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Best "decent" Thermal Scope

Why would you stay away from a Thermion Pulsar? Cost is about the same . Thermion specs are better, especially resolution? The Thermion is a tank, ie built really well. It has a picture in picture feature where you can zoom in on one and stay at standard zoom with the other. My son-in-law uses it. Idk if I would.

Iray : MSRP $5,499.00
Thermion 2 LRF XP50: $5,499.97

Iray specs:
Device Technology:Thermal Imaging
Objective Focal Length:50mm
Sensor Resolution:640×512
Sensor Pixel Size:12μm
Detection Range:2400 Yards
Sensor Frame Rate:60hz
Optical Magnification:3X
Digital Magnification:4X, stepped


Thermion specs:

THERMION 2 LRF XL50
Our first thermal imaging riflescope with an HD resolution thermal sensor, the Pulsar Thermion 2 LRF XL50, offers the widest field of view, the most detailed image, and an extremely informative image even at high zoom.


Main specifications
Sensor 1024x768 @ 12 µm
Objective lens F50 / 1.0
Magnification, x 1.75 – 14
FOV (HxV), degrees 14 x 10.5
FOV (HxV), m@100m 24.6 х 18.5
Detection range 2300 m
Reticle
Click range, H/V, mm at 100m 4800 / 4800
Click value, H/V, mm at 100m 24 – 1.75х, 12 – 3.5х, 6 – 7х, 3 – 14х
Number of preloaded reticles 10
Sensor
Type uncooled
Resolution, pixels 1024x768
Pixel pitch, µm 12
Sensor NETD, mK < 35
Frame rate, Hz 50
Optics
Objective lens F50 / 1.0
Magnification, x 1.75 – 14
FOV (HxV), m@100m 24.6 х 18.5
FOV (HxV), degrees 14 x 10.5
Eye relief, mm 50

Display
Type
AMOLED HD
Resolution, pixels
1024x768

Laser rangefinder
Max. measuring range, m
800
Measurement accuracy, m
± 1
Safety class for laser equipment according to IEC 60825-1:2014
1
Wavelength, nm
905
Video recorder
Video / photo resolution, pixel 1024x768
Video / photo format .mp4 / .jpg
Build-in memory, GB 64
Bluetooth
Wireless protocol
BLE 4.2
Wireless standard
IEEE 802.15.1
Frequency, Ghz
2,4
WI-FI
Wireless protocol
Wi-Fi
Wireless standard
IEEE 802.11 b/g/n/ac (WPA)
Frequency, Ghz
2.4 / 5
Environmental characteristics
Degree of protectionIP code (IEC60529)
IPX7 (waterproof)
Operating temperature range, °С
-25 – +50
Connections and compatibilities
Compatible mounts
Standard 30 mm rings
Supported application
Stream Vision 2, Stream Vision Ballistics
Shock resistance on the smooth-bore rifles, caliber
12
Max. recoil power on rifled weapon (Eo), Joules
6000
Weight & size
Body material
Aluminum alloy
Dimensions, mm
426x78.5x94.5
Weight, kg
1,03
 
I've been using an Iray Rico G LRF to night hunt for the the last year and I really like it. Take everything I say with a grain of salt. It's my understanding that you need an extra illuminator with most night vision devices. The Gen 3 sysems work by amplifying light but they still need actual light to magnify. I think starlight and moonlight are enough to give you a good image but in absolute pitch darkness they will still struggle. The plus side to this system is that you are actually seeing what it is you are looking at. Its an analog system and therefore you would see things like you do with your eyes and not a digital image on a scree . Thermal doesn't need light because it uses Infrared light that all heat emits. This system however is digital, and so you can have a lag in between what you actually see. In better systems this lag is very small but there is still a lag as the system has to digitize the image before its presented to your eye. This is a digital image so you things can look pixalated. This can make it difficult to get absolute target identification, especially in high humidity environments. It helps to learn predator mannerisms, like the way their feet move and large tails. Finally, from all I've read thermal has the edge when it comes to picking up an image at far distances. I can tell if something is moving out there at 800 yards. Night vision is limited because it can only amplify light that reaches the tube. Think of it like your vision, you can see far away but you can't actually tell if something is out there. Finally stick with proven brands. Most have really good warranties that lesser brands may not. This got really long winded so I'll leave it here for now.
 
Mike6158 said:
Why would you stay away from a Thermion Pulsar? Cost is about the same . Thermion specs are better, especially resolution? The Thermion is a tank, ie built really well. It has a picture in picture feature where you can zoom in on one and stay at standard zoom with the other. My son-in-law uses it. Idk if I would.

Iray : MSRP $5,499.00
Thermion 2 LRF XP50: $5,499.97

Iray specs:
Device Technology:Thermal Imaging
Objective Focal Length:50mm
Sensor Resolution:640×512
Sensor Pixel Size:12μm
Detection Range:2400 Yards
Sensor Frame Rate:60hz
Optical Magnification:3X
Digital Magnification:4X, stepped


Thermion specs:

THERMION 2 LRF XL50
Our first thermal imaging riflescope with an HD resolution thermal sensor, the Pulsar Thermion 2 LRF XL50, offers the widest field of view, the most detailed image, and an extremely informative image even at high zoom.


