Credit for the first-ever color photograph taken goes to the mathematical physicist James Clerk Maxwell. At a lecture in 1861 he unveiled what is to be considered as the first durable color photograph. Fast forward over 150 years, and we expect nothing but high-quality color photographs like the ones we’re looking at today. I don’t know when the first thermal images and videos were produced, but the focus in our Photo Of The Day is Pulsar’s Trail 2 LRF XP50 Thermal Imaging Riflescope.

You can find the solution with the tripod in this review: Innorel RT90C Carbon Fiber Tripod with Really Right Stuff BH-55 Ball Head.  Lurking around various thermal hunting forums a very common question is if the Trail 2 or the Thermion model the best? It all boils down to if you need a Laser Range Finder or not. If you must have an LRF then the Trail 2 is the choice as it has a built-in LRF.

The stock of the Blaser R8 is quite special, but it’s also quite comfortable to use. Note the straight-pull action. This is the Pulsar Thermion XP50 Thermal Sight mounted in a Spuhr mount.

Since these pictures were taken, Pulsar has released the Thermion 2 models, and TFB has the XP50 flagship model under review this summer. There is a video comparing the two models here.

Would you prefer the Ruger Precision Rifle or the Blaser R8 for hunting and in which caliber?