Taipan I got my thermal with night vision yesterday!

[MushroomPsyche]

I got my DNT TNC225R ThermNight yesterday! I zeroed it last night in complete darkness. Ever since I got into airguns 5 years ago, I've always wanted the ability to shoot at night. I didn't get into it until now because I wanted it all on one unit; thermal, night vision, laser rangefinder with ballistics. This is the first unit I came across with that had everything that I was looking and doesn't cost $5,000+++

Yes, the 256 thermal sensor can be better, but honestly, for what I'm using it for, it's more than good enough. I see a heat signature blob and focus in on it with the visuals to identify and take the shot.

I didn't shoot the chipmunk in the photo below, but at 35 meters away, the animal was very obvious in the thermal. I wouldn't have otherwise saw this chipmunk if not for the thermal. As I was watching the chipmunk frolic around, there were multiple instances where thermal was picking up the heat signature through the brush even though I don't have visuals at all. Without thermal, I could have stared at that spot for 10 minutes and not see the animal at all.

 

[Ezana4CE]

@MushroomPsyche Yup that’s exactly how the tech works. At least you know what to expect and have a basic understanding of how to use it. Enjoy your hybrid NV/thermal unit.

 

[imtrigerhapy]

Very nice im hoping to get one soon and a new air pew pew to go with it. I would appreciate updates with likes or dislikes on the unit as a whole happy shooting

 

[MAUMAU]

When you snap a picture or take a video with a Thermal, the image you download from the unit will be degraded, on average, by 40%.

Was the image clearer in your Thermals screen?

Make sure you spend time exploring contrast, etc. It can make a huge difference, and don't forget to refocus after you adjust the zoom.

I hope you have fun with your new device.

 

[MushroomPsyche]

When you snap a picture or take a video with a Thermal, the image you download from the unit will be degraded, on average, by 40%.

Was the image clearer in your Thermals screen?

Make sure you spend time exploring contrast, etc. It can make a huge difference, and don't forget to refocus after you adjust the zoom.

I hope you have fun with your new device.

I don't really notice much regarding the resolution but I have a realistic expectations regarding the visual quality of such units. I typically do not like digital zooms on cameras... however, for the purposes of aiming a rifle scope, I think it's acceptable. 20x gets quite pixelated even on the viewfinder but it certainly helps in aiming exactly at the spot I want to hit.

Thank you for the suggestion. I saw the thermal contrast in the menu but didn't go into it. I will look at it next time!

 

[MushroomPsyche]

Very nice im hoping to get one soon and a new air pew pew to go with it. I would appreciate updates with likes or dislikes on the unit as a whole happy shooting

Some things I've noticed is that the image quality is obviously much lower than a conventional scope, even compared to low to mid-range scopes below $500. However, the ThermNight also does much more that conventional scopes can't do and for hunting purposes, I feel the image quality is good enough.

I do find that the at similar magnification levels, the ThermNight feels more restricted with a narrower field of view. I haven't done a side by side comparison but for example, at the same 5x magnification setting, I feel I can see more with my SWFA 3-15 scope than the ThermNight.

 

[imtrigerhapy]

Some things I've noticed is that the image quality is obviously much lower than a conventional scope, even compared to low to mid-range scopes below $500. However, the ThermNight also does much more that conventional scopes can't do and for hunting purposes, I feel the image quality is good enough.

I do find that the at similar magnification levels, the ThermNight feels more restricted with a narrower field of view. I haven't done a side by side comparison but for example, at the same 5x magnification setting, I feel I can see more with my SWFA 3-15 scope than the ThermNight.

Ive also been wanting the built in ballistics calculator me having 40 years with powder burners the loppy air rifles make it very challenging for me especially 70 yards and beyond pluss night vision and therm hopefully it meets my expectationg and im sure ill be happy with it as long as i dont look through a high end version lol

 

[MushroomPsyche]

Ive also been wanting the built in ballistics calculator me having 40 years with powder burners the loppy air rifles make it very challenging for me especially 70 yards and beyond pluss night vision and therm hopefully it meets my expectationg and im sure ill be happy with it as long as i dont look through a high end version lol

I've been using the ballistics calculator on the Strelok Pro app and the one built-in to my Sig Sauer rangefinder for the past 5 years so I trust them. Strelok Pro and Sig Sauer matches up perfectly. I compared the one built-in the ThermNight and it also matches with the other two so I have no reservations trusting the numbers. I've been using the same BC for the Hades for all that time.

