1280 Res thermals

S

shoots100

Member
I almost bit the bullet a couple of years ago and bought a 1280 res scope my friend (an importer) had handled while overseas, but I didn't want to spend big money on a China made optic that would have no customer support if needed.
It just so happens that a few months later iRay introduced the RS75 and my 1280 res scope ember got new life.
The price, 1.5x base mag, 30 Hz refresh rate and proprietary battery put out the fire and the wait for a decent priced 1280 res scope began again.
2023 ATN announces the Thor 5 XD 1280 res scope and it fizzled out before it hit the shelves.
What did I expect from ATN ?
Mid 2024 Pulsar add's 1024 res optics to the table, but with pulsar proprietary batteries and it's not 1280 Res.
2025 comes around and two manufacturers (AGM, Noc pix) came out with 1280 res optics in tube and box style for half the price of the RS75.
Two models are powered with 18650's, have a slightly higher base mag than the RS75 and are 50Hz.
The NocPix(iRay) Ace S60R intrigued me with it's features.
2x base mag, 18650 battery power, ocular zoom, integrated LRF in the Obj lens, ballistic comp reticle, tube style and 50Hz refresh rate.
I prefer a 3x base mag, but the ocular zoom feature makes up for it.
I've been using a RIX L3 as my backup and the ocular zoom makes it a better scope.
The AGM Adder V2 has a 2.5 base mag and all of the features of the S60R, except the ocular zoom and it also has an advertised 25Hz refresh rate.
The slow refresh rate is a real bummer.
Both AGM and NocPix products have some parts that are made overseas, but the scopes are built and warrantied in the US and cost around + or - $7K.
Both scopes are claimed to become available in Q2 of 2025.
SJC
 
Im waiting for user reviews of the NocPix Ace S60R. It seems to check all the boxes.

For sure beats Pulsar with their big, giant lrf wart on top of the objective.

Plus the S60R has in scope video review. Very cool.
 
I've been using a Halo X50 as my primary scope since they were introduced.
Had a Halo LR before that.
Big fan of the fixed focus and adaptive reticle of the Halo.
I've contacted NVis about any higher res optics in the works but have been told nothing.
I was hoping for a higher res scope becoming available after the 2023 unveiling of the BAE Athena 1920 Res core.
I was very disappointed when NVis came out with a clip on and a set of Binos at SHOT this year.
SJC
 
Did you see Nvisions clip on? They should be embarrassed. After YEARS of development thats what they came out with, brutal.

N-Vision is todays Trijicon. Whats really sad is the Chinese are kicking our ass again!
 
It is what it is with NVis.
China isn't kicking our ass, China is supplying parts for scope designer/manufacturers that are taking advice from and making products for consumers at an affordable price.
This is a thread about 1280 res optics and what's available now to the consumer.
I've been testing and even buying domestically assembled thermal optics with foreign internals for awhile now.
While some have been crap, some have been very durable.
I'm particularly interested in the NocPix S60R because I tested an S50R and was very impressed.
1280 res is overkill for the terrain/distances I hunt and I haven't seen anything that beats my Halo X50 yet in its price range, but with the advent of high def 1280 res thermals coming to the market, never say never.

SJC
 
I was close to buying a Trijicon or Nvision but with these new 1280’s hitting the market in another year they will be produced by everyone and the cost will keep going down. I have a Bering super yoter now. 640. It’s okay, my helmet mounted iray 640 blows it out of the water in every category.


Thermal sucks, you buy this years best and pay top dollar and next year they are half the price lol
 
Trijicon still powers their scopes with CR123's.
Thermal optics have big appetites and CR123's don't cut it.
At least NVis changed to 18650's in the Halo scopes and use a BAE core, which is the best core available.
As ATN proved, it takes more than a 1280 sensor to make a good 1280 res optic.
The germanium glass and other electrical components needed to make it all happen are expensive and I don't think 1280 optics will get much cheaper than what's available now.
Not many people are willing to drop $7K for an optic and those that do expect quality and longevity.
IMHO, The S60R has the best specs out of the 1280 res optics available today.
SJC
 
I'd be more apt to buy a 1280 scanner than a scope honestly, my Halo XRFs are perfectly capable for shooting called coyotes. In fact if Nvision simply added FFP and AB software to it they would check the block for 99% of the needs we've been asking for.

