Hello all! Recently been a little more active on the "review" side of this hobby, so I figured that I'd post up some of my own personal experiences with the units mentioned below.
All of these thermals I have personally used/owned (not paid to do this) and are of my own opinion garnered through actual field use.
So let's start; here are my findings:
1.) IRay MH25: great unit for the price (roughly $4500 new). Light and small. 640 resolution with a 1280×960 display, 12 um sensor, and a 50 Hz refresh rate. 17.5⁰ FOV. Not a true 1x unity therefore bridging is more difficult. Cheap housing construction, needs the PVS 14 eye piece to make it usable as an HMT ($329 on average). Very smooth image, but over contrasts in black hot while looking in an open field, so you're stuck with white hot as the color pallet of choice. No dedicated TWS or clip on capability. Takes rechargeable 16650 batteries.
2.) Nox 18: great, realistic image that gives you lots of detail to work with on navigating. The image is more representative of an WP I² tube. 640x480 display with a 640x480 core, 12um sensor, and 60 Hz refresh rate States a true 1x, but comparing it to other 1x HMTs it looks demganified. Evenly contrast in all conditions in all color pallets, even looking in an open field. 24⁰ FOV. Housing construction is polymer, but very durable....but there is a weight and length pentality (less than the IR Patrol, but still much larger than other thermals in its class) No clip on capability but can function as a dedicated TWS and is rated to 50 cal (and if you break it, they fix it with their 5 year warranty). Takes rechargeable 18650 batteries/battery pack. Priced higher than cheaper thermals, but much cheaper than true milspec units ($6195)
3.) RH25: has a nice, crisp, smooth image. The image is not as realistic as anything with a BAE core, but it comes down to preference. HD display (1024x768 I believe) with a 640x512 core, 12 um sensor, and 50 Hz refresh rate. Feature rich. Much better built than the MH25 and is recoil rated as it can be used as a dedicated TWS or a clip on (308 recoil I believe). Weighs close to what a Nox 18 does, but is much shorter. 17.5⁰ FOV and Is a true 1x thermal in clip on mode, so it tends to fuse well (minus the non realistic I² look). Doesn't over contrast in black hot in an open field like the MH25 does. Even though the construction is better than the MH25, it's still inferior to true military clip ons or even civi units that are made by military companies (like N Vision or Trijicon). Takes rechargeable 18650 batteries. Average cost is $6000 with mounting hardware.
EDIT: other users have been reporting about issues with POI/POA by simply adjusting the objective focus and getting massive shifts in zero. This, and the rolling shutter issue causing image lag (makes solid objects look like jello when panning around during scanning). For this reason, I would not recommend the RH25 if you want a clip on-centric device.
4.) Skeet L: a fantastic unit that despite its age, is a performer. 320x240 core with more than likely a 320x240 display (might be a 640x480, but typically all BAE cored units have a 1:1 display-to-core pixel ratio). 60 Hz refresh rate, 25 um sensor, with a 22⁰ FOV and bridges with NV like a dream. Like anything with a BAE core, it has a realistic image that looks more like night vision. A true 1x thermal with dedicated TWS and clip on capabilites using a Wilcox FTS mount. Even though this is a 320 core, it blows away anything else in its class in terms of features, housing construction, weight......the works. Also has a class 1 IR laser designator. Takes CR123s or you can run it off of a battery bank. Average cost is $3000-$7000 depending on etology and condition. No warranty....obviously.
5.) Skeet IRX: superimpose what was said above about the Skeet L and bump that resolution on the display and core to 640x480, plus a 17 um sensor. Still a 22⁰ FOV and clip on/dedicated TWS capable. In my opinion...this is the best there currently is as a HMT. The image is gorgeous, realistic, and these units are built to last the test of time (and retain their value). Still has the IR laser and uses the same Wilcox mount. Takes CR123s or you can run it off of a battery bank (my personal choice). Slightly larger and heavier than the Skeet L, but you gain twice the resolution and PID capability. Again....the difficulty with these units is finding them. Pretty much all of the units from the contractual overrun have been sold since 2020...and if you find one, expect to pay north of $13,000. Is it worth the price? That's on you. If you want the best for your larping basement circle jerk parties, or are a serious user, then look no further.
6.) Voodoo S: essentially a skeet sized UTM X in capability. 15x11⁰ FOV, clip on/dedicated TWS/HMT with a military etology. Amazing housing construction, tons of features, and is in the sweet spot of doing every task well. 640x480 core (in house made, but these are the guys that started BAE), 12um BAE sensor, 640x480 display, and a 60Hz refresh rate. The image, again, is ultra realistic and gives you depth perception like the Skeets/Nox/Trijicon units, also provides tons of detail. More feature rich than the Skeets. With the narrower FOV on this unit, its terrible to use on a helmet by itself, but excels as a bridged thermal (about the best Ive seen thus far) Uses a Wilcox FTS mount. Longer than an RH25, but weighs less, but also weighs more than a skeet L/IRX. Ir laser designator. 1 year warranty. Average cost is $15,000 to $17,000. Not many units made a year, but you can get them if you look around (Own the Night and HEAT sell them). Takes rechargeable 16650 batteries (if you buy their ridiculously over price $699 battery extender kit), a single CR123, or run it off of a battery bank with the DVR USB cable it comes with.
By the way, all of these options are better than the FLIR Breach and yes it's worth it for the price difference...before I get asked that question. I've been blessed to own/experience these, therefore I figured I'd add a little information to the hide.
