Entry Level Thermal Monocular Advice || HIK Micro Falcon FH25 User Impressions
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 5 ก.พ. 2025
- It's a common question - what entry level thermal should I get. This is my personal opinion on device base specifications, be that HIK Micro, Pulsar, Infiray or Thermtec. Yes I have a HIK monocular in this video, but the reputable brands will have devices with similar specifications if you'd prefer a broader consideration. Ideally, get out to a store you can hands on and test a few out. If you can't do that, I have device recordings and my take on the "entry level" HIK Micro Falcon FH25 in this video.
Big thanks to TSA in Australia for sending me the Falcon to play with. Without support from companies who are proactive in the hunting industry, these video's are not possible with the speed tech is evolving.
I hope this can help a few people out on the thermal journey, or reinforce a few aspects I prefer on devices.
Call to action - If you would like to see the continuation of TH-cam channels like mine or others. PLEASE consider joining Patreon for further support.
www.patreon.co...
Tags:
A very informative video. This will help those looking to get the best gear for their activities and dollars to spend. Not all retailers have that depth of knowledge based on use so you're helping first time buyers and those wishing to up grade. Excellent advice, well presented, thanks.
Glad it was helpful!
am looking at the HM Falcon FQ25, thoughts? oh great vids by the way absolutely love them👊
*EDGE of the OUTBACK* Bravo well done, thank-you sir for taking the time to show us. GOD Bless.
Thank you kindly
Thanks Edger. Your vids have really sucked me back into an interest in shooting after many years away.Appreciate that you don't shy away from giving an opinion, as well as a few bits of data. Very interested in your methods and reasoning in these vids. Keep 'em coming mate. Cheers PP
Cheers mate
I settled on Infiray FH35R and it has been a huge success here in Tassie looking at deer and wallabies it truly is one of my favourite possessions.And seeing your review certainly was a big part of my decision as was the review on Pulsar XQ50 thermal scope which also has been a huge success.Although there is obviously better scopes out there the Pulsar does the job with ease .So a big thanks to you Nathan.
Great to hear!
Thanks Nathan great info , looking forward to your next content
More to come!
Solid advice. Good ID is key. Getting closer is required if you go with cheaper units. Still 20x better than a spotlight
Cheers mate, definitely a good overview. Thanks to your advice I'll be saving up for the higher range of thermals!
P.s. love your content, can't get enough so keep it coming!
Great to hear 👌
Excellent, thanks mate. I'm almost ready, bummer you said 2 to 3k base price bracket but I get it. This was just what I needed to see.
No problem 👍
After watching all your footage with those beaut high end thermals, I invested in a sub $600 unit. It plugs into a smartphone and runs through an app called "Xinfrared", and it's ok for the price. Great for tracking kills, and combined with night vision definitely fills a void. Still saving for a pulsar tho😁 thanks Nathan and keep up the Stirling work. Straya thanks ya👍
I think infiray thermal modules that plug into a mobile phone can't be overlooked. I have the T2 Pro and for the money (£350), it's outstanding. They really managed to cut costs right back by using a phone as a host, display and processing unit. They also do a T3 which is a step up and has a wide field of view.
Best of all, they're tiny and can fit into a pocket without raising eyebrows. I carry mine with me all the time in my jeans pocket if I feel I might need it for whatever reason. It blows all other thermals out the water with portability. You might lose it if you're not careful seeing the T2 is barely bigger than a plastic bottle cap.
I am looking in getting a good standalone thermal as the T2 Pro has shown me how good thermal is, perhaps I might stretch to a Helion XP50 pro, but I'll never get rid of the T2 pro.
You do a great job on Reviews
Hik has leapt ahead this last year - think they might tip the other 2 off the top
It's an extremely competitive market that's for sure.
I use a Telos for spotting and Hik Stellar SQ50 for shooting. Pulsar gear is tried and tested over many years and it’s quality, and reliability second to none, it’ll be interesting if the likes of Hik and the other Chinese manufacturers are still around in a few years!
Thanks Nathan, excellent video, Cheers
Very welcome
I follow Nathan. Whatever he uses I buy and I’ve not gone wrong, but he’s cost me a bloody fortune. That being said, there’s not a better reviewer out there.
