Film photography is enjoying a resurgence in popularity, but unfortunately, so are used film camera prices. Granted, analog cameras are still bargains compared to new digital cameras, but some of the best-known models are creeping up in value, and as the film photography community discovers more hidden gems, their prices rise as well.

But film camera prices aren’t always based on quality or features; more often than not, it’s the fondly-remembered cameras that demand higher prices. Happily, there are plenty of less-popular cameras—often from the same manufacturer!—that can do the job just as well as their better-known brethren. In this article, we’ll talk about 10 well-known and expensive cameras, explain why they demand the prices that they do, and introduce you to reasonably-priced alternatives that do the job just as well—and some for much less money.

Skip: The Nikon F4 or F5

The Nikon F4 and F5 were the go-to professional film cameras from the late 1980s until the mid-2000s. Built like tanks, they were—and still are—tools designed to get the shot under any circumstances. Today, the F4 and F5 are highly regarded and highly priced—we’re talking $200 to $350 for a body in usable condition, and double that for a mint rig that hasn’t led the hard life so typical of these workhorses.

Instead buy: The Nikon N8008/N8008s

Related: The best used camera to buy right now

Back in the ‘90s, many F4/F5-toting pros kept a Nikon N8008 in their bag as a backup. Introduced concurrently with the F4, the N8008 was Nikons’ top consumer camera, with sophisticated-for-the-time matrix metering and a fast autofocus system. (It was also an incubator for the F5’s DSLR-like interface.) Like its pro-grade brother, the N8008 almost always gets the shot. The N8008 and N8008s (a later model with a spot-metering mode; they’re called F-801/801s outside North America) lives in the shadow of the more-advanced N90, and as a result, it’s largely underappreciated and underpriced: Bodies sell for a mere $20-$50, a ridiculous bargain for such a sophisticated camera.

Skip: A Hasselblad 500-series Medium Format camera

Hasselblad is often labeled as the Rolls-Royce of film photography, and the 500-series Medium Format cameras certainly are impressive machines. Not only are they exceptionally well-engineered and well-crafted, but they are also relatively small and light for their film size. But man-oh-man, are they expensive! A complete 500 C/M rig (body, lens, viewfinder and film back) will set you back at least two grand—likely more—and lenses aren’t cheap either.

Instead buy: A Bronica SQ-series Medium Format camera

Bronica cameras were often referred to as “Japanese Hasselblads”. Like the ‘Blad, the Bronica SQ is a square-format leaf-shutter SLR that is compact and light. The optics are excellent, the bodies are reliable, and you should be able to assemble a complete system for less than $1000, and closer to $500 if you are willing to patiently watch the auction sites. If you prefer a rectangular 6×4.5cm negative format, the Bronica ETRS and Mamiya 645-series are bargains as well.

Skip: The Nikon FM2/FM2n

Nikon’s FM2 is among the most prized of 35mm film SLRs, and with good reason: It’s all-mechanical (which means it can operate without batteries), has a fantastic feature set, and uses Nikon’s outstanding lenses. No surprise, then, that it’s one of the more expensive 35mm SLRs on the used market, with working examples easily fetching between $250 and $500.

Instead buy: The Nikon FM

The irony here is that the FM2’s predecessor, the FM, sells in the $100 to $200 range, sometimes even cheaper. The older FM has a slower top shutter speed (1/1000 sec vs 1/4000 sec) and slower flash sync speed (1/125 sec vs 1/200 sec or 1/250 sec for the 2n), and… that’s about it. Under the skin, the FM has similarly robust all-mechanical construction for which the FM2 is prized, and if you can do without the faster shutter speeds, it’s a great bargain. An even cheaper alternative is the Nikkormat FT2, which is bigger and heavier than the FMs but fully compatible with Nikon’s less-expensive pre-AI lenses.

Skip: The Canon AE-1 Program

The AE-1 Program was Canon’s first consumer-grade camera to have a program mode, one that could set both aperture and shutter speed. It was a strong seller in its day and remains popular with those transitioning from digital to film, as it combines that old-school SLR feel with the ease of fully automatic exposure control. No surprise, then, that the AE-1 Program commands high prices—$150 to $300 in good working order.

Instead buy: The Nikon FG

Introduced in 1982 as a low-cost AE-1 Program competitor, the FG is one of the most controversial Nikon bodies, derided among Nikon purists for its built-to-a-price-point construction. Though it lacks the heft and feel of other Nikons, read online reviews and you’ll see that most modern-day FG owners (your author included) love them. The FG is small and light and provides aperture-priority, shutter-priority, and full-auto program modes with all Nikon AI-S manual focus lenses. Thanks to its poor reputation, it’s easy to snag an FG for $75 or less.

Skip: A Rollei Rolleiflex TLR

Mention twin-lens reflex cameras and many film photographers imagine a Rolleiflex. Designed with German precision, Rollei’s Medium Format TLRs are elegant, reliable, and admirably small and light. And in their day they were prized by both casual snapshooters and professional photographers. Their well-earned regard translates to high prices: Depending on the model, Rolleiflex cameras range from $300 to $2,500 or more, and even Rollei’s lower-end Rolleicord cameras go for $200 and up.

