Pulsar Thermal Monoculars, Binoculars & Clip-Ons

For most people the honest starting point is the Axion 2 XG35 - a 640x480 / 12µm handheld that is small enough to carry all night and sharp enough for coyote and hog ranges. Step up to the Telos LRF XP50 only if you scan at long distance and want a built-in rangefinder. The best thermal monoculars page lays out the full order.

The letters and numbers describe the sensor, not the product. XQ is a 384x288 sensor, XP and XG are 640x480, and the number is roughly the objective lens in millimetres - so XP50 is a 640x480 sensor behind a 50mm lens. XG uses the newer 12µm pixel pitch, XP the older 17µm. That is the whole code once you know it, and it is why the comparison page sorts models by sensor.

It depends on the job. A monocular like the Axion or Telos is the do-everything scanner you carry in one hand. A thermal binocular such as the Merger is easier on the eyes over long sessions. A clip-on like the Krypton turns your existing day scope into a thermal rifle setup without re-zeroing.

More pixels. A 640x480 sensor resolves finer detail and lets you identify an animal further out before the image breaks up, which is why 640 models cost more. A 384x288 sensor like the one in the Talion XQ35 is still very usable at normal field distances - it just softens sooner at the edge of its range. If you mostly shoot inside a few hundred yards, 384 saves money.

Yes. Most current Pulsar monoculars and scopes run on the removable APS2, APS3 or APS5 lithium-ion packs, and many also draw from an internal cell over USB. Carrying a spare pack is the single best way to avoid a dead unit mid-hunt. Chargers, spare packs and compatibility are covered on the batteries page.

Through Pulsar's Stream Vision 2 app over the unit's built-in Wi-Fi. The app streams the live image, pulls recorded video and photos off the device, and pushes firmware updates that often add features. Setup, pairing and update steps are on the Stream Vision app page.

You fire a group at a target that shows a clear thermal mark, then use the scope's one-shot zeroing to move the reticle to the point of impact and save the profile. A hand warmer or foil-backed target gives you an aiming point the thermal can see. The full procedure, including freeze-zero, is on the sighting-in guide.

Pulsar is a thermal and night-vision brand under Yukon Advanced Optics Worldwide, with Sellmark handling distribution in the United States. Background, history and what the name covers are on the about Pulsar page.

Coverage and the right contact depend on where you bought the unit and whether you registered it. Warranty length, what counts as a wear item, and the customer-service and repair routes are gathered on the support page rather than guessed at here.

At the same sensor and price, Pulsar's strengths are image processing, the Stream Vision ecosystem and resale value; rivals often undercut it on price for the same resolution. It is a close fight that depends on the exact models, so the head-to-heads live on the Pulsar vs AGM, vs ATN and vs Iray pages.