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Posted: 1/20/2025 2:54:19 AM EDT
[Last Edit: GroundhogOZ][Edited]
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The thermal world continues to develop apace. Just picked up a Hikmicro 35mm, 20mK NETD thermal with in built LRF. Mainly for pests and small game and going on a 223 varmint rifle. Did have a look at a 1280x1024 <18mK unit but the form factor was too long and overkill for 223. Specs as follows Sensor: 640x512 PP: 12 um focal length 35mm FOV: 12.5 x 10 degrees NETD: < 20mK (this is double the thermal sensitivity of the RH25 ~40mK and a little higher than the V2 15mK) base mag: 1.8x digital mag: 8x weight: 518g power: removable 18650 LRF: yes to 600m In-built ballistic calculator linked to reticle: Yes (multiple reticle choices) rating: 1000 g USD ~ 3,000 DRI 50% roe deer ~ 1850m, 460m, 230m DRI 70% roe deer ~ 1470m, 370m, 180m This will be the second Hikmicro product I've picked up, the other being the ALPEX IR 4K LRF - with a KIJI upfront seeing clearly out beyond 800m.  ALPEX IR 4K LRF, 1/2 moon, tree in foreground ~ 650m (this scope has been mounted on a 270WIN and 300WM. I'll put up some comparative images from the thermal when I get the chance e.g. from different thermals and different sensors. Unfortunately both made in China and likely not available in the US, maybe the IR scope is. |
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Originally Posted By GroundhogOZ: The thermal world continues to develop apace. Just picked up a Hikmicro 35mm, 20mK NETD thermal with in built LRF. Mainly for pests and small game and going on a 223 varmint rifle. Did have a look at a 1280x1024 unit but the form factor was too long and overkill for 223. Specs as follows Sensor: 640x512 PP: 12 um focal length 35mm FOV: 12.5 x 10 degrees NETD: < 20mK (this is double the thermal sensitivity of the RH25) base mag: 1.8x digital mag: 8x weight: 518g power: removable 18650 LRF: yes to 600m In-built ballistic calculator linked to reticle: Yes (multiple reticle choices) rating: 1000 g DRI 50% roe deer ~ 1850m, 460m, 230m DRI 70% roe deer ~ 1470m, 370m, 180m This will be the second Hikmicro product I've picked up, the other being the ALPEX IR 4K LRF - with a KIJI upfront seeing clearly out beyond 800m. https://i.imgur.com/GDwNQaq.jpg ALPEX IR 4K LRF, 1/2 moon, tree in foreground ~ 650m (this scope has been mounted on a 270WIN and 300WM. I'll put up some comparative images from the thermal when I get the chance e.g. from different thermals and different sensors. Unfortunately both made in China and likely not available in the US, maybe the IR scope is. Yup. The sensors today blow sensors from just a couple of years ago out of the water. It's a great time to be a thermal enthusiast. I've been watching a lot of Australian thermal hunting channels on YouTube. You guys have access to some really cool scopes. |
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Yes, there's lots of choice out there now. You can pick up a 1280x1024, <18mK, 12 um, 50mm scope for just over $USD6,250. Conventional form factor at this stage, but still thats both very sensitive and wide screen at the same time (FOV 17.5 x 14 degrees). Same with conventional optics, the glass quality and coatings have improved out of sight to the point you can get a top quality first focal plane 3x18-50 scope for around $USD1000 (or less) that are as good as the much more expensive offerings from Nightforce or Kahles. For firearms that can spend a lot of time outdoors, theres a point where price comes into play. Its a shame the US manufacturers don't seem to put their more sensitive detectors into devices sold into the civilian market, for example the FLIR Bosun plus detector is capable of better than 20mK sensitivity and yet many of their devices are sold as professional grade ~ 30mK or other (generally meaning civilian) at ~ 40mK-50mK. The other reality is other wavelengths have become more attractive and in long range applications MWIR is king of the hill these days e.g. Leonardo FWS-S. |
| Did firmware updates, image was very clean to start with but now appears have even more contrast, interestingly has two different settings for woodland Vs pure detection, also can adjust sharpness which is a good option. Very well made and the LRF gets just beyond 600m (which was stated in the spec sheet). Need to catch a break in the rain to get images but might get lucky tonight. |
Initial batch of images Conditions were not ideal, warm and muggy 80% humidity - comparo between three detectors with different NETD and a NIR-SWIR image. Thermal images were taken within a minute of each other. Note trees in distance are at 1km. Thermal images are rendered in 'black hot" note how the thermal images grade from 'misty' to 'mist' free as the sensitivity of the detectors improve. The companion image on the right is from a Sionyx OPSIN NIR-SWIR device with current firmware. |
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Originally Posted By GroundhogOZ: Yes, there's lots of choice out there now. You can pick up a 1280x1024, <18mK, 12 um, 50mm scope for just over $USD6,250. Conventional form factor at this stage, but still thats both very sensitive and wide screen at the same time (FOV 17.5 x 14 degrees). Same with conventional optics, the glass quality and coatings have improved out of sight to the point you can get a top quality first focal plane 3x18-50 scope for around $USD1000 (or less) that are as good as the much more expensive offerings from Nightforce or Kahles. For firearms that can spend a lot of time outdoors, theres a point where price comes into play. Its a shame the US manufacturers don't seem to put their more sensitive detectors into devices sold into the civilian market, for example the FLIR Bosun plus detector is capable of better than 20mK sensitivity and yet many of their devices are sold as professional grade ~ 30mK or other (generally meaning civilian) at ~ 40mK-50mK. The other reality is other wavelengths have become more attractive and in long range applications MWIR is king of the hill these days e.g. Leonardo FWS-S. |
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