Looking for a good thermal imaging camera.?

Question

I am looking to buy a thermal imaging camera, but I don't know what brand or model has a good thermal imaging camera. I don't wish to buy an expensive high quality camera, but not a cheep crappy one. I'm looking at a camera with a price below $500 or a little above $500. Thank you for your help.

Answer 1

Hi,



Not sure if you can get a true thermal imaging camera for a budget of $500. However, you could try IR film if you have a film camera, with an IR filter. This is a pretty low-cost option.



Also a number of people modify digital cameras to be IR sensitive, cost about $250-300. This operation is not (easily) reversible, as the IR filter in front of the camera sensor is removed, making the sensor "see" more of the non-visible spectrum. This is not true thermal imaging, but it does give some interesting results. It depends on just what you are aiming at - and if you want still or movies.



I have posted one link below - but there are many others who offer DSLR IR conversions.

Answer 2

This ehow entry is totally bogus! They are confusing near and far infrared. A camera's digital sensor has sensitivity in to near IR which is around 0.750 to 1.0 micron wavelength. Their technique is to use blackened film which blocks most of visible light and lets a little bit of near IR through. There are ways to convert your camera in to a proper IR camera, but you need to remove the sensor's IR filter and you need a filter to pass near IR and block visible light. Thermal IR is around 3 to 15 micron wavelength which is totally outside of a normal camera sensor's range. The lens on a standard camera won't even let the thermal IR wavelengths through. Common lenses for thermal IR are made of germanium or silicon and look sliver to black in color. You can get a fairly decent thermal IR camera for about $2500 from Fluke. Good thermal cameras run above $20,000.

Answer 3

Do you want a thermal imager, or an IR capable camera? Do you know which is which?



Here is a seller of thermal imagers... http://www.instrumart.com/ProductList.aspx?CategoryID=4899&Landing=1&gclid=CLyuw8jznZsCFQ4MDQod-35iTg



The price starts at $3,000.



You aren't going to get thermal imagers for $500.

Answer 4

There are some good industrial suppliers of thermal imaging cameras. This company has been around for ten years.

Answer 5

$500 is far from enough ....