Hi Aaron,
I have had some experience with the Flir GasFind and the Laser Imaging GasVue system. The GasVue system is an active system that "paints" the scene with IR at a wavelength that SF6 absorbs. Leaking SF6 gas is shown as black "smoke". The Flir GasFind system does not actively "paint" the scene with IR in the same way. The Flir GasFind presents a much clearer image than the GasVue system and is a lot more compact (hand held versus shoulder held).
Last fall we had a contractor perform an SF6 gas leak survey on our high voltage breakers using the active GasVue system. Several leaks were detected, some leaks as small as ~1 to 2 lb per year. Several weeks later our Flir rep brought up the GasFind camera and we tried it out on a breaker that had an ~1 to 2 lb per year leak that had just been detected with the active GasVue system. The Flir GasFind camera was unable to detect the leaking gas. Our handheld "sniffer" detected the gas so the leak was still active. The rep was a little surprised that his camera was unable to detect the same leak that the GasVue had imaged and stated that the Flir GasFInd system works better for small leaks when placed on a tripod.
My feeling is to wait for the next version of the Flir GasFind. I try never to buy the latest whiz-bang device.....just like new digital cameras or computers, the newest ones are soon replaced with more capable devices as the technology matures.
Scott Girard
Chugach Electric