The Mikron TH-5104 scanning camera - under the covers :)

[Fraser]

I was looking for information on a TH-5104 camera for a fellow forum member and stumbled upon this YouTube video showing its internal parts and the scanning system operating. I liked the video so thought I would share it here fir others enjoyment of this amazing option mechanical technology from the 1990’s 

Sadly I do not have one of these cameras in my collection 

https://youtu.be/5kUiiddvtw0

Fraser

[Ben321]

Apparently there's still some places you can buy this old camera http://spi-wholesale.com/shop/mikron-th-5104-3-5-micron-midwave-thermo-tracer-infrared-camera/ but they are not cheap, even though they are no longer modern technology. The original price was $30000, but even though it's much cheaper now, it's still over $5000. If you happen to have that much money available for hobby purchases though, and you want a reasonably priced MWIR camera, this looks like a good option. I've heard that in general MWIR cameras are very expensive, and this MWIR camera's original price confirms that

Just found one for only $2000. That's actually a really good price for this unit, but still pricier than my hobby budget.
https://www.bmisurplus.com/product/mikron-th-5104-thermo-tracer/

[Ben321]

I was looking for information on a TH-5104 camera for a fellow forum member and stumbled upon this YouTube video showing its internal parts and the scanning system operating. I liked the video so thought I would share it here fir others enjoyment of this amazing option mechanical technology from the 1990’s 

Sadly I do not have one of these cameras in my collection 

https://youtu.be/5kUiiddvtw0

Fraser

You don't have one? Maybe you could buy this one?
https://www.bmisurplus.com/product/mikron-th-5104-thermo-tracer/
It's $2000. That's outside what my price range. Not sure about yours though.
It's missing a rechargeable battery and 12v car charger, but the picture shows it does have an AC adapter, so you should at least be able to test it. Also, maybe you could figure out an alternative way to wire up a 12v battery to make it portable. I'd be interested in seeing what you could do with it. I don't even know its resolution (320x240 maybe?).

[Fraser]

Ben321,

Nah, $2000 is not a realistic price for that unit. Less than $200 is nearer the mark

If I recall correctly, I paid $120 for my AGEMA 510 which is similar technology……

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/thermal-imaging/agema-thermovision-510-a-look-under-her-clothes-by-fraser/

[Ben321]

Ben321,

Nah, $2000 is not a realistic price for that unit. Less than $200 is nearer the mark

If I recall correctly, I paid $120 for my AGEMA 510 which is similar technology……

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/thermal-imaging/agema-thermovision-510-a-look-under-her-clothes-by-fraser/

When it was new, I saw it in a catalog for over TWENTY THOUSAND dollars. I would think only $2000 would be a good deal for a used one.

[Fraser]

Ben321,

Original cost Vs current value on the used market is a very unpredictable ratio set by the value to the buyers.
My $50K FLIR PM series industrial cameras were bought by me for less than $1200 and are now seen on eBay for even less.
This is one reason why I have little incentive to sell such excellent cameras. They are not appreciated for their capabilities as they are ‘old’ and this is a common mistake by buyers that I used to take full advantage of. Their loss, my gain 

The TH-5104 is a generation of technology before my FLIR PM series cameras and is more of a collectors piece than a practical ‘daily use’ thermal imaging camera. Though very good in its day, it is one type of thermal camera that is definitely showing its age. Hence its resale value is low due to poor interest in it. Some sellers know nothing about the cameras they sell and set unrealistic asking prices, as in this case. I once provided a seller with full details of what he was selling and he dropped his asking price from $1200 to $200 and offered them to me at that price.

As is often said, the market sets the true used value, not the seller.

[Ben321]

Ben321,

Original cost Vs current value on the used market is a very unpredictable ratio set by the value to the buyers.
My $50K FLIR PM series industrial cameras were bought by me for less than $1200 and are now seen on eBay for even less.
This is one reason why I have little incentive to sell such excellent cameras. They are not appreciated for their capabilities as they are ‘old’ and this is a common mistake by buyers that I used to take full advantage of. Their loss, my gain 

The TH-5104 is a generation of technology before my FLIR industrial cameras PM series cameras and is more of a collectors piece than a practical ‘daily use’ thermal imaging camera. Though very good in its day, it is one type of thermal camera that is definitely showing its age. Hence its resale value is low due to poor interest in it. Some sellers know nothing about the cameras they sell and set unrealistic asking prices, as in this case. I once provided a seller with full details of what he was selling and he dropped his asking price from $1200 to $200 and offered them to me at that price.

As is often said, the market sets the true used value, not the seller.

Good point.

I just found another one of these Mikron cameras now on eBay https://www.ebay.com/itm/363406122859 for over $3000. Apparently most sellers aren't selling these for under $1000. I did find another thermal camera (another Mikron brand camera, but a different model) for under $1000 here https://www.ebay.com/itm/192083315027 but I'm not sure what it's actually worth.

[Fraser]

The Midas is a better camera but it is still over-priced for what it offers. You would get a much better camera in this auction !

https://www.ebay.com/itm/363401900571?epid=665151749&hash=item549c70f21b:g:sOgAAOSw2R1go9~P

[Ben321]

The Midas is still too expensive at $899?

[Ben321]

I was looking for information on a TH-5104 camera for a fellow forum member and stumbled upon this YouTube video showing its internal parts and the scanning system operating. I liked the video so thought I would share it here fir others enjoyment of this amazing option mechanical technology from the 1990’s 

Sadly I do not have one of these cameras in my collection 

https://youtu.be/5kUiiddvtw0

Fraser

I've got another question for you Fraser. Is this also a Mikron brand camera? The model name is Mikron (full model number is Mikron MCS640), but the company associated with it appears to be a company called Advanced Energy, not Mikron. Whatever happened to the Mikron company? Did it go bankrupt? Did it get bought by Advanced Energy? Here's a link to the specific camera I'm talking about. https://www.advancedenergy.com/products/temperature-measurement/thermal-imagers-and-systems/MCS640/