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A thermal imaging monocular is a valuable tool for spotting wildlife in low-light conditions or for surveillance applications. They can be handheld or helmet mounted, making them easy to use in different situations. Thermal imagers can have so many features, it can be difficult to figure out the best thermal imaging monocular for sale.
In this article, we cut through the thermal imaging jargon to look at the cold hard facts. This is our realistic comparison between the Pulsar Telos LRF XP50 and the HIKMICRO Falcon FQ50. These two popular heat-vision products have similar specifications, but each has advantages in different areas. Let's take a closer look.
This monocular features a Lynred infrared sensor with 640x480 resolution and a pixel pitch of 17 microns. Its high thermal sensitivity offers a highly reliable image that can support hunting, wildlife observation and surveillance in any conditions, including fog, thick undergrowth and low light.
The new Pulsar Telos LRF XP50 is a highly sensitive, highly adjustable thermal imaging monocular. Here are some of the main features.
Adjustable Thermal Sensitivity and Image control
You can manually increase the sensitivity of the Pulsar Telos LRF to improve the quality of images when conditions for observation worsen. This thermal imager also has a range of brightness and contrast settings, so you can adjust the visual to suit you.
Built-in Laser Rangefinder
The new Pulsar Telos LRF can detect heat from greater distances than standard thermal imagers, and you can measure these distances accurately up to 1 kilometre using the built-in laser rangefinder.
Ergonomic Zoom & Focus
This Telos LRF monocular uses rings to adjust the zoom and focus in a way that intuitively mimics professional cameras. The zoom ring is brand new, allowing owners of this piece of kit to magnify images with a simple twist. The layout of control buttons and the adjustable hand strap are ideal for both left- and right-handed users, with a consistent arrangement of the rings helping you get a clear and magnified image quickly and easily.
Customisable User Interface
A highly adaptable UI is installed, with the opportunity for users to rearrange the menu items and determine the function of each button.
Durable in Extreme Settings
The Pulsar Telos LRF XP50 is durable in an extreme range of temperatures from -25 to +40 °C.
While the Telos LRF XP50 is the first in the range, more are planned, with upgradeable software as a key feature. Telos owners will be able to upgrade the Image Boost technology and other software as new versions are released.
All Telos models will feature advanced Pulsar Image Boost technology, which offers high levels of detail, clarity and contrast. With a wide range of halftones, even low-contrast objects such as the sky, grass or water surfaces are rendered on the display.
The HikMicro Falcon is a monocular with advanced thermal performance and a detection range of up to 2600m. The thermal core has a sensitivity of sub-20mK NETD delivering a more detailed image than previous HikMicro models. This thermal imager is can detect and render small details such as animal hair, branches and leaves. This builds a reliable image when visibility conditions are poor.
The HikMicro Falcon FQ50 is a highly sensitive, far-seeing thermal imaging monocular. Here are some of the main features.
Far-Reaching Detection and Identification
The Falcon FQ50 has a detection range of up to 2600m and an identification range of up to 700m, providing high levels of detail even at a close zoom. The field of view is 22m wide at 100m from your location, which is quite good for an imager with such a far-reaching detection range. The HikMicro’s thermal sensitivity is below Sub 20 NETD (Noise Equivalent Temperature Difference), providing a clearly defined image via the 1024x768 HD OLED display.
Improved Controls
The controls of the HikMicro Falcon FQ50 are arranged in a new design, making them more accessible and ergonomic than on previous models. The sensor is focused using a smooth operation ring on the objective lens.
Image Pro and other Software
The Falcon is the first model to feature HIKMICRO’s new software, ‘Image Pro’ which uses high-performance algorithms to boost the detail visible in the image when activated. Other regular software features found in HIK products are also available on the Falcon, including a choice of 4 colour palettes and streaming capabilities in conjunction with the HIKMICRO Sight app. This app allows you to control the thermal monocular and record and stream video through your phone. The monocular also has built-in 64GB memory space for saving images and videos.
Durable, Weatherproof Casing and Comfortable Design
The HikMicro Falcon has magnesium housing with a protective rubber coating. This is waterproof to IP67 ratings and suitable for use in all weather conditions. The eyecup would feel at home on a high-quality pair of binoculars, comfortably holding the display in the correct position, to give you a consistent view of the large HD OLED screen.
The Falcon range from HIKMICRO features four models of thermal imaging monoculars: The FH25, the FH35, the FQ35 and the FQ50. The key features of this range include:
Both these thermal imaging monoculars are quite high-spec, at the cutting edge of what’s available on the market today. When you line up the specifications side by side, you can see the pros and cons of each easily. It's also a good idea to check thermal imaging monocular reviews to understand how these specifications play out in practice.
These are two very comparable thermal imagers when you view them side by side, with the same display resolution, WiFi and streaming capabilities, similar waterproofing, comparable durability and very similar sensors and sensitivities.
The Pulsar Telos is slightly more sensitive, has a longer battery life and has the added advantage of a 1000m laser rangefinder to measure the distance to the object you’re viewing.
However, the HikMicro Falcon is easily the best for long-range thermal imaging. It also has a wider lens aperture and slightly greater zoom magnification. The deciding factor for the buyer will likely be the price point. These fairly similar handheld thermal imaging monoculars are in different price ranges.
So there you have it. We’ve broken down the specifications of each of these high-tech monoculars and highlighted the key differences between the two. Hopefully, this article can support you to decide which is the best thermal imaging monocular. To get more information about these products, you can see more detailed specifications for the Pulsar Telos LRF XP50 and the HIKMICRO Falcon FQ50, or browse a full range of hand-held thermal imagers available at Scott Country.
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Product specifications listed throughout are subject to manufacturers changes without notice.
