FLIR PM570 Professional thermal camera teardown and design commentary by Fraser

[Fraser]

The Electronic Viewfinder

The electronic viewfinder provides the cameras user with a familiar EVF visual interface as found on camcorders of the period. It is more advanced than many camcorder EVF's in that it produces a colour image with a miniature backlit LCD panel. The LCD panel and associated support IC's are all from SONY and were considered advanced at the time of production. Whilst the colour EVF does enable a user to operate the camera system with relative ease, there is no avoiding the fact that a better image is available if a decent external field monitor is used with the cameras. A composite video output port is provided for such on the side of the camera. Such external LCD field monitors are not always convenient however. In situations where high levels of sunlight are present, the EVF can be very useful when a LCD field monitor might prove unusable. The EVF electronics are actually harvested from an NEC camcorder EVF assembly and are not an AGEMA/FLIR design in this particular camera model.

[Fraser]

More to follow, including the reverse engineering process and associated drawings that were used to create the PM570 schematic diagrams that I use to this day in the repair of PM series cameras. But that must wait for another day

Fraser

Update 15 October 2023

I have decided to take a break from this forum, so this thread is on an indefinite hold. Sorry folks.

[dalittle]

Brilliant thread!! Thanks!

I remember the Agema 570. At the time, arguably the most popular PM camera of its time.  In one of the pics, the FPA number was 1700 something. A petty big number (serial) for its time.

Fraser, when you come back, do you remember what FPA is in that camera? There weren’t that many choices back then. I almost want to say it was an original Boeing bolometer.  If I could see it, I think I could confirm that. All this predates Ulis (Sofradir uncooled.)

[nikitasius]

Update 15 October 2023

I have decided to take a break from this forum, so this thread is on an indefinite hold. Sorry folks.

Hmm, i understood why you took a break and i'm 100% agree with your actions Fraser.
The only thing i can't understand are their actions, wtf they did what they did.

update: okay,well, i will follow the advice you gave if it was you said 

[Fraser]

Please do not misinterpret my decision to take time away from this forum. I have a lot going on at the moment and want to concentrate on things that make me happy whilst catching up on all the projects I have outstanding now that Winter has arrived in the UK.

The debacle with Clean-Unbox just put things into perspective for me. I contribute to this forum to help others but that sometimes is at a cost to my own life. I was really offended by what Clean-Unbox said and have no desire to feel unhappy as a result of what I do on this forum. Time to step back and let other knowledgeable forum members continue supporting this amazing repository of thermal imaging knowledge.

Best Wishes to all

Fraser

Update 15 October 2023

I have decided to take a break from this forum, so this thread is on an indefinite hold. Sorry folks.

Hmm, i understood why you took a break and i'm 100% agree with your actions Fraser.
The only thing i can't understand are their actions, wtf they did what they did.