Thermal

A new brand for thermals and night vision equipment has been born: Nocpix. This is a brand by InfiRay Technologies. According to the presentation Nocpix was born to push the boundaries in the outdoor electro-optic industry by using the latest advancements in thermal sensor technology. The brand name is an abbreviation of “nocturnal” and “pixel”, which represents their ambition to create next-level thermal night vision image quality. Nocpix mentions specialization and innovation as key factors for their future success, and they say they are dedicated to providing the most complete thermal and digital night vision product lineup.

Recently TFB reviewed the Pulsar Axion XQ30 Pro and found it to be a thermal pocket rocket. This product line now gets an even higher thermal performance, with the two new additions called Axion XG35 and Axion XG30 Compact. These additions both have 640x480 @ 12µm European thermal imaging sensors that are said to guarantee a quality image, even in the most dreadful weather conditions.

Thermal optics are great tools for nighttime hunting or pest control. If your goal is longer-range engagements, it's helpful to have ranging info so you can properly prepare your shot, a laser range finder that integrates with your thermal riflescope is the perfect tool for this. X-Vision is proud to introduce their new Impact 100 Thermal Laser Range finder which integrates seamlessly with X-Vision’s TS150, 250, and 350 thermal scopes. With the Impact 100 module, you’ll have accurate distances displayed right on your thermal sights screen out to 650 yards.

This is a review of the Pulsar Thermion 2 XL50 LRF - HD Thermal Riflescope. The XL50 may look like its other siblings in the Thermion 2 LRF line-up, but it has all the superpowers that the others want. I've had the privilege of using various thermal rifle scopes and optics over the years. Each one has its strengths and weaknesses, but for about a year, I had the opportunity to field test the Pulsar Thermion 2 XL50 LRF. This review will cover my firsthand experience with a huge amount of images. This is Pulsar’s high-end thermal rifle scope, with an MSRP of $8,799.99 when it was introduced at SHOT Show. 

Pulsar has just announced the start of sale of the Telos LRF XL50 and the Telos XL50. It’s not common for any type of product to be available on the date of the press release, but here’s a pleasant exception. If you already read our review of its little brother, the Telos LRF XP50, you know a little more about what to expect.

This is a review of the brand-new Pulsar Axion XQ30 Pro, a pocket-sized thermal monocular. Unlike quite a few of the thermals we review, the price of this thermal monocular should also fit most people’s pockets. To begin with, the small size of this device has to be mentioned. Previously, a small-sized thermal has always meant a compromise in image quality, but modern technology and development can also put old truths and preconceptions to shame. Let’s see how the XQ30 Pro performs!

Welcome to TFB’s Photo Of The Day! Today’s selection features NATO Special Operations Forces securing the Baltic. We’re in Lithuania where East Coast-based Naval Special Warfare Operators (SEALs) conducted maritime training together with Lithuania Special Operators and Portuguese Naval Special Operators from Special Actions Detachment (DAE).

TFB’s Photo Of The Day is kind of simplistic. Every day we present our readers with at least one photo. The subject is always a firearm of some kind, preferably with some action around it. But we’re happy with an edited still-life photo as well, and as this photo appeared in my social media flow, I felt an urge to share it. The image is taken by Cory Chilton and used with his kind permission. We’re looking at a .243 Winchester that he built himself using Aero and Magpul components, with a 22″ barrel from Columbia River/BHW.

New for 2024, Trijicon has revamped their lineup of thermal weapon sights. The REAP-IR and IR-HUNTER thermals have improved image processing and onboard recording capability. As before, both versions are available with three sizes of objective lenses with the larger lenses having more base magnification.

Photo Of The Day and we go for another of the U.K. Ministry Of Defense’s Best of Defence Imagery 2023. It’s difficult to see, but I presume this British sniper is working behind the L115A3 sniper rifle. Do you see the thermal front attachment he’s using? Makes sense considering the time of the day.

Andres Industries is a medium-sized German company based in Berlin with a lot of interesting products for thermal imaging. Many NATO member states are now modernizing their night combat capabilities, and that goes for the Czech Armed Forces as well. Above you can see one of their upgraded FN-Minimis.

James Reeves is at IWA 2024 visiting the PARD booth to discuss their new digital combo units – rifle scopes that use both digital night vision and thermal. The PARD TD32/TD62 are multi-spectral scopes that offer both thermal imaging and visible light sensors for daytime and nighttime use. These scopes allow for separate or combined use of thermal and night vision imagery, featuring Picture-in-Picture (PIP) mode for enhanced observation and identification. They use high-sensitivity thermal detectors with resolutions of either 384×288 or 640×512, and a NETD of ≤25mK. The TD32/TD62 models are equipped with an 800×800 IPS ultra-high definition circular display, offering a comfortable and clear visual experience similar to traditional optical scopes. They also feature a 100mm long eye relief for comfortable extended use, a 1200-yard Laser Range Finder (LRF) with ballistic calculation capabilities, and one-shot zeroing for thermal and night vision channels for precise shooting. These scopes are designed for durability, with an IP67 waterproof rating and 6000J recoil resistance, and they come with replaceable and rechargeable 21700 batteries for extended use.

