Cheap High-res Imagers in 2023? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: gamerpaddy
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 08, 2023, 09:54:56 am
content: After the price hike of the HT301 which went from 600 to almost 1100 bucks over here, i would still consider it still a fair deal for a 388x288 25/50hz imager,theres not much competition unlike 256x192 devices that all use the same oem module.but theres allways something better at some point.while i was looking around, i found that theres a wave of new devices on the market, mainly hunting scopes and monoculars that have 640x512 thermal sensors in them, and they become increasingly more affordable.Just recently found a hikmikro tq35 for around 2.5k, which i tought is pretty cheap.but then ...a amazon listing for a 1500 bucks 640x512 50hz imagerits called a KINSEI ‎TPC-K60-G25 (only found it on german amazon so far, no luck on alibaba)the "manufacturer" (rebrander) doesnt seem to be the smartest .. just look at the user manualhttps://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/C1YBHPV1RwL.pdfit contains a google drive link to to the default page...and it uses the "Thermal Connection" app by Hangzhou CE-soft technology co., Ltd. in playstore.(also supports some Dahua cameras like the DH-TPC-HT2201 according to a screenshot, cant find any more infos on it)this is a clue whos the real manufacturer of this device.apparently its Dahuahttps://www.dahuasecurity.com/ceen/products/All-Products/Thermal-Cameras/Outdoor-Series/TPC-M60even tho their model is listed on some sites for 50 to 100% more than the Kinsei rebrandHow even is this possible? Did they scrape off old sensors from Surveilance cameras that went EOLor is there a new kid on the block from GSI/Ulis/Infiray that i have missed? maybe the gsi GST612C? cant imagine it being that affordable even in high quantityHD, let alone FHD sensor are probably out of reach for the next 5..10 years for the average consumer.. or maybe not?

author: 5U4GB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 08, 2023, 11:13:30 am
content: One problem you're going to run into is export controls, above about 640x480 you start running into problems, and there are limits on frame rates as well. Below that you can get decent enough ones from reputable Chinese vendors, I've got a... can't remember the brand at the moment, much cheaper than the FLIR and Seek equivalent at the same specs. Depends what you need it for, both my uses cases, identifying hot spots on circuit boards and finding possums in trees at night are fine at 384x288.

author: svgurus
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 09, 2023, 05:36:51 pm
content: other model has 400*300 resolution so maybe its Guide manufactured. lens is 25mm and there is no focusing mechanism so without heavy modifications you will see your solder boards in focus only if they are ~10m away.

author: tonyget
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 10, 2023, 12:22:12 am
content: Quote from: 5U4GB on May 08, 2023, 11:13:30 amI don't think China has export control on thermal imaging devices at the moment. You can get HIKMICRO FQ25 or InfiRay PH35+，both are 640x512 50Hzhttps://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/Night-vision-monocular-HikMicro-thermal-640_1600716943946.htmlhttps://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005017756606.html

author: gamerpaddy
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 10, 2023, 07:45:44 pm
content: the infiray is interessting but the hikmicro its either fh25 which is 384x288 or fq 35/50 with 640x512 but cost 2500+ $.price going wrong direction