ATN Binos, little review I guess you could say....

[_CTAIRGUNNER_]

So about two months ago I snagged a set of refurb ATN Binox 4-16 binoculars.

I bought them so my buddy Matt could come pesting with me at night. His job was to spot for me, thats why these were bought. I was asked by another member if I would give a review on them.

So looking through the sightmark 4k mini (or any NV scope with a cusp for that matter) can get extremely strenuous on the eye when viewing and scanning for long periods of time. Having SOMEONE ELSE (key phrase here) being able to spot with these binos has made it amazing. The FOV is small, so small its almost disappointing but what Matt and I found was that he could see my IR beam in his view and I could see his, so for spotting where you have a second spotter, these are awesome, it makes target acquisition so fast. We purposely focused his IR beam so that it really stood out in my FOV looking through my sightmark. I would say that looking through these binos is less strain on the eye as you are viewing with both eyes but it is still tiresome due to being focused in on a TV screen essentially very close to your eyes.

As far as picture quality goes, its bad unless its mounted on a tripod, or you can remain completely steady.

Video quality is superb and I am hoping that my video is going to upload for you to see.

Clarity is very very good looking through these binos, far far better than the atn 4k pro scope I had, they make that scope look like fisher price. The microphone also barely pics up my voice with my standing directly behind them, or in front of them, or to either side of them so there's that to think about as well.

It also sucks battery down pretty quickly if you are out using it continuously , much like other NV scopes with the cr123 batteries.

In the end I would not purchase these with the intention of using them to spot for yourself due to the small FOV and the strain on the eyes that is still there albeit not as bad as looking through a monocular optic. If you have the luxury of having someone else pest with you without a rifle then absolutely a pair of refurbs will suit you well. I would also say that if I didnt pay refurb price I would be far , far less thrilled.

EDIT: I think I figured out the Mic thing, bad hand placement, I had my hands placed differently when recording this video so maybe I was covering the mic before?

 

[L.Leon]

Thanks for sharing your insight on the ATN binoculars, very helpful to those considering night vision devices. Very few mention eye strain, or battery usage.

 

[_CTAIRGUNNER_]

Thanks for sharing your insight on the ATN binoculars, very helpful to those considering night vision devices. Very few mention eye strain, or battery usage.

I am not all that familiar with Thermal scopes, but being that some are clip on units where you look through real glass, doesn't that make them "passive" ? Not sure if the correct term but I could see that being less strain on the eye as I do not think there is a screen there? Youre actually still looking through glass... or am I completely wrong?

 

[rcs9250]

Are the binoculars able to be plugged into an iPad or smart phone ?
I have the ATN monocular and I know exactly what you mean about eye strain. It also trashes your natural night vision. It’s sort of like what a small fairly bright image used to do to CRT computer monitors. Not sure if it does any long term eye damage but it seems intense.
If it can plug into a smart device the whole thing could be put on a tripod ( binocular and screen) and would make an awesome setup.
One other thing with lower cost night vision is they typically have a short depth of field, which means you’re focusing a lot if the area you’re glassing is lengthy.

 

[_CTAIRGUNNER_]

Are the binoculars able to be plugged into an iPad or smart phone ?
I have the ATN monocular and I know exactly what you mean about eye strain. It also trashes your natural night vision. It’s sort of like what a small fairly bright image used to do to CRT computer monitors. Not sure if it does any long term eye damage but it seems intense.
If it can plug into a smart device the whole thing could be put on a tripod ( binocular and screen) and would make an awesome setup.
One other thing with lower cost night vision is they typically have a short depth of field, which means you’re focusing a lot if the area you’re glassing is lengthy.

I will have to look into the manual and see if they do, that would be pretty rad actually if it did. The eye strain thing is very serious if you are doing 2-3 hours of night pesting and its part of the reason I want to upgrade to a thermal if my thinking is right.

