old&itw - There was just an article in WCT magazine about one NWCO's views on using the camera within industry.
We have one and when we bought it they showed us pics of folks using it on swarms of bees in the walls, etc....
We envisioned using it on raccoon and skunk and other animals in walls or crawlspaces, etc....
In reality if we didn't conduct bat research projects it would largely be sitting on the shelf, one very expensive shelf
space holding item.
Probably depends on what you plan to use it for and what your ambient temperatures will be. Seeing you are in TX
but knowing TX is a massive state with diverse climate, I'll just guess you are in hot portion and make sure to mention
that unless you have enough ambient temperature difference from the object you are looking for, you will not see anything
meaningful.
If you have reflective materials in the way of what you are looking for you won't see it either.
With animals like bats you can look right at a bat in torpor and it will look exactly like the substrate rendering again this
device useless for that purpose.
I've seen the field use with deer and hogs and if the summer temps have the rocks heated up, you'll be trying to find the animal
amongst the rocks and trees, sometimes possible, often not.
Depends on many factors, but for your average NWCO I'd say it is the last tool I'd consider buying, though for me it was one of
the first, without a project that we used it for, I'd be very bummed about the lost $$$.
Many FLIR reps will come to you and demo, ours did, so consider that before buying, you can setup a test scenario in your home
or somewhere.
Just my .02,
Justin
