TLM, thanks for uploading videos in 1080. I have to assume at this point that a better upload gives a better representation of what could be seen in person.
I have seen a few videos of scenes shot using a FLIR T-70 and they are very poor. Makes you not want to spend the LARGE amount of money on one. Does not mean that
they are not very capable, it just means I have no idea what the T-70 is capable of. I want to know what it is capable of. Also of the T-75.
Other videos with 'lesser' units have much better videos. I wonder how much of a role the recording devise plays into this equation. Cables, connections, storage media.
From what I have seen and heard from actual users of the devises I think that each bolometer seems to have a sweet spot of lens magnification, FOV, and size or diameter.
Somebody will be along to explain this away but that is what I notice from the videos. Each provider has strengths and weaknesses. Price point engineering has its limits.
Some of the units from various providers use the same TAU2 bolometer yet have differing levels of output performance. The diameter of the glass always gets explained as
non-critical. I think it is crucial. The FLIR RS-64 for example looks like it would do much better with a more expensive lens. But then fewer of us could afford the unit.
While I save to do a 'buy once cry once' thermal devise purchase, I cannot help but notice that none of the units have everything I want. The closest I found is $55,000 and they will not
consider selling it to me anyway. The fact that it is WAY out of my price range was academic. The market place is reacting to both technology and competition and increased market size.
Prices are becoming affordable to more of the population than ever before. What once was only affordable to governments is now being used by hobbyist hunters. This trend is accelerating.
Every year at SHOT show the latest and greatest, whether they are actually available or on the drawing board, are displayed for all to see. Some of these items are not ready for market,
others will never be brought to fruition. Take the V-sight from ATN. Great concept, great price, game changer specs, but has not been released. Not thermal but you get the picture.
The Raytheon W1000-9 looks like it has some of the best glass around. Unfortunately it has an older less capable camera. It also is fifteen or more years old and that is more than
a generation in the tech world. What is does do is work, and work very well for it's intended purpose. Detection at distance is a tremendous advantage to the hunter in the field.
Engagement is another story. The RS-64 is described as amazing by people who used military thermal ten or more years ago, yet it is not all it could be. But I don't want to settle.
I also don't want to die waiting for the next great advance that may or may not reach ME in time to do something with it. So what do I do? Everything I can to learn, plan and then buy.
Here is what I am thinking in the middle of 2014AD. This will change as I do, but here are my thoughts.
I need a better crystal ball.
I need my eyes to look through as many devices as possible.
I need to be frugal with resources that are limited.
I need to listen to people with real experience, not people who are keyboard experts.
I need to find ways to limit my criteria to what I would be happy with.
I need to figure out what I would be happy with, then stop and be happy.
I want a 640 or better core. When will the 880 or 1080 cores be available? I want them.
I want a large diameter Germanium lens. Not for a high power factor, for the ability to gather more heat.
I want a optical zoom much more than a digital one.
I want a viewfinder that gives my eyes the best possible view of the thermal world.
I want to be able to discern small variations in object temperatures.
I want to be able to ignore small variations in object temperatures.
I want a video product from my unit that is very close to what I actually saw and experienced.
I want to have data from the situation on the screen. And have data excluded from the screen.
I want programmable reticles that actually work like a traditional first focal plane scope. And I want them to get out of the way sometimes.
Then
I want this to be available to me as a citizen of the United States of America.
I want this combination of capabilities to be somewhat affordable. As technology advances and brings down the prices my savings will be increasing.
When the above capabilities are met at a price I can pay for I will buy. Just once. In cash.