Haven't had a chance to test if it holds zero, but mounts just fine and has nice clear glass. Centered vertically true to a plumb line with the crosshairs which is always a plus!It's a great kzfaq.infoUgkxc4K63Fd5LglDMObu7-Bgapxp_ef0W8hE scope. There's no parallax adjustment or focus ring, so may be limited to 3-7x, have to see how it is on the range. Also be aware that the rings are "look through" so you can still use irons, but they are really tall if you only intend to use the optics. On a 22LR no biggie since I'm not shooting competitions or worried about a hard cheek press. Will boresight and range test, if all goes well, I'll leave it at that!

This is absolutely the best video out there on the how's and why's. Pretty densely packed with information but if you take the video and pause once in awhile to make sure it makes sense it is excellent. I see this was made in 2019 and still far and away better than anything out there. Well done.

I love the no bs informative quick chat. Keep being awesome brother.

Wow Todd some great info. Thanks for taking the time for educating us.

Good guy to work with- bought a high end thermal from him,- very happy with results.

Best explanation I've heard to date. Seriously looking at IR but the prices take my breath away

This information was amazing and greatly helped with understanding pricing.

UR video here was absolutely stunning Sir. Now I finally understand Microns and thermal make up, to make my decision on what best suits my needs. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us all. Andy

The best explanation ive seen and ive watched a few many thanks from the UK

Thanks for the detailed explanation. As my wife says... "Thanks for dumbing it down".

Awesome breakdown Crayola style. Easy to understand thank you.

Thanks for the video. I understand the technology better now.

Thanks for the information, big help when deciding what scope to go with

Great explanation of the basics of thermal riflr scopes. A must see before oriëntating on availability of thermal rife scopes.

One thing on my bucket list to do before I die is to meet Todd Huey. I watch all of his videos, he seems like a cool dude

Definitely knows his business.

Really good explanation - you know your stuff.

Thank you for the information.

Thank for the detailed information!

Couple of details to mention. Larger pixel sizes, 17x17 vs 12x12, has several tradeoffs, some good some bad, just to dive in. Think of floor tiles, each 12x12, vs 17x17 (units don't matter). Arrange 320 horizontally, and 240 vertically (e.g. a 320x240 sensor), and you can see that the 12x12 sensor will be much smaller. Much smaller sensor pros are: less probability a sensor has bad pixels (defect density), lesser cost (more sensors per wafer), and smaller lens (less of that expensive germanium glass). However, the tradeoff is that the smaller pixel will gather less LWIR photons in that 12x12 pixel vs the much larger 17x17 pixel. However, then you have to factor in quantum efficiency (QE), which is how much well does a pixel convert a given photon in electrical charge, which after much processing turns into what you see on the screen of the thermal scope. As sensors evolve, the QE goes up and up, so even though the smaller 12x12 pixel gets less photons, the higher QE allows the smaller photonic LWIR energy from the target into more current, so it's not a hit to sensitivity moving from 17 to 12 micron pixels. Presumably. Also the lenses usually get a bit better too, so more photons get through the lens than with previous generation. Newer sensors will also be generally less noisy, which helps QE delivery benefits all the way to the final displayed image. IMO, resolution is one thing that can't be reduced with tech evolution, I always want at least 300x300 approximately or more, to get a good image of whatever, color or thermal or anything (here reducing lens FoV of the lens also can plays a role in squeezing better quality image from a smaller sensor array like 200x200 sensors). I have been expecting thermal to evolve crazily for the last ten years, and now we are starting to see it finally. Don't be surprised to see megapixel (1000x1000) thermal imagers that will provide excellent zoom detail and wider FoV. Then with better and better sensor chip tech, we can expect the detection range to slowly expand. Then combine with LRF's, as we have seen, and even AI to recognize heat signatures, temps, etc., in 20 years the rifle scope will be a tremendous force multiplier. (disclaimer, I am not a thermal sensor expert by any means, my limited knowledge comes more from SWIT and color sensors)

Video is very helpful in my research. I have 2 questions: 1. Assuming I am pulling the trigger at around 200 - 320 meters, to me it seems the Thermion 640 resolution scopes would be best. I need better pixel quality to make sure IT is in fact a predator. As far as microns, 12 or 17 you are saying just go with the cheapest model I can find in that 640 range? 2. I'm primarily looking at the Pulsar Thermion scopes, but I'm not brand loyal to anything. The Trijicon seems to be the go-to "it's the best out there" thermal. But, I have some doubts. I understand the durability part of the equation, but I'm not hunting in a warzone or lugging it up a mountain in a day pack. So, from a best-in-picture only perspective the numbers don't line up. I can save 2,000.00 or 3,000.00 and get a 50mm thermion or a the more expensive 35mm Trijicon IR-Hunter. The materials used are practically the same if not looking at durability! Do you agree with this statement or am I missing something regarding the Trijicon? It is hard to find one to physically touch because dealers don't want to stock the expensive units! Thank you.

Nice intelligent explanation. Thank you.

Good video. You did a great job of giving a easily understandable explanation. Only criticism is that BAE systems is a British based company.

Hello Todd, i looked your video, but i still can't decide which device to prefer to buy , pulsar trail xq38lrf or pulsar termion xm38 because they are in a low price class that i can afford. Will be used for hunting predators in open areas up to 200m

Good info bud, a lot explained there we all wonder about

Great information.. Thank you.

There is a guy named jetpilot or jetdriver or something on AR15 he has explained these thoroughly a few times. Actually in agreement with this video, which is a GREAT video. He's talked about ways to test different thermals against one another.

Its a camera sensor effectively a FX vs APC Sort of deal.

