Which camera is preferred!?

[John McKenna]

Originally Posted by wwarner

"Resolution is even more important in infrared imaging than it is in digital photography, and we all know how photographers boast about the resolution of their newest digital cameras," says Jon Chynoweth, vice president of Mikron Infrared. "In infrared, resolution affects temperature measurement accuracy, not just image quality. The 320x240 detector, with 76,800 temperature-measuring pixels, resolves an area smaller than a tenth of a square inch at six feet, while the 160x240 detector, with just 19,200 pixels, can't see anything smaller than twice that size. Lower resolution means you average in more background on your temperature readings, so you're less accurate, and you end up with a thermal image that looks like it's made of tiny little squares, no matter what the viewing distance."

Home inspectors are not trying to resolve temperatures, we are just seeking to identify anomalies in the thermal image and then verify what it actually is and what is causing it. It does not matter what the temperature of a wet spot is, it only matters that we find it. This is why high end resolution is not needed. The problems we find are bigger than a tenth of a square inch.

[William Warner]

Originally Posted by jmckenna1

Home inspectors are not trying to resolve temperatures, we are just seeking to identify anomalies in the thermal image and then verify what it actually is and what is causing it. It does not matter what the temperature of a wet spot is, it only matters that we find it. This is why high end resolution is not needed. The problems we find are bigger than a tenth of a square inch.

True...
Thermal imaging does not replace our inspector instincts or techniques but does assist us with those. Durring our field training, we found an anomolie the size of my fist which was only 0.5 - 1 degree different than the surround ceiling signature but pegged the moisture meter when verified. Your exactly right, I don't really care what exact temperature the anomlie is, only that I DO find it and get it verified with other inspection methods and tools. I'm not sure as I didn't invest in a lower end camera, but I have a feeling it may not have picked up that 0.5 - 1 degree difference...unless there existed a great thermal contrast or delta T which in this case there wasn't.

Identifying the actual temperature is not my point. Being able to identify anomolies which exist in residential applications (where high thermal contrasts are typically not present) is very important in my opinion. But that's just it... that's my opinion... and you know what those are like

[John McKenna]

The moisture seen in the left hand corner of the this room was detected with some areas being less than 1 degree difference with a FLIR BCAM. http://texas-inspection.com/ir_0361.jpg This photo was not touched up.

[William Warner]

Good catch John. Here's one I took The entire spot was 0.5 to 1 degree different.

[John McKenna]

Originally Posted by wwarner

Good catch John. Here's one I took The entire spot was 0.5 to 1 degree different.

BCAM rocks and only cost me $4800.

[wfambrough]

The bad downfall of the RAZIR I found was that it stores the image in a format that cant be read by anything other than their software. The BCAMS both save in jpeg format. I use a PDA based software program for my reports and use the SD card to import images right into the inspection. I am VERY happy with my BCAM SD. Also I recommend taking a course from ITC. I took the 40 hour Building Science course from Scott Wood. Find a class he teaches.

[John McKenna]

Originally Posted by wfambrough

The bad downfall of the RAZIR I found was that it stores the image in a format that cant be read by anything other than their software. The BCAMS both save in jpeg format. I use a PDA based software program for my reports and use the SD card to import images right into the inspection. I am VERY happy with my BCAM SD. Also I recommend taking a course from ITC. I took the 40 hour Building Science course from Scott Wood. Find a class he teaches.

Scott Woods with the BS course rocks.

[Hank Vanderbeek]

What is the least esxpensive camera with a resolution of 320 x 240?

[ekartal6]

I forget the models but I know they start at $12,000.

[Kevin A. Richardson]

Originally Posted by hvanderbeek

What is the least esxpensive camera with a resolution of 320 x 240?

Here is one of them:

http://www.goinfrared.com/cameras/E-...hermacam-ex300

Kevin