Thread: Leupold enter the Thermal market

Originally Posted by Kudu

Do you think their main use will be in the open areas like the tops or in the bush?

Only 600yrds range Scott, 1000yrd model will get my attention

Where I mainly hunt 600 yards is ideal.

600 probably means 300 in real life

I've ordered a different model/brand as I see its main use being in dense bush gullies with Sika. You know the type of place you sneak in and watch and watch, then decide there is nothing there and then take a step and "SEQUEL!!!" So all I want it to do is identify if there is an animal in a gully. then I can stalk in from there.

Originally Posted by PerazziSC3

600 probably means 300 in real life

We will see when they get here.

Originally Posted by tetawa

We will see when they get here.

Yes the model I brought says it reads out to 500 feet, so about 150 yards and thats fine for me.

So Kudu what model did you get

Any first hand experience with these?

All a pack of cheats

Originally Posted by BobGibson

So Kudu what model did you get

I got a SEEK Reveal to try out.

I have been interested in a thermal scope for a while, still waiting for the prices to come down.

There are two pieces of hardware that directly affect the performance thermal imaging:

1, The IR imagining sensor - the higher the resolution, and the larger, the better.
2, The germanium element lens - the larger in diameter and aperture, the better.

The Pulsar XQ 38's sensor is 384 x 288 and has a 38mm f1.2 germanium lens.
The Leupold's sensor is 206 x 156, and does not appear to have a germanium lens.

So while the Leupold is a lot cheaper, it is far lower specced.

There are many more expensive options out there than the XQ38, but if you look at these two specs, you may well see they are better yet again. So it is my view that while the price f thermal is definitely coming down a lot, it has not yet come down to the level we (at the least, I) want it to be. The Leupold is a bare bone entry level product.

However, I am not saying the Leupold is a bad product, it may very well perform adequately for its price and spec. And indeed that level of performance may well be sufficient for its intended market.

Won't be in NZ till middle of next month now.

All the crap from the NZ agent that NZ was going to be the first country to get these, still not here, but reviews starting to show in the states as they've been released there.

Originally Posted by tetawa

All the crap from the NZ agent that NZ was going to be the first country to get these, still not here, but reviews starting to show in the states as they've been released there.

Are they any good ?

Originally Posted by 7mmsaum

Are they any good ?

Most the companies selling them online have reviews, mostly positive but hard to tell how well they have been accessed for the review. Most bitching has been about non-supply of lens covers and no rubber eyepiece.