Print

[Chris Mayes]

(It's a long post, but make sure you get to the bottom) We had a post here regarding the new Fluke infrared cameras about a week ago and we spilled the beans a little early, so we had to pull the thread.  It's cool now so here we go....

Fluke Ti32 (TiR32 has 150°C max. temp. instead of 600°C & dew point alarm instead of a high temp. alarm)

Temp. Range:  -20°C to +600°C (-4°F to +1112°F)
Temperature measurement accuracy:  ± 2°C or 2 %
On-screen emissivity correction:  Yes
On-screen reflected background temperature compensation:  Yes
On-screen transmission correction:  Yes
Image capture frequency:  60 Hz refresh rate
Detector type:  320 X 240 Focal Plane Array, uncooled microbolometer
Thermal sensitivity (NETD):  ≤ 0.05°C at 30°C target temp. (50 mK)
Field of view:  23° x 17°
Palettes:  (Standard) Ironbow, Blue-Red, High Contrast, Amber, Amber Inverted, Hot Metal, Grayscale, Grayscale Inverted -- (Ultra Contrast™) Ironbow Ultra, Blue-Red Ultra, High Contrast Ultra, Amber Ultra, Amber Inverted Ultra, Hot Metal Ultra, Grayscale Ultra, Grayscale Inverted Ultra
Automatically aligned (parallax corrected) visual and IR blending:  Yes
Picture-In-Picture (PIP):  Three levels of on-screen IR blending displayed in center of LCD
Full screen infrared:  Three levels of on-screen IR blending displayed in center of LCD
Color alarms (temperature alarms):  High-temperature alarm (user-selectable)
Voice annotation:  60 seconds maximum recording time per image w/reviewable playback on imager
Image capture, review, save mechanism:  One-handed image capture, review, and save capability allows user to adjust palette, blending, level, span, IR-Fusion® mode, emissivity, and reflected background temperature compensation, and transmission correction on a captured image before it is stored
Storage medium:  SD Memory Card (2 GB memory card will store at least 1200 fully radiometric (.is2) IR and linked visual images each with 60 seconds voice annotations, or 3000 basic bitmap (.bmp) images, or 3000 jpeg (.jpeg) images; transferrable to PC via included multi-format USB card reader
File formats:  Non-radiometric (.bmp) or (.jpeg) or fully-radiometric (.is2); No analysis software required for non-radiometric (.bmp and .jpeg) files
Export file formats w/SmartView® software:  JPEG, JPG, JPE, JFIF, BMP, GIF, DIB, PNG, TIF, and TIFF
Memory review:  Thumbnail view navigation and review selection
Batteries:  Two lithium ion rechargeable smart battery packs with five-segment LED display to show charge level
Battery life:  Four+ hours continuous use per battery pack (assumes 50 % brightness of LCD)
Battery charge time:  2.5 hours to full charge
AC battery charging:  Two-bay ac battery charger (110 V ac to 220 V ac, 50/60 Hz) (included), or in-imager charging. AC mains adapters included (Optional 12 V automotive charging adapter)
AC operation:  AC operation with included power supply (110 V ac to 220 V ac, 50/60 Hz). AC mains adapters included
Power saving:  Sleep mode activated after five minutes of inactivity, automatic power off after 30 minutes of inactivity
Safety standards:  CSA (US and CAN): C22.2 No. 61010-1-04, UL: UL STD 61010-1 (2nd Edition), ISA: 82.02.01
Vibration:  0.03 g2/Hz (3.8 grms), IEC 68-2-6
Shock:  25 g, IEC 68-2-29
Drop:  2 meter (6.5 feet) with standard lens
Warranty:  Two-years (standard)
Recommended calibration cycle:  Two-years (assumes normal operation and normal aging)

Ok, if there aren't a ton of questions here I'll be disappointed.  For the infrared camera savvy out there, you will probably realize that this is basically a Fluke Ti55FT FlexCam in a TiR1 package.  Of the features listed above, here's the break down of what's actually new to Fluke's "Ti" camera line:

On-screen transmission correction:  This is to be used when using an IR sightglass (Fluke makes them) to look into electrical panels that pose an arc flash threat.  The sight glass has an emissivity of around .15 (crystal) and this setting accounts for this on-camera and gives the user the proper reading.

Image capture frequency:  60 Hz refresh rate:  Military grade infrared here.  Only the $20,000 FlexCams had this feature.  It also makes this camera Dept. of Justice regulated, so no exporting.  Fluke doesn't want our armed forces finding one of these in a cave in Afghanistan.

Detector type:  320 X 240 Focal Plane Array, uncooled microbolometer:  320 x 240 detector resolution produces image quality only found on $15,000+ cameras from ANY manufacturer.

Thermal sensitivity (NETD):  ≤ 0.05°C at 30°C target temp. (50 mK):  Remember that 50mK is the standard for the camera leaving the factory.  Many that ship are actually MORE sensitive. One more spec that you will only find on cameras in the $20,000+ range.

Ultra Contrast™ Palettes:  Probably added just for the building inspection/energy auditing fields, this new palette setting takes your very minor temperature differences and makes them explode with high contrast.  I know it sounds like an infomercial, but finding that air leak or detecting moisture with a lower Delta-T should come in pretty handy.... oh yeah, they also added 2 or 3 more standard palettes as well.

Image capture, review, save mechanism:  One-handed image capture, review, and save capability allows user to adjust palette, blending, level, IR-Fusion® mode, emissivity, and reflected background temperature compensation, and transmission correction on a captured image before it is stored:  This is cool stuff.  The Fluke FlexCams ($15,000 - $30,000+) allowed for a lot of image manipulation on-camera.  With the TiR/TiR1 you had to do most of this kind of thing within Fluke's SmartView software.  It's all on-camera with these new units.  It's still in the software and the software is still free with free upgrades for life, but now you have these abilities without plugging in to a laptop or waiting to get back to the office.

