ATN X-Sight 4K Pro – SIMPLY FANTASTIC

[IanF]

Interesting thread - and having the same concerns that DM mentioned, it was with some trepidation I set up the 4K.

Prior reading on the forums seems to show that whilst there are some genuine manufacturing faults, by far and away the majority of issues are down to soft/firmware in combination with user 'failure'. Note that majority of issues surround getting the tech 'widgets to work. The latest .330 firmware has had good reviews (yes, always check and wait a week before changing firmware) only issues seem to be occasional unit freezing when streaming video to I phone.

Loading the firmware does benefit from following a set procedure that includes factory resets - all I can say is that my unit operates as required - perfectly!

Despite the tech features available on the sight, my requirements are for a training tool with: decent daytime performance, decent night performance with upgrade IR, easy record/review videos. That is it. The good bit about the tech widgets on the Pro - you can switch them off if not required!

Mounted on a very nice (Contessa?) QD mount, the unit can easily be moved between rifles (it memorises different 'profiles') and returns to zero.

Day time picture: slightly washed out colour with very crisp image
Night time picture: VERY clear and only limited by the IR thrower you choose to use.
Videos/Stills: one button press to activate when required (ignore Recoil Activated option). Great quality.

With Auxillary Ballistic Laser fitted, you can range a target & the cross hair will compensate for range. Allowing 'one click' range and shoot, no holding over or manual adjustment needed. After a long wait, this are starting to be shipped and reports are that they work as designed.

I will upload some pictures and videos for you later but this sight is better than expected - in all respects.
In conclusion, turn off the meaningless widgets and you will be pleasantly surprised by the capabilities of this sight. I was!

Rgds

Ian

 

[A J]

On another note, I liked the idea of a rechargable battery...but not removable? This means needing the whole gun out to charge to scope....

This is a big issue for the UK. It means that users may be tempted to fall foul of their licence conditions when charging the unit.

 

[User00048]

This is a big issue for the UK. It means that users may be tempted to fall foul of their licence conditions when charging the unit.

Very true. You can't just leave the rifle out to charge for hours unless you have a dedicated gun room or at the same time are have a mass clean of various guns whilst you wait for it to charge.
The only other option is a quick release mount and an expensive one at that to stop a movement of zero...even then, do you truely trust a quick release mount enough to not need a test shot before use on quarry? As I don't.
Overall I would say it is the most concerning feature. Something its compeition, the Pulsar range, have had in hand for a little while now. I think they went abit too American on the design in this case, a shame, as are the other flaws...when it works it looks like a nice imagine..it is just a shame that not all the units are made equally as good in terms of build quality and that many other share the blight of trying the get the darn things to actually fuction, simply function at that, as advertised. I for one will never touch an ATN again. I have tried their Xsight 2 and their thermal range, just really underwelcoming for the prices when Yukon and Pulsar have most of it well under wraps.

 

[mealiejimmy]

This is a big issue for the UK. It means that users may be tempted to fall foul of their licence conditions when charging the unit.

I think it charges via a USB port.
In that case, a USB battery bank of sufficient capacity to charge the battery could be placed in the gun cabinet and connected to the scope.

Cheers

Bruce

 

[IanF]

Good point on the charging issue - wondering if a power bank (as used for phone charging) would do the trick without necessitating leaving the rifle out of the cabinet.

Will have a look see!

A few image photos for your entertainment: 100m NV/100m Day zero target/ 1500m @ 20x mag / 1500m on extended zoom (52x)

 

[activeviii]

I have been using a charge bank from the local petrol station. I don't let it get much below half way before I put the power bank into the scope over night in the cabinet. Charges the scope up. No idea what's left in the power back after

 

[billh]

I have an earlier model and thought it was better than sliced bread but then some things became apparent.
If the power failed , flat batteries for instance it lost the zero that was set and then the 'one shot' zero had to be done again. By the way a one shot zero is not possible even with the electronics built in it was usually several shots.
If the software is updated, regular updates, again the zero has to be redone.

 

[novice]

Good point on the charging issue - wondering if a power bank (as used for phone charging) would do the trick without necessitating leaving the rifle out of the cabinet.

Will have a look see!

A few image photos for your entertainment: 100m NV/100m Day zero target/ 1500m @ 20x mag / 1500m on extended zoom (52x)View attachment 117851View attachment 117848View attachment 117849View attachment 117850

Thanks for that Ian. That looks like a very good image quality, better than I thought possible from a digital unit to be honest.