Really appreciate it mate 👌
Well presented as usual 👍😎
Thank you! Cheers!
.............G'day,
good to see the lower-priced stepping up.
Cheers,
Malcolm.
Great bit of kit mate
Good advice 👍
Great insight. Thanks Mate.
No problem 👍
Personally if I was just getting into thermal I’d go for a secondhand 640 unit, rather than a new 320. With the introduction of the Pulsar Telos LRF there’s plenty of Helion XP50 pro’s for sale, which in my opinion is the best hand held spotter.
The Helions are a fantastic eyepiece image. Just really bad WiFi if you want to run a remote screen.
I wouldn't overlook the mobile plug in thermals from Infiray. The T2 pro and T3 are perhaps the cheapest thermals available because they use a mobile phone as the host but they're honestly powerful.
I have the T2 Pro and it's outstanding for the money. The T3 is another interesting one with an insane field of view.
Thanks for this, fantastic info and well presented, made my choice, thank you
Glad it was helpful!
Nathan I would like to know if you have had any experience with the Pulsar Krypton 2 clip on thermal? Your vids are always entertaining and informative, cheers.
Very soon I will 👌
Love that 'Buy once, cry once' lol
poorman pays twice, buy well and never sell.
Awesome!
I recently got a FH25 off Ben.
Pigs on the farm are in trouble now!!
Great video very informative for us noobs
Glad it was helpful!
If you're on granite country, these are absolutely shit. You can't tell the difference between pigs, sheep, and granite rock. I just sold mine and I'm sticking to our new Pulsar Thermion 2 XP50 LRF that you recommended. It is absolutely amazing! Also got rid of my night vision scope too.
Granite is very hard on thermal, especially entry level.
Hi there thank you for your amazing video. I have learnt a lot. What do you think of the Guide TL430 LRF Multispectral Fusion Thermal Monocular Handheld please. Thank you
This would be good for a scan to find stuff then use the scope you put your money into to get ID
I am not a hunter but have been looking for a device for awhile here in the USA. We have FLIR and AGM as kind of the lower cost solutions here. One thing I am confused about is where "Export" restrictions come into play. Most of these devices are imported from China. It's unclear if I am "allowed" to take them on a trip with me to South Africa or other countries on a safari
Sorry I'm only familiar with the Australian regulations
@@JHruby Thanks. I am not looking to hunt with them. More along the lines of the night time game drives where I want to be able to look for animals as opposed to the one light shining around looking for eyes staring back at you.
They are legal here in South Africa. I'm in the market for one myself and found this review very helpful.
Hey Nathan I think it is. I was looking at buying the XL50 from hunt the night off your link. I’ve never owned or used a thermal before but don’t want to buy something too cheap then regret it. I’ll mainly be using it on my 22lr and 223 for rabbits, foxes pigs and deer all within 200m do you think it’s the right scope if I’m willing to spend the money.
The XL is certainly top level if you want the best image in a Pulsar, absolutely the image at 3.5x is still amazing. 1.75x is very useful if you do shoot under say 30-40 meters on animals running around. The Thermion 2 XG50 is still a fantastic device with a 3x base mag, I still really rate mine. Make sure you get a scanner as well, so don't blow the full wad on a scope alone. You'll regret that.
Thermal equipment is waaay too expensive for me (according to my wife). To another question: is it possible to do a rundown on how You have kitted out your quad bike?
Cheers!
Hey mate, you'll need to dig back on the channel, I have already done that video on the quad a few years back.
Gotcha!! I thought I had looked through all content. This is actually great news, now I have a reason to go through it all again! (To my, non hunting wife’s great joy!)
😂 My wife hasn't watched a single one of my vids so I can understand her pain 😂
I’m just not sure about the 1.75X base magnification but it’s still really clear at 3.5 magnification isn’t it?
Thanks I’m in the market for my handheld thermal. How do you rangefind at night.?
