New DNT Zulus tubed 4K scope

[eds81]

Thanks Russ, really appreciate your recommendations.

Wraith is the best

 

[RussDouglas222]

Thanks Russ, really appreciate your recommendations.

Aw thank-you.
The Wraith ESL beam actually expands to fill the ZT4K's beam at base mag', but in case you prefer the LED's beam or don't need it for longer ranges.
Cheers. R

 

[Greylag80]

Aw thank-you.
The Wraith ESL beam actually expands to fill the ZT4K's beam at base mag', but in case you prefer the LED's beam or don't need it for longer ranges.
Cheers. R

I’m a sub12 rabbit shooter, so what’s best there do you think?

 

[RussDouglas222]

I’m a sub12 rabbit shooter, so what’s best there do you think?

Find an affordable lightweight LED illuminator, ideally with both 850nm & 940nm pills/heads, as well as an adjustable beam power/size and an adjustable mount.
First place I would look is Andy's site, or drop him a message, as he's very helpful.
Cheers. Russ

 

[Varminter]

I’m a sub12 rabbit shooter, so what’s best there do you think?

The Nightfox stuff looks good at the more budget end: https://nightfoxstore.com/collectio...ApNmnBzKYKO92cFfizEpctTv8jOMYxmaaH2AlNtSeM6h0

PARD TL3 is a good lightweight option - 850/940 VCSEL or 850 LED.

 

[RussDouglas222]

I should be out tonight recording through my new ZT4K (yes, I bought this with my own £££), with both the IR units I described earlier, to see what works best at different ranges. Spot the twin Picatinny 'Brucie-bonus' testing plate @mealiejimmie made me a few years ago...


If the ZT4K is indeed significantly more sensitive, top marks to Bin and his team at DNT... that certainly explains a lot of the R&D delay in releasing the scope.

Some measurements re specs...
I previously measured the base mag' FOVs of the DNT Zulus range (post #176 on this thread) including the loaner ZT4K prototype...

FOV:

• ZHD520R @5x = 320mm over 3804mm = 4.8 degrees.
• ZHD312R @3x = 545mm over 4005mm = 7.75 degrees
• ZT4K @3x = 567mm over 4003mm = 8.06 degrees.
  ...so despite going up to 24x mag' (in 1.5x increments), at base mag' the tubed Zulus was slightly wider angle than even my wide-angle ZHD312R.

The LRF measures down to 4m, and it (just) focuses down to 4m too.

Today I've measured this production model's base mag' FOV at 563mm over 4019mm, or 7.97 degrees... so near as makes no odds 8 degrees, and still the widest FOV of all the Zulus I've measured.

The LRF ranges down to 3m, and it focuses down to 3.5m.
(check distances measured with a laser room measurement gadget, from the front/outer rim of the objective lens).

Cheers. Russ

 

[SHW]

Those ir’s are mahooooosive !

 

[RussDouglas222]

Those ir’s are mahooooosive !

Errr not really it's mainly perspective, that LED torch's synthetic (lightweight) lens is a bit bulky, and it runs off a pinhead 21700 battery.

The LL Wraith V3 ELS on the scope isn't big at all and runs off a 18650, so that shows how compact the ZT4K itself is. R

 

[RussDouglas222]

So last night I tested my DNT ZT4K comparing LED IR (both 850nm & 940nm) and VCSEL 850nm IR, two hours after sunset with no visible moonlight. Conditions weren't ideal, with a very fine wet mist in the air.

Although the 940nm LED was slightly less clear/bright (as always, 940nm is usually 25% brighter with digital NV), all three were perfectly clear out to maximum sub-12 airgun ranges.
(I haven't yet reviewed the recorded footage, am reporting what I could see through the display).

The VCSEL IR (Wraith V3 ESL) happily filled the 8° FOV on wide-angle, then obviously came into its own at longer ranges (once the beam was tightened-up), including illuminating a hilltop tree at 840m, despite the fine wet mist in the air.
Although that mist did prevent the ZT4K's LRF ranging the tree, the DNT Hound H635R thermal spotter ranged the same 840m tree without issue.
The ZT4K's LRF did range an embankment @630m, but couldn't penetrate the mist to 840m.
The LRF's IR splash is short/horizontal and well aligned with the daylight aiming box.

