Best IR torch for the new Hikmicro Alpex 4K

[deerly departed]

Ludicrous Lumens do a 3D printed one if your going down the weight saving route

NEW FULLY adjustable IR mount 25MM & 30MM lamp bodies.

Fully adjustable 25mm OR 30MM IR/Lamp mounting Please select 25mm or 30mm Lamp body above. (30mm mounts are lead time is 7-9 working days) Our new Fully adjustable picatinny/weaver mount is made from super strong SLS nylon 12 material & is very stress & temperature resistant. Allows a large arc...

www.ludicrous-lumens.co.uk

Thats expensive for a 3d printed.
I was sceptical of the chameleon eye ball style but there actyally good.
You still hsve to buy a solo scopw clamp with picct to fit this.

For 40.00, the clamp Hikmicro produce a two ring that fits to any 30mm body and is easy to attach and remove.

tHat said I useca lot of LL stuff myself.

 

[One on top of two]

If your looking for distance you want a Solaris XLT laser.

 

[Pete6.5]

Absolutely the new Dark Engine BLADE COVERT if you need 940nm.

Black Sun Dark Engine BLADE COVERT IR illuminator

www.nightvisionstore.co.uk

Flood will fill the field of view. No hot or cold centre to the beam. No diffuser affecting power or cleanliness of beam. Tiny size and lightweight too.

Made in the UK with a lifetime warranty too.


Cheers





Clive

Are these in stock at the moment?

 

[Gunner223]

Solaris doesn't work the best with the 4K, none of the VCSELS do , I'd say VCSEL are excellent for rear add ons, due to the poor IR transmission of the optics and multiple lenses.

The solaris beam is too tight for the Alpex 4K FOV, I'd say the little Zulus VCSEL IR gives a cleaner image than most other vcsels I've tried...

LED gives a cracking image, at most peoples shooting ranges...on the Alpex, etc <200yds ..

At night go and take a ShootNC target and place it 40yds away, look through with a VCSEL and you will notice the image has very small tiny artefacts in it, also there is a sort of reflection back that actually loses detail on some smooth surfaces... The small inner rings will not be visible on the target. For a quick example look through a Pard DS35 you will not see the target inner rings clearly...

Swap to an LED illuminator and the target will be crystal clear, the image silky smooth and no artefacts at all... you will also vividly see the smaller inner rings of the target and shot impact with more definition..

This image difference is noticeable in the field also , the LED retains a very smooth detailed image, but the VCSEL although having more intensity and further throw obviously from being laser based , has nowhere near as clean an image, diffused on non diffused makes no difference.

Thats why for C50, Alpex A50T, Alpex A50E , you don't need anything more under <200yds, they cost less than <£50 , the image on close range rats and rabbits and flood ability is unreal, pin sharp. They work much better also on the likes of an NV008S (transform them) and IMO the Zulus looks great with these also..

All of the footage I upload of rats and rabbits is using a 50mm LED 95% of the time.

Right Ian I have the Alpex 4k lrf, I use it on my FAC FX im shooting rabbits out to 160 170 yds, what's the best torch for me then , and smaller the better really ,
Cheers

 

[Gunner223]

And here it is compared with the more usual 50mm Yukon style lens. That's an even starker difference, particularly the weight and our (now old fashioned DE MAX) is the lightest / smallest of these 'Sunnrangers'.

View attachment 350358

Rule of thumb is if you are air rifle shooting, then you can get away with the supplied IR or a cheap T20 38mm AS LED if it didn't come with one and you are an economy enthusiast...or a posh one if you want to see further:

Black Sun 2 B22 IR illuminator

www.nightvisionstore.co.uk

A bigger heavier 50mm isn't needed. The only reason to use a bigger lens on an IR is to make the beam 'tighter.

But for most users the Dark Engine BLADE is the one to go for. It gives you the most versatility and ability to see well into your backdrop.

Black Sun Dark Engine BLADE IR illuminator

www.nightvisionstore.co.uk

Cheers





Clive

Clive your 940 Blade , can you tell me how far you can see with that please,
Thanks

 

[Clive Ward]

Clive your 940 Blade , can you tell me how far you can see with that please,
Thanks

Hi Gunner223,

In standard form (850nm) it's a decent image to 500 yards and a good enough image to 1,000 to check your backdrop.

The COVERT 940nm is exacltly the same output power, but the NV device will see it as around half the power as it's less sensitive the further you go into the IR spectrum. With IR you need 4 times the power to see twice as far, so In the field this relates to 375 for a decent image and 750 yards for your backdrop.