Export file formats w/SmartView® software:  JPEG, JPG, JPE, JFIF, BMP, GIF, DIB, PNG, TIF, and TIFF:  This is nice for guys who want to play with the images (outside the SmartView software) and don't have expensive photo-editing software... and don't be fooled by the FLIR scare tactics that say Fluke doesn't do jpeg, it's horse sh*t.

Batteries:  Two lithium ion rechargeable smart battery packs with five-segment LED display to show charge level:  This is the left hook that comes out of nowhere and catches FLIR square on the jaw. The original Fluke "Ti" models (Ti10/25 & TiR/R1) had internal rechargable batteries. They best way for Fluke to get the 6.5' fall rating on the earlier cameras was to make the battery internal, helping to protect the unit and battery from fall damage. Fluke did this because they pride themselves on making tough-ass meters and test equipment that will take a beating. Anyhow, they figured it out.... 2 removable "smart" Lithium Ion batteries (with LED display to show charge level) and a 2-Bay charger base are now standard equipment. Each battery lasts 4 hours (same as the previous internal batteries), the full recharge time is 2.5 hours and the cameras still pass with a 6.5' fall rating. Beautiful.

Optional telephoto & wide-angle lenses: Telephoto FOV: 11.5° x 8.7° / Wide-angle FOV: 46° x 34°:  This is just one more amazing feature that only Fluke would be crazy enough to offer with these cameras. FLIR has nothing to compete with this. The optional lenses come with an SD card with the lens calibration data already on it. You simply pop on the lens (push in, then 1/4 turn) then insert the SD card and push a button. Instant wide angle or telephoto. With FLIR you have to send your camera away for 2 weeks (at your own cost) and pay $1,500 - $2,000 for each lens... and then you have to pay approx. $2,000 on top of that for the calibration itself. It's really a no-brainer.

OK, now that the specs and upgrades and all of that are out of the way it's time to get to the bottom line: THE PRICE.  There are cameras that cost over $30,000 that don't have some of these options and aren't as thermally sensitive.  If this was my camera to sell to the public, I would charge no less than $15,000 and I'd probably sell just as many. 

Price: $8995.00
Optional telephoto/wide-angle lenses(10mm/40mm): $995.00 each

It's almost goofy how low Fluke has priced these cameras.  Orders are currently being taken by Authorized Fluke Distributors only, however the wait will be roughly 6-8 (possibly 10) weeks. If you have any questions, please feel free to post them here or call Jason at 877/207-1244.

Enjoy!

[Bud9051]

Chris, you are mean.  You know that is about what I paid for my b-cam 4 years ago and I can store 50 pictures before I have to run to the computer and download, drool, drool.

Bud

[Chris Mayes]

Bud,

Sorry, man. It really is nuts how low they priced this camera.  Infrared has come a long way with cameras/features that are now available to the general public.  I guess Fluke decided it was time to "let 'er rip".

[JJ]

A couple of clarifications need to be made to Chris' post.

1.  These new lenses do NOT require calibration before mounting them.  Before these new models, all infrared cameras that accommodated different lenses required the user to send the camera back to the manufacturer and have the lens calibrated to the unit.  They are calibrated so exact to that unit, that the lens cannot even be used on another unit of the same model.  Meaning if you had a lens added on after the original sale, you would have to send the camera back to the manufacturer, then get the camera back 2-3 weeks later with your new lens.  That lens will then only work on the camera it was calibrated to.  The cost for such calibration is approx $3500 (with any manufacturer) and the user loses their camera for a couple weeks.  These new lenses mount directly on the camera and do NOT require pre-calibration.  You also don't have to buy them them during the original camera purchase.

2.  The unit will store images in BMP, JPEG or IS2.  Chris’s verbage above makes it look like image can only be changed to BMP or JPEG in the software.  IS2 is the SmartView software’s format.  Meaning if you store to BMP or JPEG you cannot manipulate the image within SmartView.  For those of you that are new to this type of post inspection processing or are new to IR, it is silly to not use the IS2 format.  I rarely manipulate images in the field.  The software is amazing, and you can do anything to the image except fix the focus or distance.  The few negatives that are associated with the IS2 format of saving is the same for any manufacturer.  The only negative is that you have to convert to something else to export an image for email or whatever.  Once you use the software (it is cake to use), you will never save an image in BMP or JPEG.  However, if you really want it, the availability is there.

JJ

[Chris Mayes]

We've had a number phone calls from guys wanting to financing one of these new cameras.  So, I acquired some info about it to post here, as well as refer the subject to another thread on this forum about financing infrared equipment.

Please note that these figures are approximate and will not apply to everyone.

Ti32/R32
$8995.00

24mo/$467.31
36mo/$320.46
48mo/$258.15

The tele-photo and wide-andgle lenses being $995/each would add approximately $35 (per lens) to these monthly payments.

For more financing/leasing information, please see this thread: http://www.energyauditortalk.org/index.php?topic=59.0

[JJ]

The tele-photo and wide-andgle lenses being $995/each would add approximately $35 (per lens) to these monthly payment.

I wouldn't think that would be correct.  On a 24 month lease that would only be $840.  Quite a bargin for a $995 product.  On 48 months it would be $1680  . 

For lease quotes it is better to contact Steve Carnes at First Pacific Funding.  (866) 484-5575 x 2.

JJ

[JJ]

Here are some links to the new camera.  There is a flash demo of both the fusion software and the camera itself.  You will have to download the video since our web service doesn't like to have .exe files on their FTP site.

Fluke Ti32

Fluke TiR32