Which Habroks

[slider]

I currently have a set of HE25's, which do a reasonable job of spotting heat signals and identifying where its a deer or not, but trying to make out the background can be tricky in poor weather.
Thinking of taking advantage of black Friday deals to up grade to HE35L, or should I stretch to the 50L for another £360?

 

[Shootgun]

I would!
I’ve got the 60 and they are a game changer.

 

[Blench99]

I would!
I’ve got the 60 and they are a game changer.

Do the magnification increments go up gradually or is it just double, if you know what I mean?

 

[old keeper]

I've had the 50L for a while now, and they do everything I want them to.

 

[Triumph_Dave]

I have the Habrok Pro HQ50 L the displays are excellent. However a word of warning and this may only pertain to my example. I am questioning the build quality.. I have only used the binoculars for 4 stalks. At the end of stalk 3 the eyepieces had become sloppy ( they do not lock in position ) and would not hold their position.. I am aware of another gentleman who has had exactly the same issue with the 4K habroks. Mine were sent back to HikMicro UK asking for replacement as they were so new, this was ignored and they repaired them. I went out recently on their 4th stalk of use, they were in their case holder, within one hour both rubber eye cups had fallen off and the Thermal eye piece would not hold focus when the binoculars were placed back in their holder and you walked more than 100 meters. The Habroks have now gone back again to HikMicro with a strong request for total like for like replacement of the unit or refund. I am waiting on their reply. I am hoping my example is only a one off, but it is something to be aware of.

 

[slider]

I have the Habrok Pro HQ50 L the displays are excellent. However a word of warning and this may only pertain to my example. I am questioning the build quality.. I have only used the binoculars for 4 stalks. At the end of stalk 3 the eyepieces had become sloppy ( they do not lock in position ) and would not hold their position.. I am aware of another gentleman who has had exactly the same issue with the 4K habroks. Mine were sent back to HikMicro UK asking for replacement as they were so new, this was ignored and they repaired them. I went out recently on their 4th stalk of use, they were in their case holder, within one hour both rubber eye cups had fallen off and the Thermal eye piece would not hold focus when the binoculars were placed back in their holder and you walked more than 100 meters. The Habroks have now gone back again to HikMicro with a strong request for total like for like replacement of the unit or refund. I am waiting on their reply. I am hoping my example is only a one off, but it is something to be aware of.

Thanks. I have had my current 25L's for 15 months and use them twice a week. Never had issues. Hope you get sorted.

 

[GIMLET61]

Purchased the 25s some months ago and used approximately 3 days a week, I find them best bang for your buck if mostly woodland stalking.
Use the thermal on twilight for best results.
The day time optical 4k, is the same on all, it's the thermal what costs the money and if I were to upgrade it would be for the 50s.

 

[Motard]

I swapped fom the basic HE25ln Habrok to
the HQ35l in October and don't regret at all. The 25 are really whork-horses but the upgraded thermal sensor on the Hq35 is the key for a real all around tool. Mine too had the issue with the left eyepieces coming loose
and went back for the repair to Hikmicro-Italy and was returned in 10 days. Since 5hen it had been working
flawlessy. Lot of minus upgrades respect the minor brother and within two swappable Ir lights in 850 & 940 nm, the linear and angle distances shown just above the aiming point, new colors pallets also for the digital channel, but still the long run 18650 batteries that to me is a must. Are the 50 and the 60 better the 35? For shure although I have never touched one with my hands. But cost-wise (to me) the bigger expense doesn't cover the increase of use on real hunting scenarios and youll' pay more than what youl'll get back Also if going to shell over 4 or 5 K Euros probably there are better options although with more limited features thant the multi spectrum Habroks. The real strength point of the HikMicro digital binos to me had been the ability to pack in one device every skill that a hunter may need on field, and set it on the market in the medium-affordable level devices. Once this line is passed the game with competitor will be reopened.

 

[FISH BOY]

Been looking too - have the HQ35L 2k and thinking of upgrading to 4K digital (had them since they came out - no issues)

All about the thermal mag for me - 50Ls are x4.3 and x2.6 for the 60L.

Depends on your ground, but there is a clear winner for me in the woods.

Not sure 1280 on the 60L is really necessary when my existing 640s are very clear already - might settle on the HQ35L 4K with the existing x3 thermal mag and hold onto a few quid.


Hate the feeling that something better is round the corner tho.

 

[Motard]

Hate the feeling that something better is round the corner tho.

I am afraid we could not avoid this in near future. 8k vision is at the door and thermal appears to be just entered in their's teen age, far from maturity. But cause in the rush the costs factor still play a big rule my personal point of viewv is to tray to anchor the expensese at my needs on thenfield. Bought the axion2 xq 4 years ago and choose it instead of the more appealing xg. I still have and use it and more important like it. last two years my night huntig increased drammatically cause the needs of limiting boars and other crittrers population. the habrok seems the best tool for this job so i hope it will seve me for some of the years to come.

 

[slider]

Been looking too - have the HQ35L 2k and thinking of upgrading to 4K digital (had them since they came out - no issues)

All about the thermal mag for me - 50Ls are x4.3 and x2.6 for the 60L.

Depends on your ground, but there is a clear winner for me in the woods.

Not sure 1280 on the 60L is really necessary when my existing 640s are very clear already - might settle on the HQ35L 4K with the existing x3 thermal mag and hold onto a few quid.


