Thermal or Night Vision?

Thanks for boosting my confidence in the unit. Hate to think I wasted 3 grand. Seems like the sage brush and bushes glow extraordinarily bright and the signature of a rabbit is not a lot brighter. I guess that's the learning process of being able to pick animals out of the background glow. Very happy with the D760 I got with it.
 
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My experience with the PS32 was not that great. I too had a hard time distinguishing people and animals near buildings and vegetation at distances as close as 75 yards. It seems like the 640 core is where the technology really starts to shine. I bought a PS32 and returned it for a 640 core model. The 640x512 units don't seem to have this problem.
 
Originally Posted By: igorThanks for boosting my confidence in the unit. Hate to think I wasted 3 grand. Seems like the sage brush and bushes glow extraordinarily bright and the signature of a rabbit is not a lot brighter. I guess that's the learning process of being able to pick animals out of the background glow. Very happy with the D760 I got with it. There might be some different environment issues that you have in Texas that I don't have in Ohio. Fella was tellin me he was seeing more rocks than game, cause the rocky formations were absorbing the heat during the day hence givin off a heat signature at night. Not sure. But there's many hand held out there, I use mine more than my NV.
 
My experience is that thermal works best in flat fields with a uniform temperature. Example - cottontail rabbit on a flat grass field. Detection happens immediately due to the big difference in temperature between the rabbit and the grass.

It becomes less than optimal in a desert like terrain with rocks and sagebrush. The detection of the same rabbit becomes more difficult because the camera is looking at a scene with several objects of different temperatures (rocks, dirt, sagebrush, rabbit). It still works. But, detection can start to depend on the target moving to be easily seen. I call it thermal clutter.
 
Thermal clutter...I'll see about getting that in the urban dictionary. LOL...I know exactly what you are talking about, it happens here mid June-mid Sept. I'm usually tugging the kids around on the ski boat that time of yr and trying my luck at fishing, only dreaming of coyote hunting!
 
I think I am gonna make my PS32 work. Blown my toy budget for the this month AND next month. The 640 would be nice but not in the budget for now. I went out tonite again and I think with proper procedure it will work just fine. Heard some yotes a long way in the distance but didn't have the right call on. I got elevated and that helps a little. Sure was a nice sundown and moonless night in West Texas. About 50 square miles of public land only 25 miles from me and I am usually the only creeper out there during the week and its exactly what you guys are talking about "thermal clutter". Some of my best calling areas are gonna be plowed fields but they are 125 miles away. Can't wait to actually see a yote sneakin in. Igor
 
I think I am gonna make my PS32 work. Blown my toy budget for the this month AND next month. The 640 would be nice but not in the budget for now. I went out tonite again and I think with proper procedure it will work just fine. Heard some yotes a long way in the distance but didn't have the right call on. I got elevated and that helps a little. Sure was a nice sundown and moonless night in West Texas. About 50 square miles of public land only 25 miles from me and I am usually the only creeper out there during the week and its exactly what you guys are talking about "thermal clutter". Some of my best calling areas are gonna be plowed fields but they are 125 miles away. Can't wait to actually see a yote sneakin in. Igor
 
So I have came to these two options which, I think, would suit me best:
1. HTRN's MX-160. Seems to me like a very practical unit with a gen3 night vision monocular for scanning and a pretty slick way to attach to my day scope. It looks like it works good for Kevin. It would probably require me getting a lower power scope.

or
2. A PS32 for scanning and a kill light (which I already have) for IDing and taking the shot.

If I go route #1, I can always get a thermal unit in a year or two and maybe technology will come down in price a little. If I go route #2, I will probably be looking at something like the M845 or the MX-160 at a later time.
 
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Originally Posted By: yzsuperleeSo I have came to these two options which, I think, would suit me best:
1. HTRN's MX-160. Seems to me like a very practical unit with a gen3 night vision monocular for scanning and a pretty slick way to attach to my day scope. It looks like it works good for Kevin. It would probably require me getting a lower power scope.

or
2. A PS32 for scanning and a kill light (which I already have) for IDing and taking the shot.