This is a review of the Pulsar Merger LRF XL50 High Definition Thermal Binoculars. High definition thermals for commercial use started appearing last year, and in 2024 we will see more and more of them. This review is TFB’s second on the subject of HD thermals, and my first. The device reviewed here is a private purchase, and it’s been my companion since the spring of 2023. After almost 10 months of ownership, it’s time to conclude what I’ve discovered.

Photo Of The Day: I had my revelation about ten years ago, when will you have yours? That’s when I started learning about night vision and thermals, and it’s an ongoing journey. Back then everything I wanted was way too expensive – or couldn’t be sold to mortals – and the thermals I could (barely) afford were too bad to use. That’s another story today, the resolution keeps increasing and the sensitivity as well.  Holt Works Photography took these images for us to enjoy. Please make sure you follow him on his socials.

This is a review of the Infiray Outdoor Tube TS60 which was introduced just now at the IWA OutdoorClassics 2024 exhibition in Germany. TFB got an exclusive opportunity to try it out about two months before its official release, and here’s the story in words and images.

Do you want to see—and shoot—in the dark? Night vision optics are considered a must-have for a lot of shooters these days, but for others, thermal optics will do the trick. Now, scopemaker Burris has brought V3 updates to its thermal optic lineup, making them easier to use and offering superior performance.

Tracer rounds have some very important uses in tactical/military applications … and some very big drawbacks. As their name suggests, tracers allow you to “trace” the incendiary bullet’s path visually, as it burns a bright path through the sky. But that path leads directly back to the shooter, revealing their position. Enter Teledyne FLIR Defense, with a new thermal scope that allows you to “see” normal bullets just like tracers!

Carrington Textiles, Lancashire (United Kingdom), will show their new textile technology for defense purposes at Enforce Tac, in just a few weeks. The new textile is designed for superior thermal signature management, to protect soldiers from thermal detection on the battlefield. The textile is called Circuitex Sigma, made by Noble Biomaterials, and is designed to mitigate thermal detection in military environments. I think the attached image speaks a thousand words.

After almost one year of ownership, here is my review of the Pulsar Krypton 2 FXG50 Thermal Clip-On. The Pulsar Krypton 2 models (there is a “budget” FXG35 model as well) were released last year at IWA in Germany. Since thermal riflescopes (digital sights with reticles) are forbidden in Germany, and some other countries, the only way to get thermal capability for your hunting rifle is to connect a thermal clip-on to your ordinary day scope.

This is a review of the Pulsar Axion 2 XQ35 and XG35 Thermal Monoculars. These models are available with or without a side-mounted laser rangefinder. A thermal monocular can be any hunter’s best friend. Whether you’re hunting wild boar or coyotes at night, elk or deer, or perhaps trying to establish were your friend or your dog is located, these devices will help you spot any hot object a lot better than the naked eye.

A few years ago, Liemke Thermal Optics became a part of the Blaser Group. Liemke have been active in the market for thermal imaging technology since 2008, and for ten years they’ve been developing their own products and solutions. It’s now time for the introduction of the German-made Keiler 25.1 Thermal Monocular, which features a thermal sensor with 384×288 pixel resolution and an OLED display with 1024×768 pixel resolution. The base magnification is 2.4x, with a digital zoom up to 10x. There are five color modes and the unit is waterproof according to IP67. All this for an MSRP of $2,777.

This is a review of the InfiRay Outdoor Mate MAH50 Thermal Front Attachment. There are many reasons to consider thermal “clip-ons” for your ordinary day optic, and the MATE MAH50 is one of the best on the market in terms of image quality.

In a significant update to its popular thermal optic line, AGM has introduced the Rattler V2 model. With a series of enhancements and refinements over the original Rattler thermal optic, the new version aims to offer users an improved experience in performance and practicality.

In the latest developments at the SHOT Show 2024, American Technologies Network (ATN) seems to have wowed the audience with a glimpse at their new thermal clip-on scope. Known as the Tico LT, this device has drawn many eyes among the community of both amateur and professional shooters.

Striding into the defense market, Newcon Optik has unveiled its latest creation: the TVS 11M-640 – an ultramodern thermal monocular that holds promise for its unrivaled specification and functionalities. It’s no wonder this device is already in testing by the British Army.

SHOT Show 2024 saw the debut of the THALES XTRAIM Hybrid Thermal Weapon Sight. Optimized for rifles and light machine guns (LMGs), the XTRAIM provides a decisive operational advantage by enabling advanced target acquisition in any light condition.

Happy New Year TFB readers! And welcome to the first Friday Night Lights article of 2024. Here I write about night vision and thermal-related content. Well, today I will share with you my attempt to capture the B2 Spirit Stealth Bomber’s image using long-range thermal and my Sony digital camera.