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Posted: 8/22/2010 4:41:34 PM EDT
| Does anyone know when the FLIR scout is actually coming out? It looks like it may be my first dive into NV/Thermals. Also is the price supposed to be closer to 3k or 2500? |
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I too am very interested in the FLIR Scout. October is what I'm hearing on the release time.
I've IMed Victor to see what I can find out about these units and I will re-post any details here in this thread when he replies. If these are decent units, I suspect TNVC will be carrying them. But the prices being mentioned on these things sound very, very low - less even than a quality PVS-14. I can't help but wonder what the "catch" is. Hopefully there isn't much of a catch and that these are just decent quality, inexpensive scopes. ETA: Vic just replied (damn, that was fast!) and they will indeed be carrying this new line. But he doesn't yet have any specifics from FLIR. I'm sure he'll keep us advised when the particulars become available. |
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Here's a nice video review of the FLIR Scout from GearBuyersGuide:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QECweZmFjBw And here is another that shows nothing but sample video, though the reviewer admits the camera he shot this through sucks (whereas the thermal viewer itself offered a very clear view): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqGVCNtIqf4 This thing probably doesn't offer the resolution you'd get with an $8k version, but what good is an $8k version if you can't afford it or simply refuse to pay that much for it? With these sub-$3k units, at least they are within the price limits of what we're willing to spend for decent night vision optics, meaning more people can now get into the thermal game. That said, the FLIR Scout seems to offer more than enough quality for my needs. |
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The price of cores is coming down quite a bit now that there are Mo Betta' models to sell to high end users. This is probably what is making a product like this possible.
On a somewhat related note, back in May I got to fondle a core that was going in a man portable/deployed UAV. The resolution was outstanding, and the unit itself (no casing etc., just head and electronics) was about 2/3 the size of a deck of playing cards. I could totally see flying this on a Micro UAV, possibly swapping CCD video signals to a HUD/autopilot on command as the need developed. You guys would be amazed to know how much UAV capability can be bought these days... I could build 2 complete UAV's with autopilot, waypoint navigation, go home on lost signal, etc. for the price of a PVS14. Range for most folks would be on the order of a mile, but for HAM radio licensees it could go a LOT longer than that depending on how high your ground station antenna is. For a man portable system, 5 miles is easily possible. Here is a vid of a low light camera on a $40 foam airplane with a $300 autopilot, at night, over a populated area.... The vid was taken when the designer was testing and developing: http://vimeo.com/1909448 |
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The price of cores is coming down quite a bit now that there are Mo Betta' models to sell to high end users. This is probably what is making a product like this possible. On a somewhat related note, back in May I got to fondle a core that was going in a man portable/deployed UAV. The resolution was outstanding, and the unit itself (no casing etc., just head and electronics) was about 2/3 the size of a deck of playing cards. I could totally see flying this on a Micro UAV, possibly swapping CCD video signals to a HUD/autopilot on command as the need developed. You guys would be amazed to know how much UAV capability can be bought these days... I could build 2 complete UAV's with autopilot, waypoint navigation, go home on lost signal, etc. for the price of a PVS14. Range for most folks would be on the order of a mile, but for HAM radio licensees it could go a LOT longer than that depending on how high your ground station antenna is. For a man portable system, 5 miles is easily possible. Here is a vid of a low light camera on a $40 foam airplane with a $300 autopilot, at night, over a populated area.... The vid was taken when the designer was testing and developing: http://vimeo.com/1909448 Wow! That is insanely awesome! Thanks for sharing I had no idea one could hack up a UAV like this for so little. Is this sort of thing civilian legal? You don't need a government license or tax stamp or anything? I can totally see someone rig up a homeade UAV with thermal for hog hunting. btw, I talked to the FLIR rep about the scout last week. The *only* difference (according to him) between the h series and scout is the refresh rate. The scout is 9hz, the h series ($5k+) are 30hz. So image on the scout will be "laggy" if you are panning back and forth comapred to the h-324 or h-307. He said they will ahve the narrow FOV version availalb eon the scout as well. |
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UAVs sporting thermals for hog hunting! Now that sounds like the ARFCOM approach. LOL. I'm totally in if this hunt ever happens.
That would definitely rival any video game I've ever played! Hmmm, 3D goggles, Thermal along with regular vid, A RC helicopter large enough to support a SBR zeroed in with a HUD display. Now picture a sounder of 30 or 40 hogs in a cultivated corn field! 
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UAVs sporting thermals for hog hunting! Now that sounds like the ARFCOM approach. LOL. I'm totally in if this hunt ever happens.
That would definitely rival any video game I've ever played! Hmmm, 3D goggles, Thermal along with regular vid, A RC helicopter large enough to support a SBR zeroed in with a HUD display. Now picture a sounder of 30 or 40 hogs in a cultivated corn field! It's not science fiction, they even sell a head movement tracker a-la Apache helicopter.. |
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The scout and the first mate are supposed to be identical except for the color of the plastic and the type of dealers selling them, so you can look at first mate models to answer your scout questions since it is already out. Is the First Mate version, the one sold by West Marine? |
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The scout and the first mate are supposed to be identical except for the color of the plastic and the type of dealers selling them, so you can look at first mate models to answer your scout questions since it is already out. Is the First Mate version, the one sold by West Marine? Yes, but westmarines prices are rediculious (I checked them out last time I was in buying boat stuff). I think/hope Victor could do better. |
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The scout and the first mate are supposed to be identical except for the color of the plastic and the type of dealers selling them, so you can look at first mate models to answer your scout questions since it is already out. I called FLIR and they said it's much closer to the H series than Firstmate except it will have a 9hz refresh vs. 30hz. Should be out any day now, said Oct. time frame. |
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FYI this PDF document was posted June 2nd, 2010....
http://www.flir.com/uploadedFiles/CVS_Americas/Personal_Vision/Products/Scout/Scout-Brochure.pdf 
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The scout and the first mate are supposed to be identical except for the color of the plastic and the type of dealers selling them, so you can look at first mate models to answer your scout questions since it is already out. I called FLIR and they said it's much closer to the H series than Firstmate except it will have a 9hz refresh vs. 30hz. Should be out any day now, said Oct. time frame. They told me the only difference b/t the scout and the First mate was the plastic color. The only functional difference b/t the H series and the Scout or First Mate is the refresh rate, so they can export the latter. Other than that, the Scout and First mate offer a lower res option at the low end, 240x180. If you pick an H series model vs a First mate with the same lens FOV and features (photo/video) the only functional difference is the refresh rate. Also when you compare Apples to Apples, Same specs and features, the price difference looks to be pretty minimal. For Instance: FLIR First Mate HM-307 XP 7deg FOV 320x240 no image or video capture 2x E-Zoom 9hz $6500-$7500 (various online places) FLIR Hs-307 Patrol 7deg FOV 320x240 no image or video capture 2x E-Zoom 30hz $7200 - $8000 (various online places) If you compare all the specs, the only difference is the plastic color, the refresh rate and about $700 in price |
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