Instead buy: A Yashica TLR

The Japanese-made Yashica twin-lens camera was designed as an affordable alternative to the Rolleiflex. But don’t let its budget status fool you, Yashicas are high-quality cameras. For some reason, though, these fine TLRs continue to lurk in Rollei’s shadow. Happily, this is reflected in their prices: Working Yaschicas sell in the $50 to $300 range. You might also consider the Mamiya C220 and C330, rare among TLRs in that they have interchangeable lenses. They’re larger, heavier, and more expensive than the Yaschicas—figure $250 to $500—but they too are excellent cameras.

Skip: The Pentax K1000

The K1000 is one of the best-known 35mm SLRs in the film world, largely because Pentax kept it in production for an epic twenty-one years, from 1976 to 1997. Cheaply priced when new and virtually indestructible, the Pentax K1000 became the go-to student camera for generations of photographers and is fondly remembered today. That nostalgia keeps prices up: Despite a massive supply, working K1000s routinely sell between $120 and $150, which is rather steep considering the K1000’s limited feature set.

Instead buy: The Pentax KM

What many photographers don’t realize is that Pentax derived the K1000 from their KM of 1975-77. The KM is actually a more feature-rich camera; its self-timer and depth-of-field preview were eliminated from the K1000 in order to get the price down. There’s one other big difference between the KM and the K1000: How much they cost today. Despite having more features, the lesser-known KM routinely sells for under $100. If the K1000’s slightly-higher price tag isn’t a budget-buster, though, consider your author’s favorite Pentax, the KX, which uses the same mechanism with a mirror lock-up and a better light meter.

Skip: A Leica M-series rangefinder

Are Leica’s legendary 35mm rangefinder cameras worth their sky-high prices? That debate will likely never be settled, but with the price of entry starting around $1,500 for less-desirable models and rising well above $5,000 for a nice M6—and that’s before lenses!—it’s a question for which few of us will have the opportunity to give an informed answer.

Instead buy: A Voigtländer Bessa R or R-2

Voigtländer is another German brand, except the Bessa R isn’t exactly German—it’s made by Cosina, a Japanese company that has manufactured cameras and lenses for numerous other well-known brands. Hard-core Leica fans might dismiss the Voigtländer as a plastic knock-off, but those who have used both cameras don’t seem to find the Bessa’s performance lacking. The Bessa R uses the 39mm Leica screw mount while the R2 uses the Leica M-mount. And while the Bessas don’t come cheap—figure $500 to $1,500—they are a great value compared to Leica. (Note that the Bessa T and Bessa L are less expensive, but the T has no viewfinder and the L lacks both viewfinder and rangefinder.)

Skip: The Nikon FE or FE-2

The FE-series was Nikon’s state-of-the-art consumer camera throughout most of the 1980s. A stablemate of the mechanical FM, the FE features an electronic shutter with an aperture-priority automatic exposure mode along with full manual control. Though cheaper than the FM-series cameras, the FEs still command healthy prices in the $100-$300 range.

Instead buy: The Ricoh XR-2 or XR-2s

Back in the 1970s and ‘80s, Ricoh was known for making feature-packed cameras at discount prices. The XR-2 and XR-2s (the latter accepts a power winder) have a similar feature set to the FE, including a match-needle meter display, shutter speed range of 1/1000 sec to 4 sec (the FE goes to 8 sec), and aperture readout in the viewfinder. Ricoh XR cameras are compatible with Pentax K-mount lenses, which are cheaper than Nikkor and of comparable optical quality (though Ricoh’s own Rikenon lenses are fine, too). Their plastic bodies feel a bit cheap, but don’t be fooled—Ricoh was an early adopter of durable polycarbonate, two decades before Canon. You’ll find the XR-2 for $50 or less, and the Sears-branded version, the KS Auto, is even cheaper.

Skip: The Pentax LX

Back in the 1970s and ‘80s, Pentax primarily pursued the consumer market, and the LX is one of their few pro-level film cameras from that era. An impressive camera, it features a weather-sealed body, interchangeable viewfinders, and an unusual hybrid shutter that is mechanically timed at high speeds (1/75 sec to 1/2000 sec) and electronic at slow speeds (4 sec to 1/60 sec). Among die-hard Pentaxians, the LX is considered the brand’s most desirable 35mm body, and prices are high, typically between $200 and $400.

Instead buy: The Pentax K2

A predecessor to the LX, the K2 was actually Pentax’s first (albeit half-hearted) attempt at a “pro” camera, and while it lacks many of the LX’s pro-specific features, it offers similar functionality and uses the same K-series lenses. Its electronically-timed shutter offers speeds of 1/1000 sec down to 8 sec, and it’s the only camera in the K-series to offer an automatic exposure mode. The K2 DMD version was compatible with a motor drive and a data back and tends to sell for a bit more than the regular K2. You’ll find K2s in the $100-to-$150 range, sometimes even cheaper.

Skip: The Minolta Maxxum 9

The Minolta Maxxum 9 (known as the Dynax 9 in Europe and the α-9 in Japan) was Minolta’s last professional 35mm body. With weatherproof construction, a highly advanced autofocus system, and a 1/12000 sec top shutter speed, the 9 was a formidable competitor for the Nikon F5. The 9 was ignored for many years, but appreciation for this camera is growing rapidly, as are prices—they’re trading in the $250-plus range and prices are on the rise.

