Thermal vs NV

[ady]

I am seeking some guidance and advice from those that have experience on a farm or small holding.

The threads i can find are a good few years old and I'm sure technology has advanced since then and so has the pricing.

I live alone on a small holding and want the ability to see at night. I have a few camera's mounted on poles around the property that have NV and work via a cell network, but I want something mobile for me to use and carry around. I don't want a weapon mounted system as this will mean I'm pointing my firearm at whatever i want to identify.

I have realized that if you can see at night, you are already winning the game. I have had a look at thermal monocles and i know thermal comes with it's own pros and cons and so does NV. My budget is around the R20k mark, I'm not ready to purchase anything yet, I'm still in the research stage. I am wanting to ID predators as well as potential BG's.

My question is this to the guys using thermal, NV or both. What do you find works, what doesn't work, what do you use (make, model etc), what lessons have you learnt using this tech and what would you do different?

Any other info would be welcome.

[Trundle]

I use both for different purposes.

If I'm culling/pest control I find that NV (Bushnell) is far superior as you can scan quickly and pick up the eye-shine at really any distance.
If I'm going to shoot I have an ATN Thermal mounted to my rifle that does the job.

If we are looking for BG's then I use a combo of the above NV and an entry level FLIR monocular.
I find that the FLIR is much better during winter than summer, as the heat signatures are more pronounced and you are not picking up sun heated rocks.
I typically leave the FLIR at home in summer and focus only on the NV as it's a much cleaner pic.

Both my FLIR and NV are old gen so undoubtedly there is better tech on the market now.

[Geno]

Have a look at the HikMicro Habrok HE25L. It has Day, iR NV and thermal all in one. Contact me via Whatsapp on 0825354100 for some vids.

[Trayton]

I use thermal. Hikmicro FH25.

I would prefer something smaller though, with thermal you want to look at how often it refreshes. It tends to refresh at the most inconvenient times and if it does that you don't want it to take too long.

Since getting thermal the NV hasn't seen use but I can see why Trundle prefers the ATN for hunting.

[ady]

Thank you all for the input.

I have a few more ideas and perhaps i need a bigger budget. I have seen the Hikmicro brand, but i wasn't to sure about the quality. I have never heard of it until recently.

[Geno]

It tends to refresh at the most inconvenient times and if it does that you don't want it to take too long.

Set it to manual NUC / refresh. Then it doesn't bother you that much.

[Daaf Malan]

Rather install a PTZ Camera system close to your house. Depending on the line of site, it scans automatically up to 600 meters and has software which detects human activity and then alarms you.

[ady]

Rather install a PTZ Camera system close to your house. Depending on the line of site, it scans automatically up to 600 meters and has software which detects human activity and then alarms you.

Thanks, but i already have a few of those cameras around the property. I love them, they work really well.