Looking for a new thermal scope and this looks just the thing I’m after. Anyone using one and can confirm it’s a good buy ?
Thermtec ares 360
- Thread starter SussexSteve
- Start date
That's a pretty good price, but be aware that is not continuous optical zoom, just two fixed magnifications that you can switch between.
Also you will need to zero it at each magnification and thereafter the zero will shift depending on which magnification you have selected
I've never used one, so can't comment on image quality
Cheers
Bruce
Also you will need to zero it at each magnification and thereafter the zero will shift depending on which magnification you have selected
I've never used one, so can't comment on image quality
Cheers
Bruce
Crikey that’s a rubbish system, so you lose zero going up and down mag?
The scope has two objective lenses, a 20mm lens and a 60mm lens with the 60mm lens in front of the 20mm lens
Those lenses are what give the scope it's two levels of magnification (x1.8 and x5.5)
Moving a ring on the objective switches between the lenses and thus the optical magnification
For various technical reasons, the zero shifts when the lenses are switched, so it is necessary to zero the scope when it's using the 20mm lens and again when it's using the 60mm lens
Those zero coordinates for each magnification are stored in the scope memory and when the scope is switched from one magnification to the other the reticle is automatically moved to the zero position for the selected lens
There is also x1-x5 smooth digital zoom applicable to both lenses which does not affect the zero of each lens
Cheers
Bruce
Those lenses are what give the scope it's two levels of magnification (x1.8 and x5.5)
Moving a ring on the objective switches between the lenses and thus the optical magnification
For various technical reasons, the zero shifts when the lenses are switched, so it is necessary to zero the scope when it's using the 20mm lens and again when it's using the 60mm lens
Those zero coordinates for each magnification are stored in the scope memory and when the scope is switched from one magnification to the other the reticle is automatically moved to the zero position for the selected lens
There is also x1-x5 smooth digital zoom applicable to both lenses which does not affect the zero of each lens
Cheers
Bruce
IMHO, Thermtec's Ares 360 (and 660) don't have optical zoom in the commonly accepted use of the term "zoom" because that word implies continuously variable magnification and that's not what the Ares does
Another example of a thermal scope with "optical zoom" just came to my attention today
This is it L3/L6 - RIX-NV
This claims to be the worlds first thermal scope with continuous optical zoom.
However, as usual, the devil is in the detail and what's being zoomed is only the display - so as the zoom is increased, the display appears larger.
It does not increase the level of detail in the thermal image as would be the case if the focal length of the objective lens assembly was varied or a system similar to that used a glass scope was used but with all germanium lenses and the sensor near the ocular
Cheers
Bruce
Another example of a thermal scope with "optical zoom" just came to my attention today
This is it L3/L6 - RIX-NV
This claims to be the worlds first thermal scope with continuous optical zoom.
However, as usual, the devil is in the detail and what's being zoomed is only the display - so as the zoom is increased, the display appears larger.
It does not increase the level of detail in the thermal image as would be the case if the focal length of the objective lens assembly was varied or a system similar to that used a glass scope was used but with all germanium lenses and the sensor near the ocular
Cheers
Bruce
Bruce is correct. It’s actually not a crap system an in effect is like having two scopes on one rifle. One with a really wide field of view and the other nicely zoomed for foxing.
It’s everything my XM50 never was. That odd occasion when I had a really close in fox and I was hunting round for it at 5.5. Could have nailed them easily with the wider field of view.
It’s everything my XM50 never was. That odd occasion when I had a really close in fox and I was hunting round for it at 5.5. Could have nailed them easily with the wider field of view.
Hi Steve,
I think you'll be happy with it. Just bear in mind it's not a T-Ceptor. It's a lot cheaper though, especially as there seem to be lots of discounts available on them.
I've had the two side by side and observations were on the 360:
Some delay in the output so it does lag a bit.
Not as much detail.
Not as sensitive with some noise in the image.
Auto colour change for the reticule is on the whole reticule.
I'm sure it will get the job done though. To put that into context I suffer a comparatively rubbisher imaged pard thermal rifle scope, just because it has the saving grace of the LRF and ballistic calculator in a tiny package. But the image alone is still plenty good enough...it's just not T-Ceptor good.
Cheers
Clive
Steve are you looking for something at a set budget ?
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