I run a thermal with a rangefinder personally
Missus hates when I start watching your videos…
Mine won't watch them so don't sweat it lol
great info , what thermal would get as the best HIKMICRO Falcon fq 35 or 50 or zeiss 4/35 ? what would buy it for birding all kinds of birding open and bush areas ? Thanks
Hi mate. Absolutely can have that discussion, but it's a conversation you'll need to be involved with my upper tiers on Patreon to have.
Sorry, but I don't receive any revenue for sales or time invested to help otherwise.
Hope you understand, but I get a lot of these requests now. I'm happy to help, but I need to draw a line.
www.patreon.com/user?u=37396112
My kit is pretty basic but it consists of an Pulsar XM30F, Vortex Crossfire HD 1400 Rangefinder, Vortex Crossfire 10x50 Binoculars & Marsupial Harness mind you i am not a rifle shooter so my target identification is much closer for archery. Buy the gear that suits your needs fellas!...
Lol all that talk for a bow. . U the man kill. I hope I never run into u lol
@@jjkill3847 Oh edgy!. I also use a knife btw lol...
I just scraped through....I bought a Hik Lynx pro Lh 25 $2400...phew 😮
Hey mate haven't seen a decent review of the latest 20mk 640 HIK Micro PQ50L or the more basic Thunder TQ35, any chance of review ??
Maybe in the future but I've got no plans to do anything with one at this stage.
Quick question.
Looking at multi purpose Clio on thermal with option for handheld.
Of two choices there's one with a LRF but a 384x288 sensor.
The other a 640 sensor, no LRF.
Both 35mm lens.
Both in the $3-4k bracket.
Any advice on one over the other?
Thanks.
I'm not a fan of 384 resolution clip ons. Remember you zoom into the pixels. Ensure you have a lower base mag scope if you go that way.
Thanks. I though that might be the case. The bonus is the 640 has a 1920 X 1080 display compared to a 1024 X 768 display so there's more pixels to zoom into, assuming the physical size of the display is the same.
Thanks again.
Hey Nathan, wondering if you have seen or know anyone with the hikmicro alpex 4k? All the reviews I have seen are in the uk shooting rats at close range. Would love to know how it compares to pard nv008 and ds35
Sorry I've not used one at all
How would you compare this device to the pulsar axion xq?
I'd get the Axion if you want a LRF 👌. Otherwise the HIK has a nice image and generic batteries, all a trade off.
@@EDGEoftheOUTBACK the axion without the LRF would you still go it over the hik?
They need to get all this tech from cuntries other than Chyna!
Unfortunately I can write I agree, but even doing that is with a phone full of Chinese tech 🥵
how are these during the day in thick bush?
Depends on ambient temps and how thick the bush is. Thermal isn't xray vision like many seem to think.
I got a new Pixfra ARC 425, for $1250. Prices really come down
Hi, why can't I get zoom 1 and it always starts from zoom 2x2?
HIK changed them to do that a while ago.
A thermo-nuclear thermal monocular?
Have Hik redeemed themselves mate ?
It's just one of a few options in this range 👌
Hahahaha @ hot blob like animal. I so badly want one , but no way I would pay 1k… I’m still saving…
Please who can give me advice: what hardware do i need to cearly identify rabbit (so i know for sure they are not cat, dog, lamp or a fox) at 100m distance?
Cool Ep you lost me as soon as you spoke, Way to much money for this brown duck. Id rather put the diesel in my 4wd and go up to Weipa area fishing,
Off you go then 👌
on ya bike sport
Wow with the economy yeah, gouging and recession. I have no expendable cash for that much output, but may be in two years when I’m watching this things will be better. Ha HA.
I do not believe that thermals are all that for hunting.... a decent digital night vision scope is up to the job for taking the shot, we don't need video, LRF or anything else - as long as we can find a fox at 2-300yds thats good enough, then switch to rifle scope....
Digital NV works well, on open country. Add in any foliage or obstructions, and the IR light blows out the image, unfortunately.
@@EDGEoftheOUTBACK Thanks for reply bud.... I absolutely agree, a cheap thermal is pants, (threw my gen 1 in the bin) who wants to find a blob... trouble is a decent thermal is out of my price range and I have never seen one in action. I don't understand why they have to have video recording for a normal hunter. ATB