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Axion 2 XQ35 LRF or Hik Condor PRO CQ35L LRF

3595wilk

3595wilk

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Looking at a new thermal hand held to replace my ageing but still effective Axion 30.

Predominately for stalking/foxing but rabbits and squirrels too. Will be used across all possible scenarios......from sub 12 up into tree canopy through to deer spotting at a few hundred yards daytime; and night use on rats at 15 yards to reynard at 200.

Was going to change after looking through both at the shooting show this year, but my shooting vehicle went pop, so had to sort that....but now have the funds. TBH, couldn't really get a difference in image quality there between the 2.

Ergonomically, the Pulsar seemed better - maybe due to my experience with my current one - but the 18650 basis of the Condor appealed for ease of use.

Any real world experiences of either appreciated, from any users in here?

Know about the battery life issues/LRF that the Condor had when first released, but guess that's all resolved now.

Especially keen to hear from Ian @Blackwood Outdoors where I got my current trusty thermal spotter and Alpex from (😉) and @mealiejimmie ....as can't get into NV forum at the moment.....forgotten password and a bugger to reset on there.....😀.
 
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I have the Pulsar XG35 LRF, and frankly I find it very disappointing at this price point. The image is soft and low contrast, it has no "pop". Depth of field seems very poor and nothing ever seems very sharp. It's probably the last Pulsar purchase I will make.
 
bill57 said:
I have the Pulsar XG35 LRF, and frankly I find it very disappointing at this price point. The image is soft and low contrast, it has no "pop". Depth of field seems very poor and nothing ever seems very sharp. It's probably the last Pulsar purchase I will make.
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,I have the same model that replaced my xm30s which had the same HD screen. I assume you have done the firm ware up grades mine has had three. I to was disappointed initially. However I have found its very weather dependent wet weather its poor, open fields are bland BUT dry weather especially in wooded areas in the dark its fabulous. I have used the xp,50 pro which gives a better overall picture of the surrounding folage etc but the image of your target animal to me is the same. You need to adjust the front focus from 40yds to longer distances and you can adjust the contrast and brightness in the settings to be honest i haven't !essed with these or the ultra and high picture settings. You will find the animal is sharp and clear upto approximately 450yds.
 
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No I haven't done the firmware upgrade, I'll need to try that. I have a Helion XQ38 which has much better contrast, though as a "Q" model it's one rung lower. I also have an Infiray TL35 which I prefer to any of them.
 
HIKMICRO condor 100%
I’ve had the pulsar.
I now have the hik condor albeit the CQ50pro
But the condor cq35 pro is a cracking unit with a good field of view. Fantastic image. decent sized display and has image pro and zoom pro. To be honest it knocks it clean out of the park.
 
bill57 said:
No I haven't done the firmware upgrade, I'll need to try that. I have a Helion XQ38 which has much better contrast, though as a "Q" model it's one rung lower. I also have an Infiray TL35 which I prefer to any of them.
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The second firmware upgrade made a noticeable improvement on contrast. Definitely do all the upgrades!
 
One on top of two said:
HIKMICRO condor 100%
I’ve had the pulsar.
I now have the hik condor albeit the CQ50pro
But the condor cq35 pro is a cracking unit with a good field of view. Fantastic image. decent sized display and has image pro and zoom pro. To be honest it knocks it clean out of the park.
Click to expand...
Good point re FOV ......as I do like to see a bigger vista - even if it means sacrificing some detail at 200. Reality is it's a bit of a dual purpose one so the 35 seems a decent compromise.

Must say I was impressed with the Condor 35 image at Birmingham.....but looking around at lots of other middle aged blokes, doesn't really give you a feel for what it's like in the middle of nowhere and peering at something possibly Roe sized in a crop.....
 
3595wilk said:
Good point re FOV ......as I do like to see a bigger vista - even if it means sacrificing some detail at 200. Reality is it's a bit of a dual purpose one so the 35 seems a decent compromise.

Must say I was impressed with the Condor 35 image at Birmingham.....but looking around at lots of other middle aged blokes, doesn't really give you a feel for what it's like in the middle of nowhere and peering at something possibly Roe sized in a crop.....
Click to expand...
Your not be sacrificing detail with the condor CQ35 pro. Your be gaining detail over the pulsar !
 
3595wilk said:
Ergonomically, the Pulsar seemed better - maybe due to my experience with my current one - but the 18650 basis of the Condor appealed for ease of use.
Click to expand...
I will say that the Pulsar's battery time is excellent, and charging is a doddle with a USB-C connection.
 
Condor CQ35 here, bloody brilliant, i’ve owned two other Pulsars and this absolutely wipes the floor with them.
Brilliant in poor weather, doesn’t need constant calibration like the Pulsars, doesn’t need focusing, auto standby when you drop it on the lanyard so doesn’t light your face up.
The only negative and it’s by mainly people that don’t own them is the battery life isn’t as good as the Pulsars, i get 3 1/2 hours out of mine before the rage finder goes into battery saving mode but it will go over 4hours before it dies, i carry spare batteries for my torches and scopes so it’s no issue at all.
You won’t get better for the money.
 
bill57 said:
I have the Pulsar XG35 LRF, and frankly I find it very disappointing at this price point. The image is soft and low contrast, it has no "pop". Depth of field seems very poor and nothing ever seems very sharp. It's probably the last Pulsar purchase I will make.
Click to expand...
I have the same model and it's not only had all the updates installed, it's also been back to Thomas Jack's as I was convinced it was faulty the image is that bad! My shooting mate has a XQ35lrf and that has a much better image than the XG35. I know on paper the XG is better but in practice the sharpness of the image and the overall contrast is much better in the XQ35. I'm thinking about upgrading, but I doubt it'll be another Pulsar.
 
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