Thread: Thermal Bino options

Hi Guys,

I'll be getting into Thermal fairly soon, want to get both a spotter and a scope and looking for opinions on both. These will be for pest control work on everything from possums and pooks at 5m to deer at 400m or more, in open country, tight bush, long vineyards and messy orchards. The spotter needs to have a fairly wide POV as I will be walking/driving/riding and using them to scan a lot.

Scope - I have looked at both the Thermion and the Pard and liked them both, not such such fan of the bigger bulkier models as most of my rifles are short and lightweight and I don't want to stick a big heavy box on top of them.

Spotter - I have my eyes on (pun intended) the Accolade LRF, something about using both eyes really appeals to me. I would like the spotter to be able to record clear images and like the idea of wifi streaming to an iPad etc.

Are there other models I should look at? I see the ATN range has a pair of binos as well and they have a ballistic calculator that talks with the scope which also appeals as that would really speed shots up which is important to me as the trajectory of some of my rifles is a bit of a rainbow at times.

Battery life needs to be decent (or easily swapable/ability to use powerbank) and a good warranty is preferred as I will be using them pretty much daily.

Budget is around $10k, depending on how long I can hold out and save more.

Cheers!

The pulsar 'bino' thermals are an awesome bit of kit . Blow me away every time I borrow the bosses pair .
One thing I will say though which may be worth thinking about is using both eyes , rather than the older monocular single eye version , kills your night vision .
Not necessarily a problem but may be worth bearing in mind .
My only complaint .....

The Accolade with LRF is exc choice
The LRF will ping out to 800m and 1000 in good conditions

Thermion scope hard to go past - but are near 1kg but they are built solid is why they are 350gms more than a plastic shelled Trail
PARD - is proving good - but have not looked through one myself as yet

I have the latest Leica Calonox View which I am extremely happy with
Simple to use and exc clarity
FOV - good - not so good as most other the same - looking up into trees which I just been doing for Possum :-)

+1 on the accolade lrf binos we have a set absolutely Awsome will pick up deer ks away

Most of the FOV for night visions gear is in degrees (angle of view from yr objective lens),so 10.6 degrees wide would be about 62ft at 100yrds.
Using yr right eye in monoculars for hours then see a deer,use right eye in scope,oh bugger theres a big black cloud in the middle of yr view.Yr right eye closed up caus of the white view thru thermal.
Left eye for monoculars,right eye for scope.

Originally Posted by Padox

+1 on the accolade lrf binos we have a set absolutely Awsome will pick up deer ks away

They sound like the ducks guts... might have to call in for a look one day. How long does the battery last @Padox ?

Originally Posted by planenutz

They sound like the ducks guts... might have to call in for a look one day. How long does the battery last @Padox ?

Battery are same as the Trail scope and other Helion
Can get large batt too
5 hours on the standard batt
One negative with the Leica - has internal only but looking like 8 hours

budget may also be an issue with the accolade , they are nigh on $10k by themselves ....

Originally Posted by Ftx325

budget may also be an issue with the accolade , they are nigh on $10k by themselves ....

Apparently though
The Accolade along with the Axion models are now fully made in China - not Lithuania :-(
Any diff ??????

Look up Micro Thunder,some fishnhunt shops have them.5k for this unit.Can be used as monoculars or scope.Got pic in picture,vid,camera.Switch off retical and use yr scope cross hairs thru it,no zeroing.Can run off power pack too.Made in the UK.

Sarvo is the one to talk to re thermal. A few bods I know are putting all their coin in to the viewer for finding and getting in and using a high power small torch like a P7 on a standard scope to shoot. Means you can use your standard day rig. Have found similar with monocular being better with retaining some night vision and getting less black eye. I know of several people using their non shooting eye with the thermal and then closing that to shoot. Sounds complicated though.

Originally Posted by Ftx325

budget may also be an issue with the accolade , they are nigh on $10k by themselves ....

Yeh thats the upsetting bit! I might go for the Accolade and just shoot using my Pard NV008 at first and save up more for the thermo scope.

No suggestions for other thermo binos?

10k buy 2 thunder clip ons,use one for monoculars.Still retain yr day scope.

I hunt for a living and use a pard thermal, they are bringing out a handheld in a couple of months I think. I have a spare scope I use as my spotter. What I recommend is get a thermal spotter and a scope don’t worry about the Binos this way you get more bang for buck