Instead buy: The Minolta Maxxum 5

If the Maxxum 9 is a sleeper among pro bodies then its mid-level brother is a sleeper among Minolta SLRs. One of Minolta’s last advanced-amateur film bodies, the 5, encompasses many of the features of the Maxxum 7 (which some argue was a more advanced camera than the 9). It’s not weatherproof and its shutter tops out at a mere 1/4000 sec, but it has sophisticated autofocus and autoexposure systems and a plethora of programmable options. Because they appeared towards the end of the film era, many used examples have seen little use. Best yet, the Maxxum 5 is laughably cheap, with plenty on the auction sites for $30 or less. Your author bought his, in like-new condition and with a lens, for a mere $17.

The post Affordable analog: 10 alternatives to high-priced film cameras appeared first on Popular Photography.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

Best overall		Hti-Xintai Higher Resolution		SEE IT
Best budget		FLIR TG267		SEE IT
Best for iPhone		Seek Thermal CompactPro		SEE IT

Thermal imaging cameras–sometimes called heat sensor cameras or thermal imaging guns–have a broad range of applications and come in an even broader range of configurations, from thermal security cameras to specialized firefighting tools. Not every thermal imaging camera is well suited to every situation that requires one. A contractor, for example, needs a device that can identify slight variations in temperature, while a hunter might need one that has a high frame rate for tracking moving targets and can capture data from objects that are a long way away. There’s no one-size-fits-all for this specialized piece of equipment, so it pays to know each camera’s features and how they might apply to the job you need to do. Here are some of the best thermal imaging cameras out there and what you need to know to choose the one that’s right for you.

• Best overall: Hti-Xintai Higher Resolution
• Best budget: FLIR TG267 
• Best for iPhone: Seek Thermal CompactPro
• Best handheld: FLIR C5
• Best for hunting: Seek Thermal RevealPRO
• Best for firefighting: FLIR K2

How we chose the best thermal imaging cameras

The best thermal imaging cameras are specialized devices most often used by professionals, so buying the wrong device can be an expensive mistake that impacts your professional reputation as well as your pocketbook. For this reason, we limited our analysis to best-selling brands with strong reputations, including FLIR, Seek, Fluke, and HTI Xintai. 

Because thermal imaging devices have so many different applications, we had to consider the many different ways these devices tend to be used and what makes each one good or bad in certain situations. Of course, thermal imaging capabilities like sensitivity, accuracy, and resolution are important. But features like connectivity, battery life, and durability can also make a big difference in reliability and overall usefulness. This means we excluded devices that delivered on image quality but had other qualities that made them less practical for day-to-day use and vice-versa. We also looked for smart design features that are less critical to overall function but give a device that extra usability edge over similar devices.

The best thermal imaging cameras: Reviews & Recommendations

Best overall: Hti-Xintai HTI-19 Higher Resolution Thermal Imaging Camera

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Why it made the cut: The Hti-Xintai HTI-19 is one of the best thermal imaging cameras with a high resolution that has a large screen and is capable of capturing fine detail, making it useful for a wide range of applications. 

Key features:

• Style: Pistol grip 
• Resolution: 320 x 240 pixels
• Thermal sensitivity: <0.05°C (<50 mK) 

Pros:

• Much higher resolution than many similar devices
• A large, easy-to-read screen
• Lightweight and comfortable to hold

Cons:

• Images can be noisy
• Cannot be tripod-mounted

The Hti-Xintai HTI-19 high resolution thermal imaging camera has an impressive 320 x 240 resolution and a lower price point, making it a good all-around thermal vision device suitable for most jobs and our best overall pick. The 3.2-inch screen is considerably larger than the screens of many similar devices, and the device also has a simple, user-friendly operation with a rechargeable battery that lasts up to three hours. 

This HTI-19 is lightweight, easy to hold, and durably constructed, making it ideal for outdoor use or for environments where it might have to take some abuse, such as tight crawlspaces and construction sites. It is not tripod mountable, though,  so it might not be the right device for you if you need hands-free operation.  

The temperature range of this device is -4 to 932°F. This range is decent, but it won’t work well in very cold climates. The HTI-19’s thermal sensitivity is 0.05°C (<50 mK), which beats most devices in its price range, though its accuracy of ±2℃ is no better or worse than most other thermal imaging devices in this class. 

The HTI-19’s 3GB of built-in memory goes a long way, but it lacks a slot for a separate memory card and doesn’t have WIFI, which may be inconvenient for users who would rather transfer images in the field. Another major drawback of this device is that it can produce noisy images, especially in the lower temperature parts of a scene. 

Best budget: FLIR TG267

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Why it made the cut: Our best budget pick has a range of advanced features that make it a solid but still reasonably cheap thermal camera, whether you’re a professional or a hobbyist.

Key features:

• Style: Pistol grip 
• Resolution: 160 × 120 pixels
• Thermal sensitivity: <0.07°C (<70 mK) 

Pros:

• Impressive temperature range 
• Bluetooth for easy in-the-field photo transfer
• Built-in laser target shows you exactly what you’re measuring
• Large capacity built-in memory

Cons:

• Lower resolution isn’t as good at capturing detail

This pistol-grip style thermal imaging gun has a couple of features our best overall pick doesn’t have, despite the lower price. It has the ability to read temperatures of -13°F (up to 716°F), a laser bullseye, and an accessory mount in case you need to put it on a tripod. The laser bullseye is an especially useful feature that helps make sure you know exactly what part of the scene you’re getting the reading from. This device has Bluetooth for easy file transfer, but if you prefer to keep the images on your device until you’re back in the office, it also has 4GB of built-in memory that holds up to 50,000 images.

