FLIR has released three new thermal imaging cameras offering NDT inspectors, tradies and professionals in HVAC, electrical contracting and maintenance fields a new range of imagers with increased resolution, better thermal sensitivity, and a host of excellent hardware and software developments. The FLIR E75, FLIR E85, and FLIR E95 are all brand new models with solid performance improvements in resolution, temperature ranges, and measurement capabilities. The lenses are interchangeable and the focus has been upgraded to laser guided. The touchscreen is larger and brighter, so the new Exx-Series camera boasts a picture that’s better than ever.
The FLIR Exx-Series cameras have received an increase in resolution, with the lowest resolution is 320 x 240 for the E75 (76,800 pixels). The FLIR E85 is 384 x 288 (110,592 pixels), and the FLIR E95 offers a beautiful 464 x 348 (161,472 pixels) image. Sensitivity (NETD) is the same on all three imagers, rated at 0.04 °C for the standard 24 degree lens. Sensitivity gets even better for the 42 degree wide angle lens (0.03 °C). Temperature ranges vary by model, but all three have sufficiently large ranges for most applications. The FLIR E95 will measure temperatures up to 1500C ° - unheard of in this price range!
One of the fantastic new features of the FLIR Exx-Series is the laser guided auto-focus. The cameras have a built-in laser distance meter that can precisely measure to 30M. The camera then uses this data to focus the lens for the target distance. This amounts to a very accurate and quick focus at the push of a button. In case of a complicated target area with multiple focal points, the new Exx cameras incorporate a manual focus ring to dial in the image by hand. The E85 and E95 also use the laser distance meter for another feature: calculating area. Because the distance and lens qualities are known to the camera, you can draw a box on the touchscreen and the E85 and E95 can tell you the area contained by that box (square feet or square meters). All distance and area measurements are recorded with any corresponding image.
Normally getting an accessory lens for your thermal camera meant you needed to return it the manufacturer for calibration with the new lens. FLIR now includes a chip on the lens that carries calibration data from the factory. You can have an extra lens shipped directly to you, attach it to your camera, and run the built-in calibration program. The camera will read the data on the lens and make adjustments, resulting in accurate measurements with no downtime. One lens can be shared between multiple cameras and lenses are no longer tied to a single camera, adding enormous flexibility and convenience for users.
To make the most of the new resolutions and lenses, FLIR has created a fabulous new touchscreen. The screen is 30% larger, 33% brighter, and has a wide 160° viewing angle. There’s no more squinting to see the image when you’re outside, and it’s easy to view the camera when looking over someone’s shoulder. If you need to share the camera, you can use the built in Wi-Fi to relay the live screen to your phone or tablet. The touchscreen on the new E75/E85/E95 is made of tough Dragontrail glass, and gives the glossy picture and touch sensitivity you would expect from a smartphone or tablet. The screen makes use of multi touch gestures for a greatly improved interaction with the infrared camera. You can use two fingers for pinch zoom, or swipe down from the top to access frequently used shortcuts.
The new E75/E85/E95 imagers have visible light cameras as well as thermal cameras, and the popular FLIR MSX image enhancement. Also included is UltraMax super-resolution imaging, to combine multiple images into a single image of double the original resolution. Communications include Wi-Fi to a phone or tablet, Bluetooth to FLIR electrical and moisture instruments, and even GPS to record where each image was taken. You can capture still images or thermal video (and even time lapse on the E95). The cameras have a tough rubberized housing to resist dust and water.
