraser
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Thank you for replying, Fraser.
As for the Reveal series, I actually tried one before, but ended up not keep it.
They have similar performance as Shot series, with much lower price, and are buttons operated, which I like.(instead of touch screen)
I can tolerate the much less feature set, and the smaller screen. But I don’t know who designed the case. |O
They block corners of the screen, fine, I can cut it bigger myself. They made it vertical aspect ratio, okay I’ll put it horizontal and ignore the texts. But then there is a ~70 degrees angle between the screen and sensor? Come here designer, let’s talk! :horse:
I remember there is a custom case for Reveal designed by one of our forum member, but that is for using as a monocular with eyepiece. I still want a normal screen view so I passed on that one.
Sorry for the rant, I’m appreciate if you even read all of them.
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Display vs Lens axis angle is an interesting topic :-+
There have been many thermal camera case designs over the years that offered novel display to lens axis angles. Like you, I normally prefer the roughly ‘in-line’ minimal offset format. This is offered by most ‘Pistol grip’ camera designs and is very easy to use. Other designs are listed below....
1. Standard on-axis scope as used on rifles and recon scopes
2. Adjustable angle display or EVF as found on camcorders
3. Mobile phone format with little or some lens to display offset depending upon design
4. ‘Top down’ format that have the display almost 90 degrees to the lens axis. Commonly called ‘Thermal Torch’ format.
5. Other designs with various angles between the lens axis and display panel to suit the application.
I tested the FLIR original Ex series cameras that were of the ‘Thermal Torch’ design and did not like the angle of the display. I have not owned a ‘thermal torch’ format camera since and then along came the Seek Reveal ! The same issue of display angle vs lens axis exists but I am tolerant of it as I wanted a compact thermal camera and the Reveal format is acceptable in my usage case. I am firyptunate to have many other cameras to pick from though so I am spoilt in that respect. My favourites remains the ‘pistol grip’ or camcorder formats though.
Fraser
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Thank you very much Fraser.
I’m just about to ask what’s old Ex be like, and found your photo ;D .
But isn’t your photo old Exx? I don’t even know there are old Ex like these...
And I used to thought their screen can flip up, too bad they can’t. :-//
Logan
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There were several old Ex/Exx models ;D Same case, different capabilities. I owned an E2.
It gets confusing as FLIR reused the Ex and Exx model prefixes for later ranges of camera.
Fraser
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My E2 teardown thread is to be found here.....
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/thermal-imaging/flir-thermal-camera-for-teardown-my-latest-patient-the-e2/ (https://www.eevblog.com/forum/thermal-imaging/flir-thermal-camera-for-teardown-my-latest-patient-the-e2/)
Fraser
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There was also the E2V ARGUS TT camera that was aimed at the law enforcement, security and SAR market. It used a similar ‘Thermal Torch’ format and was actually quite popular with users.
E2V also built a recon scope format camera. I love that unit ! It was called the P series and had selectable lenses for different FOV’s. Very nice build quality, far better than the similar FLIR HS series that FLIR outsourced to China.
Sadly I have not managed to add an ARGUS TT or P series camera to my collection YET. But I live in hope.
Fraser