FLIR’s Latest Thermal Imaging and Night Vision Units – SHOT Show 2018

in Authors, Clay Martin, Industry News, SHOT Show 2018

FLIR is the first name in thermal products, having been an industry leader for a very long time. They make products suitable for everything from Apache Helicopters to your iPhone, with prices to match. This year at SHOT 2018, we took a look at the new products suitable for the normal human budget.

FLIR's Latest Thermal Imaging and Night Vision Units - SHOT Show 2018Breach PTQ136

  • Detector Type: 320 × 256 VOx Microbolometer
  • Digital Zoom: 1× – 4× continuous
  • Eye Relief: 16 mm
  • Field of View [H x V]: 24° × 19°
  • Image Processing: FLIR Proprietary Digital Detail Enhancement™
  • Internal Memory: Up to 1,000 images and 2.5 hours of video on internal memory
  • Package Includes: Thermal Monocular, CR123A Battery, Lens Cloth, Hard Case
  • Size: 139 × 70 × 49 mm (5.5 × 2.7 × 1.9 in)
  • Start up: < 1.5 seconds
  • Weight: 210 g (0.46 lbs)
  • Lens System: 9.1 mm; F/1.04
  • Optical Magnification: 1×

First up is the new Breach Unit, a monocular-sized thermal suitable for handheld or helmet-mounted use. The footprint is almost the same as a PVS-14, perfect for hunting or tactical use.

Weighing a slim 7.5 ounces, this is one you can take everywhere. The display features multiple color palettes, so yes you can go Predator Vision. Also included, on-board image and video capture, with a simple USB port for download.

Finally, as an added bonus, users will enjoy a 90-minute runtime from a single CR-123, which means this one doesn’t eat batteries the way older thermal units do.

FLIR's Latest Thermal Imaging and Night Vision Units - SHOT Show 2018

BNVD-51 3F Compact Dual Tube Night Vision

  • Magnification 1x standard (3x optional)
  • Photocathode Type GaAs
  • Lens System F/1.26; 19 mm
  • Field of View 51°
  • Focus Range 0.25m to Infinity
  • Eye Relief 17 mm
  • Diopter Adjustment -6 to +2 dpt
  • Manual Gain Control Yes
  • Bright Light Cut-off Yes
  • Automatic Shut-off System Yes
  • FLIR's Latest Thermal Imaging and Night Vision Units - SHOT Show 2018Infrared Illuminator Yes (built-in with pivotal flood lens)
  • IR Indicator Yes (in FOV)
  • Low Battery Indicator Yes (in FOV)
  • Power Supply One AA (1.5 V) or 123A (3 V)
  • Battery Life Up to 20 hours (up to 80 hrs with optional Battery Pack) at 20°C
  • Operating Temperature -40°C to +50°C (-40°F to +122°F)
  • Storage Temperature -50°C to +50°C (-58°F to +122°F)
  • Overall Dimensions 113 × 118 × 73 mm (4.4 × 4.6 × 2.8 in)
  • Weight 0.61 kg (1.35 lbs)
  • Warranty 2 Years

Not content to own just the thermal imaging market, FLIR has also stepped into the night vision realm. New for this year, a BNVD and a monocular.

Both feature a new 51-degree field of view, decisively cutting down on the classic NVG tunnel vision effect. The BNVD sports dual articulating tubes, with an auto-off when a tube is rotated out of the way. These goggles run off either a CR123 or AA battery, so you can fuel them with whatever is handy. A remote battery pack is also available, offering more juice and better balance on your helmet.

For more information on specs and pricing make sure to visit FLIR.com.

About the author: Clay Martin is a former Marine and Green Beret, retiring out of 3rd Special Forces Group. He is a multi-decade and -service sniper, as well as 3-Gun competitor and Master ranked shooter in USPSA Production. In addition to writing about guns, he is the author of “Last Son of The War God,” a novel about shooting people that deserve it. You can also follow him on twitter, @offthe_res or his website, Off-The-Reservation.com

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  • Greg Greenwood May 1, 2018, 5:09 am

    Yeah it would be nice to see the price.

  • BillyBob March 19, 2018, 8:01 pm

    320 × 256 lol like racing an A model car against a Vet. ! How many Hz.

  • ejharb February 14, 2018, 9:44 pm

    I’ll give em a Benjamin for each! Lol

  • DK Deuel February 8, 2018, 12:59 pm

    Looks neat, but without pricing? Leaves me to assume that they’re not in a hurry to let you know what it will cost you to buy. I guess “normal human budget” means something for them that is very much different than the way that I define it!

  • Billybob February 7, 2018, 7:49 pm

    You need both FLIR & White Phos ! One to see through smoke and the other to see what it is you are engaging ! PVS 6 type setup with both type units

    • Dick Hedd February 8, 2018, 1:14 pm

      Right 007, draw one of those from Q branch.

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