For predator hunters, many of whom operate predominantly at night during special designated seasons, thermal optics are not just nice to have, they enable the entire pursuit.
Some hunters prefer the viability of a thermal monocular, but the catch is that they can be very expensive and if you’ve never bought one before, it can be hard to know what you’re looking at.
Some of the main details (from a high level) will be broken down here.
Table of Contents
Sensor Resolution
Sensor resolution is one of the most important ratings of a thermal monocular and is given in pixels; for instance, 640×480.
The higher the sensor resolution, the clearer the image will be, which will help ensure faster, more accurate target identification in the dark. So, for instance, a resolution of 384×288 would not produce an image as clear as the resolution mentioned above.
A higher sensor resolution will also enable you to use the magnification settings more effectively, as you will lose image clarity as you zoom in, but at a lower rate the higher the resolution is
Magnification Settings
Magnification settings will affect how far off you’ll be able to detect or identify a target, but the higher the setting, the more difficult it can be to use the scope for panning.
A 1x magnification setting means that the thermal scope in question does not magnify the image; it appears in true size; these are good for scanning wide areas.
A base magnification of around 2x to 3x will be much better for trying to identify targets at greater distances.
It is also important to recognize that some thermal monoculars are capable of variable magnification, some of them with digital zoom capabilities, expanding their versatility.
NETD Rating
A thermal monocular’s NETD rating, or “noise equivalent temperature difference” rating, gives a measurement of how crisp the thermal image will appear.
The lower the NETD rating, the less thermal noise there will be; that is, images will look crisp, and the margins of the image will not be as fuzzy. Higher NETD ratings produce fuzzer, softer images.
A good rule of thumb is that a 200 mK rating will produce a very clear, crisp image, 35 mK will be slightly less sharp, and 40 mK is still pretty decent. A 50 mK NETD rating or higher will produce fuzzier images that will be more difficult to distinguish, especially far off.
It is also important not to look at this figure on its own, but to pair it with the sensor resolution and magnification. A lower NETD rating paired with a low magnification, even at middle of the road resolution, can produce a sharp image that enables PID far off, whereas a high resolution, low magnification thermal monocular with a higher NETD rating might not perform as well.
Other Features and Specifications
While these are arguably the main features to weigh when evaluating a thermal scope, other things you should consider are:
- Waterproof rating
- Warranty coverage
- Battery life
- Refresh rate (higher is better)
- Aperture (wider is usually better as it allows more light in, producing a sharper image)
- Other technology (detail enhancement or target recognition capabilities, for instance)
Again, this list is not exhaustive by any means but it should get you started off on the right foot.
Where to Get Your First (or Next) Thermal Monocular
In the event that you haven’t purchased your first thermal monocular (or other optic) yet, visit Dark Night Outdoors. They carry a wide range of thermal optics and represent the best brands, including iRayUSA, Nocpix, InfiRay, Pulsar, and many others. Visit their website for more information or get in touch with them directly.
For more information about Nocpix Ace S60r and Thermal Scope Please visit: Dark Night Outdoors LLC.