 

[MushroomPsyche]

I've been having fun with the DNT TNC225R Thermnight for a while now. When I first bought it, I fully intend to use it full time (day or night) as the only scope on my main gun. What I can say now is, for general shooting in good lighting conditions, I still very much prefer a conventional optical scope over the Thermnight. Of course, the Thermnight's night capabilities are not available on conventional scopes (without added attachments), so that's a moot point when there is a need for night vision.

For my usage, I've never found the low resolution thermal to be bothersome. Of course, a higher resolution would be great but it costs so much more. I'm just not prepared to spend that much on an electronic scope when I still prefer a conventional optical scope overall. For stalking purposes though, the thermal has been great. Especially when trying to follow or find a kill in a dense brush.

What I really find annoying is how the power button works. To turn the unit on or off, you have to hold the power button for a considerable length of time. If you're looking through the scope, it's no issue as there is a countdown timer for when the unit is about to turn off. However, when hunting, I'm not looking at the scope unless I'm actually looking at an animal. I think the intended use is to turn the unit on when you begin a session and just put it to sleep in between shooting opportunities and only turn the unit completely off when you're about to head home. In this use case, the sleep works perfectly... but if you're trying to save as much power as possible and always trying to turn the scope on and off, it becomes a huge annoyance. I understand the purpose of holding the button to activate it but I believe the same can be accomplish by holding 2 buttons at the same time or similar user interface.

Another gripe I have about the TNC225R is the mono audio. I understand, ok, one mic, it will obviously be in mono, but the unit could have just duplicated the sound and output it to both left and right channels. As it is, the audio is only output on the left channel. When I make a video, I have to pull it into Adobe Premiere and duplicate the channel. I noticed from the YouTube videos that the higher end models have sound coming from both channels.

Overall though, the scope has been good for the use it was intended for. For such this unit, this is about as high as I'm willing to spend on the tech for now. It has to have some major improvements for me to spend more than twice this. I do understand though as the pricing is inline with current industry standards for the technology.

 

[woody1956]

I got my DNT TNC225R ThermNight yesterday! I zeroed it last night in complete darkness. Ever since I got into airguns 5 years ago, I've always wanted the ability to shoot at night. I didn't get into it until now because I wanted it all on one unit; thermal, night vision, laser rangefinder with ballistics. This is the first unit I came across with that had everything that I was looking and doesn't cost $5,000+++

Yes, the 256 thermal sensor can be better, but honestly, for what I'm using it for, it's more than good enough. I see a heat signature blob and focus in on it with the visuals to identify and take the shot.

I didn't shoot the chipmunk in the photo below, but at 35 meters away, the animal was very obvious in the thermal. I wouldn't have otherwise saw this chipmunk if not for the thermal. As I was watching the chipmunk frolic around, there were multiple instances where thermal was picking up the heat signature through the brush even though I don't have visuals at all. Without thermal, I could have stared at that spot for 10 minutes and not see the animal at all.

View attachment 514352
View attachment 514353

Nice.

 

[TnCnDn]

I've been having fun with the DNT TNC225R Thermnight for a while now. When I first bought it, I fully intend to use it full time (day or night) as the only scope on my main gun. What I can say now is, for general shooting in good lighting conditions, I still very much prefer a conventional optical scope over the Thermnight. Of course, the Thermnight's night capabilities are not available on conventional scopes (without added attachments), so that's a moot point when there is a need for night vision.

For my usage, I've never found the low resolution thermal to be bothersome. Of course, a higher resolution would be great but it costs so much more. I'm just not prepared to spend that much on an electronic scope when I still prefer a conventional optical scope overall. For stalking purposes though, the thermal has been great. Especially when trying to follow or find a kill in a dense brush.