 

[rcs9250]

I’ve been sighting in a thermal for a friend. The first night that I had it I took my monocular and the thermal out in the back yard to compare on a cat that was eating some food scraps in the back yard. To be honest, I preferred the night vision image better. But... the thermal has the advantage of giving a noticeable contrast between the critter and the surroundings, it sort of stands out. I used to have an ATN X-sight and was pleased with it but just tired of having to be out in the wee hours for raccoons so I sold it. But it worked very well. Down side was the depth of field thing. I think when you spend upwards of $4K or $5K for a night vision device the depth of field is much much better. I used a pair of helmet mounted military NVG goggles about twenty years ago and they were absolutely incredible. I could look down at my shoe laces and be perfectly focussed and then look out to the horizon or anything in between and be in focus. Definitely a mandatory requirement for a warrior.

 

[_CTAIRGUNNER_]

I’ve been sighting in a thermal for a friend. The first night that I had it I took my monocular and the thermal out in the back yard to compare on a cat that was eating some food scraps in the back yard. To be honest, I preferred the night vision image better. But... the thermal has the advantage of giving a noticeable contrast between the critter and the surroundings, it sort of stands out. I used to have an ATN X-sight and was pleased with it but just tired of having to be out in the wee hours for raccoons so I sold it. But it worked very well. Down side was the depth of field thing. I think when you spend upwards of $4K or $5K for a night vision device the depth of field is much much better. I used a pair of helmet mounted military NVG goggles about twenty years ago and they were absolutely incredible. I could look down at my shoe laces and be perfectly focussed and then look out to the horizon or anything in between and be in focus. Definitely a mandatory requirement for a warrior.

What thermal did you look through? I looked through @Cowdilly01 ATN THOR which I guess his is a much older model and it was amazing, then I looked through the AGM Rattler and omg the clarity was insane. I could see heat signature change so clearly just with muscle movement. The other thing is as I stated above, I do not believe with a thermal you are looking at a screen , it is passive (?) right? so looking through glass, less strain on the eye?

 

[Ezana4CE]

@CTairgunner1288 Nice review. I’d been wondering about these. That’s some decent video quality. How far as the dog from where the user stood with the binos? What I found surprising is that they operate on those little short batteries. Does it use one single battery? That I cannot understand. I would’ve thought that they’d be a rechargeable unit. Do they get hot with prolonged use? How much do they weigh?

 

[rcs9250]

What thermal did you look through? I looked through @Cowdilly01 ATN THOR which I guess his is a much older model and it was amazing, then I looked through the AGM Rattler and omg the clarity was insane. I could see heat signature change so clearly just with muscle movement. The other thing is as I stated above, I do not believe with a thermal you are looking at a screen , it is passive (?) right? so looking through glass, less strain on the eye?

I don’t know the brand, I had to take it back to him because he had to send it back because it would not adjust point of impact. I have to pick it up today and go back to the range. Pretty sure he paid about $1,500 for it.
If I’m not mistaken, it is an image on a screen. The instructions for the sight tell you to staple a hand warmer heat pack to sight in on. In daylight it was pretty impressive. And being able to change color schemes is pretty neat.

 

[_CTAIRGUNNER_]

@CTairgunner1288 Nice review. I’d been wondering about these. That’s some decent video quality. How far as the dog from where the user stood with the binos? What I found surprising is that they operate on those little short batteries. Does it use one single battery? That I cannot understand. I would’ve thought that they’d be a rechargeable unit. Do they get hot with prolonged use? How much do they weigh?

So my dog is about 20 yards away in this video. Also I think I figured out the Mic thing, bad hand placement, I had my hands placed differently when recording this video so maybe I was covering the mic before? They do make a rechargeable pack that attaches via usb and attaches to the lanyard , Id say it would be well worth the money as I found it was on my sightmark wraith. They do not get hot no but the binos do have some heft, I will have to weigh them.

The refurb pricing is worth it, if I had to pay $900 , I wouldnt have done it, I believe these came in right around $370 with freight.

 

[Ezana4CE]

So my dog is about 20 yards away in this video. Also I think I figured out the Mic thing, bad hand placement, I had my hands placed differently when recording this video so maybe I was covering the mic before? They do make a rechargeable pack that attaches via usb and attaches to the lanyard , Id say it would be well worth the money as I found it was on my sightmark wraith. They do not get hot no but the binos do have some heft, I will have to weigh them.