Hate the feeling that something better is round the corner tho.

Yes, always!

Blackwood have just launched the Pixfra multi spectral which looks incredibly cheap, buy only has 35mm lenses as opposed to 50 in the Habroks

 

[sikasako]

I have the Habrok Pro HQ50 L the displays are excellent. However a word of warning and this may only pertain to my example. I am questioning the build quality.. I have only used the binoculars for 4 stalks. At the end of stalk 3 the eyepieces had become sloppy ( they do not lock in position ) and would not hold their position.. I am aware of another gentleman who has had exactly the same issue with the 4K habroks. Mine were sent back to HikMicro UK asking for replacement as they were so new, this was ignored and they repaired them. I went out recently on their 4th stalk of use, they were in their case holder, within one hour both rubber eye cups had fallen off and the Thermal eye piece would not hold focus when the binoculars were placed back in their holder and you walked more than 100 meters. The Habroks have now gone back again to HikMicro with a strong request for total like for like replacement of the unit or refund. I am waiting on their reply. I am hoping my example is only a one off, but it is something to be aware of.

In my experience I would agree that design / build quality is not the best with HIK gear.
Shortly after I got it, the eyepiece on my HIK Alpex fell off and got lost while I was out foxing.
Had to buy a replacement, which is now secured with insulating tape, to stop it falling off again.
On a subsequent outing, the rubber cover on the Alpex on/off button and LRF control buttons fell off as I was taking the rifle out of my vehicle. Had to get another rubber cover from HIK. It has a self adhesive coating which attaches the rubber cover to the Alpex. Not the best of designs for such an important control feature on the Alpex IMHO.
Again insulating tape has been deployed, in an attempt to stop the control rubber cover falling off on my Alpex.
Never had any similar design / build quality issues with any of the Pulsar gear that I have used in the past nor the need to hold components on with insulating tape.

 

[Motard]

In my experience I would agree that design / build quality is not the best with HIK gear.

Never had any similar design / build quality issues with any of the Pulsar gear that I have used in the past nor the need to hold components on with insulating tape.

Unfortunately the control dialing switch on top on my pulsar talion just become loose after zeroing it on 9.3x62 barrel. I am not aware of any caliber/joules limit from pulsar and still investigating about. The switch is a sort of threaded ring (similar to a camera's objective filter) with a rotating bezel on top of it that send magnetic control impulses while turning. Took some time to me to imagine how I could set it in place securely again, but now I solved. That's to say that also the best electronic gears (and imho pulsar is still on top) is far from the reliability of mechanical optics. HickMicro has a story (or this is what s
they claims) on military supply. So if they want to survive at the daily rising of china competitors they should cure those issues.At some costs. And/or we should be aware that we are spending money (big money too) for disposable gears.

 

[TommyPro555]

I’ve had my HQ35L 4K’s for 3 months now and they went back for repair as I had issues with the thermal side fluctuating the image and a generally poor experience from new. Elite Optical took them in and they went to the importer for repair (or whatever) and my issues were proven. When they came back one eye piece rubber fell off when I was in a high seat fortunately so it went in my pocket immediately. On closer inspection at home the retaining ring was so loose I’d almost lost that and on checking, found the other side’s ring was also loose. Very annoyed but I carefully managed to re-secure them both with the eyepieces correctly located without damaging anything - use a pair of circlip pliers with care!
Since then all good but at the cost of a Swaro Z8i you’d expect Swaro quality and out the box reliability. The reward for going Chinese I fear.

 

[wytonpjs]

I’ve had my HQ35L 4K’s for 3 months now and they went back for repair as I had issues with the thermal side fluctuating the image and a generally poor experience from new. Elite Optical took them in and they went to the importer for repair (or whatever) and my issues were proven. When they came back one eye piece rubber fell off when I was in a high seat fortunately so it went in my pocket immediately. On closer inspection at home the retaining ring was so loose I’d almost lost that and on checking, found the other side’s ring was also loose. Very annoyed but I carefully managed to re-secure them both with the eyepieces correctly located without damaging anything - use a pair of circlip pliers with care!
Since then all good but at the cost of a Swaro Z8i you’d expect Swaro quality and out the box reliability. The reward for going Chinese I fear.

Same happened to mine but I lost the ring. I wonder why Hik Micro sell spares!

 

[TommyPro555]

Now you know! But in fairness the HQ35L's are quite amazing and for woodland/open field stalking they are superb. I'm glad I bought them, but build quality at that price point shouldn't be an issue - ever!

 

[Triumph_Dave]

Its interesting to see on the HikMicro UK store that the Habrok rubber eyecups are sold out!. I see also they are selling the eyecup retaining ring. A common problem??.

What about Nocpix products?, they are Chinese made I believe, are they any more reliable ref build quailty and software?.

 

[NickJ]

I've looked at all the models side by side. For just £360 I'd go for the 50s

 

[Blackwood Outdoors]

I've looked at all the models side by side. For just £360 I'd go for the 50s

If your stalking in woodland the 50mm are the last thing you would want in 640 guise. 35mm much better FOV allround..

 

[Motard]

a tool for tightening or unleashing eyecups retain rings. it's originally mean for watche's cases but can be applied at any slotted ring. Available at few money in most china bazaars or you can borrow from yours whatchshop.