HIKvision Vulkan 15mm 35mK Thermal

[DDMS]

Has anyone bought used one of these and have any good/bad comments about them?

The specs look good for the foxing/stalking/rabbiting i do and looking through one the image was really good considering the price.

Just wondering if anyone has used one for a period of time or has a review on them? Thanks.

 

[J111]

I have one. I think it's excellent for the money. Paid £800 for mine. But:
It will not spot deer at really extended ranges above about 500m I would say.
I've just had it up on the hills for a week and it did fog up internally at one point. Not good. I'm struggling to re-create it to take a picture to go back under warranty. Dunno if I've been unlucky on this or they're all like it.

 

[DDMS]

I have one. I think it's excellent for the money. Paid £800 for mine. But:
It will not spot deer at really extended ranges above about 500m I would say.
I've just had it up on the hills for a week and it did fog up internally at one point. Not good. I'm struggling to re-create it to take a picture to go back under warranty. Dunno if I've been unlucky on this or they're all like it.

Thanks very much for that. I’m realistically only going to be able to spot out to 350-400m with the nature of the ground I’m on. What distance would you say you could spot fox out too?

 

[Jeff8861]

Take the 35mk with a bucket full of salt

 

[Rewulf]

I've just had it up on the hills for a week and it did fog up internally at one point. Not good. I'm struggling to re-create it to take a picture to go back under warranty. Dunno if I've been unlucky on this or they're all like it.

Humidity makes a thermal do this, some more than others.
Its one of their limitations unfortunately , and quite normal.

Thanks very much for that. I’m realistically only going to be able to spot out to 350-400m

Seeing a fox, and ID ing a fox with a 15 mm are 2 different things, 300m is a very optimistic range to be able to see a fox with any but the more expensive thermals.
Movement is the giveaway, a foxes movement is quite distinctive from say a hare.
Time and experience will help , but the technical limitations still exist.
I have a 640x512 sensor thermal, that cost £2.5K , could I tell you the difference between a sitting fox or a sitting hare at 300m , I doubt it .
With a 15mm Hik ? Definitely not, unless moving, and even then....

Deer on the other hand , due to their size and shape, should be OK up to around 300m.

Take the 35mk with a bucket full of salt

Definitely !

 

[J111]

Thanks very much for that. I’m realistically only going to be able to spot out to 350-400m with the nature of the ground I’m on. What distance would you say you could spot fox out too?

I'd say you would see the heat signature and with experience of how they move you would id as a fox yes.

 

[Boosh]

Humidity makes a thermal do this, some more than others.
Its one of their limitations unfortunately , and quite normal.

Seeing a fox, and ID ing a fox with a 15 mm are 2 different things, 300m is a very optimistic range to be able to see a fox with any but the more expensive thermals.
Movement is the giveaway, a foxes movement is quite distinctive from say a hare.
Time and experience will help , but the technical limitations still exist.
I have a 640x512 sensor thermal, that cost £2.5K , could I tell you the difference between a sitting fox or a sitting hare at 300m , I doubt it .
With a 15mm Hik ? Definitely not, unless moving, and even then....

Deer on the other hand , due to their size and shape, should be OK up to around 300m.


Definitely !

Agree with what Rewulf has said there.
Extended spotting ranges (or poor conditions) with any thermal leaves you questioning what you are looking at.
The mannerisms of a fox or many other animals are what give them away.
(Roe on the move at 500mtrs can sometimes look foxy at 300mtrs!).
As for the Hikvision, I cannot comment as unfortunately I have not looked through one, but I'd imagine as most thermal spotters, they will at least let you know something is out there, can always drop on nv to check.

 

[J111]

Humidity makes a thermal do this, some more than others.
Its one of their limitations unfortunately , and quite normal.

Is that right? why are they different to anything else like binoculars?

 

[Rewulf]

Just the way moisture in the air affects the sensor.

 

[Edinburgh Rifles]

I have one
I use it personally
Sold my other one

I have picked up heat at well over 1000-1200yds
No, You can't ID at the range it but given the area and the size of the heat I know it is a deer.
The last pic has a heat source I picked up just in the restock below the treeline, saved the pic to the unit before I ranged it. Will upload that when I figure out how to save it to the PC!

The heat sensivity is excellent, have picked up the heat from deer **** at 100 yds and couch spots deer have just vacated, blood from a blood trail, you name it.
Unfussy focus and idiot proof buttons and menu
Set it up, leave it alone
Size and weight is all I need.
1x mag is excellent as a scanner and spotter. Many of these have a lawest mag that is far too high IMO