Please put these type of videos in a playlist

whats the best thermal for the money? i have ar-10 308 i want a thermal but im ignorant to all this. just learning about thermals

12 vs 17 or 640 vs 320 have any impact on battery life, other things being as close to equal as possible? I would guess the 640 would fill a memory card 4x faster recording... Thanks for the first hand good info!

Looking at a x1 magnification clip on thermal 384x with 17micron. Can you explain how the image would be compared to the 640x with 12 micron that has digital zoom as opposed to the x1 mag I’m looking at? Will the resolution of the 384x distort when magnified using my day scope behind it?

So it's like any camera, the larger the pixel, the better it will be at capturing the light given the same "level" of technology. Because of todays sensor-tech, a 12um will be as good as an older 17um, but todays 17um will be better than todays 12um at capturing light. When it comes to magnification to the viewer, the magnification is a factor of the lens focal-length and the size of the sensor. Like a 35mm ("full frame") sensor vs a microFourThirds sensor of a digital camera - where the m4/3-camera would appear to be more "zoomed in" than the full-frame with the same lens (2x crop).

Pretty good info, would be better to just draw it out. bigger lens = more light larger pixels = more light. I am sure the software and pixel sensors are actually much better in 12 micron even though they gather less light otherwise there would be massive signal degradation. Very impressive the affordability available today and the form factor. The 12 reminds me of the video cameras popular 15 years ago, soon they thermals will be no bigger than a red dot with 7nm tech.

Im assuming there are no current gen Raytheon AN/ PAS 13(V1)lightweight models sold to public?

Nicely done!

How can you discern what optic can pick up and register targets at greater distances? looking for something that can detect heat sigs at greater distances than 1000 yards

What is your opinion of a entry level ATN THOR LT 4-8X THERMAL RIFLESCOPE?

Nice rifle rack wall - what is it?

Wow what a wealth of knowledge... Do you have any of the same info on thermal clip-ons for daytime scopes?

It's not real magnification, it's apparent magnification. The issue is the same as a full sized sensor on a camera verses a small sensor but using the same millimeter of lens. It has to do with field of view of that lens and the smaller sensor only using a portion of what that lens sees or projects. Think of this as cropping an image in photoshop. The smaller sensor is like crop the center out of a larger image. It appears magnified but it isn't really. Some get confused with digital vs optical zoom. The 640 can digital zoom or hold it's quality before pixelation further than the 320. Also compare apples to apples and let us use the proper optics with the proper projection coverage for the sensor. A full size sensor for a Canon Eos1d normal lens is 50 to 55 mm but a Canon Rebel T-5 the same view with the same image size is 35 mm. If you sight a deer at 100 yards with both sensors and your adjust the scope where both images of th E deer are exactly the same size, the quality of the image is the same. The light gathering ability of the larger sensor will be much better. Having said this it is more difficult and costly to manufacture lenses for a larger sensor but as compared to the photography world even the larger thermal sensors are tiny. I believe the real question would be does a 320 or 384 give you the kind of quality and versatility of they type of hunting you typically do? I do believe a 320/384 is the minimum sensor size you should invest in. The 640 will gather more light and give you a greater range of magnification than the 320 if the optics are properly matched to the sensor.

Thanks for sharing.

great info

Great expectations!

HI Huey Im in Aus..Ive been thinking of upgrading my brand new night Tech ms19 (17micron) to tech new ms42r (12 mIcron, which just hit our stores weeks after I bought the other one), bit over double the price though.. the ms19 was $2000 AUD (cheapest thermal out there I believe, thus good value).. ms42r (12micron) $4200 AUD .. Am I better off sticking with the little guy ?? Im still a bit confused by the topic and tech (be great 'if' I could just take them both out in the field to compare).. what are your thoughts? cheers from Downunder

So I am a complete nube when it comes to thermal. Am I to understand thermal scopes only last so long? I was all ready to get my feet wet, but this gives me some pause when you're talking this much money. Can anyone speak into this?

Thankyou

Hi Todd, Just recently found your channel. Thanks for the great videos. Since thermal is always improving, what’s your latest recommendation for someone who just wants to plink at night - mainly raccoons and coyotes, inside 100 yds. Thanks!

imagine being aimed at you by a guy with the 35 micron scope mounted. that would be terrifying

Excellent narrative. Just curious, what is a reasonable life expectancy from the new 12 micron cores. 🛩

6:58 In my experience tighter is definitely better and I don’t know anything about thermal scopes 😉👍🏻

Gosh. It's like what I used to hear while sitting at the back of Algebra lessons. Now I sweep floors((

Cool

Has anyone down loaded the new firmware for the Pulsar Trail yet? was it worth it?

Great job Todd. Why do I get the impression you made this video out of necessity...lol. Also I would like to add that not all lenses,screens and software are created equal as I am sure you are aware. Will Pulsar ever make a 640 version of the Thermion in the future?

Keren

👍

buy from todd he will know more about the products and ship em faster than others

Is FLIR going to keep selling it’s cores to other companies making thermal scopes now that flir has stopped making them for civilians?

Any opinions on AGM 25 384??

where is Kaitlyn Lowes? Why don't you invite her to the videos anymore?

640x480 it's old. Why they are not making 800x600 or 1024x576?

ATN x50 plis How muchis it

Height x width is two measurements, not one. Its 640 x 480 pixels which forms a box. 320 x 240 pixels for a smaller box with less pixels for resolution. Using one measurement by itself means nothing.

The Pulsar Trail 2, XP50 and XQ50 is extremely complex to operate. They put far too many push-button complexity into these scopes. These are NOT combat-ready, simple, and intuitive devices. These scopes are for the back-porch tripod with lots of time on your hands to get it into the correct focus, reticle, range, etc, etc.....every single time you turn it on.