Flir E40 opportunity - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: eKretz
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 05, 2018, 03:19:50 am
content: I'm not super familiar with these cameras but have wanted one for a while. I just caught wind of an opportunity to buy a Flir E40 for about $400. Is this as great a deal as it seems? Comes with hardcase, paperwork, manuals etc. Did some googling and this appears to be an earlier model with the separate arrow keys instead of the square directional pad.

author: hyprfrcv
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: June 05, 2018, 03:22:48 am
content: Do you have the exact model? Only with that you should have a good reference.

author: SmartInfrared
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: June 05, 2018, 03:33:36 am
content: Great price if it is E40, though the product has been discontinued.

author: Spirit532
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 05, 2018, 11:24:12 am
content: Definitely a good buy - go for it. Even the older Exx models crush the Ex series in terms of performance.

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 05, 2018, 12:11:45 pm
content: Amazing price ! Just make sure it is fully operational and has provenance. Stolen property never becomes your property so do check its background story.Any E40, no matter which version is worth every penny of $400 ! That price is actually 'too cheap' for such a camera on the current market. Hence my suggestion that you do your best to check that it is not missing from someone's inventory ! I paid £1200 for a mint 'as new' example from a company that no longer needed it. That was a very good deal for me in the UK market. E40's are easy to upgrade to E60+ specification.Fraser

author: eKretz
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 05, 2018, 02:01:57 pm
content: I found it through a friend - it's from someone local who owned a home inspection company that is retiring and moving out of state. No worries about it being stolen. He texted me some pictures and this one appears to be the model with the flip up plastic port covers. Also said everything works perfectly. I told him I would take it, so I'll update after I've picked it up.

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 05, 2018, 03:51:20 pm
content: Excellent news .... you got yourself a genuine bargain thereThe model you describe appears to be the Mk1 version 2. It is an excellent camera and contains the full service menu that enables you to correct any dead pixels, should they ever occur. The service menu also provides the calibration options and all manner of other useful "stuff"Well done for getting such a bargain.Fraser

author: eKretz
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 05, 2018, 06:20:38 pm
content: Just got lucky I guess. This gentleman isn't very computer savvy and just wanted to make a local sale. I probably got lucky on the price being that it's a friend of a friend situation. Looking forward to checking out the upgrade capabilities. I've done a bit more googling and it looks like it will be a great camera. I just saw that there's plenty to read now in a thread or two here on the EEVblog as far as upgrading too. I think this version has the wifi capability, doesn't it?

author: DaneLaw
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 05, 2018, 06:43:12 pm
content: Are not sure where this one falls in line, but can sense its an older model..But the E40 (reckon a newer rev) 160x120 still goes for sale here in Scandinavia < Denmark from Pro instruments.Cost a little over 7000 USD- (42,150 DKK)https://www.pro-instruments.dk/flir-e40-termokamera.htmlBut yeah strong price, it reminds me of a Flir Thermacam EX320 that I missed around a year ago with casing and all equipment, though one of the 2 batteries was not that good, the unit had numerous signs of use, but not on any vital parts.It was a purchased-now-auction and costed around 300USD and around the same as my budget for an Seek pro..But was completely newbie and before I have validated big and small and gone thru numerous reviews etc and convinced myself that it was an attractive deal and something I could use' - the unit was sold.(but nahh' thats me in a nutshell)Have tried to find the listing on ebay,to show in full, but not sure of they deleting close to 1-year-old listings from adv. searches as it was back in fall 2017.But great bargain an E40 at 400bucks... give some picture-examples when it arrives. in the thermal EEV gallery thread..

author: eKretz
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 05, 2018, 07:11:44 pm
content: Sure will. Looking forward to picking it up. Should have it on Friday.

author: Devov
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: June 07, 2018, 06:04:50 am
content: The prices of the discontinued FLIR EXX series has been fluctuating a lot recently on amazon. There are good deals to be had. I picked myself up an E40 15-degree lens, and flir-tools for ~$1.6k. I'll be trying to unlock the full E60 hardware capabilities.

