Flir M232 vs M332

CiscoCat

CiscoCat

Active Member
Ive been wanting to install a Flir thermal camera on my Whaler for a while now. Anyone have experience with these models? The M232 is entry level and is decently priced. The next model up is over double the price. Granted its got gyro stability and a host of other upgrades, but is it worth $12k?
definitely a want more than a need purchase but it would be nice for those few foggy days on the westcoast or traveling across the straight in the dark. Pretty sure im going to need to spend the extra money to be happy.
 
I looked into FLIR systems a few years ago and the consensus was that at the entry level, the MD625 was the way to go. The higher (2x) resolution made the biggest difference and tilt / pan was not that useful. The resolution on M232 / M332 is pretty terrible.

I decided not to go down the FLIR route in the end. More likely to put on a low light camera like the Sionyx Nightwave on the next boat. Less expensive and more versatile. Big plus is that it will pick up trap floats / debris that's floating in the water, whereas FLIR won't since it needs a temperature difference to resolve.
 
CBsqrd said:
I looked into FLIR systems a few years ago and the consensus was that at the entry level, the MD625 was the way to go. The higher (2x) resolution made the biggest difference and tilt / pan was not that useful. The resolution on M232 / M332 is pretty terrible.

I decided not to go down the FLIR route in the end. More likely to put on a low light camera like the Sionyx Nightwave on the next boat. Less expensive and more versatile. Big plus is that it will pick up trap floats / debris that's floating in the water, whereas FLIR won't since it needs a temperature difference to resolve.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the input. I took a look and the Sionyx units are really nice. Never heard of them before. Steveston Marine has them for $2800. Im going to see if they have a demo to look at.

The Flir does some other functions that I really like. Besides the tilt pan zoom is how it interfaces with the Raymarine Axiom MFD’s. It will over lay targets picked up my the doppler radar, AIS targets and show waypoints in the flir image.

I never considered that the Flir wouldn’t show logs or traps floats, but your correct. There would be no temperature difference or heat signature coming off. Im more likely to slam a log in Fog than another vessel. Im very happy with how the raymarine collision avoidance works and shows targets. Maybe I just save my money and put it towards a hydronic heating system.
 
CBsqrd said:
I looked into FLIR systems a few years ago and the consensus was that at the entry level, the MD625 was the way to go. The higher (2x) resolution made the biggest difference and tilt / pan was not that useful. The resolution on M232 / M332 is pretty terrible.

I decided not to go down the FLIR route in the end. More likely to put on a low light camera like the Sionyx Nightwave on the next boat. Less expensive and more versatile. Big plus is that it will pick up trap floats / debris that's floating in the water, whereas FLIR won't since it needs a temperature difference to resolve.
Click to expand...
I put FLIR on my boat and CBsqrd is bang on. The visibility on the M232 is poor compared to the more expensive models. I don't know that you will want anything more than the MD625 which I got. Visibility is very good and there is enough of a heat temperature difference that it will recognize log's and buoy's on the water. The camera has a wide enough range that it will pick anything up ahead of you. I would note that when it is foggy, your visilbility is more limited as the air temperature and water temperature are similar. It is an expensive add on but provides a lot of confidence when running at night.
 
i have an M232. its kinda useless. i would get the sionyx nightwave.
i have both BTW so i can do a side to side. you dont need gyro stabilization for either.
i also have the really really expensive low light dahua saltwater cameras. those are better than either in day or night. but i doubt you get them anymore.
 
that seems about right. that illustrates how hard it is to spot objects in the water with all the white and black contrasts due to surface temperature shadows.
heres an an LLTV image from mine in comparison in pitch darkness (40 nautical miles into the atlantic ocean away from any light sources at 2am)
lltvatlantic.PNG
 
zurk said:
that seems about right. that illustrates how hard it is to spot objects in the water with all the white and black contrasts due to surface temperature shadows.
heres an an LLTV image from mine in comparison in pitch darkness (40 nautical miles into the atlantic ocean away from any light sources at 2am)
View attachment 113055
Click to expand...
After looking at more options the past few days im no more ahead on what to get lol. So many options
 
It is the MD625. As mentioned, you lose the distinction and clarity of the water in fog as the air temperature is essentially the same. You would still be able to pick up any hazards in the fog providing they had a different heat signature. Even when the clarity is good, I wont run any faster than about 10 knots just in case I miss seeing a log or buoy. It does give you a much greater ease and sense of your surroundings when running at night and makes for much less stress.
 
Another option is to look at the Sionix camera. Very inexpensive ($2,500) by comparison to a FLIR unit, and plug and play into your GPS system. The pictures showing the grady in front of my boat were taken in near complete darkness leaving the dock. The boat ahead had to use a flashlight to see enough to get past a finger on our docks. The image is in colour.
 

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searun said:
Another option is to look at the Sionix camera. Very inexpensive ($2,500) by comparison to a FLIR unit, and plug and play into your GPS system. The pictures showing the grady in front of my boat were taken in near complete darkness leaving the dock. The boat ahead had to use a flashlight to see enough to get past a finger on our docks. The image is in colour.
Click to expand...
Work pretty good in the fog?
 
CiscoCat said:
After looking at more options the past few days im no more ahead on what to get lol. So many options
Click to expand...
just buy all the options. then you dont need to guess at which will work best in which situation. FLIR/LLTV/forwardscan and HALO24. and maybe a AN/PSQ-44 NVG.
 
Last edited:
Thanks for everyone input. I had all the options quoted and im going to go with the Flir M332. My cost is 9k. The MD625 is $8300 so not much more to get the gyro and pan functions.

Surprisingly I was quoted $2600 on the Sionyx. Thats pretty good value.
 
searun said:
Fog is fog, pretty much nothing that works to see through it. Radar is your friend in that situation.
Click to expand...
roger that! Thank you! I think I might put it in anyways early and late season up here we’re definetly in the dark
 
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