Long-range Thermal Zoom Cameras

Using thermal cameras for security applications has become a very common and useful asset for border protection and facility monitoring. The advantages are obvious: Thermal cameras do not depend on light conditions, they provide constant imaging any time a day, can penetrate haze and fog. Even camouflaged persons or vehicles can be detected when entering areas to be considered as off-limits for intruders. Depending on the camera configuration chosen it may be possible to detect humans beyond 15 km distance, ground vehicles or small boats beyond 20 km, larger ships or vessels and aircraft beyond 30 km.

Long-range Thermal Zoom Cameras from InfraTec - Picture credit: © iStock.com / nagydodo

But there is more than sheer range performance when you introduce thermal zoom cameras to monitoring tasks:

  • The cameras´ temperature sensing capabilities also offer the chance to get some tactical information about physical conditions of the remote target – the thermal map or signature indicates the usage of motors. It also allows discriminating passive from active vehicles.

  • The bigger the zoom range of the chose camera, the more options are created for applications at medium up to short distances. If a monitoring outpost is planned to be operated autonomously or remotely this adds self-protection capability as well.

  • Zoom flexibility also creates a chance to monitor more than one target at a time, then concentrating on the more interesting intruder.

Thermal image - recording with zoom camera ImageIR® 9300 Z
Wide-angle mode 1x – nearly 40° HFOV
Thermal image - recording with zoom camera ImageIR® 9300 Z
Image taken with ImageIR® 9300 Z thermal zoom camera using 9x zoom
Thermal image - recording with zoom camera ImageIR® 9300 Z
Image taken with ImageIR® 9300 Z thermal zoom camera using 17x zoom
Thermal image - recording with zoom camera ImageIR® 9300 Z
Image taken with ImageIR® 9300 Z thermal zoom camera using 30x zoom – 1.3 x 1.0° FOV
InfraTec glossary camera protective housing

Require­ments Besides a Modern Thermal Camera

Of course a complete monitoring system needs more than a camera:

  • High-resolution and sturdy pan-tilt heads are a must for exact pointing and stable images under any weather conditions. Needless to say that stations that shall overlook large areas are exposed to wind, moisture and dust on a higher level than small short-range solutions attached to buildings or protected fixtures. So the pan-tilt needs to be both precise and ruggedized.

  • Mating the thermal camera with an equally powerful digital zoom color video camera creates a solution that offers a cost-efficient add-on for additional information like reading of remote letterings.

  • A powerful software package can combine complete camera control with a video management system, depending on the user´s requirement profile anything should be possible between real-time human-based monitoring up to a fully autonomous operation.

  • Adding features like a laser range finder, GPS, mapping software, radar, image stabilization can turn a pure monitoring system into a surveillance workhorse with even more information for the user.

Long-range thermal imaging zoom cameras from InfraTec

InfraTec´s contribution to the above tasks is the development of thermal HD cameras – cooled and uncooled. Their key specifications are:

ImageIR® 6300 Z

  • Cooled focal plane array photon detector operating in snapshot mode with (640 × 512) IR pixels

  • Standard built-in 7.5x zoom lens with motor focus

Zoom infrared camera series ImageIR® 6300 Z

ImageIR® 8300 Z

  • Cooled 640 x 512 IR pixel detector with a (28 … 850) mm lens

  • Field of view: (19.8 × 15.9)° ... (0.6 × 0.5)°

Super-zoom infrared camera series ImageIR® 8300 Z

ImageIR® 9300 Z

  • Cooled 640 x 512 IR pixel detector with a (28 … 850) mm lens

  • Field of view: (39.8 × 32.3)° ... (1.3 × 1.0)°

Super-Zoom Infrared Camera Series ImageIR® 9300 Z

VarioCAM® HD Z

  • Uncooled 1,024 x 768 IR pixel microbolometer detector with a (25 … 150) mm lens

  • Horizontal field of view: (41.5° @ 25 mm … 6.6° @ 150 mm)

Infrared camera series Vari­oCAM® HD Z security

Complete solutions from InfraTec are always based on the IROD infrared monitoring software. In addition, InfraTec cameras can be incorporated into the systems of external partners. This extends the possibilty to integrate ITAR-free thermal imaging cameras into various static platforms, ground vehicles, aircraft or ships.

Coastal Protec­tion in the Adri­atic Sea

Below pictures illustrate the efficiency of an ImageIR® 9300 Z. Located on an Adriatic radar tower it allows near-field imaging for self-protection, mid-range surveillance of the area adjacent to the tower and remote monitoring of ships near to the coast line. The distance range covers some 25 m to beyond 11 km and even the seaspace to a neighbour island more than 40 km away.

Thermal image - recording with zoom camera ImageIR® 9300 Z
A view from the Croatian island of Vis to the island of Sušac 43 km away. The rather low building with the small lighthouse on the roof is clearly visible. Same counts for a mast standing a few meters away. As the image shows, on the rest of the island there are neither further buildings nor bigger trees.