Another plus for the FLIR TG267 is a rechargeable battery that lasts up to 5 hours (as long as you keep the screen at medium brightness). If you are a heavy user of the laser target, that knocks another half hour or so off your battery life, but that’s still quite good for a single charge. The FLIR TG267 has a tough build (specs claim it can survive a drop of up to 6.5 feet), so it’s a good pick if you plan to spend a lot of time with it outdoors. In average temperature conditions, its accuracy is +/-2.5°C, which is pretty good for this price point.

At 0.07°C (<70 mK), this device’s thermal sensitivity is average, but the 160 x 120 resolution is quite low, and the screen is considerably smaller than our best overall pick, which makes it harder to see the fine details in each image. Still, for the price, it is a great option.

Best for iPhone: Seek Thermal CompactPRO

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Why it made the cut: With a 320 x 240 resolution that rivals and even beats that of many pistol-grip models, the Seek Thermal CompactPRO is portable and just as functional as most traditional devices.

Key features:

• Style: Smartphone attachment
• Resolution: 320 x 240 pixels
• Thermal sensitivity: <0.07°C (<70 mK) 

Pros:

• High resolution lets you capture fine detail
• Excellent low temperature performance 
• Uses your phone’s superior screen, storage capacity, and battery

Cons:

• Narrow field of view 

If the idea of carrying around a sizable thermal imaging camera is off-putting, the Seek Thermal CompactPRO is an excellent alternative, and it’s not even a compromise. Our best for iPhone pick captures fine detail as well as or better than most handheld devices. Moreover, because it borrows the screen, battery, and storage capacity from your smartphone, it holds more images, has longer battery life, and boasts a much better image display than even very expensive thermal vision devices. With a high resolution of 320 x 240, images are crisp and detailed. 

This device uses your phone’s visible light camera to create a layered image that includes both visual and thermal information, though you may have to do some manual alignment to get the image to look right. Fortunately, the app is fairly easy to use, and it also lets you play around with variables like temperature scale, emissivity, and aspect ratio. 

The CompactPRO’s specs are comparable to and often better than those of many standard models. It has a decent thermal sensitivity of <0.07°C (<70 mK) and an impressive total temperature range of -40F° to 626°F, which means it’s functional in almost any climate. And since this device can capture data at a distance of up to 1,800 feet, it’s great for hunting and other outdoor applications. The CompactPRO also has a fast refresh rate of >15 Hz, which allows for smooth tracking of moving objects.

The  CompactPRO’s main drawback is the 32 degree field of view (FOV), which is quite narrow compared to the FOV found in most traditional pistol-grip style models.

Best handheld: FLIR C5

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Why it made the cut: Devices in this class tend to have limitations, but the FLIR C5 has several features that are equal to or better than those of many larger, pistol-grip style devices.

Key features:

• Style: Palm-size compact
• Resolution: 160 x 120 pixels
• Thermal sensitivity: <0.07°C (<70 mK) 

Pros:

• Compact format doesn’t sacrifice screen size
• Built-in cloud connectivity
• Ruggged build
• Fast charging battery

Cons:

• Low resolution
• Poor accuracy compared to other models

This compact device is our pick for best handheld device, a happy medium between the much larger, pistol-grip style cameras and the easy-to-lose phone attachments. This device is about the size of a cell phone (5.4 × 3.3 × 0.94 in) but functions as a stand-alone unit. Like your cell phone, it has a touch screen, making it almost as convenient to use. It has a few other features that are useful outdoors, too, like drop and water resistance and a built-in LED flashlight. It also has a built-in 5 megapixel visible light camera and can produce thermal images, standard images, or a combination of both.

The FLIR C5 has a few features you won’t find in many larger devices, such as built-in cloud connectivity that allows you to upload images on the fly, provided you are in a WIFI accessible area. While this is a great feature for contractors and home inspectors, it’s not very useful if you’re hunting or fighting a wildfire. Photos can also be transferred via Bluetooth and USB, however, so there are at least a few different options for getting your images off the device.

The C5 has a decent temperature range of -4 to 752°F and a fairly typical thermal sensitivity of <0.07°C (<70 mK). Where it falls behind other devices is on resolution. It’s a pricey unit,yet the resolution is comparable to our best budget pick, so most of what you’re paying for is portability and a few bells and whistles. The C5’s accuracy isn’t great, either; at ±3°C, it lags behind most other units in its price range.

Best for hunting: Seek Thermal RevealPRO

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Why it made the cut: The high-resolution Thermal RevealPRO’s good battery life, broad temperature range, fast refresh rate, and ability to capture data at long distances make it an ideal thermal scanner for hunting.

Key features:

• Style: Palm-size compact
• Resolution: 320 x 240 pixels
• Thermal sensitivity: <0.07°C (<70 mK) 

Pros:

• High resolution 
• Can capture data even at long distances
• Long battery life
• Fast refresh rate

Cons:

• Small screen
• No WIFI or Bluetooth

At 5 x 2.4 x 1.2 inches, the Seek Thermal RevealPRO is smaller than most cell phones and fits easily into a jacket pocket, keeping your hands free to carry the rest of your gear. It has a high resolution 320 x 240 pixel thermal sensor, but its best quality for hunting is its ability to capture data from up to 1,800 feet away. The far range makes it ideal for spotting game. It also has a 4X continuous zoom so you’ll beable to identify those distant objects better.