Oh and yesterday I measured the ZT4K's base mag' FOV at exactly 8°, which confirms it as having the widest-angle FOV of all the Zulus (I've measured).

Today I'll repeat these ranging tests in daylight, as well as doing zoom tests
Cheers. Russ

 

[RussDouglas222]

@SHW Exactly the same setup as the earlier photo but from a different angle/perspective... do you remember the Father Ted sketch, where he explains 'small vs. further away' to Father Dougal?

The Brinyte T28 does have quite a large (lightweight) lens, but it's the only LED IR I have with both 850nm & 840nm built-in / quickly switchable. Cheers. Russ

 

[Morse]

So just tried mine and zeroed it.
What I found which was an improvement on my Zulus V2 312
Clearer screen image
Ability to vary screen brightness
Ease of zeroing due to improved screen layout
Used adjustable mounts but didn’t need them as they were not elevated and both x and y was -16 at 20 yds.
Balistic calculator spot on and ability to change colour an improvement.
Moreto come as I use it.
Was it worth the upgrade.
Yes. Especially when I sell the 312 V2
And it looks good.

 

[Blackwood Outdoors]

Super clean LED image, the better performing and brighter 850NM IR spectrum . Great performance and only £39.95, no need to waste more...

Night Blaster LED IR Torch

The Nightblaster LED IR torch provides clean imaging and works excellent for HikMicro Alpex, Pulsar C50 and other night vision scope models.

www.blackwoodoutdoors.co.uk

 

[RussDouglas222]

...no need to waste more.

Buying anything when I already have one would be wasteful, especially when it also does 940nm for observing wary animals.

 

[Morse]

I didn’t calibrate the Giro so now X is -16 and y is -6. Can I suggest this is done prior to zeroing.

 

[Varminter]

According to @GPCBILL you shouldn't need to calibrate the gyroscope.

 

[Morse]

According to @GPCBILL you shouldn't need to calibrate the gyroscope.

I bow to his experience. Its just that it did make a difference to my zero.

 

[eds81]

So just tried mine and zeroed it.
What I found which was an improvement on my Zulus V2 312
Clearer screen image
Ability to vary screen brightness
Ease of zeroing due to improved screen layout
Used adjustable mounts but didn’t need them as they were not elevated and both x and y was -16 at 20 yds.
Balistic calculator spot on and ability to change colour an improvement.
Moreto come as I use it.
Was it worth the upgrade.
Yes. Especially when I sell the 312 V2
And it looks good.

View attachment 899372

That scopes sooooooo high!

 

[GPCBILL]

I didn’t calibrate the Giro so now X is -16 and y is -6. Can I suggest this is done prior to zeroing.

No need to calibrate the gyros..

Think back to glass scope days.

When you fitted a glass scope did you adjust the turrets to get your zero?

If you did then this is nothing different from adjusting your X and Y.

The only thing is you have a figure for your X and Y where on a glass scope you dont. You just click away until it's zeroed.

I'll say it again, the guys on the tube are making up the fact to calibrate the scope to get views. This is not an official instruction from DNT.

Cheers

Billy

 

[Xjacket]

Super clean LED image, the better performing and brighter 850NM IR spectrum . Great performance and only £39.95, no need to waste more...

Night Blaster LED IR Torch

The Nightblaster LED IR torch provides clean imaging and works excellent for HikMicro Alpex, Pulsar C50 and other night vision scope models.

www.blackwoodoutdoors.co.uk

I can vouch for this torch as I brought on from Ian last year. Light weight and easy to focus. Use it with my Zulus v1 and it’s clear well over sub 12 use. In fact I showed last year that I could pick up wind turbines that were 3 miles from my shooting position.

 

[Xjacket]

First time out yesterday (because it stopped raining !) and used in anger with the zt4k and it was brilliant… (airgun distances)
Easy to use …
I tried both with a 940 vcsel and 850 led ir …the led ir won hands down … the led was a smooth more realistic picture where as the vcsel makes the image frosty / speckled.

It’s all you’ll need at airgun ranges

I like the 940 vcsel when ratting, I know a lot of shooter say rats can’t see 850 but when I’m shooting from a raised position I’m sure the can pick up a shadow movement, as they are skittish. When I switch to the 940 they don’t seem to dart away. Could just be my imagination though.