Best hand held thermal at present?
- Thread starter homer
- Start date
The one I’m selling…
I used to own a Nocpix S50, I didn't rate it at all, it went back twice due to image problems and was eventually refunded. I think the H50 is a better unit but don't own one.
I don't rate the Nocpix HD sensor at all, have used 2 units with it fitted and both have been sub par compared to the 640 res version.
I still use my Telos XP50 LRF and like it a lot but would prefer something less bulky or even better with some form of zoom lens, going beyond 50mm at the top end.
I don't rate the Nocpix HD sensor at all, have used 2 units with it fitted and both have been sub par compared to the 640 res version.
I still use my Telos XP50 LRF and like it a lot but would prefer something less bulky or even better with some form of zoom lens, going beyond 50mm at the top end.
TheEngineer
Well-Known Member
Don't mean to hijack the thread, but what would people say is the best thermal for say €1000?/£1000?
You might need to mention a top end budget figure as thermals to your spec range from £1200-6000.
Nocturnal Kiwi
Member
The Falcon Surtur and Medusa are the two best budget thermals in the 1100 range, by a significant margin.
No buget, just what produces the clearest picture
Thermal Binos or monocular? Basically do you still like to use traditional Binos to id stuff or are you completely nighttime shooting?
Best means 1280 sensor so
Binos HIK Habrok HABROK PRO HX60LS or PULSAR MERGER LRF XT50 THERMAL BINOCULARS. These are list £5 and £6k respectively. Both are heavy and you won’t be able to make glass binos work at the same time unless you are an octopus.
Monocular wise it’s NOCPIX VISTA S50R THERMAL MONOCULAR or PULSAR TELOS LRF XL50 THERMAL MONOCULAR both are £4k list but you can get the pulsar for £500 less without LRF. Nocpix gets very hot to the extent it feels like a hand warmer. Obviously thermals are warm to the touch but the nocpix are silly warm in my opinion. Nocpix has a really good field of view though touching 30m at 100m. Pulsar is 25m @ 100m. Anything less than 22m @ 100m will drive you mad in close country.
Personally I could use/have any of the above and just prefer a nice light HIK Micro Condor 2 CQ35 LRF. Light decent image, LRF battery lasts 8 hours and 22m @ 100m.
FYI you will get 10% off all the above quoted prices if you ring up a merchant and flirt sufficiently with them.
The Telos is no 1280 but 1024...
My bad you are correct.
Pixfra have a Sirus thermal coming out or maybe out that has a 1280 sensor and both a 25mm and 50mm lens. Means you spot with the 25mm and wide FOV then flick to the 50mm to get more detail. Pixfra software and menus tend to be a bit crude but the hardware and performance are decent and the price is generally 20-30% less than the usual contenders.
Do you know if the telso range are able to be upgraded to these better sensors?
After all, they were marketed as "the last thermal you'll ever need to buy" due to being up-gradable!
I have no idea, but I am going to a fair this weekend where they will have Pulsar on display. I am hoping there will be a representative on site, because I am also curious about the policy and promises regarding upgradability. If possible I will ask.
No mention of XT50 yet but I expect it will be £1300-1600 upgrade an XL to an XT. Also won’t be offered for a while.
Key Telos Upgrade Costs (UK Pricing)
Add LRF to XG50: Approx. £380.
XG50 to LRF XP50: Approx. £990.
XP50 to LRF XL50: Approx. £1,305 - £1,353.
XQ35 to XP50: Approx. £1,180.
XG50 to XL50 (non-LRF): Approx. £1,650.
XQ35 to LRF XL50: Approx. £2,120
FirstBlood
Active Member
If budget isn’t a problem and a monocular that your wanting then in my opinion go for the Pulsar Telos LRF XL50 best they have at present ! Image clarity is untouchable i have the XL60 LRF thermion scope and now i can clearly make out rabbits at 250yrd .
FirstBlood
Active Member
However all things are not equal in terms of scope image and quality between these two brands !as I wouldn’t base your decision on a battery !, you may have a “Dud” it happens and all batteries are probably made in china just like all the HIK products. I’ve had pulsar for years and in my opinion nothing comed close , I was at the stand at the stalking show and looked through every product from HIK that was a competitor to Pulsar and others to see if I’m missing something and I thought in a heartbeat ..nope doesn’t come close !. I asked the rep on HIK stand why there Hadbrook image continues to “Jitter” a problem a friend of mine has with his and he said “there looking into it “.
There’s a reason HIK are slightly cheaper than pulsar and if that’s your bag then fine I’m sure there are many who love them. Many my colleagues have come from HIK products over to pulsar and stayed there not many I hear do the opposite.
My advice is to look through them all and see what you like as some brands may be more intuitive for you ,but for me ..a die hard Pulsar fan here , don’t mean to offend HIK lovers .
NickJ
Well-Known Member
The OP quotes hand held thermal not binos. The Hik rep lives near me so I have looked at every Hik hand held model next to my Pulsar XP50 PRO in the countryside, in the day and night, the units half the price have a better image I'm afraid
When my Pulsar packs up I'll get a mid range Hik and update it every couple of years, I prefer to use a unit and glass binos over i.e. Habroks
I haven't heard of the 'jitter' issue with Habroks but @JH83 was on the hill with me with a pair this week for two days and with the zoom he was sexing roe at range that I couldn't with my Swaro EL 10x50s
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