Thermals and LRF

[Coinwa]

After using the DNT Thermnight a couple times in the field (on a PB for coyote hunting)… I’m out on its overall usefulness for a hunting optic. The FOV in IR and the resolution in Thermal are just in no man’s land. Spotting/identifying and maintaining moving critters in the frame is just too difficult with the current configuration.

If they get the IR/Daytime down to base 2x and the thermal to 352…. then I’ll give it another try.

For now, I’ve gone back to the Wraith 4k mini on one rig, and the Iray Rico on the other. I also carry a Flir 640 thermal monocular for scanning.

I could see the DNT with all functions being a good thermal scanner and using the IR + rangefinder to establish range prior to starting my calling stands. I just don’t want it as my primary weapon sight for things that may happen fast from a non static position.

 

[JaceSpace1369]

After using the DNT Thermnight a couple times in the field (on a PB for coyote hunting)… I’m out on its overall usefulness for a hunting optic. The FOV in IR and the resolution in Thermal are just in no man’s land. Spotting/identifying and maintaining moving critters in the frame is just too difficult with the current configuration.

If they get the IR/Daytime down to base 2x and the thermal to 352…. then I’ll give it another try.

For now, I’ve gone back to the Wraith 4k mini on one rig, and the Iray Rico on the other. I also carry a Flir 640 thermal monocular for scanning.

I could see the DNT with all functions being a good thermal scanner and using the IR + rangefinder to establish range prior to starting my calling stands. I just don’t want it as my primary weapon sight for things that may happen fast from a non static position.

I've gone through A ALOT of videos on thermals. The DNT seems like decent option if you are going to keep it under 100yds jist using the thermal. For the same reasons you don't like yours, are the same reason I haven't picked it up.

I'm hoping sometime after christmas to get a decent low-mid thermal scope.

 

[delooper]

While I would appreciate a LRF on all my optics except maybe the red dots, as I'm mostly doing pesting, I could certainly imagine some people don't want them.

If you want a light-weight optic, you'll usually want to shed the LRF which can add quite a bit. So people that hike a considerable distance for their hunts, I could see why some may not want a LRF. Say, if you're using a tree-stand and you already know your shot distance. I also notice a lot of people like having a LRF off the scope, they seem to have come to like the process of LRF during the spotting stage and a dedicated lighter-weight scope on their rifle.

Like a few people in this thread, I use a thermal scope even in day time. There's a lot of pesting situations where it's a fantastic advantage -- like hunting in a shady area. There's so much in the microwave band that isn't available in human eyesight wavelengths.

One far more affordable thing I hope to see in more scopes would be a level-indicator in-scope.

 

[JaceSpace1369]

While I would appreciate a LRF on all my optics except maybe the red dots, as I'm mostly doing pesting, I could certainly imagine some people don't want them.

If you want a light-weight optic, you'll usually want to shed the LRF which can add quite a bit. So people that hike a considerable distance for their hunts, I could see why some may not want a LRF. Say, if you're using a tree-stand and you already know your shot distance. I also notice a lot of people like having a LRF off the scope, they seem to have come to like the process of LRF during the spotting stage and a dedicated lighter-weight scope on their rifle.

Like a few people in this thread, I use a thermal scope even in day time. There's a lot of pesting situations where it's a fantastic advantage -- like hunting in a shady area. There's so much in the microwave band that isn't available in human eyesight wavelengths.

One far more affordable thing I hope to see in more scopes would be a level-indicator in-scope.

Interesting POV I did not take into consideration.

I have been using my Thermal monocular and it's been amazing.

For pesting or hunting during the day, I wouldn't see myself using the thermal to hunt with, but rather to spot. Which is why I state Thermal scopes should come with an LRF rather mostly being something optional. You could have a thermal monocular along with a thermal scope when hunting at night, but that's also extra gear.

So in my mind, I'm going to be hiking and traveling, I would think I'd rather have it all in one instead of adding more thing to my pack.