Another option, which allows you to explore other parts of the electromagnetic spectrum...a modified consumer camera.
The silicon CMOS detectors can also sense into near IR (down to about 1 micron), and up a wee bit into near-UV (up to about .38 microns)
Typical conversion involves removing the Bayer color array filter. Now the sensor is able to capture images over that wide range...so you slap on various bandpass filters as appropriate.
What used to be a 3-channel camera is now single channel/monochrome.
Near IR is interesting for some stuff. It'll even detect hot objects...but they gotta be soldering iron hot.
You can do it to just about any camera that uses a silicon CMOS sensor. That includes DSLR, mirrorless, even cell phones. You just need to find a shop that is willing to take the risk to open the camera and do a non-standard mod that blatantly voids your warrantee.
I got a used Sony a-6300 a few years ago and sent it off. The cost of the mod was greater than the price I paid for the camera.
Also note that camera lenses are typically designed to focus visible light well, not IR or near UV...so you may lose sharpness...or stop the lens down to get some of it back.
Also, anti-reflection coatings on lenses are optimized for visible light. Outside of the design band there can be lots of ghosting/lens flare.
Some folks do these monochrome mods to get a "poor man's Leica"...high-res, but not super-high price.
Some folks do a slightly different mod so that the camera still takes multi-channel 'color' photos, but they look like photos taken with Ye Olde Kodake IR Filme.
This is probably why they got it for me, I mentioned these were handy to find water leaks (and water in walls). Too late for that now, but I guess I can give free energy audits to anyone who lives near me, LOL. #thermalimager#flir#energyhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gohEc3u3Ot4
@ai6yr I really wished I had one of those when I started to suspect one of our kitchen walls (in the last house) had no insulation. I confirmed it with a lot of laser-thermometer work on hot and cold days, but it would’ve been much easier to convince my husband with a camera 😂 Do your house! Do the house you’re staying in! I bet you’ll find some weird secret insulation-gaps.
(Do you know any equestrians? We love those things too for evaluating saddle fit by looking at the blood flow in the horse’s back!)
@ai6yr@donkeyherder Try measure from outside in. On the coldest days. You'll get the best contrast that way. Outside of house should be consistently cool and those hot leaks glow really visible.
@anuckols I just went out and checked for detection on a propane tank, and on a BBQ. No go. The IR detector does not pick up the (low) natural gas volumes on the BBQ.
@smatheson Standalone, which is more expensive but will still be operational long past when the manufacturer stops supporting the phone software (which is what they tend to do).
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