If you have decided to invest in thermal imaging camera, you should understand the importance of investing in the right lens. Investing in more than one lens for your thermal camera is recommended. However, this depends on your uses for the camera.
- Are you using your camera for a single-purpose application or you are using it for different applications?
- Do you want to use it for items from a distance if you wish to use it within close proximity?
- Are the areas you want to measure extremely hot or hazardous?
You may not need to have more than one lens to begin. But having a thermal camera that can use a wide range of lenses makes a lot of sense. As you become more experienced with your camera, you may find more uses for it.
If you want to invest in more than one lens for your night vision equipment, you should check to see what it will take to add it later. Lenses for your thermal camera are made of crystal and not glass. Therefore, there are very small differences in the physical properties and this can cause calibration problems between the camera and the lens that need to be compensated for to maintain the highest level of accuracy.
Some thermal imaging cameras have a chip inside to communicate the offset information. This makes it possible to purchase the lens at any time and attach it to the camera. Other thermal camera brands require that the camera and lens be calibrated together as one system. After the lens has been calibrated to a specific camera, it can’t be guaranteed to be accurate with another camera. If this is the case with your camera brand, it might make sense to buy extra lenses. This way, you won’t send the camera back or pay for calibration.