Unlike many comparable units, the Thermal RevealPRO boasts a refresh rate of >15 Hz for smooth tracking of moving objects. In normal mode, the Thermal RevealPRO will run for about four hours on a single charge, making it ideal for longer outings. With a broad temperature range of -40 to 626°F, this device will work well no matter the season or location. In a pinch, you can also use it as a flashlight.

One of this device’s major drawbacks is the very small 2.4-inch screen, which makes it a lot harder to pick out fine details. And though it has a decent built-in storage capacity of 4GB, it doesn’t have WIFI or Bluetooth, so you’ll have to wait until you get home to transfer images off of the device.

Best for firefighting: FLIR K2

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Why it made the cut:  The FLIR K2 was designed for firefighting, so it’s tough, easy to use even while wearing gloves, and has seven modes for firefighting, hot/cold detection, and search and rescue.

Key features:

• Style: Pistol-grip
• Resolution: 160 × 120 pixels
• Thermal sensitivity: <0.10°C (<100 mK) 

Pros:

• Affordable
• Operable even in very high temperatures
• Drop and water resistant
• Good battery life

Cons:

• Low resolution 
• Slow refresh rate

Firefighters need features that aren’t available even in many of the best thermal imaging cameras, and small firefighting units may not always have the funds to invest in higher-end models. The FLIR K2 delivers on most of what firefighters need but without an ultra-high price tag.

The FLIR K2 has a lot of really smart features that helped make it our best for firefighting pick. First and foremost, it is designed to withstand the challenging conditions that firefighters face. It’s water resistant, drop resistant to 6.5 feet, and will work consistently well in temperatures up to 135°F. It’s also designed to withstand short bursts of intense heat — at 500°F, it will continue to function for up to 3 minutes. Two nice additional features are the lanyard strap and carabiner that lets you carry it hands-free and the one-button operation that makes it easy to use even while wearing heavy gloves.

The K2 is versatile, with seven modes including basic mode, black and white firefighting mode, fire mode, search and rescue mode, heat detection mode, cold detection mode, and building analysis mode. It has a good battery life of up to 4 hours and charges to 90 percent in around 2.5 hours.  

The low resolution of 160 x 120 is this device’s major drawback. This may become more of a handicap in smoky conditions when the built-in visible light camera isn’t able to display detailed visual information with the IR data. At 9 Hz, the refresh rate isn’t spectacular, which may be limiting in some situations. It’s also worth noting that the K2’s thermal sensitivity of <0.10°C (<100 mK) lags behind even many less-expensive thermal cameras, and its accuracy is a woeful ±4°C.

Related: Best night vision goggles

Things to consider before buying the best thermal imaging cameras

Not all of the best thermal imaging cameras will work well in every situation. The devices that are best for hunting, for example, have different features than those that are best for plumbers or home inspectors. Here are some of the most important variables you’ll want to consider when shopping for a thermal imaging camera.

Style

Thermal imaging devices can be pistol-grip handheld devices, Android and iPhone attachments, or compact pocket-sized handhelds. While the pistol-grip devices tend to have larger screens and more user-friendly operation, somemay find them too big and inconvenient to carry around. Compact devices and phone attachments are more portable but may have other disadvantages.

Resolution and visible light capture

Each pixel has its own temperature measurement, so many of the best thermal imaging cameras are the ones that have high-resolution thermal sensors. Although there are no real benefits to choosing a lower resolution camera,fine detail isn’t really necessary for some applications. In this case, a lower resolution device may be best for your budget. Most of the best thermal imaging cameras can also combine a thermal image with a visible light image to give youbetter detail. In some cameras, you can turn this feature on and off.

Thermal sensitivity and temperature range

Thermal sensitivity is also called Noise Equivalent Temperature Difference, or NETD. The lower the NETD, the more sensitive the device. Thermal sensitivity is expressed in degrees andmilli-Kelvins (mK), or thousandths of a degree. A camera that has a thermal sensitivity of 0.07°C or 70 mK, for example, can tell the difference between two points with a temperature difference of just 1/700ths of a degree. 

You may need a camera with a low NETD if you need to spot small differences in temperature, like when looking for evidence of moisture. Keep temperature range in mind, too. If you often work in cold climates, for example, you’ll need a device that’s sensitive even at very low temperatures.

Battery life

While the best thermal imaging cameras tend to have good battery life, the importance of this feature varies according to application. For example, if you’re a home inspector or plumber and your jobs don’t require extended time in remote places, battery life might be less important to you than if you use your device for hunting or fighting wildfires.

FAQs

Final thoughts on the best thermal imaging cameras

Plumbers may not need all the same features that contractors need, so it was important for our best overall pick for the best thermal imaging cameras to have features that would work well for a broad range of applications. The HTI-19’s high resolution combined with good accuracy, thermal sensitivity, and affordable price makes it a good buy for all-around day-to-day use in most applications.

