Why would you use a mid-wave camera vs a long-wave camera?
There are many considerations when choosing the operating waveband of your thermal infrared camera. The first parameter to consider is what is the estimated temperature range of the objects that you are interested in monitoring. The Planck emission curve dictates that objects over approximately 150 C will emit in the midwave region and that object closer to room temperature will emit in the longwave region. Consideration must be also given to the spectral requirements of the envisioned application. Many materials can be detected by their infrared spectral signatures via narrowband imaging in both the midwave and longwave regions. Prior knowledge of the spectral signatures of the target material of interest is essential when choosing the spectral range of an infrared imager.