Relevant Indus­tries & Applic­a­tions for Thermal Zoom Cameras

additive manufacturing

Additive Manu­fac­turing

By in-line monitoring of thermal process parameters, infrared cameras from InfraTec support the optimisation of additive manufacturing processes.

Active Thermography - Picture Credits: © Rainer / Fotolia.com

Active Ther­mo­graphy

Make use of active thermography for non-destructive and contact-free material testing, for both automated inline and offline solutions.

thermal imaging for automotive applications

Auto­motive Industry

Infrared camera systems help you to secure a high product quality in production and at your suppliers.

All branches and application areas
E-Lit Cabinet from InfraTec for Infrared Thermography
Non-destructive Testing

Electronic / Semiconductor Testing – E-LIT

Detect inhomogeneous temperature distribution and local power loss during the production using the Lock-in Thermography.

Automation InfraTec INDU-SCAN - In-process industrial temperature measurement
Indus­trial Auto­ma­tion

Process Control – INDU-SCAN

Contactless measurement of temperature distributions and profiles with industrial thermographic cameras permits efficient monitoring and control of temperature-dependent processes and procedures within a system-integrated quality assurance programme in industry.

Thermographic Automation Solutions - Automatic object monitoring system IROD
Observation & Investigation

Site Surveillance – IROD

Calibrated measuring cameras offer the option of a completely automated site surveillance by utilising temperature alarms – an approach well beyond the simple and susceptible motion detection systems used elsewhere. With IROD InfraTec offers a scaleable, powerful system solution.

E-Lit Cabinet from InfraTec for Infrared Thermography
Non-destructive Testing

Electronic / Semiconductor Testing – E-LIT

Detect inhomogeneous temperature distribution and local power loss during the production using the Lock-in Thermography.

Automation InfraTec INDU-SCAN - In-process industrial temperature measurement
Indus­trial Auto­ma­tion

Process Control – INDU-SCAN

Contactless measurement of temperature distributions and profiles with industrial thermographic cameras permits efficient monitoring and control of temperature-dependent processes and procedures within a system-integrated quality assurance programme in industry.

Thermographic Automation Solutions - Automatic object monitoring system IROD
Observation & Investigation

Site Surveillance – IROD

Calibrated measuring cameras offer the option of a completely automated site surveillance by utilising temperature alarms – an approach well beyond the simple and susceptible motion detection systems used elsewhere. With IROD InfraTec offers a scaleable, powerful system solution.

Contact to thermography division of InfraTec

Would You Like to Know More?

It is not unusual for tasks to be associated with special requirements. Discuss your specific application needs with our specialists, receive further technical information or learn more about our additional services.

Europe & Rest of World
InfraTec GmbH Infrarotsensorik und MesstechnikGostritzer Straße 61 - 6301217 DresdenGERMANY

Further Glossary Items relating to Thermal Zoom Cameras

Circuit board ImageIR® 10300

Thermal Image | InfraTec Thermography Knowledge

A thermal image can be captured with a infrared camera. To acquire the thermal image, the infrared radiation, which is generated by the heat of an object, is recorded by a thermographic camera.

InfraTec glossary - ImageIR® mobile wireless camera remote control

Mobile Wire­less Camera Remote Control

Stationary camera systems are usually used PC-controlled. Alternatively, InfraTec offers a solution that makes the operation of the camera system even more versatile. An additional tablet PC is attached to the camera housing, which enables wireless control of all camera functions. The display solution allows access to all functions of the IRBIS® online control and acquisition software, delivered together with the camera.

Thermal  cameras / infrared cameras from InfraTec

Thermal Camera, Infrared Camera | Thermography Knowledge

A thermal camera – also called IR camera, thermal imaging camera or infrared camera – is a measuring instrument used for non-contact measurements of the surface temperature of objects.

Circuit board ImageIR® 10300

Thermal Image | InfraTec Thermography Knowledge

A thermal image can be captured with a infrared camera. To acquire the thermal image, the infrared radiation, which is generated by the heat of an object, is recorded by a thermographic camera.

InfraTec glossary - ImageIR® mobile wireless camera remote control

Mobile Wire­less Camera Remote Control

Stationary camera systems are usually used PC-controlled. Alternatively, InfraTec offers a solution that makes the operation of the camera system even more versatile. An additional tablet PC is attached to the camera housing, which enables wireless control of all camera functions. The display solution allows access to all functions of the IRBIS® online control and acquisition software, delivered together with the camera.

Thermal  cameras / infrared cameras from InfraTec

Thermal Camera, Infrared Camera | Thermography Knowledge

A thermal camera – also called IR camera, thermal imaging camera or infrared camera – is a measuring instrument used for non-contact measurements of the surface temperature of objects.