The post The best thermal imaging cameras in 2023 appeared first on Popular Photography.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

Today is Earth Day, your annual reminder that this planet is all we’ve got. For Earth Day 2022, all of us—businesses, governments, and citizens—are being called on to “act (boldly), innovate (broadly), and implement (equitably)” with “everyone accounted for, and everyone accountable”. It’s a big mission statement, but one way that photographers can step up is by buying more used gear instead of new. 

Peak Design, the camera bag company out of San Francisco, is making things easy. For Earth Day it is redirecting its full site to its pre-owned market place. It got us here at PopPhoto thinking about why buying used makes so much sense. 

Upfront environmental costs

Unlike, say, cars, almost all the environmental cost of photography gear is front-loaded. The environmental toll of extracting the raw materials, manufacturing them into a camera, and shipping that camera around the world to the store where you buy it far outweighs the small amount of electricity it takes to charge the battery or the tiny amounts of extra fuel it takes to carry its weight with you on an airplane. 

What this means is that the environmental cost of used gear is essentially nil. In fact, it can even be net-positive as improperly disposed of e-waste is “polluting the planet,” according to the UN. By buying used—or by keeping your own gear for longer—you’re taking a very real (albeit small) step towards helping the planet. 

Used gear is good gear

It’s easy to get caught up in the hype surrounding the latest and greatest cameras and lenses. Here at PopPhoto, we’re at least partially guilty of fuelling it. But the reality is that you don’t need a $3,500 mirrorless camera—like the Canon EOS R5 or Sony a7S III—to take incredible photos. I still shoot with a Canon 5D Mark III and, a few weeks ago, Kaiman Wong posted a video extolling the virtues of the 14-year-old Canon 5D Mark II. Old cameras—whether you’ve had it for years or bought it used—can still be great cameras. 

And it’s not just the high-tech stuff. In fact, there’s an even greater case to be made for buying things like camera bags, tripods, and the other accessories used. They still have a front-loaded environmental cost—and, as long as they’re well maintained, they can’t go obsolete. (Hey, they can even go vintage!) 

Used can be a great deal

Let’s ignore the planet for a second—used gear can be great for your wallet too. 

In our article on the best used cameras to buy right now, gear editor Stan Horaczek points out that an older professional full-frame camera that’s built like a tank can cost less than a new all-plastic APS-C camera—and will still take higher quality pictures in most situations. The majority of photographers aren’t buying the most expensive high-end cameras so, when it comes to low- and mid-range stuff, the potential to get a better used camera is very real. 

Where to buy used gear

The internet has made buying used gear easier than ever. The internet’s big-box equivalents including Amazon and ebay have dedicated shops for refurbished goods. Reputable photo-centric sites like KEH, or the used departments at B&H or Adorama, also make it possible to buy used gear transparently—and often with a warranty. Lensrentals also has a cool program called Keeper where you can buy its used gear. You can even rent something and, if you like it, keep it and have the rental fee deducted from the purchase price. 

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The Leica Luxus is one of the rarest cameras ever produced. Only 95 of them were ever made, over a production run spanning just 1929 to 1930. But if your pocket book is sufficiently deep, you now have another opportunity to bid on one, which will be up for auction in Hong Kong by Bonhams auction house.

The auction will take place on November 22, and according to ePhotoZine, the Leica Luxus 1 is expected to fetch £400,000 – £570,000 (approximately $638,000-$909,000). That’s actually a relatively low price for a Leica Luxus 1, as these cameras at auction before have fetched prices as stiff as £603,837 ($962,500), and 1,020,000 Euro ($1,378,000). So £570,000 is on the low side if these previous auctions are anything to go by.

Also, at that same Leica auction, you can expect to see a winterized, Leica IIIf Black Swedish army body from 1956 (£32,000- £48,400); a 2003 Leica MP Hermes Edition (£6,800- £10,000); and a “Jesse Owens” Leica R4 (£1,300- £1,600).

If that’s all too rich for your blood, Bonhams also has another auction later this month, with a smattering of Leica gear for much more reasonable prices.

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A few years ago, NASA gave us a look at what it takes to make a DSLR ready for space. But, before the age of the DSLR, trusty film cameras were responsible for taking pictures outside Earth’s atmosphere. This custom NASA Nikon F3 film SLR likely hasn’t made the trip to space, but it has all the necessary features to make it shuttle-ready.

The camera has a winder and a battery pack and is clearly labeled for use by NASA. It also has patches of blue Velcro on it for attaching the necessary thermal shield that also blocks radiation.

The camera looks like it’s in great shape, so you could probably take it out shooting here on Earth’s surface. The F3 is certainly a great choice for a film camera, but you can get them a lot cheaper than the current $13,000 price tag if you don’t plan on taking it into space. Check out the auction page here.

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When Nikon first created its step-up 5000 series with the D5000, it was conspicuous as the sole Nikon DSLR with an articulating LCD screen. Now, the third generation of the tilt/swivel set, the D5200 ($797, street, body only; $897 with 18–55mm f/3.5–5.6 AF-Nikkor VR lens) gains a whopping 50-percent increase in pixel count (to 24.1MP) over its immediate predecessor, upgraded autofocus, and a boost in burst shooting. As always, we wanted to see how this latest Nikon DSLR would fare in our lab and field testing.

