FLIR ThermoSight Review?

What model # do you have?

I have the R-Series with 19mm 1X to 4X zoom

What was the price?

I found the base model on the internet at around $2500.00 with a rebate

What type of batteries does it use?

The FLIR R-Series has an internal LI-Ion, the more expensive units like ones made by L3 use AA batteries. That is what I used in the military.

How long are they supposed to last?

I can get 4 hours of continous use out of the unit I have.

Does the unit have a lifespan?

I am sure that the internal battery does, but the Microbolometer does not use active cooling so "a long time".
I have a 3 year warranty, 10Years on the Microbolometer

I’ve heard NV units have an expiration and wonder if it is the same with IR.

​Most high quality 3rd Generation tubes will last for years, the ones I used in Iraq were over 7 years old and had a butt load of hours on them, so they must be talking about Russian tubes or 2nds?

Is there any maintenance involved over time? 

Nope!

Today I'll try to show how to sight in the scope. It is not difficult but it sucks to take camera shots through the scope with my iPhone!

First you need some small hand warmers and some targets with adhesive backing.



Activate the hand warmer and stick it on the target. Place the target at the range you want to sight in at. My first target set is at 50 yards.





Choose the best screen to see the target. I chose the Red highlight screen.



Shoot to find the starting point. Then adjust as you would for a normal scope. Howling wind always makes for an interesting time.



The scope has a nice screen that allows for vertical and horizontal adjustment. Like on many scopes, you need to choose what magnification you are using. The manual lists the distance with a corresponding number to adjust the POI.



After it is sighted in, have some fun, using the steel targets you shoot with regular scopes. I heated up the large spinner with my torch.



Because it is small, I zoom in to 4X and change to the white hot screen.



If you want me to show any other stuff just let me know. I will hopefully get better with the iPhone shots or find a way to pull the screen shots off the RCA video adapter that comes with the scope. I think the challenge will be getting photos through the scope of live targets at night. The FLIR RS24 and RS32 are in my opinion perfect for Rimfire and PCP gun use. For centerfire work you would need the RS64.

Lastly for size and weight comparison here is the FLIR next to a 3rd Gen AN/PVS 14

My inability to take good photos does not do the sight justice, it is really clear with good resolution. For hunting at night it works better than the PVS14, as it is hard to hide if your warm blooded.