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Hikmicro

HIKMICRO Thermal and Night Vision Scopes in South Africa

HIKMICRO is the thermal and night vision arm of the Hikvision group, and it has done to thermal optics roughly what Hikvision did to CCTV: brought the price down far enough that it stopped being specialist equipment. The range spans night vision scopes at under R20,000 through to thermal binoculars and zoom scopes past R90,000. NeonSales carries 29 HIKMICRO products, from R875 for a mounting bracket up to R92,593 for a Panther PQ50L.

What HIKMICRO products does NeonSales stock?

  • Night vision scopes: Alpex A50T and A50TN, digital day and night rifle scopes
  • Thermal scopes: Thunder TH35P, Thunder Pro TE19, Thunder Zoom TQ60Z
  • Thermal clip-ons: Thunder Pro TH35PCR and TE19CR, which mount ahead of an existing day scope
  • Thermal spotters: Panther PQ50L monocular, Habrok HQ35L binoculars
  • Handheld: thermal camera for inspection work
  • Mounting: Thunder clip-on adaptors in 30A, 40A, 42A, 44A, 50A and 60A, scope rail systems, brackets

Thermal, night vision or clip-on?

Type How it sees Best suited to
Digital night vision (Alpex) Amplifies available light, uses IR illumination in full dark Identifying what you are looking at, works in daylight too, lowest cost entry
Thermal scope (Thunder) Detects heat, needs no light at all Detecting warm bodies through grass and brush, where night vision sees nothing
Thermal clip-on Mounts in front of your existing day scope Keeping your zero and your familiar scope, converting it for night use
Thermal spotter Handheld, not rifle mounted Scanning and locating before deciding whether to approach

Thermal and night vision solve different problems

This is the decision that matters, and price is not the deciding factor. Thermal shows heat, so it will pick out an animal in long grass at distance that no night vision device would reveal. What it will not do well is let you identify detail, read markings or tell you exactly what you are looking at. Digital night vision produces a recognisable image and works in daylight, though it needs some light or an IR illuminator and it cannot see through vegetation. Serious users often carry a thermal spotter for detection and a night vision or day scope for the shot.

Getting the clip-on adaptor right

A clip-on is only useful if it fits the objective bell of your day scope, and that is measured in millimetres rather than guessed. The adaptors stocked here cover 47 to 51mm, 54 to 59mm and 61 to 65mm among others, with V2.0 versions in 30A, 40A, 42A and 44A. Measure your objective diameter before ordering. An adaptor that is close but wrong will not hold zero.

Common questions

Why is a clip-on cheaper than a full thermal scope? It uses your existing scope for magnification and reticle, so it only supplies the thermal sensor and display. It also means you keep your zero, which is why many shooters prefer them.

What does the number in TH35P or TE19 mean? Broadly the lens focal length in millimetres. Longer gives more magnification and detection range, shorter gives a wider field of view.

Does thermal work in rain or fog? Performance drops, since moisture in the air absorbs infrared. It still generally outperforms night vision in the same conditions.

Can the Alpex be used during the day? Yes. Digital night vision scopes work as day scopes as well, which is part of the appeal at that price point.

Related: 30mm Rifle Scopes · 1 Inch Rifle Scopes · Mount Rings · Air Rifles · Bipods · Accessories