Thermal RF v Bino RF

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Stringer

Stringer

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Been toying with range finding binoculars for a while now but wondered whether my money would be better invested in upgrading my thermal scanner to one with range finding capability. I’m currently using a Pulsar XM30s which is great but now I’ve used it more and seen footage from higher spec models I’m feeling its limitations.

Binoculars are SLC 10x42 so no point in upgrading just for better glass.

Anyone with experience of both care to comment on the pros and cons of both?

Thanks
 
Ask yourself a simple question: will a thermal monocular (even with an RF) be fit for purpose in situations where you presently use binoculars.
If the answer is yes, then buy the best thermal monocular with RF that you can afford
If the answer is no, then stick with glass

Cheers

Bruce
 
mealiejimmy said:
Ask yourself a simple question: will a thermal monocular (even with an RF) be fit for purpose in situations where you presently use binoculars.
If the answer is yes, then buy the best thermal monocular with RF that you can afford
If the answer is no, then stick with glass

Cheers

Bruce
Click to expand...
Thanks but I already use both in conjunction with each other. The ‘upgrade’ I’m considering is a range finding facility in either one. As I have ‘quality’ glass I wondered whether the upgrade should be to the thermal.
 
Personally I would have rangefinding binoculars and the standard thermal monocular if I needed to choose .
Certainly over the land I shoot deer I wouldn't be able to accurately range the target using my thermal monocular.

I also couldn't be without my thermal LRF for night time foxing .
 
Best option is to buy a compact monocular rangefinder. Either new vortex or SH Leica. Then get the most suitable thermal. I now very rarely use my Geovids preferring my Leica monocular. Current pulsar thermal with RF is not that ergonomic. If your night foxing then unlikely to be shooting more than 250 yds so no need to range find.

D
 
I have rudolf rf bino and xg35rf thermal, glass for day and thermal for night...rarely outside of those parameters, horses for courses so to speak
 
I have the HIK Gryphon GQ35L which is a thermal monocular with range finder. I’m consider RF binos this year. The monocular is good and the range finder is accurate, but I definitely preferred the feel of the binos. Tried a few at the shooting show and they just feel more steady in your hands compared with the monocular. The thermal RF is good if you’re doing a lot of shooting a night
 
Had Swaro RF binos and they are heavy and a give up light as as a compromise.

Pure SLCs to my eyes are simply the bollox.

Range finding thermals are a way forward.

Match them togethor and the rest is down to you….
 
mealiejimmy said:
Eh?
The OP tells us he used Swaro SLC 10x42 binos, so why is x3.4 too much?

Cheers

Bruce
Click to expand...
I’ve been led to believe a lower base magnification is desirable in thermal scanners. I’ve always assumed it allows a wider field of view. Maybe that’s what he’s getting at. However 3.4x would be an improvement to the 4.5x my current unit provides.
 
The optics in binoculars and thermal scanners are completely different and it would be very difficult to get a x10 thermal spotter that could be carried around very easily
Thermal spotters do tend to have base magnifications in the range of x2-x3 so x3.4 for the Raptor might be considered a little on the high side
However, IMHO, the Raptors are primarily designed for long range use such as spotting deer in the highlands where that extra bit of base magnification could be useful.
If woodland stalking is your thing, then the Raptors could be considered to be overkill

Cheers

Bruce
 
mealiejimmy said:
The optics in binoculars and thermal scanners are completely different and it would be very difficult to get a x10 thermal spotter that could be carried around very easily
Thermal spotters do tend to have base magnifications in the range of x2-x3 so x3.4 for the Raptor might be considered a little on the high side
However, IMHO, the Raptors are primarily designed for long range use such as spotting deer in the highlands where that extra bit of base magnification could be useful.
If woodland stalking is your thing, then the Raptors could be considered to be overkill

Cheers

Bruce
Click to expand...
Speaking about base magnification on Raptors.
What do you think about base magnification of optical channel.
Technical specs state only that focal length is 31mm and nothing about base magnification. But comparing this to focal length of photo lenses in digital photography I would say that it is very wide angle system.
I kind of think, that if somebody would like to use Raptor as all in one device, base magnification of daytime optical channel should be at least 6x. Using 2x digital zoom should still be ok, thus having 12x magnification if needed.
 
For those carrying out night time fox control as well as deer stalking activities, would definitely go down the thermal rangefinder route.
 
After having a thermal spotter without RF, I’ve now gone to accolades, some good used deals on them at the moment, I’m off to Scotland this week and will probably end up with those in the bino harness instead of my RF binos
 
From an efficiency point of view, thermal with lrf will be best. If a beast has been spotted with the thermal and you need to range it and your thermal hasn't got a lrf but your binoculars have, you then have to take time to change viewing to binoculars and range it. In that time, the chance of shooting that beast could be lost. I know it doesn't sound a bit deal but every little helps.
 
Optical quality of binoculars equipped with through the lens type rangefinders is usually compromised. Of course this is a little bit mitigated by the fact that the thermal will find the animal and it’s location, narrowing down the field required to be scanned in order to pick up the animal, though if this is eg at dusk, then the compromise in optical brilliance may potentially be regretted.
 
Dari said:
Speaking about base magnification on Raptors.
What do you think about base magnification of optical channel.
Technical specs state only that focal length is 31mm and nothing about base magnification. But comparing this to focal length of photo lenses in digital photography I would say that it is very wide angle system.
I kind of think, that if somebody would like to use Raptor as all in one device, base magnification of daytime optical channel should be at least 6x. Using 2x digital zoom should still be ok, thus having 12x magnification if needed.
Click to expand...
I calculate that the magnification of the optical channel is x2.4
If it was x6 magnification, and used the same sensor, the focal length of the lens would need to be 75mm and if you wanted that lens to have the same aprerture as the 31mm lens (f1.2), the 75mm lens would have a diameter of 62.5mm which is significantly larger than the 50mm f0.9 (55mm diameter) thermal lens on the unit.
I note that the optical channel on Pulsar Thermion Duo XP55 uses a 3840x2160 sensor and a 34mm f4.34 lens to give an optical magnifcation of x4 and up to x32 using digital zoom

Cheers

Bruce
 
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