In the Test Lab
Nikon’s current trend in DSLRs is clearly high pixel count: The D800, with its 36.3MP sensor, has the most pixels available in a consumer DSLR, while the D3200 created quite a stir when it jumped to a 24.2MP sensor from its predecessor’s 14.2MP. So we were not surprised to see the D5200 get a 24.1MP APS-C sensor, replacing the 16.2MP chip of the D5100.

In our resolution test, the D5200 outdid the D3200 slightly, delivering 2770 lines per picture height versus 2710. Both scores are more than enough for an Excellent rating in this test. And the D5200 held enough resolution for an Excellent rating all the way up to ISO 6400, where it hit 2500 lines—exactly at the lower limit for top honors. At its top sensitivity of ISO 25,600, the D5200 dropped to 2330 lines of resolution—much of this lost to noise reduction to keep unintended dots from sullying images.

This augured well for aggressive noise suppression. Indeed, at its lowest sensitivity of ISO 100, the D5200 scored an Extremely Low noise rating. So, under ideal conditions, this camera captures super-clean images with oodles of detail, a tour de force considering its relatively low price.

The D5200 held a Low or better rating in noise up to ISO 800, and it did not edge into Unacceptable territory until ISO 6400, with a score of 3.6. (Anything above 3.0 rates as Unacceptable in this test.)

In color accuracy, the D5200 easily achieved an Excellent rating with an average Delta E of 6.9. Again, the results were very similar to the D3200, which turned in a 6.5 in the same test.

All together, the Nikon D5200’s performance in our three core imaging tests earned it an Excellent rating in overall Image Quality from ISO 100 through ISO 800. That beats competitor Canon’s 18MP EOS Rebel T4i, which got with an Excellent rating up to ISO 400. So the extra pixels paid off for the D5200.

But the Canon outdid it on another key performance indicator: autofocus speed. In our AF test, the D5200 proved slower than the T4i across the board. At the brightest level of our test, EV 12, the Nikon focused in 0.50 sec compared with 0.33 sec for the Canon. The T4i held a respectable lead with 0.45 sec at EV 6, where the Nikon took 0.62 sec to lock focus and capture an image. At the extremely dim light level of EV 0, the differential tightened: The D5200 took 0.97 sec, only slightly longer than the Canon at 0.89. But the latter managed to focus at EV –2, albeit sluggishly, taking an average of 1.28 sec to do so; the D5200, which is rated only to EV –1, failed to focus at EV –2. As is typical of AF, the D5200 also became less consistent in the dimmest light, sometimes logging slower results than the average we report.

In the Field
The Nikon D5200 is on the small side for a DSLR, though still much larger than an interchangeable-lens compact—even the relatively bulky Panasonic Lumix GH3. The grip feels nice in the hand, but, being rather short, makes your pinky more likely to dangle from the bottom or tuck up underneath it. A nice patch of rubber on the back of the camera gives some extra stability for your thumb.

The articulation of the D5200’s 3-inch LCD matches that of its predecessor: It flips out to the left side (with the camera back facing you) and then rotates around the pitch axis. (The D5000’s screen tilted downward before rotating around the yaw axis, which aligned the screen with the center of the lens.)

Unlike Canon’s Rebel DSLRs, which put the exposure compen-sation button on the back, the D5200 has it near the shutter release. And its lone command wheel is on the back, while Canon puts this near the shutter release. So if you prefer holding a button with your thumb while moving the wheel with your finger, or vice versa, this may prove important.

Controls on the D5200 are mainly menu-based, so there are relatively few hard buttons on the camera. One assignable function button may let you put another control at your finger-tip—as long as it’s among the 14 controls that this button will accept. Otherwise, you’ll have to use Nikon’s control-panel style Information Display on the LCD. We found this easy to use and a quick way to change settings. The only downside? You must take your eye away from the finder to change most settings.

The navigation pad also lets you change the autofocus point when you have set the camera to selectable-point AF. (There is no clear indication of this on the body, a good reason to read the instruction manual.)

And the D5200’s 39-point AF system is a considerable upgrade from the 11-point array of its predecessor and of the current D3200. It provides both more coverage across the frame and more granular selection.

Fans of live view will be pleased that a flip switch next to the mode dial lets you access this shooting mode very quickly and easily. The downside is that we inadvertently entered live view numerous times during our field tests; if you leave the camera turned on while walking around, it’s pretty easy to make this mistake. Not a big deal, as you can exit live view quickly enough, but occasionally annoying if you’re rushing to bring the camera to eye for a grab shot.

The new camera lets you shoot in bursts of up to 5 frames per second, compared with 4 fps with the D5100 and D3200. This puts it at the lower-end cutoff for what we consider adequate for serious sports shooting, so it’s a decent choice for action shooters on a budget.

For burst shooting, you’ll get more shots before the buffer fills with JPEGs than with RAW images: Full-resolution Fine JPEGs will fill the buffer after 35 images, while RAW brings that number down to 8. If you want to capture RAW and large Fine JPEGs simultaneously, you can only expect 6 shots per burst. Not great, but it beats Canon’s T4i, which, while also capturing at 5 fps, will poop out after only 3 RAW + JPEG shots, 5 RAW captures, or 30 Large Fine JPEGs.

In our field testing, the D5200’s continuous AF did a good job of tracking along with moving subjects. We were able to get sharp shots of cars zipping through city streets at 5 fps. As long as you allow for the first shot to lock on, the camera will generally keep up from there.