Main specifications
Sensor 1024x768 @ 12 µm
Objective lens F50 / 1.0
Magnification, x 1.75 – 14
FOV (HxV), degrees 14 x 10.5
FOV (HxV), m@100m 24.6 х 18.5
Detection range 2300 m
Reticle
Click range, H/V, mm at 100m 4800 / 4800
Click value, H/V, mm at 100m 24 – 1.75х, 12 – 3.5х, 6 – 7х, 3 – 14х
Number of preloaded reticles 10
Sensor
Type uncooled
Resolution, pixels 1024x768
Pixel pitch, µm 12
Sensor NETD, mK < 35
Frame rate, Hz 50
Optics
Objective lens F50 / 1.0
Magnification, x 1.75 – 14
FOV (HxV), m@100m 24.6 х 18.5
FOV (HxV), degrees 14 x 10.5
Eye relief, mm 50

Display
Type
AMOLED HD
Resolution, pixels
1024x768

Laser rangefinder
Max. measuring range, m
800
Measurement accuracy, m
± 1
Safety class for laser equipment according to IEC 60825-1:2014
1
Wavelength, nm
905
Video recorder
Video / photo resolution, pixel 1024x768
Video / photo format .mp4 / .jpg
Build-in memory, GB 64
Bluetooth
Wireless protocol
BLE 4.2
Wireless standard
IEEE 802.15.1
Frequency, Ghz
2,4
WI-FI
Wireless protocol
Wi-Fi
Wireless standard
IEEE 802.11 b/g/n/ac (WPA)
Frequency, Ghz
2.4 / 5
Environmental characteristics
Degree of protectionIP code (IEC60529)
IPX7 (waterproof)
Operating temperature range, °С
-25 – +50
Connections and compatibilities
Compatible mounts
Standard 30 mm rings
Supported application
Stream Vision 2, Stream Vision Ballistics
Shock resistance on the smooth-bore rifles, caliber
12
Max. recoil power on rifled weapon (Eo), Joules
6000
Weight & size
Body material
Aluminum alloy
Dimensions, mm
426x78.5x94.5
Weight, kg
1,03
Click to expand...
The specs you listed are for the Thermion XL50 and you listed the price for the Thermion XP50. Those are 2 completely different scopes. The XL50 is a 1024 resolution but the XP50 is not.
 
Huntinglife said:
The specs you listed are for the Thermion XL50 and you listed the price for the Thermion XP50. Those are 2 completely different scopes. The XL50 is a 1024 resolution but the XP50 is not.
Click to expand...
Correct. I didn't pay attention to the XP / XL part. Sorry about that. The XL is $7k for 1024 x 768. Even so, the XP is the same resolution for about the same price, which still ask, why would anyone one recommend staying away from Thermion (apparently in disappearing text)? What problems did they have? My son-in-law has been using their scopes a long time, at least 10 years.
 
Agree, stay as far away from atn as possible. I had one was so bad I would have write off night hunting if my brother would not have bought a pulsar.

Agm seems to make a good low buck thermal. Step up a bit more in cost and the Burris bts 50 is also very nice and user friendly for the cost.
 
BWitz said:
Looking to buy my first thermal scope(sub $2500) and wasn't sure what to get. I will not be using it very often but want a decent performing scope. Have heard that the AGM TS35 is good one to start with and to avoid ATN. I can get good deal on an ATN so was maybe thinking on trying it. Any advice appreciated.
Click to expand...
I have two AGMs, an Adder TS 50 x 384, and a Rattler V2 25 x 256 that I use as a spotter and a spare. Both work very well and have excellent battery life. The TS 35 will work fine. Just don't buy the original Rattler. It has short battery life.
I make kills out to 450 with the TS 50 and my Grendel regularly on deer. I can see deer plainly with it at 900 yards. The 25 X 256 works best within 250 yards on coyotes, hogs, and deer but is a lot of scope for the money.
 
For all of you experienced thermal users, can you tell me anything about the attached scope. Any good? Likes, dislikes? Good price or no?
 

Attachments

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I own an Iray Rico G LRF 640×50 and I love it. The image is very good and it has a laser range finder that I think is super nice to have when shooting in the dark. This one is a 1024 resolution scope so it's better than my 640 and I find the image to be superb to ID pretty much any critter I am looking to shot in the dark. I paid more than this for mine but I think the LRF adds to the price in all Iray products.
 
EE_Reloader said:
I own an Iray Rico G LRF 640×50 and I love it. The image is very good and it has a laser range finder that I think is super nice to have when shooting in the dark. This one is a 1024 resolution scope so it's better than my 640 and I find the image to be superb to ID pretty much any critter I am looking to shot in the dark. I paid more than this for mine but I think the LRF adds to the price in all Iray products.
Click to expand...
It's actually a 640 resolution device.

The display is 1024 x 768, which is a common DISPLAY device.
 

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