Thermal Imageing

[WFD999]

Hi Folks, We are currently in the market for a TIC and weve narrowed it down to a couple of different units. MSA 5200HD and 5600HD. My question is, Is the extra resolution between the 5200 and 5600 worth the cost. Also we are looking at the video capture unit. Does the Video unit still keep the unit user friendly? Thanks guys.

[mcaldwell]

I had a chance to try the 5600 and the 5200HD side by side at a trade show last year just before we made our purchase. Our neighbouring depts have the original 5200.

The resolution is noticably better on the 5200HD, and we really wanted the zoom feature. We use ours for more search and rescue than FF'ing, so it made sense for us. You can pick out a squirrel in a tree with amazing detail from a helicopter at 200 feet, or a swimmer in the creek at the bottom of a 300 foot canyon at midnight. Not everyone needs to do that however. ;)

We considered the image capture, but it was pretty costly for a luxury item. We have better places toput those funds right now, so we shelved the idea for a while. I might try to get our sister dept to split the cost of one down the road though.

[WFD999]

Thanks. True the video capture unit is pretty good chunck of change $2900 or so. I dont know calling it a luxury item is right. For ivestigation, training and I hate to say it but back up incase of litigation these days. I can see it being just as handy a tool as the unit its straped to.