Purchasing an Imager – Which Brand is Best?
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Purchasing an Imager – Which Brand is Best?
Tip written by: Infraspection Institute
When purchasing a thermal imager, buyers frequently ask, “Which brand of imager is best?” While this seems like a straightforward question, the answer is not so simple. In this Tip we offer advice for making the correct choice.
As infrared thermography gains wider acceptance, its usage is increasing. Meanwhile, the task of selecting an imager is becoming more difficult. Presently, there is a wide selection of equipment available from a record number of manufacturers. With some manufacturers offering several variants of camera models, there are more choices than ever before.
Procuring an imager is a challenge for many reasons: initial purchase price can easily run into the tens of thousands of dollars, no imager is capable of performing all imaging applications, imager performance varies widely, performance specs are not always available or comparable, and making an incorrect purchase can be costly.
Purchasing an imager should be done by assessing your company’s present and future needs, obtaining and comparing manufacturer specifications, and taking time to thoroughly evaluate the imager in the workplace where it will be used. Prior to purchase, the imager and its manufacturer should be carefully evaluated in the following areas:
- Evaluate imagers objective and performance specifications
- Obtain service and warranty information
- Evaluate imager for subjective characteristics
- Consider equipment value
Lastly, when considering pre-owned equipment, it is often a good idea to have a title search conducted prior to purchase to ensure that the equipment is free of liens.
Equipment purchase is of the many topics covered in the Level I Infraspection Institute Certified Infrared Thermographer® training course. For more information on upcoming classes or to obtain a copy of our article, Selecting, Specifying and Purchasing Thermal Imagers, call 609-239-4788 or visit us online at www.infraspection.com.
