Four scopes / five IR torches - inc' the brand new Solaris SRXv2 (first field demo) pt.1/2

[@freff890]

Hi Russ, does the Torch Factory still exist. I find it impossible to get in contact with them after ordering the Solaris SRXv2 following your demo. Thanks

[@RussDouglas222]

Good morning, sorry I have no direct contact details for the guy there. Cheers. Russ

[@TorchfactoryUK]

Great work Russ, it's brilliant to see an IR tested across such a broad range of NV scopes under the same test conditions. The beam on the SRXv2 has been changed slightly since you did this video, the spot beam remains the same but the flood is now twice what it was when you tested it. So it's now very capable of filling a wide field of view. I'll get one sent down to you to have a look at in the next week or so 😎

[@RussDouglas222]

Woohoo excellent news. 👏🤓 Thank-you Trevor, looking forward to that! Cheers. Russ

[@stevo1166]

​@@RussDouglas222did you try out the srx V2 with improved flood adjustment? I'm after a quality illuminator that could serve well with a sytong ht,88 add on for distance foxing but also ideally go course flood for the alpex 4k. I'm imagining possibly this could be the most versatile if claimed adjustability is true. It's between this and the new wraith plus V3 at the moment. *Unless you have any other recommendations? The Sirius is highly regarded but never in stock by the looks of it. Does the SRX go as tightly focused as the others but still open up wide enough for dedicated nv without moving the diode spacer etc? Thanks 👍 👍

[@HunterNV]

What is the firmware on the condor chaps. V5.5.70 has issues with battery life you will be lucky to get an hour. Once down to one bar no lrf or zoom. Hik are aware and have an update pending. I found similar issues with the lrf.

[@RussDouglas222]

I'll ask Bruce, it's him that's got the Condor on loan. Cheers for the heads-up. Russ

[@HunterNV]

@RussDouglas222 I've been in discussion with hik and elite re this issue. Basically keep the firmware that's installed and don't upgrade to the latest version as this may be the cause of the problem.

[@RussDouglas222]

@@HunterNV Thanks for this info. Cheers. Russ

[@jamesbowskill362]

Was this vid' produced before the Hik Micro 4K LRF ALPEX was launched?

[@RussDouglas222]

Hi James, yes I filmed this back in May 2023. Thanks for watching, cheers. Russ

[@jamesbowskill362]

@@RussDouglas222 Hi there Russ, thanks for the prompt reply, can you tell me if you have compared the Hik Alpex 4k LRF with any of the products in the vid', Also, can you give any advice on using the Hik Micro IR Torch on the Alpex or should I be looking at an alternative. I value your findings, thanks again.

[@RussDouglas222]

@@jamesbowskill362 Hi James, I've not been loaned an Alpex 4K for review, but based upon the Alpex' sensitivity it'll not need VCSEL IR, so I expect any decent LED IR should be fine. Cheers. Russ

[@jamesbowskill362]

@@RussDouglas222 Hi, Thanks again for the prompt reply.

[@RussDouglas222]

@@jamesbowskill362 Happy to help, please share any of my vids you like, to help spread the word. 🤝

[@davidr4310]

good to see these videos compairing differant scopes, its big help for those who are thinking of buying some nv kit, out of all the nv you've tested if you could only choose 1 scope for airgun use what would it be 👍

[@RussDouglas222]

Thanks David (part.2 is processing right now for imminent upload). Hmm if I could only choose one for NV use... 🤔 Short-range ratting the wider FOV of the HIKMICRO Cheetah C32F-RL. Out to 40m and not too far much further, the Pard DS35-50RF (with a thermal spotter in hand for spotting). Longer range for .22" FAC use, the Pard DS35-70RF (with a thermal spotter in hand for spotting). Sorry for cheating slightly there, but there's no one scope that for me does short, medium and long range - and I love the LRF/BCL functionality (with onboard IR) of the Pard DS35s. All the best, cheers. Russ

[@kenh6096]

Interesting. My eyes are seeing the Hikmicro is looking to have very good low light sensitively closely followed by the Pard. The Pard looks to have the edge in sharpness of the bunch. The Pards are lagging a bit but have higher base magnification that I guess is always going to be a trade-off. But then I never know if these comparisons can be screwed from artifacts from KZbins video compression?

[@RussDouglas222]

Hi Ken, if there's any KZbin compression deterioration it should affect them all equally. I like both the DS35s (hence buying them), though the Cheetah's wider FOV is definitely better for shorter-range pest control. 🤓 Thanks for watching, cheers. Russ

[@stevo1166]

Hi Russ, great comparisons. Id love to see you review and compare the new dark engine blade 850 from black sun, it claims to be as powerful as any of the others but much smaller!! Looking to buy a decent ir light in a month or 2 and you and bruce are the best reviewers out there for these things. Compact would be great if it can match the wraith etc. 👍👍 Or if not, let me know any thoughts or feedback youve heard regarding that light / company please. Thanks😊

[@RussDouglas222]

Thanks Stephen (feel free to share!), yep me too -I'll check if Bruce has had chance to review one yet. My current fave is the Wraith or Wraith Lite -in 940nm VCSEL. Thanks for watching, cheers. Russ

[@stevo1166]

@@RussDouglas222 cheers. I'm after one for a spotter at the moment, I'm using a nightfox vulpes binoculars. Sensor is a day/night 1920x1080 res, 2mp, f1.3, 6 xoptical zoom. Not sure how this compares to a pard 008, my aim to to see clearly out to 4-500m to spot foxes hopefully, with this info, what do you recon my best bet is so far. Have tried decent led ( night sabre xhd 48) and budget vcsel but after more downrange light. The budget vcsel can easily make the range when the beam is tighter but it's just white, when diffused it kinda works but lacks punch. Thanks

[@RussDouglas222]

@@stevo1166 Ah the best thing I could do is suggest you watch my two videos including IR comparisons out to 500m ...but this is one of those two videos. So which do you prefer @500m? 🤷🏻‍♂️ Cheers. Russ

[@stevo1166]

@@RussDouglas222 I have done before and will watch again to refresh myself , but by the definition of the sensor type, by Bruce's logic, I would definitely require laser over led? Thanks 👍👍

[@RussDouglas222]

@@stevo1166 For 500m I'm 99% sure you'll need VCSEL IR, but I can check with Bruce if you like? Cheers. Russ

[@villaman2261]

Well I think I will keep to my original pard 007 with the on board IR after seeing this

[@RussDouglas222]

Depends entirely on your scope (with a rear add-on) and the weather/air conditions at the time. Obviously the LED IR torch is pretty good with all four scopes for short-range sub-12 use. Thanks for watching, cheers. Russ

[@1990StephB]

This for the price is a no go the dfk will wipe when floor with them and cheaper also clarity and at range and even on a airgun shooting rats dfk is the daddy of irs

[@RussDouglas222]

@@1990StephB I asked Bruce about DFKs and with their power he seriously doubts they're UK-legal within the current legislstion. 🤷🏻‍♂️