Habrok 4k vs Thermal-only spotter

[SimpleSimon]

Off the back of the recent "which habrok to buy" thread I'm seeking views on the above question...

At the moment I'm leaning towards the Habrok 4k HE25L. That's about the top of my potential budget, so it'll either be those or a similarly-priced standalone thermal like the Lynx series.

Pros of the Habrok as I see it are:
1. Only one thing to carry
2. No losing the target when switching from thermal to binos, trying to decide if you're looking in the right place, work out the different field of view, work out with tree you were looking near, etc.
3. Superiority over glass for very low light
4. Built in LRF
5. I don't tend to like one-eye viewing for very long
6. Take photos/video with it

Pros of thermal spotter:
1. Better thermal for the same money
2. Opportunity to use alongside glass binos for better/nicer daytime viewing
3. Others??

Whatever I buy won't be used for at night for foxing or whatever, but purely for scanning fields before sunrise and in daylight woodland to spot deer obscured by cover, etc.

Will I miss what I've never had in terms of the better thermal capability? It can't be that long since a thermal with the Habrok's specs would have been considered the best you could get...? Like a two year old smartphone, they tell you the new one is much better, but the old one still does everything it used to do when it was the best

SD - do what you do best... Start arguing

 

[JH83]

Off the back of the recent "which habrok to buy" thread I'm seeking views on the above question...

At the moment I'm leaning towards the Habrok 4k HE25L. That's about the top of my potential budget, so it'll either be those or a similarly-priced standalone thermal like the Lynx series.

Pros of the Habrok as I see it are:
1. Only one thing to carry
2. No losing the target when switching from thermal to binos, trying to decide if you're looking in the right place, work out the different field of view, work out with tree you were looking near, etc.
3. Superiority over glass for very low light
4. Built in LRF
5. I don't tend to like one-eye viewing for very long
6. Take photos/video with it

Pros of thermal spotter:
1. Better thermal for the same money
2. Opportunity to use alongside glass binos for better/nicer daytime viewing
3. Others??

Whatever I buy won't be used for at night for foxing or whatever, but purely for scanning fields before sunrise and in daylight woodland to spot deer obscured by cover, etc.

Will I miss what I've never had in terms of the better thermal capability? It can't be that long since a thermal with the Habrok's specs would have been considered the best you could get...? Like a two year old smartphone, they tell you the new one is much better, but the old one still does everything it used to do when it was the best

SD - do what you do best... Start arguing

I’ve got the 25’s and for my purposes are great. A lot of handy features for not a lot of money in the grand scheme, I have now ditched my chest harness as I don't need both thermal and glass, which feels very uncluttered. The thermal is very basic and slightly too high mag for scanning woodland but it isn’t enough of a problem to be a deal breaker. The 4k is very sharp, and the recent update to giro stabilise them at high mag was very useful.

As you identify, the big question is do you want/need better thermal. To my mind it’s good enough for stalking, as you can’t really ID the quality of a buck/stag with any thermal no matter how good so you’ll always locate with thermal, then switch to optical of some persuasion to look at fine details. If I were a keeper doing a lot of foxing I would want better, but deer are easy enough to spot.

 

[Pellet Pinger]

For me.
Too much mag at x5.5 on that model.
Had a go with them and too big and bulky
Thermal image is poor
Don’t get the concept of thermal, binos, NV all in one.

 

[JH83]

For me.
Too much mag at x5.5 on that model.
Had a go with them and too big and bulky
Thermal image is poor
Don’t get the concept of thermal, binos, NV all in one.

4.3x on thermal. It’s a little high but I get by easy enough. Certainly if you ground is quite open like clearfell you’ll be absolutely fine.

I find them tiny, light, almost delicate! Eye of the beholder I guess

edit: just checked, they are near as dammit the exact same weight as SLC 10x42

 

[The Singing Stalker]

My opinion is that if you are using them for deer stalking, then the Habroks.
I tried a pair over a weekend.
The funny thing is people on various threads saying the thermal is too much mag. Most people use times 7 or 8 binos so this is an improvement.
If you are using for pest control, foxing etc, then, yes, I agree, thermal is too much, and I would not recommend. But for deer stalking only, definitely the Habrooks.

