Thermal imaging is an interesting and practical technology that has evolved quite a lot over recent years. Thermal imaging is used in hunting, inspecting buildings, the military & law enforcement as well as many more areas. Pulsar, a thermal and night vision brand has grown to produce many of the leading edge technology in thermal imaging.
Today, we will dig into their thermal monocular product line. These are monoculars with high-resolution micro-bolometers and high-quality optics that produce some of the clearest thermal images today. You can expect the high end build-quality with waterproof materials to last you a lifetime.
We also look at the significant differences in these monoculars. You will be able to identify which of these monoculars is the best choice for your thermal imaging endeavors.
Pulsar Axion Thermal Monoculars - New Generation
Pulsar AXION XM38 Review
Specifications:
- Thermal resolution: 320 × 240
- Refresh rate: 50Hz
- FOV: 5.8° x 4.3°
- Optical magnification: 5.5x
- E-zoom: up to 4x
- Battery life: 4 hours
This Axion XM38 has the most powerful lens when compared to other models within the range. As a result, it’s also the most expensive option. You’ll enjoy clear imaging if you pick this model which offers a 320 x 240 sensor resolution.
With this unit you can view images from a long distance away thanks to the 1700m detection range. It allows you to magnify images up to 22 times. Since it has a larger lens, the monocular provides a narrower field of view so keep that in mind when you determine if it’s for your specific application.
The unit is powered by a lithium-ion battery which is designed to operate for over four hours. It weighs 270g making it a lightweight unit though it’s the heaviest of all the models in this series.
You’ll get 16GB internal storage to store images and recorded footage. You can connect the unit to Wi-Fi for file transfer.
Pulsar AXION XM30 Review
Specifications:
- Thermal resolution: 320 × 240
- Refresh rate: 50Hz
- FOV: 7.3° x 5.5°
- Optical magnification: 4x
- E-zoom: up to 4x
- Battery life: 4 hours
This Axion XM30 thermal monocular has a smaller lens than the other units within this range. But you’ll enjoy a larger field of view if you pick this one.
It’s not the most powerful lens within the range, but it’s worth considering since it won’t cost much to own it. Thanks to the 320 x 240 sensor resolution, you can view clear images with this monocular so it’s still a quality product.
It’s the ideal monocular to pick if you specialize in close range viewing. This is evidenced by the 1200m detection range it allows for. It’s one of the lightest units within the range so handling and carrying it will be hassle free; it only weighs 250g.
You can expect a little over fours hours of battery life which is reasonable for this product range.