Cheers





Clive

 

[Gunner223]

Hi Gunner223,

In standard form (850nm) it's a decent image to 500 yards and a good enough image to 1,000 to check your backdrop.

The COVERT 940nm is exacltly the same output power, but the NV device will see it as around half the power as it's less sensitive the further you go into the IR spectrum. With IR you need 4 times the power to see twice as far, so In the field this relates to 375 for a decent image and 750 yards for your backdrop.


Cheers





Clive

Great thanks for your quick reply, payday next week .

 

[Sniper308]

I use the wraith, I’m not sure if it’s the best you can buy but I’m certainly happy with it and would recommend to anyone

 

[jaffa]

Hi all
Anybody using the hikmicro ir ? And what do you think . ?
Jaffa

 

[Cleightonp]

Yes it's better...

Hi Ian, does the night blaster fit in the hikmicro clamp? I have a non 4k alpex , the torch it came with (second hand) was rubbish making the picture grainy. I have tried a hikmicro torch and its significantly better. So this torch really is of interest if you say its better. Thanks in advance

 

[Navarone]

Hi Gunner223,

In standard form (850nm) it's a decent image to 500 yards and a good enough image to 1,000 to check your backdrop.

The COVERT 940nm is exacltly the same output power, but the NV device will see it as around half the power as it's less sensitive the further you go into the IR spectrum. With IR you need 4 times the power to see twice as far, so In the field this relates to 375 for a decent image and 750 yards for your backdrop.


Cheers





Clive

Clive why would you buy a 940 vs an 850 I don’t get the difference or why you’d want less power?

 

[Ronin]

Ludicrous lumens make some excellent illuminators

 

[BenBhoy]

Clive why would you buy a 940 vs an 850 I don’t get the difference or why you’d want less power?

Some people think/have experience of animals being spooked by 850, whereas 940 goes undetected.

 

[Navarone]

Some people think/have experience of animals being spooked by 850, whereas 940 goes undetected.

thanks Ben, fair enough. I assume the majority go for 850 though?

 

[BenBhoy]

thanks Ben, fair enough. I assume the majority go for 850 though?

Most do yeah. Ive never used 940 to compare but you'll get less distance, not sure on clarity.

 

[Clive Ward]

Clive why would you buy a 940 vs an 850 I don’t get the difference or why you’d want less power?

The COVERT 940nm are most popular in Europe where wild boar are sensitive to 850nm, to the point of aversion.

The standard 850nm is the one to go for in the UK. There is no spill from the beam, so only something directly on axis will be able to detect it (if it's biologically capable). The added bonus is no reflection off your moderator / barrell washing out the image, which other IRs seem to suffer with.

I would say in the UK it's the routine of sound, movement and smell that spooks Foxes, not the wevalength of the IR. Spooking might be associated with the IR if that's accompanied by the click of a tail switch, which also sounds a bit like the click of a safety catch...all preceeding actions that an educated Fox will be aware of.

With the blade you can use the power control as an off switch and bring the illumination up completely silently.


Cheers





Clive

 

[Navarone]

The COVERT 940nm are most popular in Europe where wild boar are sensitive to 850nm, to the point of aversion.

The standard 850nm is the one to go for in the UK. There is no spill from the beam, so only something directly on axis will be able to detect it (if it's biologically capable). The added bonus is no reflection off your moderator / barrell washing out the image, which other IRs seem to suffer with.

I would say in the UK it's the routine of sound, movement and smell that spooks Foxes, not the wevalength of the IR. Spooking might be associated with the IR if that's accompanied by the click of a tail switch, which also sounds a bit like the click of a safety catch...all preceeding actions that an educated Fox will be aware of.

With the blade you can use the power control as an off switch and bring the illumination up completely silently.


Cheers





Clive

Thanks Clive that’s a good help!

 

[Gunner223]

Clive why would you buy a 940 vs an 850 I don’t get the difference or why you’d want less power?

Ive used 940 years ago and it didn't have much distance,100 yds max, now times have changed it now looks like its ok with an FAC air rifle,
I have found fox,s and rabbits don't see the 850 but badgers see it strait away, but not the 940, if you use a thermal spotter rabbits see it strait away and
run if they get the chance why I don't know as there's no red light or beam , so for me no red light is a bonus and the 940 is the way to go , but im only out to 200yds max really

 

[Gunner223]

Just ordered the 940 from Clive, looking forward to trying it, ill give my feedback very shortly once delivered.

Cheers

 

[jaffa]

Hi all
Has anyone got any info on the hikmicro ir ? I presume it is a good illuminator.
For the 4k lrf . Anyone using 1 ?
Thoughts please
Jaffa