 

[SimpleSimon]

4.3x on thermal. It’s a little high but I get by easy enough. Certainly if you ground is quite open like clearfell you’ll be absolutely fine.

I find them tiny, light, almost delicate! Eye of the beholder I guess

edit: just checked, they are near as dammit the exact same weight as SLC 10x42

My go-to binos for stalking are 10x50, I've not compared them to the Habrok stats but I'm guessing there won't be a lot in it size/weight wise

 

[SimpleSimon]

My opinion is that if you are using them for deer stalking, then the Habroks.
I tried a pair over a weekend.
The funny thing is people on various threads saying the thermal is too much mag. Most people use times 7 or 8 binos so this is an improvement.
If you are using for pest control, foxing etc, then, yes, I agree, thermal is too much, and I would not recommend. But for deer stalking only, definitely the Habrooks.

I've wondered the same about the mag... Is it possibly that the field of view is smaller rathe than the magnification actually being too high? I'll have to have a look at the specs and see how the FOV compares to glass binoculars..

 

[The Singing Stalker]

A (very) Quick Look online. Swaro 8x56 13.3 meters at 100 and the Habrooks are 12 meters. So a bit less. But, unless you are on top of the deer, I don’t personally see that as an issue. Didn’t look at lesser brands.

 

[SimpleSimon]

A (very) Quick Look online. Swaro 8x56 13.3 meters at 100 and the Habrooks are 12 meters. So a bit less. But, unless you are on top of the deer, I don’t personally see that as an issue. Didn’t look at lesser brands.

Just looked up the specs for my Vortex Viper 10x50... Just shy of 9 meters, so considerably less than the Habrok... Habroks are larger in all dimensions than the Vortex, but about 200 grams lighter...

 

[Pellet Pinger]

Just looked up the specs for my Vortex Viper 10x50... Just shy of 9 meters, so considerably less than the Habrok... Habroks are larger in all dimensions than the Vortex, but about 200 grams lighter...

If you compare the Habrooks to the Condor CQ35L monocular (a little more expensive but a good deal will be had now theres a V2) they are double the weight at 800g vs 400g and considerably bulkier.
FOV for the Habrook is 12m the Condor is 22m thats a big difference and theres no way i’d want to be in woods stalking with the Habrook, conversely scanning open fields for Charlie ive never felt ive needed anything more.
Other things to note are to use all the buttons you’ll need both hands, both lenses will need focusing and the main thing is the thermal spec is basic to say the least. I cant see the point in compromising thermal performance to have the other tricks of NV and day mode to hit a low price point, none of which will be any use if you have a deer step out onto a ride and seconds to take a shot.
When i upgraded my thermal the two things that made the biggest difference was the wider field of view meaning scanning and picking up beasts was quicker and the increase in image quality in all conditions enabling me to identify the differences between a badger or fox at longer distances or seeing antlers or pizzles on deer.
For me thermal image quality and the correct FOV for application takes precedence over the tricks when spotting.
I would definitely try both before buying.
You pays your money and takes your choice

 

[slider]

Off the back of the recent "which habrok to buy" thread I'm seeking views on the above question...

At the moment I'm leaning towards the Habrok 4k HE25L. That's about the top of my potential budget, so it'll either be those or a similarly-priced standalone thermal like the Lynx series.

Pros of the Habrok as I see it are:
1. Only one thing to carry
2. No losing the target when switching from thermal to binos, trying to decide if you're looking in the right place, work out the different field of view, work out with tree you were looking near, etc.
3. Superiority over glass for very low light
4. Built in LRF
5. I don't tend to like one-eye viewing for very long
6. Take photos/video with it

Pros of thermal spotter:
1. Better thermal for the same money
2. Opportunity to use alongside glass binos for better/nicer daytime viewing
3. Others??

Whatever I buy won't be used for at night for foxing or whatever, but purely for scanning fields before sunrise and in daylight woodland to spot deer obscured by cover, etc.

