Night Vision The Official: Steiner C35 Thermal Clip-on Review and User Thread!

[rlsmith1]

Any word from the guys at SHOT on when gen 2 will be released? Looks like they are for sale in Europe now

 

[pangris]

I'd called in to their CS not long ago and was told "first quarter". I'm sure they will be pushing them at SHOT, they're here to make money.

Happy to be the guinea pig.

 

[pangris]

BTC35 v2 | Burris Optics

www.burrisoptics.com

BTC35 v3 | Burris Optics

www.burrisoptics.com

Not sure what the diff is between 2 & 3, but these look like they could be great values/possible substitute. I'm sure the Steiner will be better resolution, but my son is using a first gen BTS50 to good effect with their 400x300. I bet the street price is closer to 2 than 3.

 

[ping]

This is the only vid I can find of the Gen 2 from shot show(1:55). Rep says $3499 MSRP

 

[pangris]

Bam. I bet some wonderful vendor can get SH members members a price that starts with a 2.

Who's in for a group buy?

 

[ping]

I used the Steiner and a Krypton 2 50 mm Clipon for the last 2 weeks extensively.
Both are used with a Buris RT6 and Rusan Modular Adapters.
Both are quite nice for identification of wild boar and roe deer.
The latter I’m not allowed to shoot with it though (local regulation).

The Steiner eats up batteries like crazy though. I don’t get more than 2 - 3 hours of use out of one.

Can you say more about your experience with the Steiner C35 gen II?

EDIT.....sorry, I see you have Gen I. I apologize

 

[JER6.5]

I got offered one of the C35 gen 1, new with full warranty for about 1700usd, worth it compared to newer tech?

 

[Evolution 9]

I got offered one of the C35 gen 1, new with full warranty for about 1700usd, worth it compared to newer tech?

That’s a steal. Take it.

Going price is somewhere north of 2k

 

[JER6.5]

That’s a steal. Take it.

Going price is somewhere north of 2k

Bought it, excited to try this out

The unit seems to be delivered with a picatinny mount in the US? The euro version does not, any aftermarket options or is the best bet to get one from Steiner?

 

[pangris]

Trigger pulled on C35 Gen 2. Can't wait to get hands on.

 

[rlsmith1]

Trigger pulled on C35 Gen 2. Can't wait to get hands on.

Who did you buy it from?

 

[stefan73]

The video streaming to your phone on the Steiner app is nice!

 

[pangris]

the gundock on gunbroker. I was able to get a human on the phone and rolled the dice on the good vs bad review ratio.

 

[tam4511]

Trigger pulled on C35 Gen 2. Can't wait to get hands on.

Do they have a pic mount for them?

 

[pangris]

No rail mount yet per Steiner; waiting on zee Germans as it were. With that said, I got it and a Burris smartclip out the door TT&L for a hair under MAP so I'll suffer it on my 700's VX-6 till I can rail mount

 

[pangris]

Steiner C35 Gen 2 - Initial range trips and first hunt

Greetings all. As stated in the C35 Gen 1 thread, I was primed and ready to jump on the grenade when the Gen 2 dropped and I ordered it the morning after I saw it appear on Gunbroker. The unit comes with batteries, cables, a charger and no way to mount it on an optic. The rail mount is not...

www.snipershide.com

 

[Lucario]

what objective size can the c35 gen 2 accommodate?

 

[rbutcher]

What’s the difference between Gen 1 and Gen 2?

 

[tam4511]

What’s the difference between Gen 1 and Gen 2?

Mainly just lighter, albiet by having a polymer body instead of aluminum. I wouldn't call it much if an upgrade

 

[Tall Pine]

Mainly just lighter, albiet by having a polymer body instead of aluminum. I wouldn't call it much if an upgrade

Isn't the technology better in gen2 than gen1? I thought I read something about a better refresh rate or some other resolution benefits from Gen2 over Gen1.

 

[pangris]

Supposedly better processor etc etc, same viewing screen but I think the sensitivity and front end were improved?

Oh, and its a "design your own rail clip" situation. TBD on that, waiting on my not factory approved rail adapter to arrive.

 

[tam4511]

Isn't the technology better in gen2 than gen1? I thought I read something about a better refresh rate or some other resolution benefits from Gen2 over Gen1.

a little, but not by a huge margined from what I've read. Not being rail-mountable is a huge downgrade imo.

 

[rbutcher]

Not rail mounted defeats the entire point of the device.

 

[tam4511]

Not rail mounted defeats the entire point of the device.

Yep, fuckin europeans lol.

 

[NCgreentick]

Both show 50Hz. Gen I is <50mK and gen II is <30mK. 800x600 OLED on the Gen I and 1280x960 on the Gen II.
I'm not sure if those are specs that someone can detect with the eye or not.

 

[bllistc]

Both show 50Hz. Gen I is <50mK and gen II is <30mK. 800x600 OLED on the Gen I and 1280x960 on the Gen II.
I'm not sure if those are specs that someone can detect with the eye or not.

My buddy recently got the gen 2 and i have the gen 1. The image does look noticeably better on the gen 2. Haven't gotten a chance to use them in the field yet though.

 

[pangris]

It rail mounts with caveats. Credit Trash Panda for figuring out you can flip a Burris clip. For a 1.5" mount, you're limited to about a 34mm objective bell unless you start shaving... could happen...

 

[rbutcher]

I’ve only ever used my c35 on 556…. Are people having any issues with them on 308 AR10s?

 

[pangris]

It's my understanding AR-10's eat optics in general. As it has been explained to me, it isn't the amount of recoil per se, but rather the harmonics of the impulse back and forth. Burris told me they used the thermals on 50's without an issue but the shutters don't like AR-10's.