We spend about 98% 9f our night looking through our scanner, that's where I want the image to look the best IMO. Having a scanner that is crisp, enjoyable and allows you to see and identify animals coming in from a long distance is very important to me, I can sacrifice image quality for the 30 seconds it takes to make a shot.
 
shoots100 said:
The germanium glass and other electrical components needed to make it all happen are expensive and I don't think 1280 optics will get much cheaper than what's available now.
Not many people are willing to drop $7K for an optic and those that do expect quality and longevity.
IMHO, The S60R has the best specs out of the 1280 res optics available today.
SJC
Click to expand...
I agree, except longevity isn't very long when the tech is advancing as rapidly as it is. I had the opportunity to discuss what I personally would want implemented into my current thermal selection with some engineers at SHOT, and got a pretty satisfied smile when I was told whats coming very soon.
We're doing a podcast on what's going to be happening in the near future with thermal and what I think is going to keep companies ahead of the curve.
 
with the high price of thermals, everyone should come with something like the jlmetalworx external battery pack. mine lasts all night for at least two nights before i even think about recharging it.

cr123's and 18650 are becoming old school FAST.
 
skinney said:
I agree, except longevity isn't very long when the tech is advancing as rapidly as it is. I had the opportunity to discuss what I personally would want implemented into my current thermal selection with some engineers at SHOT, and got a pretty satisfied smile when I was told whats coming very soon.
We're doing a podcast on what's going to be happening in the near future with thermal and what I think is going to keep companies ahead of the curve.
Click to expand...
Hopefully those advancements are happening with an American company using BAE electronics.
You can only get so much out of an uncooled thermal detector.
I look forward to seeing the future of thermal, but don't think I can afford it.
SJC
 
Kino M said:
I'd be more apt to buy a 1280 scanner than a scope honestly, my Halo XRFs are perfectly capable for shooting called coyotes. In fact if Nvision simply added FFP and AB software to it they would check the block for 99% of the needs we've been asking for.

We spend about 98% 9f our night looking through our scanner, that's where I want the image to look the best IMO. Having a scanner that is crisp, enjoyable and allows you to see and identify animals coming in from a long distance is very important to me, I can sacrifice image quality for the 30 seconds it takes to make a shot.
Click to expand...
The coyote union called Trump and said they want to ban you from using 1280 res thermals and they also want to restrict you to using 256 resolution optics and airsoft guns.
I agree about the scanner and will also buy one if they can make it lightweight and not too expensive.
SJC
 
bohunr said:
with the high price of thermals, everyone should come with something like the jlmetalworx external battery pack. mine lasts all night for at least two nights before i even think about recharging it.

cr123's and 18650 are becoming old school FAST.
Click to expand...
I prefer not to use an external battery pack and don't want to hear that 18650's are going extinct, as most of my thermal optics run on 18650 batteries.
Luckily manufacturers have many ways to power optics these days.
With the high power consumption of 1280 electronics, having an external battery pack on hand is always a good option.
SJC
 
skinney said:
I agree, except longevity isn't very long when the tech is advancing as rapidly as it is. I had the opportunity to discuss what I personally would want implemented into my current thermal selection with some engineers at SHOT, and got a pretty satisfied smile when I was told whats coming very soon.
We're doing a podcast on what's going to be happening in the near future with thermal and what I think is going to keep companies ahead of the curve.
Click to expand...
When yall doing that podcast episode?
 
shoots100 said:
The coyote union called Trump and said they want to ban you from using 1280 res thermals and they also want to restrict you to using 256 resolution optics and airsoft guns.
I agree about the scanner and will also buy one if they can make it lightweight and not too expensive.
SJC
Click to expand...

You must be confused, he only banned us from using the women's locker room and beating the shit out of them in sports, we're safe!!!
 
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