What I really find annoying is how the power button works. To turn the unit on or off, you have to hold the power button for a considerable length of time. If you're looking through the scope, it's no issue as there is a countdown timer for when the unit is about to turn off. However, when hunting, I'm not looking at the scope unless I'm actually looking at an animal. I think the intended use is to turn the unit on when you begin a session and just put it to sleep in between shooting opportunities and only turn the unit completely off when you're about to head home. In this use case, the sleep works perfectly... but if you're trying to save as much power as possible and always trying to turn the scope on and off, it becomes a huge annoyance. I understand the purpose of holding the button to activate it but I believe the same can be accomplish by holding 2 buttons at the same time or similar user interface.

Another gripe I have about the TNC225R is the mono audio. I understand, ok, one mic, it will obviously be in mono, but the unit could have just duplicated the sound and output it to both left and right channels. As it is, the audio is only output on the left channel. When I make a video, I have to pull it into Adobe Premiere and duplicate the channel. I noticed from the YouTube videos that the higher end models have sound coming from both channels.

Overall though, the scope has been good for the use it was intended for. For such this unit, this is about as high as I'm willing to spend on the tech for now. It has to have some major improvements for me to spend more than twice this. I do understand though as the pricing is inline with current industry standards for the technology.

View attachment 538923
View attachment 538924

I got that chassis s

 

[MushroomPsyche]

I got that chassis s

Yes, the bottom one was the chassis you bought from me.

 

[MAUMAU]

@MushroomPsyche -

Does the 225 have the Auto Wake-Up that the 335R and 635R has?

Check your menu, 5th option down that looks like a half moon. Turning the unit on ‘standby’ only turns off the viewfinder on my AGM Rattler, and that only saves a minuscule amount of battery power. Not. Sure with your DNT. I turn it off mainly so that the hogs don’t see a small light as I stalk them.

 

[MushroomPsyche]

The TNC225R does not have the auto wake/sleep as the higher end models. That requires a physical sensor that detects the user's face that the TNC225R do not have. With the Thermnights, putting the unit on standby does save a considerable amount of battery. I just have to manually do it. Putting the unit on and off standby is instantaneous so that's really good.

What's not good though is that once you've ranged your target, if you put the unit on standby, the reticle will reset back to your zero. They say it's for "safety", but I'd say quite a stupid design decision to do it that way. It's really annoying when you're sitting there, you've already ranged your target, and just waiting to take the shot from that known distance. Sometimes, it can take a considerable wait for the right opportunity to pull the trigger. Considerable wait does not always mean the quarry changes position. In cases like this, I like to constantly cycle the standby off and on to save battery life as I'm watching the quarry outside the scope. When I do that, I always have to remember to take a range when I wake the unit up before actually taking the shot.

They say it's for safety but the way they have it right now is more of a safety issue because I'm expecting my reticle to already be on the correct hold over but it resets without me actually touching the range button. I'm not sure how it works with the higher end models with their auto standby. Hopefully it doesn't work this way as that would be such a huge pain every time you have to pull your face away from the scope.

 

[MAUMAU]

I think getting an extra battery or two may save you the aggravation with standby mode.

I am going to get a 635R as I want better resolution and the wider angle of view. Most of my shots will be 20 yards or less and the 1.5 X base magnification is a must. Beautiful rifles and I like your Venus Flytrap avatar.

 

[MushroomPsyche]

I think getting an extra battery or two may save you the aggravation with standby mode.

I am going to get a 635R as I want better resolution and the wider angle of view. Most of my shots will be 20 yards or less and the 1.5 X base magnification is a must. Beautiful rifles and I like your Venus Flytrap avatar.

Thank you for the kind words. Yes, the TNC635R should be great! Also, I remember the units actually allows charging via USB so a small battery bank Velcroed to the gun should provide all night scope use.

By the way, the Venus flytraps are actually the plants I'm trying to protect from the squirrels. If I let their population get out of control, all my Venus flytrap pots get dug up and used to store their food. It's a side hustle so it's costing me money when they ruin a pot of the plant.