Here is an example of what you can get. This is the unit I have. It's a firehouse model with a 5 inch swivel lcd, video out, waterproof, shockproof, can be put on a monopod.

http://cgi.ebay.com/SCOTT-EAGLE-THERMAL-IM...id=p3286.c0.m14

This is a site describing it:

http://www.7b.org/thermal/Eagle_Imager.html

Wow. Thats the cheapest Thermal I've ever seen. How well does it work? Can you adjust the sensitivity? Arklatex

It has an adjustable iris, incase of heat flareups. It's made for fireman. I'm not saying get this one. I'm just showing the deals you can get on Ebay, for thermal cams. Do your research on each one, first, though. Each thermal cam has it's ups and downs.

Yes GH, you're right. This is a great buy, but before plunking down the cash we need to consider some of the operational points; it has a video output, which is great. The resolution is pretty good as well. However, it has an open viewfinder; it might as well be a lantern. There are ways around this issue though. If the viewfinder can be disabled, then a pair of video goggles might solve the problem (mine have a rubber cover that is designed to block out sunlight, it should also work to keep the light inside). But I can only imagine how hard it would be to walk around at night wearing the goggles...

Do thermal imagers have an operating life like night vision devices have?

Thanks

X

Well, that lcd is mini-television, and is pretty bright, in the dark, but,,,,,,,,,the point is to find BF,,,,,,BF has already found you. Whether the light is bright enough to light everyone up, is pretty much moot. They can see you anyways, if that is your point. Putting an eye goggle cover over it, might have the same effect as a NV monocular, in partially blinding you when you take your eyes away from it. I like it because of the tilting lcd housing. I can hold it below eye level and look over it, in the direction of the image. Being 5 pounds can get tiring, which is why I have a shoulder strap for it, and a monopod. It has a 'standby' button, that turns the lcd screen off to save battery power. Someday, I'll get a segment recorded, and put it on my YouTube page. I have another infrared daytime camera to experiment with too, and want to post something from that also. Haven't gotten out this season because of vehicle issues. Ugh.

Wow, five pounds? I can see that getting heavy quick, so the strap sounds like a really good idea. All things considered, 5 pounds is a small trade off for an affordable thermal.
I see your point about them already knowing where we are. And you're right about the goggles; as soon as you take them off, you're blind. But when they are on, the image appears like a 65" display about 6 feet from your eyes. Pretty nice. I also have a 12v video distribution amplifier and a solid-state DVR that would work well with this thermal. The VDA has 4 outputs with audio, so you can send the signal to the DVR, the goggles (if you wanted to) and a couple of other devices. Even a second set of goggles if your buddies wanted to see it at the same time.

I keep watching the prices drop on thermals, and if it wasn't for this darn house remodel I'd have one by now...

Yeah, I'm glad I have this one. Just wish I lived by some of these alledged hot spots, like on the YouTube tcsjrbigfoot thing. They experience so much, I'd love to see what it is on thermal. No one around me has that going on right now. Everyone's just out doing their own weekend warriour thing, with no results, and I live too far from the Skookums. I'll have a nice toy to play with for a bit. Maybe bump into something on my own, get famous and rich and stuff like that there. I collect these toys for my own satisfaction, unless Tom or Rick calls me, hehe. Get on MQ next season. Oh yeah,,,,

Interesting device, not for everyone, but affordable for a few more than some of the other thermals.

So you buy it, take it out in the woods, and get a video of an orange blob moving around. You post a link to the video here, and it gets shot down as inconclusive. "But I paid 900 bucks for the friggin thing!"
Buy a new video camera or something instead. They make some nice digital SLR cameras for around 900 bucks.
Just sayin.

A thermal camera is just a hunting tool. Everyone hears things in the brush just on the edge of camp, in the dark, twigs snapping, maybe a growl. A thermal cam will tell you what is out there. Or when walking through the woods on a cloudy day, and you hear things, a thermal cam can answer questions. You can even trail one in the dark, from the heated footprints. You can video what you see on a portable dvr, and add that to whatever evidence you have. It's not conclusive. No one has ever said it was conclusive, unless you get within detail range, which is more dangerous than necessary.