Helion 2 pro or axion xg35

[Gm81]

Hi all,
I am looking at getting a thermal. My father has a helion, 1st one I think.
My friends all use them and I'm now thinking I might get one. Now the telios is out I was thinking I'd get a helion 2 pro. Now they don't them I'm thinking which is best from below.
I have two friends that are selling used helions in excellent condition.
One is a helion 2 xp50 pro
Other is helion 2 xq38f
Which of these is better, or is just one has more field of view than the other?

Then I'm wondering is buying the new axion 2 XG35 the way to go. How would that compare to the two above? I like the fact it looks smaller.
I've looked through the original one my father's and it's ok. Not into it enough to feel I needed it. I'm borrowing the xq38f to test it for a week. See how I go. But I know the helion 2 pro is really good. I have had a 10 second look through one. But that's all on a perfect day.

I know thermals have a lot of questions lately but hopefully someone can enlighten me on the above so I buy the right one.

 

[sikasako]

Depends what you want to use it for:-
Woodland stalking at close range or general use with longer range involved?
The Helion 2 XP50 pro will be better for longer distances and is a great bit of kit.
I have an Axion 2 XG35 with laser range finder that I use for foxing and a Helion 2 XP50 pro that I use for deerstalking.
Although the Axion is more compact than the Helion, the image quality of the Helion is far superior.
If your 2 friends are up for it, I would borrow both Helion units and try them side, before deciding what best suits your needs.

 

[Gm81]

Depends what you want to use it for:-
Woodland stalking at close range or general use with longer range involved?
The Helion 2 XP50 pro will be better for longer distances and is a great bit of kit.
I have an Axion 2 XG35 with laser range finder that I use for foxing and a Helion 2 XP50 pro that I use for deerstalking.
Although the Axion is more compact than the Helion, the image quality of the Helion is far superior.
If your 2 friends are up for it, I would borrow both Helion units and try them side, before deciding what best suits your needs.

May I ask why you use one fox and one deer?
I mainly shoot deer now. But will always shoot foxes on two places over deer. I have hill and woodland ground in Scotland. But also like muntjac in the local area. So I'm a mixture. My friends xp50 pro put us on 3 muntjac that I would never have seen with binos and couldn't even when I had a quick look to see where through the thermal.
What is the build quality like between your axion and helion, is one better made than the other etc?
I think I could get one friend who has the helion pro to come at the same time for a comparison. That's a good shout
Thank you

 

[User00048]

The pro model XP50 2 is the best out of everything mentioned.

The XG35 is a good unit and the range finder is handy. It will give a clearer image than a XQ38f. The rangefinder is also very handy. It is a nice compact size.

If you purely want the best image and best chance of identification of animals at varying ranges but aren't bothered about a rangefinder. The Pro XP50 2 is the top of the range (prior to the Telos being released.) The combo of the sub 25mk 17um 640 sensor, F50 1.0 lens and more, gives best detailing of animals and backgrounds in all weather by comparison.

 

[sikasako]

The LRF Axion is handy for ranging foxes at night, before taking shot with C50 / IR.

I use LRF binoculars for deerstalking and prefer the Helion Pro image quality over the Axion.

I don’t think it’s typical, but my Axion has not been very reliable when compared to the Helion.

Had no issues with the Helion, but the Axion is currently at Thomas Jacks for a fault repair.
2nd time it’s gone faulty and it’s only 9 months old.

 

[Gm81]

The pro model XP50 2 is the best out of everything mentioned.

The XG35 is a good unit and the range finder is handy. It will give a clearer image than a XQ38f. The rangefinder is also very handy. It is a nice compact size.

If you purely want the best image and best chance of identification of animals at varying ranges but aren't bothered about a rangefinder. The Pro XP50 2 is the top of the range (prior to the Telos being released.) The combo of the sub 25mk 17um 640 sensor, F50 1.0 lens and more, gives best detailing of animals and boungrounds in all weather by comparison.

Thank you. I think he will want strong money for the xq38. So maybe the xg35 in that case.

 

[Gm81]

The LRF Axion is handy for ranging foxes at night, before taking shot with C50 / IR.

I use LRF binoculars for deerstalking and prefer the Helion Pro image quality over the Axion.

I don’t think it’s typical, but my Axion has not been very reliable when compared to the Helion.

Had no issues with the Helion, but the Axion is currently at Thomas Jacks for a fault repair.
2nd time it’s gone faulty and it’s only 9 months old.

I use RF binos too. But they are no good in the dark, so makes sense. I guess telios is the best of both.
Not good news on the axion. I think maybe the helion pro is the best option.
Thanks again

 

[sikasako]

I use RF binos too. But they are no good in the dark, so makes sense. I guess telios is the best of both.
Not good news on the axion. I think maybe the helion pro is the best option.
Thanks again

Yes. I would defo go for the Helion XP50 Pro.
Very useful for the open Scottish hill ground.