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 07, 2018, 11:46:46 am
content: Devov,That is an amazing deal, well done. The 15 degree lens and FLIR Tools on their own cost that sort of moneyIt is always nice to find a bargain. I know I was very pleased to find an 'as new' E40 MK1.1 for £1200 but your deal is even better. I see other sellers are still asking $3K to $4K for an E40MK2 MSX.Fraser

author: eKretz
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 08, 2018, 12:08:48 am
content: Picked mine up today. Offered $300 because the gull wing doors are missing and there's a small scratch on the display. Guy said he broke the gull wings off because they were always in the way and irritated him! The brute.. But he accepted! Everything else looks great and the camera functions perfectly. It seems to have a full rubber surround cushion case on it and a slightly larger focus ring and lens cover than the originals. Looking forward to getting it upgraded after I do some more reading.

author: eKretz
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 08, 2018, 12:14:28 am
content: One more, lens looks pristine.

author: eKretz
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 08, 2018, 12:50:50 am
content: First few trial shots pre-upgrade. Kids are getting a serious kick out of it.

author: Devov
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: June 08, 2018, 01:36:39 am
content: That's great. I hope to have my little sister and 90 year old retired boss (with a science/spectroscopy background) playing with mine soon. I've goofed around with the old Flir One before, but it only gets like 5-10 frames/second limits the use and fun. I've tried to do some science with it before, was kinda playing at pulsing a laser at one side of the sample and recording the temperature on the opposite side with the camera, determining thermal diffusivity converting to thermal conductivity using the heat capacity.I've had my eyes on an A35sc A65sc or e40sc for a while, but I'm very happy to get this unit at this price. I'll probably try to find a 45 degree lens soon.

author: eKretz
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 08, 2018, 08:46:31 am
content: I'm sure they will have as much of a blast with it as we do, haha. Just finished tweaking in some upgrades, got my resolution up in e60 land - looking much better. Here's a before and after of a rabbit I found roaming in my back yard. Can hardly tell it's a rabbit in the first pic, what an improvement! Many thanks, kudos and much respect to the guys that did the hard work on this crack.

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 08, 2018, 10:20:55 am
content: Most, if not all, of that additional rubber protection is removable.With regard to the gullwing doors, they are quite fragile so FLIR changed them to rubber covers on later models. FLIR still provides the rubber cover upgrade doors as a spare part for fitment on earlier models. The bad news is that they will cost you around $150.The scuff on the screen is a pity but provided the touch screen is not actually damaged, all should be well. You could buy a decent matte screen protector as that may well conceal the scuff mark and provide protection against further damage. Good screen protectors use a thin gel coating to adhere to the original screen and this gel can mask scratches so may work with a scuff mark as well.You did very well indeed at $300Fraser

author: LesioQ
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 08, 2018, 10:29:55 am
content: Quote from: eKretz on June 08, 2018, 08:46:31 amThis sounds like fake ! What kind of rabbit would be waiting still for You to upgrade ?

author: eKretz
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 08, 2018, 12:09:51 pm
content: LOL, he wasn't waiting, he (she?!) lives in my backyard. There are several living in my yard actually - it might not even have been the same rabbit - I have about 2 acres of land right smack in the middle of the city, and my yard is completely surrounded by about a 40 foot wall of 50 foot tall old growth pines. There are quite a number of animals out there at any given time. I have had a family of foxes several different years, and plenty of others - deer, about a million birds, squirrels, groundhogs, etc.Re: the gull wing door replacements - I'm contemplating making my own. I was a machinist and toolmaker for quite a few years until a disc in my back ruptured. Now I can't do a whole lot of that type of work anymore unless I do it a little bit at a time. I took the rubber armor off but I actually kind of like it, so I put it back on. I did find the original focus ring and lens cover in the hardcover box though - I put those back on. The larger version was nice as far as getting hold of it a little easier but it blocks the visible light camera a bit and makes the pictures look awful. That is a very good idea on the screen protector. I will look around - I think the little woman has some spares around here somewhere that I could trim to size. Happily the scratch is only cosmetic.