We were pleased with video captured by the D5200. Footage had nicely saturated and accurate colors, and it showed minimal video artifacts. Given that Nikon hasn’t implemented phase-detection autofocus during movie capture, Canon has a slight edge here, but only if you are using one of Canon’s STM lenses, of which there are only a few to date.

The Bottom Line
Nikon has made a compelling DSLR in the D5200. If you like the convenience of an articulated LCD screen and are invested in the Nikon system, it’s basically your only option other than the D5100. But that is hardly a limitation, given that the D5200 performs well and delivers very fine images.

If you are not invested in any system, you should strongly consider the D5200, a very solid choice for a DSLR at this price.

But if you’re open to an ILC, the decision becomes harder. Your options include Micro Four Thirds as well as APS-C-sensor models from Samsung or Sony. (Nikon’s own System 1 cameras are less compelling, given their smaller sensors and very limited lens line that can’t match the breadth of lenses available for Micro Four Thirds, or, of course, the vast catalog of Nikon F lenses that work with the D5200.)

The plain truth is that if you want a DSLR kit for less than $900, you likely won’t regret opting for the D5200.

SPECIFICATIONS

Imaging: 24.1MP effective, DX-format CMOS sensor captures images at 6000×4000 pixels with 14 bits/color in RAW mode.
Storage: SD, SDHC, SDXC. Stores JPEG, NEF RAW, or RAW + JPEG files.
Video: Records up to 1920x1080i60 (30 fps also available) in MPEG-4 H.264 format; built-in stereo microphone; stereo microphone input; approx. 20-min maximum clip size at highest quality.
Burst Rate: Full-sized JPEGs (Fine), up to 35 shots at 5 fps; RAW, up to 8 shots at 5 fps; RAW + JPEG, up to 6 shots at 5 fps; using a UHS-I compatible SD card.
AF System: TTL phase-detection with 39 illuminated focus points (9 cross-type points); single-shot, continuous, predictive focus tracking; tested sensitivity down to EV –1 (at ISO 100, f/1.4).
Live View: Full-time contrast-detection, or single-shot phase-detection AF with mirror interrupting view momentarily.
Shutter Speeds: 1/4000 to 30 sec, plus B (1/3-EV increments); shutter life not rated; flash sync to 1/200 second.
Metering: TTL metering using 2,016-pixel sensor; evaluative (Matrix), centerweighted (75% weight given to 8mm circle in center of the frame), and spot (approx. 2.5% of finder at center); range, 0 to 20 EV (at ISO 100), 2 to 20 EV when using spotmetering.
ISO Range: ISO 100–6,400 (in 1- or 1/3-EV steps), expandable to ISO 100–25,600.
Viewfinder: Fixed eye-level pentamirror.
LCD: Articulated 3-in. TFT with 921,000-dot resolution, 3-step brightness adjustment.
Output: Hi-Speed USB 2.0, mini-HDMI video, and composite video.
Battery: Rechargeable EN-EL14 Li-ion; CIPA rating, 500 shots.
Size/weight: 5.1×3.9×3.1 inches, 1.2 lbs with a card and battery.
Street Price: $797, body only; $897 with 18–55mm f/3.5-–5.6G AF-S DX VR lens.
Info: www.nikonnusa.com

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Collecting cameras is a lot like collecting action figures. Some people want to bust them out and play with them, while others like them sealed up tight to sit on a shelf. If you’re the latter kind of collector, then this auction for a sealed shipping envelope containing a classic Leica KE-7A camera is right up your alley.

The auction sits around $45,000 at the time of writing for a camera that was intended for the US Military. It comes with a KE-7A body with a Leica 50mm f/2 Elcan lens, cap, case, box, strap, cable release, and manual.

The auction shows an X-ray of the box to prove that the camera is actually in there.

I understand wanting something complete with all of the original accessories, but paying a huge premium for a camera that’s trapped inside of an envelope isn’t exactly my style. In fact, if I were a rich guy, I would buy this, then make a Facebook Live video while I opened it and played with all the cool camera bits inside. But hey, to each their own.

Check out the eBay auction here.

From: Leica Rumors via Reddit

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Photography can be a pretty expensive hobby, but vintage camera collecting, can get truly outrageous. The venerable Westlicht auction house is currently getting ready to sell the earliest production Nikon camera still in existence, and the bidding starts at 90,000 Euro.

The camera is a Nikon One, which is the “3rd of all Nikon production cameras,” and was created in April of 1948. It’s coupled with a Nikkor-H 2/5cm (50mm f/2) lens, which the auction claims is the “11th lens made according to the serial number. The camera has actually been featured in several books about the history of Nikon cameras.

The camera itself looks super clean, which suggests it has been a collector’s piece for quite some time. I have always been a big fan of the classic rangefinder look, but unless a camera is hopelessly broken, it hurts me to let it sit on a shelf, like this one probably will for the rest of its days.

The camera itself looks super clean, which suggests it has been a collector’s piece for quite some time. I have always been a big fan of the classic rangefinder look, but unless a camera is hopelessly broken, it hurts me to let it sit on a shelf, like this one probably will for the rest of its days.

Still, it sure would be cool to own a piece of Nikon history like this. You have to wonder how many old pieces of camera collecting gold are just hiding away in attics, basements, storage lockers, and lost collections.

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