 

[Daveyp]

I changed thermals from the Helion XQ38F to the Pulsar Axion 2 XG35 LRF for the reason of the latter having the range finder. Biggest mistake of my shooting days, imho the Helion was much better. Others might question me but just my personal opinion. Every time I’m out with one of my shooting pals I always complain about the Axion 2 XG35.
One of the other lads we shoot with has just gotten one of these Helion xp50 pro and loves it.

Good look in your search.

 

[75]

I changed thermals from the Helion XQ38F to the Pulsar Axion 2 XG35 LRF for the reason of the latter having the range finder. Biggest mistake of my shooting days, imho the Helion was much better. Others might question me but just my personal opinion. Every time I’m out with one of my shooting pals I always complain about the Axion 2 XG35.
One of the other lads we shoot with has just gotten one of these Helion xp50 pro and loves it.

Good look in your search.

Oh good, I've just done exactly this

 

[Daveyp]

Oh good, I've just done exactly this

Hope you get on with yours better than I do with mine

 

[Gary123]

If only they built the Helion with a RF, I use accolade pro for foxing and a small axion key along with RF binos for stalking, may change back to the Helion xp50 pro

 

[Bo Diddley]

I've the XG36 LRF, can't grumble... but I looked through a Hik Falcon FQ35 a couple of weeks ago and love the clearer more detailed image, they are less than £1800 per unit.

 

[75]

Hope you get on with yours better than I do with mine

It's going back I think. It's not bad and I have to admit I've only had 5 mins playing with it, but side by side with my Helion and there is very little difference. I'm sure I could get the Axion fine tuned and there may be conditions it outperformed the older Helion but I can't see it being worth paying £2k for. I'm not sure how much difference I expected but I'd hoped things had moved on since I bought the Helion a good few years back - noting mine is the original Helion not the Helion 2.

As I say though, the Axion is a good unit and if I was buying from scratch I'd probably be very impressed. It's certainly much more compact than my older one but it's just not the upgrade I'd hoped it'd be.

 

[Bo Diddley]

I've the XG36 LRF, can't grumble... but I looked through a Hik Falcon FQ35 a couple of weeks ago and love the clearer more detailed image, they are less than £1800 per unit.

Edit; XG35 LRF , the 36 must be next year's model

 

[Gm81]

I've the XG36 LRF, can't grumble... but I looked through a Hik Falcon FQ35 a couple of weeks ago and love the clearer more detailed image, they are less than £1800 per unit.

I'm sure the hik.are good but I worry on the build. Especially looking at the battery life thread at the minute.
We have their cameras at work and they are great. Not thermals though.
Ive not looked through any hik stuff or know anyone with them.

 

[Bo Diddley]

Hi all,
I am looking at getting a thermal. My father has a helion, 1st one I think.
My friends all use them and I'm now thinking I might get one. Now the telios is out I was thinking I'd get a helion 2 pro. Now they don't them I'm thinking which is best from below.
I have two friends that are selling used helions in excellent condition.
One is a helion 2 xp50 pro
Other is helion 2 xq38f
Which of these is better, or is just one has more field of view than the other?

Then I'm wondering is buying the new axion 2 XG35 the way to go. How would that compare to the two above? I like the fact it looks smaller.
I've looked through the original one my father's and it's ok. Not into it enough to feel I needed it. I'm borrowing the xq38f to test it for a week. See how I go. But I know the helion 2 pro is really good. I have had a 10 second look through one. But that's all on a perfect day.

I know thermals have a lot of questions lately but hopefully someone can enlighten me on the above so I buy the right one.

You need to tag in @mealiejimmy for all the answers... done

 

[Bo Diddley]

I'm sure the hik.are good but I worry on the build. Especially looking at the battery life thread at the minute.
We have their cameras at work and they are great. Not thermals though.
Ive not looked through any hik stuff or know anyone with them.

I'm sure the batteries are bog standard 18650's cheap as chips, unlike Pulsar batteries.

 

[Gm81]

You need to tag in @mealiejimmy for all the answers... done

I'm a cautious buyer. So I notice he and blackwood seem to give things that are technically knowledgeable but also in a way normal people who don't work in it can understand.
I read about all the numbers of the screens and sensors. But because I don't look through them it doesn't relate to a picture in my mind. Those guys will read specs and expect a certain level of detail and performance.
Trying to shortlist my options in a market that is huge!

 

[20-250]

Helion is an unwieldy lump to me. I was glad to sell mine, an XP50 Pro.
I replaced a with an Infiray FH35R LRF and haven't regretted it for a moment.