If I go route #1, I can always get a thermal unit in a year or two and maybe technology will come down in price a little. If I go route #2, I will probably be looking at something like the M845 or the MX-160 at a later time.


either way will work fine, but I think I would lean towards the 32 first you will spot more game
 
I know I am going to be jumped on here but who cares. The PS32 is probably all anyone needs. It is not night vision and is not meant to be. I live in the mountains of VA and hunt both the mountains and the flat lands. The PS 32 has a wider field of view then the LS 64 and less resolution. I bought the LS 64 after some on this board said it was the best thing invented since sliced bread. It is not. It does have more resolution but you still cannot identify a coyote at 200 yards. With both you can tell they are there but you cannot identify with either. Do I enjoy the higher resolution? Yes. Would I recommend anyone dump another $3,000 to get one? Heck NO!

I have both now and I usually let a friend use the PS 32. All of that to say to those that say the Flir is not worth it. You are flipping crazy! You can spot a critter, way, way, WAY before someone with night vision can. I have PVS14 mounted on a Team Wendy Helmut with Surefire Illuminator and I run both simultaneously. I almost always see them in the Flir first. Learn to use it and you will love it.

Is anyone on this thread employed by, sponsored by or a representative of Flir? Or, is anyone given product or use of product without buying it like the rest of us? Just curious as there is way too much hype in regard to the LS64.
 
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Originally Posted By: R15 PredatorI know I am going to be jumped on here but who cares. The PS32 is probably all anyone needs. It is not night vision and is not meant to be. I live in the mountains of VA and hunt both the mountains and the flat lands. The PS 32 has a wider field of view then the LS 64 and less resolution. I bought the LS 64 after some on this board said it was the best thing invented since sliced bread. It is not. It does have more resolution but you still cannot identify a coyote at 200 yards. With both you can tell they are there but you cannot identify with either. Do I enjoy the higher resolution? Yes. Would I recommend anyone dump another $3,000 to get one? Heck NO!

I have both now and I usually let a friend use the PS 32. All of that to say to those that say the Flir is not worth it. You are flipping crazy! You can spot a critter, way, way, WAY before someone with night vision can. I have PVS14 mounted on a Team Wendy Helmut with Surefire Illuminator and I run both simultaneously. I almost always see them in the Flir first. Learn to use it and you will love it.

Is anyone on this thread employed by, sponsored by or a representative of Flir? Or, is anyone given product or use of product without buying it like the rest of us? Just curious as there is way too much hype in regard to the LS64.

+1

I have the ps24 and doing it over would not purchase the ls64. Now the rs series thermal scope maybe
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Since my ls64 has been made into the frankenthermal I like it, as well as the zoom for long distance shooting. But I think the rs series with the 320 core & 60mm lens + manual focus would be better.
 
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The PS-32 will do 80% of what the LS-64 will do, the other 20% the LS-64 takes credit for is the 4X and infinite zoom magnification, I have both and use both all the time and prefer the LS-64. We don't hunt in ag fields, always in swamps or deep woods and the FLIRs definitely bring home the bacon and fur when all else fails.

It would be nice if the PS-32 had the 35mm lens though.

I wish I was employed by, sponsored by, or a representative of FLIR, that would be totally awesome!

Sure would like to given free product or use of product without buying it, that would be awesome too.

Can you recommend me to a FLIR representative for free products, I would be forever grateful....


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Originally Posted By: the impactzonepaid for mine

Paid for all mine too and never leave home hunting without them!

But I will be more than happy to accept a free set of FLIR BN-10 thermal binoculars if anyone has a set they would like to give away to me to try out....better yet, make that two sets.
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I want to seek the heat!
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I have a different opinion. I bought both the LS64/MLS-618 and the PS32. I sent the PS32 back.

Short distance in an open field - Yes. They both detect equally.

Long distance in an open field - The 640 core unit clearly out detects the PS32

Medium/Long distance in high thermal clutter areas - the 640 core units BLOW the PS32 away. I found the PS32 unusable beyond 75 yards. Situations were there are rocks, bushes, trees, buildings ect. render the PS32 almost useless. The extra resolution of the 640 core unit makes finding a coyote amongst a bunch of sagebrush possible.
 
Originally Posted By: R15 PredatorTo each his own. Go with some friends that have both and see what your money buys you. The 64 is not worth 100% more cash.

It is for me, we have them all and we have a serious vermin problem to deal with.

Just ordered an FLIR M-18 Recon 640 core with red laser too, does somebody here want to pay for it for me?
 
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