@CTairgunner1288 I look forward to your assessment on the weight. I’m wondering if it’s heavy around the neck. Taking gear in and out of a chest pack can make more noise than I’d like to on a coyote stand on a quiet night. How is the picture quality at around 50 yards? 100 yards? Does it have a zoom feature? If so, have you had the opportunity to test the image quality of the zoom feature? I’m curious because I’ve used thermal and NV units in pasture land and clarity at a distance helps prevent me from aiming at the wrong animals.

 

[_CTAIRGUNNER_]

@CTairgunner1288 I look forward to your assessment on the weight. I’m wondering if it’s heavy around the neck. Taking gear in and out of a chest pack can make more noise than I’d like to on a coyote stand on a quiet night. How is the picture quality at around 50 yards? 100 yards? Does it have a zoom feature? If so, have you had the opportunity to test the image quality of the zoom feature? I’m curious because I’ve used thermal and NV units in pasture land and clarity at a distance helps prevent me from aiming at the wrong animals.

Let me go out tonight or tomorrow night, theres a big field across from the property I can make some footage out of. I will say that I have tested them out to roughly 150 yards and I was impressed but I will take another video and update this thread with my findings.

I have used them out pretty far but it was just when I first got them, so I do not want to review based off that.

 

[Ezana4CE]

@CTairgunner1288 Thanks. I’d appreciate that.

 

[_CTAIRGUNNER_]

I don’t know the brand, I had to take it back to him because he had to send it back because it would not adjust point of impact. I have to pick it up today and go back to the range. Pretty sure he paid about $1,500 for it.
If I’m not mistaken, it is an image on a screen. The instructions for the sight tell you to staple a hand warmer heat pack to sight in on. In daylight it was pretty impressive. And being able to change color schemes is pretty neat.

You're absolutely right it is a screen still, I don't know why I thought it wouldn't be.

 

[rcs9250]

You're absolutely right it is a screen still, I don't know why I thought it wouldn't be.

Yeah, if it was a lens that was able to accomplish that, it most likely came out of the UFO that crashed in Rozwell.

 

[_CTAIRGUNNER_]

Yeah, if it was a lens that was able to accomplish that, it most likely came out of the UFO that crashed in Rozwell.

It would be cool if it was a projected image off a lense of some sort but the price and size of the thing would be astronomical lolol oops

 

[N2 Shooter]

I am not all that familiar with Thermal scopes, but being that some are clip on units where you look through real glass, doesn't that make them "passive" ? Not sure if the correct term but I could see that being less strain on the eye as I do not think there is a screen there? Youre actually still looking through glass... or am I completely wrong?

There is a screen in my Thermal Scope just like my ATN X-Sight 4K Pro Day/Night Scope, but it is passive, which means you don't have to illuminate the target with infrared light as you do with an infrared scope.

 

[Larcat]

Nice cattle dog

 

[RM.510bigbore]

Thank you for the review!!!!! 4x base mag is way too much up close for sure......From100 yards out to real far with a coyote cannon 850nm IR beast it will shine. My 4x wraith sucks under 50yards. Bit from 100 yards to400 500 yards whatever amazing!!!!!! I knew I needed a 2 x but the 4x.models were cheap used...

 

[_CTAIRGUNNER_]

Thank you for the review!!!!! 4x base mag is way too much up close for sure......From100 yards out to real far with a coyote cannon 850nm IR beast it will shine. My 4x wraith sucks under 50yards. Bit from 100 yards to400 500 yards whatever amazing!!!!!! I knew I needed a 2 x but the 4x.models were cheap used...

I really like my 4k mini 2-16 , it is perfect for the type of pesting I am doing but I do want to upgrade to a thermal for their detection capabilities. I still have to get out and do some long range use with these Binos and update this thread.... maybe this weekend. One of my pups has been sick so I've been forgetful of most things when I get home from work to spend time with her.