What is a thermal imaging monocular and how to choose one?

The thermal imaging monocular is comfortable, compact and highly functional. This device reacts to thermal radiation from any object with a positive temperature. It is used for hunting, for military purposes, during patrolling, the monocular can be installed on the weapon in front of the sight.

Thermal imaging monocular - an optical device that allows you to recognize an object in infrared radiation at a distance of 900 m or more (if equipped with a laser rangefinder). The thermal imager belongs to professional equipment. It can be used at any time of the day, in dense fog, in rainy and snowy weather. He will track the object in thickets of bushes and tall grass. A monocular thermal imager not only indicates the presence of a warm object, but also identifies it, so that the hunter will not confuse a cow with an elk. A person with the help of the device will be able to find his lost dog, a partner, see a fire, and correctly go to the transshipment camp.

A luminous monitor becomes a good source of light at night. The device works as follows: infrared radiation through the lens enters the matrix, is transformed into a signal that transfers the image to the display. The picture is mostly monochrome or with a "warm red" function, that is, it produces an image in red on a dark background.

On the domestic market, devices made in European countries, the USA, China, Belarus and Russia are widespread.You can purchase both expensive equipment of well-known brands and budget Chinese thermal imagers. The leading places in the rating are taken by IWT, Infratech, Flir products. The best devices in terms of value for money belong to Belarusian brand Pulsar by Yukon.

Hunting thermal imaging monocular with dimensions of 235x55x58 mm weighs only half a kilogram. The device has a high optical magnification (4.1x), detects a target at a distance of 1800 m, identifies - from 5 m. The product contains a high frequency (50 Hz) microbolometer array, frost-resistant AMOLED display and a waterproof case. The battery works without additional charging up to 8 hours. Object recognition takes place at any time of the day, in bad weather conditions.

An expensive thermal imager designed for hunting. The AMOLED display contains a resolution of 800x600 pixels. The increased screen size (60 mm) reduces eye strain during long-term observation. The rangefinder allows you to find a target at a distance of a kilometer. The high resolution of the infrared image makes it possible to identify an object at a considerable distance from the viewer. The device is controlled using a digital menu and buttons on the case. The equipment works silently, ensuring the hunter's stealth.

A budget thermal imaging monocular with a germanium lens and factory-exhibited focusing has a high-resolution matrix. The equipment is ready for work in a few seconds. The device contains a high frame refresh rate, easy and intuitive interface, quickly responds to temperature fluctuations.

Expensive professional equipment worth 1,350,000 rubles is fully automated, designed for observation and reconnaissance of the area. Looks at the target in the dark, in bad weather, on difficult terrain, in partially hidden, camouflaged places.

The IWT SCOUT equipment contains a thermal imaging monocular, a laser rangefinder, a navigator, a ballistic calculator, a built-in meteorological station, while having minimal dimensions and weight.

When choosing a thermal imaging monocular, you need to pay attention to thermal sensitivity and many other points.

• Matrix. First of all, you need to understand the characteristics of the matrix - the more resolution it has, the better. The frame refresh rate and pixel density are important. The clarity of the image, the detail of the picture obtained at different distances from the object will depend on these indicators.
• Frame frequency. The image must be refreshed at over 25 frames per second (25 Hz). In such conditions, the eyes will not get tired during observation. Today, devices are produced with a frequency of 30-50 Hz. The more actively the animal moves, the more frequency it will need to observe it, otherwise the picture will be blurry.
• Lens size. It depends on the hunting location. When tracking animals on flat terrain, it is enough to have a lens with a diameter of 40 mm, in the mountains it is better to purchase equipment with a lens diameter of 70 to 120 mm.
• Frame. It is better to buy thermal imagers in a shock-resistant waterproof case. If winter hunting is practiced, you need to pay attention to the ability of continuous operation of equipment in frosty conditions.