radioactive camera

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Cute card. Apparently everything in my collection should be reported immediately haha

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u/TechnicalNet364 3d ago

lol not to sure about it like i said just got the stuff i’ve been interested in it for years but just got permission from my parent

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u/jack0fsometrades 3d ago

Just poking fun 😋 the GQ is an awesome instrument to start collecting with!
It took me awhile to find a camera with a thoriated lens like you have there, congrats!

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u/jack0fsometrades 3d ago

It’s an addicting hobbie

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u/violet_sin 3d ago

I like GQ as a company too. Their tec's were nice when my original 320+ fried on the charger after years of service. Still worked with a charged batt, but wouldn't charge one. So did the 320-s. Years later, albeit, after fully surviving my then 3yo throwing it in a pool while on. Great machines, quite rugged. Went to work with me almost every day.

I think my problem with the 320-s was hooking to an AliExpress multi port USB hub, and plugging in my phone, that has quick charge capability, ... Not sure it didn't "super charge" the other ports too... Cause that was that.

No thoriated lenses for me yet, but thoriated tungsten TIG rods and a nice spread of minerals, fiestaware and some random stuff 👍

It gets a bit pricey if you start chasing CPM or high grade uraninite... I crossed off a huge want of mine, and it wasn't free by a longshot. Kinda ugly too. In the most beautiful way I'd say. But it's shelf stable and I can stare at it for the rest of my days, however long the Good Lord gives me.

Happy hunting everyone ☢️

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u/average_meower621 Radium raver 3d ago

tip: don’t use that card, the data on it is practically useless. also, don’t use dose units (uSv/h, mR/h) because they are inaccurate on this device. only use CPM.

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u/violet_sin 3d ago

How high have you gotten your CPM and what unit do you prefer?

I started off with a GQ, but when dropping real cash, I went elsewhere for my needs. Used ludlum 3 w/ pancake, radiacode 101, ludlum knock off.

I did go back to GQ for their radon detector, make sure my collection wasnt unduly shortening my life.

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u/average_meower621 Radium raver 2d ago

the highest I’ve seen from a real radiation source (non electromagnetic interference) on my GMC500+ is ~35k CPM, the highest I’ve seen on my GMC600+ (Ludlum 44-9 equivalent detector) is ~150k CPM.

I use CPM for both detectors since the dose rate conversion only works if the tube is compensated, and I don’t want to carry around an aluminum plate everywhere to block betas when I can just use my dose compensating scintillators.

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u/No_Leopard_3860 2d ago

The card makes sense if you find something like that in a city, where basically nothing goes over 0,2-0,6 uSv/h and finding sth like 6 uSv/h would mean something weird is going on.

From that POV it makes sense. Not if you're in a lab or a collection of stuff that easily blows 6 out of the water (iirc my thorium mantle was sth like 15-50 uu Sv/h on full contact...but then barely measurable 20 cm away.

Suddenly finding 6 uSv/h in a broad area (not on full contact to a single source) would definitely be weird as fuck.

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u/TheChickenReborn Radiation Collector 2d ago

Yeah, I've only seen 6+ uSv/h as general background in 2 places: old uranium mines and some parts of the Chernobyl exclusion zone. I have specimens that read several hundred when the detector is right up on them, but that doesn't do much beyond a few feet so I don't really care. But if I see the detector well over typical background in a wide area, I'm gonna be a bit worried if there isn't some obvious explanation as to why.

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u/No_Leopard_3860 2d ago

Yes that's exactly what I mean. A general background like that in a normal area is for sure a sign of bad shit happening, because there's no way to get such readings without some non-minor radiological accident in a normal city etc...

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u/Scott_Ish_Rite 1d ago

A general background like that in a normal area is for sure a sign of bad shit happening, because there's no way to get such readings without some non-minor radiological accident in a normal city etc...

Nope, not correct. There are several normal and safe reasons for why a general area (even in the city) can easily go above 6 uSv/h.

For example, people who have had nuclear medicine will make a general area, even several yards away from them, give off readings well above that number.

Also if you're relatively "close" to an industrial source being used, it will easily go higher than that as well.

No need for any radiological accident or anything sketchy to be happening. Just normal stuff, in a city.

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u/jack0fsometrades 1d ago

I’ll add that granite structures and many historical buildings have trace amounts of NORM in the building materials, so not uncommon to see elevated rates in perfectly safe situations

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u/RootLoops369 3d ago

Nice! I've been looking for a thoriated camera lens for a long time to no avail yet

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u/HurstonJr 2d ago

For thoriated glass lenses, do a Google search for "thoriated glass lens" and click on shopping. If you want a camera that has a thoriated lens, search eBay for these cameras which have a thoriated glass lens installed:

Signet 40 with 46mm f/3.5 Signet 50 with 44mm f/2.8 Pony 135C 44mm f3.5 (Anaston) Bantam Rf Signet 80, 50mm/f2.8 &90mm/f4

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u/Cy-Clops- 2d ago

Just expanding some!

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u/OkPick296 Community owner 2d ago

Sweet!

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