FLIR C2: Thermal Imaging Camera
80 X 60 PX Thermal Resolution, MSX Image Enhancement
80 X 60 PX THERMAL RESOLUTION
Flir designed the C2 with an 80x60px thermal sensor – probably their Lepton core – which produces 4,800 individual temperature measurement data points in each image.
MSX IMAGE ENHANCEMENT
The C2 also feature’s Flir’s MSX contrast image enhancement technology. Basically, the MSX technology uses information taken from a visual camera sensor and blends it into the thermal image. This works a lot better than other cameras’ “image blending” modes that simply overlap thermal and visual imagery. You can see how well this works in my post about the Flir E4.
CAPTURE BUTTON
A very large button allows for quick capturing of thermal, visual, and MSX image data. You could sort through these later using Flir’s free PC and Mac application. There’s a separate power button as well.
BUILT-IN DISPLAY AND BATTERY
Unlike the Flir ONE, which piggybacks off an iPhone, the C2 has a built-in 3″ LCD display with 320 x 240 px resolution, and a rechargeable battery (3.7V LiPo).
The display automatically reorients itself, whether you hold the C2 camera in landscape or portrait orientations. AND it has a capacitive touchscreen for quick and easy access to menus and settings.
The built-in battery delivers up to 2 hours of runtime. It recharges inside the camera (suggesting it is not user-removable), with a full recharge taking 1.5 hours.
MEMORY AND USB CONNECTIVITY
Internal memory stores “up to” 500 sets of thermal and visual images, in jpg format. You can get them off the thermal imaging camera and into your PC, Android, or iOS device using a micro USB cable.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like the C2 offers any WiFi, Bluetooth, or wireless connectivity options. This is probably to help preserve battery life and keep costs and complexity down.
Flir says that you can stream video over USB, although they’re not very clear about how that will work.
APPLICATIONS
Flir says that the C2 is designed especially for building applications, and that it is great for showing things like hidden heat patterns that point out energy waste, structural defects, plumbing clogs, HVAC issues, and other problems.
Since the C2 is so easily pocketable, professionals in other trades will probably find it very appealing as well.
PRICE AND AVAILABILITY
Flir says that their new C2 has a “sub $700 MSRP.” This probably means it will be priced at $699.
Features:
80 x 60 px thermal resolution, 640 x 480 px visual camera resolution
Wide angle lens with 41° x 31° field of view
Minimum focusing distance: 0.15 m (0.49 ft.) thermal and 1.0 m (3.3 ft.) for MSX
Object temperature range –10°C to +150°C (14 to 302°F)
Accuracy ±2°C (±3.6°F) or 2%, whichever is greater, at 25°C (77°F) nominal
Thermal sensitivity: <0.10°C
Image frequency: 9Hz
Adjustable emissivity: matte/semi/glossy + user set
Iron, rainbow, rainbow HC, gray color pallets (rainbow HC is a high contrast color mode)
2 hrs runtime, 1.5 hrs recharge time
Size: 125 × 80 × 24 mm (4.9 × 3.1 × 0.94 in.)
It comes with the camera itself, a battery (built-in), lanyard, power supply/charger with EU, UK, US, CN and Australian plugs, printed getting started guide, USB memory stick with documentation, USB cable.