Will I miss what I've never had in terms of the better thermal capability? It can't be that long since a thermal with the Habrok's specs would have been considered the best you could get...? Like a two year old smartphone, they tell you the new one is much better, but the old one still does everything it used to do when it was the best

SD - do what you do best... Start arguing

I went from a better quality thermal "down" to HE25's. I originally intended to keep the Pulsar but found the Hik's did all I need and ended up selling it.
The thermal image isnt as sharp, the background isnt as defined but its still perfectly capable of spotting and telling me its a deer and its better than the original thermal I had 7 or 8 years ago.
I'm no professional but stalk at least once a week and In all honesty I think we all get sucked into the next best thing" when last years model will do the job just fine.

 

[Motard]

I just came back from a hunting trip in Slovenia.. the 4K habrock was all I brought (except rifle, knife etc) and did performed flawlessy. I could count deers 980 meters far and roes 400 meters in thick vegetation as well and sometime better and faster than the local guide with his axion..My concern about the starting mag rapidly vanished understanding that the focal lens magnification partially supplies at the low definition from the sensor. You will fast and easy know there is something and depending on your skills also identify what it is. Then you can rely the optical channel for everything else. and my Habrok being somehow limited by the 940 illuminator. So my take now is I will use it as a "solo" instrument always on highseat and roes stalking..Will still bring my Leica 8x42 & kilo abs 2400 when full day time hunting. The pic is about the 95kg boar I took 4 days ago here in italy nightime with habrok 4k as spotter and Pulsar Talion on my .270 cal. st 165 meters (nearly the talion max operating limit to me). somehow he felt me else the wind was good but he was throttling back in the wood
Luckily I could made him hesitate for the second needed to shot by a whisle. then come the wholfed too. but this is another story. the third pic is for those ho can read the story from the ground

 

[CastleStalker]

I have the Condor CQ35L LRF which is a great wee thermal but I am currently considering changing to the Habrok 4K for an all in one solution, I can’t get on with chest packs and hate fumbling around trying to get the thermal out of a pocket, hung around my neck it seems to always be banging off the binos. I’m definitely leaning toward the all in one solution.

 

[The Singing Stalker]

I have the Condor CQ35L LRF which is a great wee thermal but I am currently considering changing to the Habrok 4K for an all in one solution, I can’t get on with chest packs and hate fumbling around trying to get the thermal out of a pocket, hung around my neck it seems to always be banging off the binos. I’m definitely leaning toward the all in one solution.

Do you carry a rucksack?

 

[CastleStalker]

No rucksack, only rifle, binos, thermal, spartan bipod on my belt, knife and quad stick if farm/woodland or thumb stick on hill. Anything else is excessive for me, I understand each individual stalker has their own personal preferences but even at that I’m still trying to thin it out

 

[SimpleSimon]

Although probably not the best testing ground, I'm going to try try HE25L alongside a dedicated thermal at the Stalking Show next month. I'm leaning towards the Habrok, but a look through and play with both should make my mind up fully.

Hopefully there'll be some deals for the show as well

 

[wytonpjs]

Although probably not the best testing ground, I'm going to try try HE25L alongside a dedicated thermal at the Stalking Show next month. I'm leaning towards the Habrok, but a look through and play with both should make my mind up fully.

Hopefully there'll be some deals for the show as well

As you say, not the best proving ground but I bought mine on the strength of trying out the range at the NSS and I then bought the Alpex 4K at the Stalking Show IIRC. In practice in the “cold light of day”, my HE25Ls are not getting the use I’d expected but they still have a role for those golden hour stalks and this weekend, doing a collaborative high seat fallow cull, I’ll be taking them along as well as my Leicas to take over when the glass gives up. As it’s high seat, no worries about the excessive kit but I wouldn’t stalk carrying both. They are certainly very useful in certain circumstances but are not ideal across many IMHO. At the cost point, it made it practical for me to try them but I couldn’t do all I currently do with just them and be happy - too much of a compromise in many respects. JMTFWIW

 

[Blackwood Outdoors]

Although probably not the best testing ground, I'm going to try try HE25L alongside a dedicated thermal at the Stalking Show next month. I'm leaning towards the Habrok, but a look through and play with both should make my mind up fully.

Hopefully there'll be some deals for the show as well

Do not base your decision on trying a thermal at a show, it's not a realworld scenario and favours any thermal massively ... Hard lined objects, large temperature differentials.... a total honeypot for retailers..