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 08, 2018, 02:21:19 pm
content: If you need pictures of the gull wing doors for fine detail, let me know and I will take some pictures.Fraser

author: Spirit532
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 08, 2018, 04:53:58 pm
content: Good grief, $300 for an E40 is a killer deal! For that much your best bet would probably be ausedSeek Compact Pro, and even that retails for $500.I might get around to releasing my additional hack soon, should be helpful

author: Vipitis
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 08, 2018, 05:59:52 pm
content: I am really jealous. What you got there is a steal - I hope you enjoy it. The only bargins I get offered are from this forum but only partial units and not a working handheld camera.

author: eKretz
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 08, 2018, 06:48:26 pm
content: Quote from: Fraser on June 08, 2018, 02:21:19 pmThat would be helpful, thanks. The area where the covers latch especially, I was wondering if they just use the flex of the cover or if there's a spring loaded latch.And thanks fellas, I am absolutely chuffed with this deal, it has worked out fantastically. Just happened to be in the right place at the right time. After finishing up my upgrades last night I had an awfully big smile on my face.

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 08, 2018, 07:32:24 pm
content: The catches are actually quite complex. The side covers are (IIRC) metal and the spring loaded sliding catches are nylon. Each cover has a rubber gasket seal that mates with the gasket around the ports. The release catches are quite hard to operate and apparently can break easily if forced. This is likely why FLIR came up with an upgrade to the more robust rubber friction fit covers that hinge at the leading edge, rather than the top. I will sort out some pictures soonest.Fraser

author: eKretz
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 08, 2018, 07:58:03 pm
content: One thing I've just noticed I'm not sure is normal - on my E40 after I've used it for a bit and turn it off I notice there's a red L.E.D. or something lit up inside. Since the gull wing doors are missing it's quite noticeable - can see it when looking in through the ports on either side. Does anyone else's do this? I wonder what that is. Still waiting to see if it will eventually turn off.

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 08, 2018, 08:49:00 pm
content: Perfectly normal.The E40 thermal camera has soft power switching and operate in three states1. Off2. Standby3. OnWhen switching the E40 off, it enters standby for a period of time and then shuts down fully to the off condition. This is so you can restart the camera quickly if needed. A full off condition can be actioned by pressing and holding the power button for more than 10 seconds.The Red LED us just a PCB diagnostic indicator to show the camera is not fully shut down and is in the standby state.Fraser

author: eKretz
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 08, 2018, 10:20:05 pm
content: Ok thanks much for the clarification. I really hadn't spent much time with it prior to all the upgrades so I wasn't sure if it had done that previously or not. Good to know that it's just fine.

author: eKretz
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 10, 2018, 12:30:03 pm
content: Anyone else notice the EXX advertised minimum focus distance doesn't seem to be correct? My cam seems to focus just fine all the way down to about 6" away from a subject (edit: confirmed - just measured - exactly 6") According to the brochure/datasheet it's supposed to be 1.3 feet MFD.

author: Vipitis
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 10, 2018, 01:31:57 pm
content: That could change with the lens... Maybe you don't have the exact lens that your brochure is talking about, or it doesn't turn far enough.

author: eKretz
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 10, 2018, 09:49:56 pm
content: I don't think that either of those is likely - the base lens isn't interchangeable on these as far as I can tell. It doesn't screw in like on the EX series. The optional lenses are just add-ons that mount in front of the base lens, and I don't have any of those. As far as not turning far enough, if the focus ring didn't turn far enough I'd think it would increase the MFD, not decrease it.

author: eKretz
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 15, 2018, 08:15:00 am
content: Just fitted a new screen protector. That worked perfectly to hide the scratch.

author: eKretz
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 15, 2018, 08:21:54 am
content: Oh, and in case anyone ever needs any help with disassembly, I've now had this camera completely torn down. Most of it is pretty simple but there's one tricky spot.

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 15, 2018, 01:24:33 pm
content: Did you have to cut down a screen protector or was it one intended for a 3.5" screen ?Fraser

author: eKretz
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 15, 2018, 01:42:19 pm
content: I cut one originally intended for a cell phone. "Invisible Shield" brand as I recall.

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 15, 2018, 05:16:47 pm
content: Excellent. The ones I have seen being sold specifically for the Exx series are silly money .... £20+ !Fraser

author: eKretz
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 17, 2018, 05:42:06 am
content: Yikes. I just happened to have access to the little lady's stash. She found a clearance bin of cell phone screen protectors at Target for something like $1 each and bought the whole bin. Probably 10 of them in there.BTW Fraser, did you happen to have a chance to get a few photos of the gull wing door latch setup for me?