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Question:
Can lenses be interchanged on the Photon? What if I want to use a different lens? Will FLIR calibrate my lens with a Photon?
Answer:
We advise against customers changing Photon lenses without first understanding the implications and consequences. Each Photon is calibrated with its associated lens at the factory. The calibration data is stored in camera memory, but there is only enough memory to support a single lens. It is physically possible to change lenses, however, if a different lens is installed, the original calibration is no longer valid. If a Photon lens is changed without recalibrating the camera, it will work but the image performance will likely be degraded. In addition, several of the available lenses use different adapters to attach to the Photon camera body, so changing lenses often requires a different lens mount. Use of a third-party lens would require a custom lens mount, as well as knowledge of the back working distance to ensure lens focus from infinity down to the minimum distance capable with the lens focus system. The design of lens mounts is critical, as a poorly designed mount may introduce unacceptable image artifacts. As a result, FLIR cannot be responsible for the performance of third-party optics used with Photon cameras, nor can FLIR provide optical design information or support for other than the existing Photon lens mounts. Finally, changing lenses can only be done by disassembling the Photon, and the warranty will be voided if this done by a customer.
For qualified customers that furnish their own optics for use with Photon cores, FLIR sells a Windows(TM) application program called Alt Lens Cal. This software allows users to perform a supplementary calibration of the camera with a lens. This field-calibration process requires the use of at least one blackbody source (a highly uniform, controllable temperature reference) that has an area greater than the diameter of the front of the lens. It also requires a customer-furnished PC, which should be dedicated to this task. The calibration routine calculates gain terms on a per-pixel basis with the customer-supplied lens attached to the Photon core, and stores the customer-performed calibration in non-volatile camera memory. The original factory calibration coefficients are first uploaded from the camera and stored into a file on the PC, then the new calibration data is downloaded and stored directly into the camera. Multiple calibration files can be stored on the host computer. The original factory calibration file can be restored if necessary, and the customer can actually build a library of lens calibration files for a Photon camera.
The current version of ALC software is part number 110-0106-72, and supports all versions of Photon cameras delivered beginning in 2008. Contact FLIR for ALC software for Photon cameras delivered prior to 2008.
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