Novice

 

[cookingfat]

I had a drone pro and still have somewhere in the world! it was sent back to the USA by Flir under warranty for repair and they have lost it, I am now after very many emails going to have to seek legal advice to get it or my money back,
this has left me without NV
I have been looking for something to replace the drone with
A very good friend has a 4k x sight 5-20 and I spent a few nights out with him looking at it,
during the daytime its first class and much better than the drone
nighttime performance is as good as the drone and half the price
much easier to set up and use
must better battery life and easy to charge
much smaller and lighter than the drone( more like a scope than NV )
both the drone and the x sight are only as good as the IR unit on top
the only down side seems to be a lack of ATN backup from them, no after sales care!
Hopefully they will sort this out soon for the UK market

 

[activeviii]

I had a drone pro and still have somewhere in the world! it was sent back to the USA by Flir under warranty for repair and they have lost it, I am now after very many emails going to have to seek legal advice to get it or my money back,
this has left me without NV
I have been looking for something to replace the drone with
A very good friend has a 4k x sight 5-20 and I spent a few nights out with him looking at it,
during the daytime its first class and much better than the drone
nighttime performance is as good as the drone and half the price
much easier to set up and use
must better battery life and easy to charge
much smaller and lighter than the drone( more like a scope than NV )
both the drone and the x sight are only as good as the IR unit on top
the only down side seems to be a lack of ATN backup from them, no after sales care!
Hopefully they will sort this out soon for the UK market

100% agree with you there. ATN UK are really really cr4p, they just do not want to know or help if you have any problems. USA are very helpful and I have spoke to them on many occasions to try and sort a software fault but they can do nothing about hardware or about the UK outlet.
The 4 K, when it works, is amazing. I have used a number of NV over the years and the 4K is at the top end. 18hr battery life from the onboard battery is great. And as long as you SD card is good, you can import and export your profiles for different bullets for same rifle, I use a 65gr in the 222 for small deer and a 45gr for fox. I can switch easy between the two..

It's not perfect, yes there are different units, but when you get a good one then it's good.
Just wish the aftercare was fit for purpose, this is the major letdown.

 

[Cliff Ray]

If you need support on the 4K just give me a call. Or if you want to try the ENV10 I can arrange that as well.

 

[IanF]

Thanks for that Ian. That looks like a very good image quality, better than I thought possible from a digital unit to be honest.

Novice

Please remember that the images here have been degraded (resized) to allow them to be posted. View-finder image is honestly even better.

The great thing is that we are now on the bleeding edge of technology as far as digital hunting optics goes. Sensors are improving to the point where your phone, TV, DSLR camera and even cinema quality films are now digitally operated. Best german glass will soon be either equalled or superceded in short order, while units increase in functionality and decrease in size and weight. Exciting times!

 

[sauer]

From a deer stalking point of view it’s irrelevant as illegal to use them for shooting of deer .

For varminting at night excellent news


Paul

 

[activeviii]

From a deer stalking point of view it’s irrelevant as illegal to use them for shooting of deer .

For varminting at night excellent news


Paul

And they are illegal because?

Just so everyone knows.

 

[Orion]

And they are illegal because?

Just so everyone knows.

For Scotland it appears it would be illegal at any time:

“The use of light-intensifying, heat sensitive or other special sighting devices is prohibited under Section 5 of the Deer (Firearms etc) (Scotland) Order 1985"

England and Wales, can’t see any issue provided the defined lawful hours were complied with?

 

[howa243]

Good point on the charging issue - wondering if a power bank (as used for phone charging) would do the trick without necessitating leaving the rifle out of the cabinet.

Will have a look see!

A few image photos for your entertainment: 100m NV/100m Day zero target/ 1500m @ 20x mag / 1500m on extended zoom (52x)View attachment 117851View attachment 117848View attachment 117849View attachment 117850

Pretty impressive. Its becoming more difficult to ignore.

 

[activeviii]

For Scotland it appears it would be illegal at any time:

“The use of light-intensifying, heat sensitive or other special sighting devices is prohibited under Section 5 of the Deer (Firearms etc) (Scotland) Order 1985"

England and Wales, can’t see any issue provided the defined lawful hours were complied with?

Not really. its thermal or light intensifying. ATN night vision is neither as you have to add a light source at night to see, the same as glass optics. light intensifying is a complex conversion of energy particles that occurs within a vacuum tube. An image-intensifier system works by collecting photons through an objective lens, converting them to electrons via a photocathode, increasing the electrical energy with a microchannel plate (MCP), converting the electrical energy back to light using a phosphor screen and presenting the image for viewing through an eyepiece lens.

basically gen 1, 2 and 3 that use a phosphor to intensify the image.
Cameras based vision do not do this so they are not light intensifying, they need a light source just like you do with a lamp. the only gain i have is i can record shots and then switch to NV for fox after. but them any one can put a lamp on top of scope

 

[Orion]

Fair enough. Looks legal throughout the U.K. then, provided it doesn’t fall into the “other special sighting device” category.

 

[Orion]

Looking at the primary legislation, it does appear that any digital device would also be illegal to use for deer in Scotland because the full wording is, “or other special sighting device for night shooting”.

Deer (Scotland) Order 1985

 

[sauer]

I certainly wouldn’t want to be the test case

Paul

 

[howa243]

Is anybody on SD selling them?