Lumi H35R or Condor CQ35 v1

[Gizza_C]

Hi everyone. So I know there are a lot of thermal posts on here but I am struggling to make a decision. I will soon be in the market for a thermal spotter and I am currently torn between either the Lumi H35R and the Condor CQ35 v1.
I can't seem to find any videos comparing these side by side which I am very surprised about with them being so closely matched in price.
Anyone who may have been able to compare these directly, how does the image quality compare between these choices?
Also which is likely to be the most reliable unit and if anything does go wrong, which company is easiest to deal with and get units repaired?
Any other pros and cons of both units?
Should I maybe looking at any other units in this price point?

 

[Rural Management Services]

Condor 2 has been out for nearly 12 months now so any condor 1’s on the market will be old stock or second hand.

I would try to look through both and decide what works for you.

It’s also worth bearing in mind that the manufacturers don’t allow the traders to openly advertise discounts but if you ring or email for the best deal you will get 10-15% off. This might bring a Condor 2 closer to your budget? If it does then I would definitely go condor 2 over a 1 or Lumi purely for the rear focus and bigger battery.

 

[Gizza_C]

Hi, thanks for the reply, I was planning on paying for half of the device and 0% financing the rest so dealers may be reluctant to do any discount due to not paying in full. May still be worth a try tho, do you have any direct experience with both units to comment on image quality between the pair, I do have quite a few 18650 batteries lying around so I am not too concerned about battery life as long as the unit can manage a few hours per battery so not to be constantly changing. Does sound a nice little feature to have true one hand use but not sure it's worth the extra outlay or not.

 

[bulwinkle]

Just bought the Lumi H35R. Never had a look through the condor so can’t compare. Think the Lumi is a great bit of kit, especially for the price. Agree that rear focus would be nice, but certainly not a necessity. I get around 3 hours out of a 4000 mah battery so a couple of batteries normally suffice.

 

[Nelle]

1st hand with Lumi H35R, 6 months use:
When I set focus, usually I don't have to touch it during the hunt. There was few exemptions, but under 10%. So, one handed use is good only if distances are drastically different.
If I use often rangefinder, it drains battery noticeable quicker, so second one is necessary for 4 hours night hunt.
Think that using rangefinder a lot and pairing with phone can useful time shorted in half.
Shape is good and don't hang on clothes and it's light.

Hope that helped... Good luck with decision!

 

[tarponhead]

Before you spend lots of your hard-earned, re consider what you want it for. I was lent an old Pulsar unit yesterday, miles behind the pin sharp current models, but it alerted me to the presence of a beast, gave me enough to tell me it was a deer at then (older) glass took over in Binos and then scope when I was satisfied it was shootable. Pin sharp in vibrant colours is great if that’s what you want, but if you just want to have an edge in the field, you might get away with spending a fraction of what you planned and no finance necessary. Do let us know what you choose - I m in the market for an upgrade but will probably buy used for the reasons above.

 

[palo]

I had a good look at all the hik and nocpix units at the shooting show. I ended up buying the nocpix vista h35r and its great.
I was impressed with the nocpix lumi h35r as well.
Th new condor was nice but I just didn't get on with the rear focus wheel at all so I went for the nocpix.
The nocpix units also have ballistic functions which works great for me as I use standard glass scopes with target turrets when hunting.
My choice between the 2 units you mention would be the nocpix.
As for warranty, hik is 3 years and nocpix is 4 years when you register the unit online.

 

[Rural Management Services]

Hi, thanks for the reply, I was planning on paying for half of the device and 0% financing the rest so dealers may be reluctant to do any discount due to not paying in full. May still be worth a try tho, do you have any direct experience with both units to comment on image quality between the pair, I do have quite a few 18650 batteries lying around so I am not too concerned about battery life as long as the unit can manage a few hours per battery so not to be constantly changing. Does sound a nice little feature to have true one hand use but not sure it's worth the extra outlay or not.

I have had a chance to have both devices at the same time so a comparison is tough.

I believe you can get discounts and financing as the retailer doesn’t given the credit it’s a third party.

 

[Blackwood Outdoors]

Both good options, the Lumi is more compact, has ballistic calculation for drop and MOA, MIL, etc and has 4 year warranty ... It has a more contrasty image.

The Condor MK1 , is a good unit in the hand also, slightly more in target detail ...

You cannot go wrong with either at the price points..

 

[Liveonce]

look at the pixfra arc lrf a635 also.

 

[Gizza_C]

I had a good look at all the hik and nocpix units at the shooting show. I ended up buying the nocpix vista h35r and its great.
I was impressed with the nocpix lumi h35r as well.
Th new condor was nice but I just didn't get on with the rear focus wheel at all so I went for the nocpix.
The nocpix units also have ballistic functions which works great for me as I use standard glass scopes with target turrets when hunting.
My choice between the 2 units you mention would be the nocpix.
As for warranty, hik is 3 years and nocpix is 4 years when you register the unit online.

What made you decide to go with the vista over the Lumi in the end. I like the sound of the ballistic functions due to no longer being able to use strelock. What are your experiences with the calculators accuracy and ease of use?
Also is there much of a noticeable difference in image quality between the nocpix and hik?

 

[palo]

I had plans to buy the vista or the new condor before I went to the show.
I loved the big screen on the vista but it is bigger and heavier. The lumi is so light and compact . Can't really compare image quality at a show. I had a hik falcon fh35r before and the image in the vista is better but that's to be expected with the bigger sensor. The ballistic calculator is spot on and it's easy to use. I have data for 3 rifles on it and it's simple to switch over to whatever rifle I'm using. I also have Leica geovid pro binos and the ballistics and range finder on that match the nocpix.

 

[Gizza_C]

Both good options, the Lumi is more compact, has ballistic calculation for drop and MOA, MIL, etc and has 4 year warranty ... It has a more contrasty image.

The Condor MK1 , is a good unit in the hand also, slightly more in target detail ...

You cannot go wrong with either at the price points..

I got the impression the condor has better image quality but without side by side footage it's hard to compare. Would you say there is much difference in detail or is it negligible?

Would you say one or the other has better build quality or are they both equally well built?

 

[jackblack56]

I have the Condor Mk1 - it's been brilliant but the only thing that lets it down is battery life, seems to drain very easily. Also the front focus is a tad annoying. As others have said, maybe consider a Mk2.

Never looked through a Lumi so can't say if that would be any use, but I'm sure it'd do the job just fine.

 

[Nocturnal Kiwi]

I’ve been using the new DNT hound. It’s smaller than the nocpix lumi H35R, image is very similar in regards to resolution and detail. Its main claim to fame though is its comprehensive integrated ballistics solution. Best of all it’s significantly more affordable than the lumi. Due to be released in next couple of weeks.

 

[Pellet Pinger]

I had a brief look through a Lumi into open fields and i much prefer the Condor image, it seems more natural with better detail, i found the same with the Quest thermal binos.

 

[Gizza_C]

I’ve been using the new DNT hound. It’s smaller than the nocpix lumi H35R, image is very similar in regards to resolution and detail. Its main claim to fame though is its comprehensive integrated ballistics solution. Best of all it’s significantly more affordable than the lumi. Due to be released in next couple of weeks.

Sounds interesting, anywhere I can see any more information on this. May be worth considering as I am also looking at getting a night vision scope and I am currently torn between the hik Alex or dnt Zulus.