New 'Low Cost' Thermal Zoom Camera

•Published Oct 14, 2014 04:00 AM

Zoom thermal cameras have typically been feasible only to those with the largest budgets, requiring expensive cooled cameras with six figure price tags. Now, Sierra Olympic claims to bring this capability to the commercial market at breakthrough prices with their Vinden CZ uncooled thermal camera, with prices a fraction of existing models. In this note we look at this new camera, its capabilities, and potential impact.

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Comments (1)

Peter Michael

•Oct 24, 2014

John,

Very interesting and worth more investigation.

There is a lot more to IR sensors - for example Noise Equivalent Temperature Difference (NETD)

Remember that Thermal IR cameras are available in two general type:

Cooled - typically using InSb (Indium Antimonide) that 'see' 3-5 micron (3,000 to 5,000 nm) this is Mid Wave IR (MWIR)

Uncooled - typically using VoX (Vanadium Oxide) and 'see' 7-15 microns, this is Long Waver IR (LWIR)

[There is also short wave - SWIR (900 to 1,700 nm) - special cameras and sensor used for example for laser guided bombs]

Cooled have better capability but much more expensive since they need a cryogenic cooler. They are however justified if one needs long ranges.

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