Night vision vs Flir i5

[Ants77]

Hey Everyone,

As a research tool we have the opportunity to obtain a Flir i5. Now it's in great condition and comes with all it's particulars. Offers of the $500 mark have been negotiated so it maybe worth the effort. Ebay offers these models new for around the $1400.00 plus mark. However the Flir in question has limited abilities such as 100 x 100 pixels, and most images we guess will turn out like a red and white lego figure lol. Having said that I guess in the right environment it could prove to be an asset.Limited distance detection, to a degree obviously, but at 30m in an even temp environment it shows a figure with a significant heat signature. We requested a few pics for us to perusal before we started negotiations.

Doing some research revealed that for the same dollar figure we could obtain some night vision gear either monocular design or Nightvision goggles. Once again in the right environment ( star filled night sky ) but I think the Nightvision could prove to be a better choice. I think it would give a better ranged to research at and doesn't need to be on all the time, not sure if some Nightvision gear has photo taking capabilities at this dollar value of $500 to $600 or even if they can take stills ? So if anyone can give me some tech data, pros & cons on either that would be awesome.

In the long run a still could be taken whilst watching the mark until it has moved into prime position with the Nightvision hardware ? This could prove to be a long stand off I gather if luck could put me that close to the elusive that is. Or do I identify the mark as a small heat signature then start from here ? I'd say at the i5's range the elusive would have already played the game of flank the researcher. I'm in two minds, It feels like I have to make the choice between data or early warning systems.............. hard to compare.


Cheers


Ants

[glenmore79]

I personally would buy both.

I think the distance range comparison should be your deciding factor. However the ability to take "stills" on the flir is a plus but the range of only 30m is downside, so whats the point of taking stills if you are not going to see anything 35m+

[Smokeyr67]

The NV equipment available in Australia is, to be frank, poor. Unless you illuminate the area with an IR light, they are next to useless. I'd go the FLIR option, if it is trully forward looking infra red.

[topender]

Agree, we here in Oz are still restricted to the poor cousins of the NV world due to some obscure rules, i own a monocular which ( quite frankly) isn't worth a pinch of S#$T, i dont know why i even pack it when im off in the bush.

it's time for for decent equiptment on the market for us

[Ants77]

Thanks heaps everyone,

Guess by the time we do start to get the better technology we'll end up paying through the teeth for them. Until this comes the best I can do I suppose is digital camera and rec. Really they're not bad tools at all, better than the old days I'm sure. At least I can still do some pretty good documenting with them. During the day.
Does anyone know if one could get a Flir knock off maybe from HongKong, China or Japan. I've heard some country's have the same thing but only two thirds the cost, as apose buying from America, or Australia etc. Once again thanks for the feed back everyone, much appreciated.


Cheers


Ants

[mlj1mlj1]

Nightvision, Flir is a heat blob...Will never prove anything...