Pulsar Digex & Thermion daylight tests

Following on from the Pulsar Digex N450 unboxing and Pulsar Thermion XP50 unboxing, here’s a daylight (early summer) comparative rundown on both day & night scopes. I also used a PARD008LRF to range the various objects and for colour/HD comparison footage.
(There's a contents at the start)
Thanks again to Ian Blackwood for the kind loan of these two high-end scopes, the product links are here: www.blackwoodo...
Pulsar full product manual download page: www.pulsar-nv....
And here: www.blackwoodo...
Pulsar full product manual download page: www.pulsar-nv....
UK NightVisionForum General section: www.nightvisio...
Coming soon is a night-time comparison session (where both scopes perform far better / are in their natural environment), inc’ me trying the Digex at the same harbour location with several different IR sources.
A lot of this footage is a nine minute segment, recorded by Bruce (@Phoenix) while out on his essential lamb protection duties, including comparing the Digex against a Pard008 with both 850nm and 940nm supplemental IR.
Airgun forum NV section: www.airgunforu...
Airgun BBS NV section: www.airgunbbs.c...
#blackwoodoutdoors, #pulsardigexn450, #pulsarthermionxp50, #digexreticles, #pulsarthermion, #thermionreticles, #thermionmenufunctions, #zoomtests, #piptests, #IndependentReviews, #pard008lrf, #pardrangefinding, #pardhdcolourcomparisons, #HonestReviews, #TechnicalReview, #DayandNightpestcontrol, #RussDouglas222, #DisabledReviews, #DisabledGunReviews, #UKNVforum

[@RussDouglas222]

Ludicrous Lumens have tipped me off the recommended IR torch for the (very sensitive) Digex N450 is this LED version of their excellent Wraith illuminator: www.ludicrous-lumens.co.uk/XHD_Wraith__Sun_Ranger__850NM_or_940NM_LED_This_version_is_not_a_laser/p6841183_20277816.aspx Cheers. Russ

[@escapeartist6546]

thanks for the vid...tips for text time, use a tripod to stop the shaking and mount all 3 on a board set up, edit for side by side comparison, use written descriptions of range etc, push the ranges out further...50-150m is fine but some of us shoot 300-800m aswell. Cheers tho, still good info.

[@gimlet61cotswoldlad38]

Having owned a pard 008, I didn't expect it to be such a pain to set up. Make up shims to get reticle to appear somewhere near where the pellet actually struck and to get near to centre of the screen. Also the mounts, neither the original or the adjustable aftermarket could be positioned to suit my eye relief. In the end I had enough and sold it out of frustration and got a digex 450. Bore sighted it, took 2 shots and froze picture, moved reticle, saved and took a 3rd shot. Zero was done at 100yds, absolutely no faffing like the pard, next shot took eye out of the first rabbit to appear. Bright sunshine is not best for the digex but overcast, dusk and night, I find better for it. One other benefit is, rifle with digex does fit in the cabinet far easier than the pard. Cost difference matters but faffing does your head in.

[@RussDouglas222]

I had no problems setting up my PARDs, but know some others have, plus all digital scopes do show-up undiagnosed misalignments between actions/rails & barrels. For many the PARDs are still unbeatable for price/size/weight -savings, plus they're full HD and IR-friendly.

[@henrymoreland8719]

10 mins in, I am lost, watch tomorrow, without a drink, thanks Russ

[@pistolpete938]

I sent blackwoods a question about this digex scope, asking him if it was better than my armasignt drone, he never replied . Now I understand why!

[@arpc]

The chevrons are there to warn of cant which will knock your zero so this tilt is important but it's pretty useless if they're only coming on at five degrees. Even a degree or two of cant can change your PoI. The ATN X Sights measure this all the time. The Digex is a pile. I am seriously unimpressed with this for the price and considering the company behind it. Such a shame. Thanks for reviewing it Russ.

[@RussDouglas222]

My pleasure Jonny, aye it's of limited use in daylight. Watch the Nocturnal (final) part of this review to see how sensitive to IR it is. It can be used with add-on IR but you have to both choose and use it carefully to avoid whiting-out. It's clearest at night without any IR at all, but then as a pest controller you naturally want some IR, to get eye shine. 🤔 Cheers. Russ

[@arpc]

@@RussDouglas222 I'm really disappointed with it. Compared to the ATN X Sight. Pulsar will pull this before long I reckon. It's appalling mate. After seeing and using their thermal kit, I expected so much more. 🙄

[@RussDouglas222]

@@arpc Have you watched the IR comparisons yet? Uploaded two hours ago. R

[@arpc]

@@RussDouglas222 I'll take a look mate. 👍

[@user-gi8vi5vy1l]

Thanks for the very nice videos. Personally, they help me a lot for what interests me. Τhank you again Sakis from Greece.

[@RussDouglas222]

Thank-you Sakis. Cheers. Russ

[@user-gi8vi5vy1l]

@@RussDouglas222 You are welcome, my friend.