Its a mirrorless camera and a computer. I'm going to limit my semi use to suppressed 556/Grendel and 308 bolt guns.

Resolution is excellent, I think for the money it has a better screen than almost anything else anywhere near the price - up to even double the cost if I recall when I was researching.

 

[twin_57_hound]

I’ve only ever used my c35 on 556…. Are people having any issues with them on 308 AR10s?

I've shot my .308 AR-10: M&P-10 with my C35 clipped on and have shot maybe 100-200 rounds so far I haven't seen any issues with my C35.

 

[CrazyDoc]

It's my understanding AR-10's eat optics in general. As it has been explained to me, it isn't the amount of recoil per se, but rather the harmonics of the impulse back and forth. Burris told me they used the thermals on 50's without an issue but the shutters don't like AR-10's.

Its a mirrorless camera and a computer. I'm going to limit my semi use to suppressed 556/Grendel and 308 bolt guns.

Resolution is excellent, I think for the money it has a better screen than almost anything else anywhere near the price - up to even double the cost if I recall when I was researching.

I watched a 6.5 Grendel eat a good PVS 27 within one mag. I don't think it's harmonics on the AR10 vs each individual system and what they will tolerate.

 

[monkeypunch]

Not the same, but I have several hundred rounds through my Gen 1 C35 on a 12.5" 6.8 SPC. Including one 25 round mag dump and a group of hogs... that was fun

 

[pangris]

One of my Grendels killed an ACOG so anything is possible

 

[pangris]

I watched a 6.5 Grendel eat a good PVS 27 within one mag. I don't think it's harmonics on the AR10 vs each individual system and what they will tolerate.

Follow up thought - I think a better way to say it might be the AR-10 platform is inclined to eat optics and electronics but to be sure the specific configuration undoubtedly plays a role. A 20 lb suppressed AR-10 might be easier on equipment than say a 6 lb Grendel, you don't know until you put your optic up there and go hard

 

[tam4511]

I’ve only ever used my c35 on 556…. Are people having any issues with them on 308 AR10s?

No issues with it on my 308 Tikka

 

[DownRangeThermal]

The Gen 2 do not have a rail mount option unfortunately ..... we do have 20+ new gen 1 units with rail mount arriving soon. They found another chunk hiding in a closet.

 

[JER6.5]

The Gen 2 do not have a rail mount option unfortunately ..... we do have 20+ new gen 1 units with rail mount arriving soon. They found another chunk hiding in a closet.

How much do the Gen 1 units go for?

 

[rothgyr]

I’ve had some time with the C35 now and i feel that it’s a great value for the price.

Pros-
-Affordable
-Durable
-Easy to adjust settings
-Good picture quality
-easy to zero
-Returns to zero when taken off and put back on
-Usable at mid to high magnification, if you have a positive ID on the target you can zoom in quite far on the scope and make shots. Longest shot so far is 320 yds on a coyote.

Cons-
-Heavy!
-Hard to adjust focus from behind the rifle
-Battery doesn’t last long. That’s ok because you can switch them out or run external pack.

Overall I would buy it again.

What power did you take this through-the-scope picture at? Is that 4x or up higher?

 

[GBMaryland]

So how does the C 35 v2 hold up?

 

[GBMaryland]

How much do the Gen 1 units go for?

Typically around $2000… they were 2500

 

[Huskydriver]

No way...

What power did you take this through-the-scope picture at? Is that 4x or up higher?

Probably 3-5x tops. I have one and it's not usuable imo above 7-8x

 

[pangris]

So far so good on the gen 2. High hopes for the fall and winter.

I would call the 2 useful at higher magnification than 8x, but it isn't crystal clear - but I've shot and watched yotes at 18X through a 3-18x50 Leupold VX-6HD.

 

[rlsmith1]

So far so good on the gen 2. High hopes for the fall and winter.

I would call the 2 useful at higher magnification than 8x, but it isn't crystal clear - but I've shot and watched yotes at 18X through a 3-18x50 Leupold VX-6HD.

How are you mounting it?

 

[pangris]

See post 1227 on this page.

For a 50mm, with a slip on clamp.

 

[sgtsmmiii]

It rail mounts with caveats. Credit Trash Panda for figuring out you can flip a Burris clip. For a 1.5" mount, you're limited to about a 34mm objective bell unless you start shaving... could happen...

What extension is screwed onto the Steiner to allow the Burris clip on to clamp around it? The pictures of the Steiner don't appear to have as much rear extension as is pictured in post 1227.

 

[pangris]

Part of the package from what I recall, it isn't in front of me at the moment. You have to have a smooth surface to clamp to.

 

[Tikkaguy]

So is the gen ii a good upgrade over the gen 1 or is there a better option around that 2-2500 dollar area ?

Or ZEISS DTC 3/25 ?​

 

[pangris]

The Gen 2 has some aspects that are superior - better battery situation, better processor, but lacks the hardware to be a true rail clip on. It is a compromise.

Where is the Zeiss actually for sale on US soil?

 

[Tikkaguy]

The Gen 2 has some aspects that are superior - better battery situation, better processor, but lacks the hardware to be a true rail clip on. It is a compromise.

Yeah that’s what it seems like

 

[BuildingConceptsllc]

The Gen 2 has some aspects that are superior - better battery situation, better processor, but lacks the hardware to be a true rail clip on. It is a compromise.

Where is the Zeiss actually for sale on US soil?

Until the Gen 2 has a real rail mount option, thr gen1 is better. I mean, it's a clip on, that's the whole purpose of having it. That scope bell mount thing is just not something that allows easily going from one gun to another. Jmo