All of these thermals I have personally used/owned (not paid to do this) and are of my own opinion garnered through actual field use.
So let's start; here are my findings:
1.) IRay MH25: great unit for the price (roughly $4500 new). Light and small. 640 resolution with a 1280×960 display, 12 um sensor, and a 50 Hz refresh rate. 17.5⁰ FOV. Not a true 1x unity therefore bridging is more difficult. Cheap housing construction, needs the PVS 14 eye piece to make it usable as an HMT ($329 on average). Very smooth image, but over contrasts in black hot while looking in an open field, so you're stuck with white hot as the color pallet of choice. No dedicated TWS or clip on capability. Takes rechargeable 16650 batteries.
2.) Nox 18: great, realistic image that gives you lots of detail to work with on navigating. The image is more representative of an WP I² tube. 640x480 display with a 640x480 core, 12um sensor, and 60 Hz refresh rate States a true 1x, but comparing it to other 1x HMTs it looks demganified. Evenly contrast in all conditions in all color pallets, even looking in an open field. 24⁰ FOV. Housing construction is polymer, but very durable....but there is a weight and length pentality (less than the IR Patrol, but still much larger than other thermals in its class) No clip on capability but can function as a dedicated TWS and is rated to 50 cal (and if you break it, they fix it with their 5 year warranty). Takes rechargeable 18650 batteries/battery pack. Priced higher than cheaper thermals, but much cheaper than true milspec units ($6195)
3.) RH25: has a nice, crisp, smooth image. The image is not as realistic as anything with a BAE core, but it comes down to preference. HD display (1024x768 I believe) with a 640x512 core, 12 um sensor, and 50 Hz refresh rate. Feature rich. Much better built than the MH25 and is recoil rated as it can be used as a dedicated TWS or a clip on (308 recoil I believe). Weighs close to what a Nox 18 does, but is much shorter. 17.5⁰ FOV and Is a true 1x thermal in clip on mode, so it tends to fuse well (minus the non realistic I² look). Doesn't over contrast in black hot in an open field like the MH25 does. Even though the construction is better than the MH25, it's still inferior to true military clip ons or even civi units that are made by military companies (like N Vision or Trijicon). Takes rechargeable 18650 batteries. Average cost is $6000 with mounting hardware.
EDIT: other users have been reporting about issues with POI/POA by simply adjusting the objective focus and getting massive shifts in zero. This, and the rolling shutter issue causing image lag (makes solid objects look like jello when panning around during scanning). For this reason, I would not recommend the RH25 if you want a clip on-centric device.
4.) Skeet L: a fantastic unit that despite its age, is a performer. 320x240 core with more than likely a 320x240 display (might be a 640x480, but typically all BAE cored units have a 1:1 display-to-core pixel ratio). 60 Hz refresh rate, 25 um sensor, with a 22⁰ FOV and bridges with NV like a dream. Like anything with a BAE core, it has a realistic image that looks more like night vision. A true 1x thermal with dedicated TWS and clip on capabilites using a Wilcox FTS mount. Even though this is a 320 core, it blows away anything else in its class in terms of features, housing construction, weight......the works. Also has a class 1 IR laser designator. Takes CR123s or you can run it off of a battery bank. Average cost is $3000-$7000 depending on etology and condition. No warranty....obviously.
5.) Skeet IRX: superimpose what was said above about the Skeet L and bump that resolution on the display and core to 640x480, plus a 17 um sensor. Still a 22⁰ FOV and clip on/dedicated TWS capable. In my opinion...this is the best there currently is as a HMT. The image is gorgeous, realistic, and these units are built to last the test of time (and retain their value). Still has the IR laser and uses the same Wilcox mount. Takes CR123s or you can run it off of a battery bank (my personal choice). Slightly larger and heavier than the Skeet L, but you gain twice the resolution and PID capability. Again....the difficulty with these units is finding them. Pretty much all of the units from the contractual overrun have been sold since 2020...and if you find one, expect to pay north of $13,000. Is it worth the price? That's on you. If you want the best for your larping basement circle jerk parties, or are a serious user, then look no further.
6.) Voodoo S: essentially a skeet sized UTM X in capability. 15x11⁰ FOV, clip on/dedicated TWS/HMT with a military etology. Amazing housing construction, tons of features, and is in the sweet spot of doing every task well. 640x480 core (in house made, but these are the guys that started BAE), 12um BAE sensor, 640x480 display, and a 60Hz refresh rate. The image, again, is ultra realistic and gives you depth perception like the Skeets/Nox/Trijicon units, also provides tons of detail. More feature rich than the Skeets. With the narrower FOV on this unit, its terrible to use on a helmet by itself, but excels as a bridged thermal (about the best Ive seen thus far) Uses a Wilcox FTS mount. Longer than an RH25, but weighs less, but also weighs more than a skeet L/IRX. Ir laser designator. 1 year warranty. Average cost is $15,000 to $17,000. Not many units made a year, but you can get them if you look around (Own the Night and HEAT sell them). Takes rechargeable 16650 batteries (if you buy their ridiculously over price $699 battery extender kit), a single CR123, or run it off of a battery bank with the DVR USB cable it comes with.
By the way, all of these options are better than the FLIR Breach and yes it's worth it for the price difference...before I get asked that question. I've been blessed to own/experience these, therefore I figured I'd add a little information to the hide.
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