Using a thermal imager in hot sunny weather

[Dawsie]

Would like some advice on using my Helion XQ38 for daytime use when it’s hot and sunny, what setting would you recommend, when using red hot I’m picking up too many heat signatures from trees and the ground, cold black doesn’t seem to be much use to me, anyone?

 

[cjs66]

White-hot is about the best and play about with brightness and contrast. They're not great in those conditions. IME.

cjs

 

[Mike_E]

if its hot, it glows... does not matter what it is or what setting you have it on, everything that is for example 20deg will show up the same. As mentioned above when its really warm and especially if the sun is on your back (ie you are looking at the hot side of objects) then every tree/rock/stick/deer will glow like a beacon so a thermal is pretty useless in these conditions.

In the UK its not that often that this is a big issue (at least up here in the frozen north) but it does happen. You will find the thermal works more effectively at locating living beasties in the mornings rather than the evenings in warm weather so maybe its tiem for an early alarm

 

[Tim.243]

Would like some advice on using my Helion XQ38 for daytime use when it’s hot and sunny, what setting would you recommend, when using red hot I’m picking up too many heat signatures from trees and the ground, cold black doesn’t seem to be much use to me, anyone?

Black hot is very good for the grass headlands or stubbles

 

[Lateral]

Remember why you’re there, and what you’re looking for.

Too many people get hung up on background detail, which should only be an issue if you’re shooting ground you don’t know, for safety, or where you’re needing to shoot, and avoid branches, etc’

I was recently abroad, where it was in the 30c’s during the day. Everything was absorbing the heat, and the overal detail was poor.

However, animals, including deer, boar, fox, mice, and flying things stuck out like a sore thumb.

I find I prefer White hot with the brightness and contrast turned down, for spotting, and black hot for shooting.

play with the options, and see what works for you

 

[Pellet Pinger]

In sunny weather a pigs ear is more important than settings in my experience.

 

[mealiejimmy]

Would like some advice on using my Helion XQ38 for daytime use when it’s hot and sunny, what setting would you recommend, when using red hot I’m picking up too many heat signatures from trees and the ground, cold black doesn’t seem to be much use to me, anyone?

The best advice for hot and sunny weather is to put the thermal away and use binoculars - thermals are at their worst in those conditions.

Cheers

Bruce

 

[Utectok]

Personally it used to drive me crazy on sunny days but now I set it on landscape black hot still loads of rocks and stumps to see but you’d be surprised if any of them moved! Look for a kind of velvety black it has more depth than rocks and walks about lol

 

[Silvius]

Its definitley not so good in the sun but still worth using most of the time. Animals moving without much cover will pick up fine what is much harder is where you have maybe got an animal in deep cover and you are only getting glimmers of heat. Here I find it helps to get to knwo what is catching the sun. Watching things heat up and cool down as clouds go over can be a great help if you are sat watching the same picture like in a high seat. Within about 20 minutes or so you can work out where most of your background heat signatures are.

 

[camodog]

Definitely they are not at their best on hot days, even after the sun has set. However, as ' L' & 'U' above mention, they still do work and you will find with experience you learn to detect the various 'signatures'. Additionally, on your own ground you soon learn where the various 'hot-spots' are. I most certainly do not leave mine at home however hot it is/has been ! Yes, you still 'miss' one or two, but still not as many if you were using only binoculars. Hope this helps.