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.
 
Top