Thermal at £1,500 ish

[Jinga]

Hi all, I have read various threads here about the thermal options at £1k and am trying to work out whether I need a little more than £1k brings. Am stalking for roe on open land with rough grass and woods and spying out to circa 800m. I am looking for a device that will give me a good thermal indicator at 800m for fox to deer sized animal. I can do the rest with Binos. Slightly frustrated by tripping over roe couched down in deep grass!

So given I am interested in looking at thermal devices Is there a big jump in quality and performance from £1000 to £1500? I have looked at the Hik and Pulsar options. Recording videos to watch on the sofa is not of interest. I want a tool to scan valleys effectively for animals. Open to advice.

Thanks

 

[Freeforester]

Best look for a good used XQ38 Quantum or Helion, more spec for less money, than compromise on spec just to have something new, which you may struggle with In terms of usability, remember you’re likely as not going to have to carry it too, and that is where the former scores over the latter, in terms of form factor/pocketability.



£1,000 posted for XQ38 spec, boxed with all accessories, etc.

 

[Magnificent 7]

I had a pulsar xq38 and couldn’t get on with it to be truthful.I’ve since bought a tracker Ir 50 and it’s far better.A friend yesterday tried it who owns a pulsar and commented how
Good it was compared to his pulsar and if you shop about one possibly could be found for handy money

 

[beebuzz]

My stalking ground sounds very similar! I have a Hikmicro Lynx 25 and find it does a good job. When I got it I was amazed at the detail and what it picks up- a family of wrens bobbing in and out of a tree hole the other evening. Light, buttons easy to feel and use in poor light. That said the pulsars in similar price range are good too having borrowed one.

Beebuzz

 

[Andy seatrout]

HIKMICRO lynx pro 19mm….. you should get one for £1200 new …… the spec will cover what you want, I can spot a fox in a field of sheep 800 yards away and deer at ranges where you won’t bump them are no problem at all even in thick woodland or grass….

The photo is a still from a video I took. A fallow pricket at about 100 yards. If you buy one for more money ( the 25mm) then you should have a better picture.

 

[Fowler1990]

Own the 25mm - slightly narrower FOV in comparison to the 19mm but noticeably more detailed.

 

[Steve29]

I’d have a HIK falcon fq35 for that money. Great unit and better than the more expensive Pulsar XG35 that I compared it against, IMO anyway (and two other people’s that did the same comparison). The bigger Falcon 50 is much better again, then the XP50 pro another leap up, but another grand or two more expensive so not comparable really. Price and performance both taken into account, the FQ35 is a great option

 

[Fowler1990]

I’d have a HIK falcon fq35 for that money. Great unit and better than the more expensive Pulsar XG35 that I compared it against, IMO anyway (and two other people’s that did the same comparison). The bigger Falcon 50 is much better again, then the XP50 pro another leap up, but another grand or two more expensive so not comparable really. Price and performance both taken into account, the FQ35 is a great option

Would do the same if I was to buy today. Not keen on the Pulsar stuff when compared to the Hik, plus the bonus with the FQ is it takes 18650 batteries.so nothing internal to die.

 

[243ack]

There's an Infiray Zoom for sale on here: have a look at the specs!.

 

[Jinga]

Open to other ideas but HIK Falcon FQ35 sounds like the best option for now. Just a case of scanning the webesites for deals.

 

[Maggsy]

There's an Infiray Zoom for sale on here: have a look at the specs!.

I’ve got an Infiray zoom, amazing bits of kit!

 

[DMc88]

A few Helion xq38's on the facebook sites. They are really, really good. Great field of view and pic out deer, foxes amazingly well.

 

[Blackwood Outdoors]

Find a secondhand Helion XQ38, they are great units for the money...