[@georgepatron8337]

Hi Russ, hope this message finds you well. Great video - very informative. I wanted to ask, how did you get the rangefinder centred above your cross hairs? I know how to move the box, but did you also move the laser to the center too? Looks so much easier to use/read. Any feedback would be much appreciated.

[@RussDouglas222]

Thank-you very much George, am not bad thanks -trying to fit-in reviewing and shooting in-between feeling sore. Hope you're well too? Both my Pards have their LRF laser splash in slightly different positions, but I haven't done anything to realign them. All I've done is move the aiming box [+] to coincide with each splash at my chosen zero range, so 30m for .177" & 50m for .22" FAC. One of my older Pard008LRF videos includes Bruce showing how the splash itself can be moved/redirected, but the general advice is not to do this unless you're confident and perhaps your Pard's already out of warranty. 🤷🏻‍♂️ All the best, cheers. Russ

[@roberthowe2910]

From that vid we both know the pard is in a different league... Think the pulsar gear we give a better performance at nite... We're it is really designed for... But for a all-rounder. Pard hands down

[@RussDouglas222]

Robert Yep as you'll see in the last part the Pulsars perform properly at night, although the Digex is very sensitive to IR illumination. Cheers. Russ

[@mcfreedom10]

Hello Russ, hope your well. I’m really interested in the Digex but I’m wondering how usable as a day scope it is? I can’t tell if it’s the recording that is really dark as it doesn’t look very good to me

[@RussDouglas222]

Hi Michael, getting there thanks, though lock-down stopping Physio has really hindered me. I wouldn't say this is so good as a day scope, it's just way too sensitive. Cheers. Russ

[@jasonhoye2388]

Nice tutorial russ.... Can't beat the pard day/night... Everything u need on a budget that punches way above its weight...... Why spend£££££...

[@robertbellwood46]

Absolutely rubbish in daytime, very dark. And white out at night time. I lasted a month with mine.

[@justinpaffvett3367]

Pulsar night vision gash the pard looks great good review russ jay636 of the forum 👍

[@RussDouglas222]

Thanks Jay. Aye the Pulsars perform properly at night, as you'll see in the last segment. Cheers. Russ

[@justinpaffvett3367]

I'll have a look at that russ but I've got a Env15x known as the drone pro so I dont find much that comes close to me honest.👍

[@RussDouglas222]

@@justinpaffvett3367 I've heard great things about the Drone from the UKNV forum, but haven't had chance to try one (yet). Cheers. Russ

[@justinpaffvett3367]

Hi russ should give cliff ray a shout at optical solutions. He has them great bit of kit I dont no why for the life of me they got discontinued. The nearest I've seen for the money is the pard nv008 put the drone /Env come in to there own at night I'm sure bruce has got a drone pro.

[@garyturner6194]

You should of done pulsar with lens cap open or turned the brightness up bid have got ultra and pic is a lot better try it with cap open

[@RussDouglas222]

Thanks Gary but the sun was on that side of the car so overpowered it when the cap was open. The footage looking at the boat/car/4x4 (see @16:24) was looking in the other direction (from the shade) -still with the lens cap closed and looks a lot better. Sadly I didn't have the scopes for long enough to do more filming. Cheers. Russ

[@garyturner6194]

@@RussDouglas222 OK bud

[@bunnybasheruk]

The pulsar is useless in daylight, judging by that video.

[@RussDouglas222]

Poor in direct/string sunlight aye, but it's ok/better @16:24 when pointed t'other way.

[@Spuggy2443]

Pulsar make night vision that’s there mantra so test it at night . They make no bones if want a day and night scope buy something different .

[@RussDouglas222]

Aye Dave that's kinda the outcome of the recent four page "Digex" thread on the NV forum, except the Digex is SO sensitive that many users (even Pulsar fans) have apparently struggled to use it and have now sold theirs on after giving up. Shame Pulsar didn't put a full HD colour digital sensor in the Digex body (and use VCSEL add-on IR), as THAT might rival the PARDs, with folk then individually just having to decide is the extra Pulsar build quality worth the extra £££ -for the same quality imagery by day and night. Then some would buy PARD, some PULSAR.

[@Spuggy2443]

RussDouglas 222 Not my findings im afraid been using it a lot with no problems !! I will admit I haven’t used a larger IR torch because haven’t needed to. My fox work at night is mostly 100 - 200 yards never any further the image clarity is much better than the wraith and photon . Which I’ve used prior to the Digex . Used a lot of night vision over the years and many other people’s kit also Atns , Nitesite ect I personally think it’s the best out and out night scope yet . I don’t need a day scope has I just change scopes over when out at night using the Blaser saddle mounts . On your video prior to this one about the digex you said you needed to have the scope close to your nose to see a full image !! Not true when it’s mounted correctly on a firearm eye relief is at least 3-4 inches which is safe to use on most high powered rifles .also on the un boxing video you said they give a spare battery cover !! it’s not a spare it’s for the larger battery which you can purchase separate. Anyway my penny’s worth from a shooter who’s actually used it in the field a lot .