Night Vision vs. Thermal Scopes: A Guide for Hunters

When the sun sets and the forest is cloaked in darkness, the thrill of the hunt doesn't have to end. Thanks to advancements in technology, digital night vision and thermal scopes have revolutionized nighttime hunting, providing hunters with a clear view in low-light conditions. Let’s dive into how each type of scope works and how to choose between them.

Digital night vision scopes are optical devices that use digital technology to allow users to see in low-light conditions. Unlike analog night vision that utilizes an image intensifier tube that dulls over time due to the internal coatings and components degrading, digital night vision utilizes electronic sensors and displays that do not have this issue.

Digital night vision scopes use a lens and digital image sensor (such as CMOS or CCD) to capture light — including infrared light — which is invisible to the human eye. The captured image is then processed and displayed on a digital screen, providing a clear view even in low-light or nighttime conditions.

CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor) and CCD (Charge-Coupled Device) sensors significantly impact image quality in digital night vision scopes.

• CMOS Sensors: These have low power consumption, making them ideal for capturing high-resolution images quickly.

• CCD Sensors: These offer superior light sensitivity and image quality, especially in low-light conditions. This makes them highly effective for detailed and precise observation in the dark.

Thermal scopes are optical devices that detect infrared radiation (heat) emitted by objects and convert it into a visible image. They can operate in complete darkness and through harsh conditions like fog, smoke, or foliage.

Thermal scopes use a lens to focus infrared light emitted by objects onto a detector array made of materials like vanadium oxide or amorphous silicon. These detectors measure the temperature differences and create a detailed heat map. The data is then converted into an image that highlights the temperature variations, allowing users to distinguish between objects based on their heat emissions.

Advanced thermal scopes offer additional features to improve target identification and situational awareness, such as:

• Digital Zoom: Allows users to magnify their view without physically changing the lens, enabling closer inspection of distant targets.

• Image Stabilization: Minimizes the effects of hand tremors or movement, ensuring a clearer and steadier view.

• Color Palettes: Different color palettes help distinguish between different heat signatures and improve contrast against the background.

Despite these features, it can be more difficult to identify your target using thermal scopes than digital night vision scopes. Thermal imaging relies on detecting heat differences, which means that finer details, such as facial features or specific markings, may not be as clear or discernible. This can make it difficult to distinguish between similar-sized animals or to identify specific characteristics of a target.

The biggest similarity between night vision and thermal scopes is that they are easy to use. Although their technology is advanced, they come with simple controls and interfaces, making it easy for users to adjust settings and operate them in the field. They can both be used by almost anyone without any training. Aside from this, they are very different devices.

Digital night vision scopes typically don’t provide very contrasted images, making it easier to overlook your target. They also have limited zooming capabilities due to the digital technology used to make them, which can cause image blurriness and decrease their effective range.

Thermal scopes use minute heat differences to map targets and their surroundings. This means you can differentiate targets from the environment more easily and can typically spot them from a greater distance. You can also see objects that are partially obscured by brush and trees.

Digital night vision scopes are most effective in specific low-light conditions. Cloud cover, heavy rain or snow, and thick foliage can reduce image quality and limit their usability. However, some digital night vision scopes do come with daytime modes to increase their usability.

Because thermal scopes don’t rely on light to produce images, they work in most conditions. However, their effectiveness may decrease in extremely hot temperatures because the minimal difference between ambient and body temperatures reduces image contrast, making it harder to distinguish targets.

Night vision scopes are almost always cheaper than thermal scopes. This is because thermal imaging scopes use newer, more complex technology. The non-technological components used to make them also tend to be higher quality and more expensive. Each scope generally falls in the following price ranges:

• Digital Night Vision Scope: $200 - $3,000

• Thermal Scope: $1,000 - $10,000

Both scopes are commonly used by the military, law enforcement, researchers, pilots, hunters, and anglers. Hunters use these scopes for tracking game, navigating the dark, surveillance, and target identification. Anglers use them for navigating waterways, monitoring shoreline activity, detecting and identifying fish, tracking lures, and monitoring water temperature.

Whether a thermal or digital night vision scope is best depends mostly on personal preference, individual use case, state and game restrictions (if applicable), and environmental conditions.

If you’re in low-light conditions in relatively clear, open areas, night vision scopes may suit your needs. If you expect to be in total darkness or in areas with heavy foliage or other objects that may block your vision, thermal scopes may be best.

No matter which type of scope you choose, it will only be helpful if it’s good quality and fits your use case. To help you choose the right digital night vision or thermal scope, we’ve put together a buying guide.

With so many features and specifications available, how do you choose the right digital night vision scope? Keep these tips in mind when shopping.

• Establish Base Magnification Needs: Base magnification (the first number in the magnification range) is chosen by use case and personal preference. 1-2x is typically used for hog hunting due to closer engagement distances, while 3-6x is typically used for coyote and predator hunting due to longer engagement distances.

• Weight & Size: Some scopes can be as heavy as your firearm, which will tire you out faster and make shooting accurately more difficult. Hold a scope before you buy it to see what feels right.

• Battery Life: Most digital night vision scope batteries last 4-8 hours. Make sure the scope you choose has a long enough battery life for your needs.

• Resolution: Get the highest resolution sensor for better image clarity and target identification. 4k offers the best resolution, especially when using digital zoom.

Because thermal scopes are more complex than most digital night vision scopes, there are more factors to consider before making a purchase, including:

• Use: What you plan to use your thermal scope for changes the type of scope you need.

• Sensor Resolution: The higher the pixel density, the more detailed the imaging will be.

• NETD: Noise equivalent temperature difference (NETD) is a thermal scope’s ability to register different temperatures. The smaller the NETD, the more sensitive it is, and the easier it is to distinguish targets from their environment.

• Refresh Rate: A scope’s refresh rate is how often the image on the display is updated per second. Choose a thermal scope with a higher refresh rate for more dynamic imaging.

• Base Magnification: Thermal scope base magnification is chosen based on use case and personal preference. 1.5-2.5x is typically used for hog hunting because of closer engagement distances, while 2-4x is used for predator hunting because of longer engagement distances.

• Objective Focus: Not all thermal scopes have objective focus. This feature allows users to fine tune their focus and drastically sharpen images depending on the range of the target.

• Detection Range: This is the distance at which you can see whether an object is present using a thermal scope. Choose your detection range based on your target’s size and the average shooting range needed.

• Durability: This is influenced by many factors, including construction materials and method of component assembly. The simplest way to evaluate this is the manufacturer’s published recoil rating and their warranty timeframe.

• Reticle: Consider which scopes have your preferred reticle (crosshairs), if it has easy-to-use zeroing, and if it has multiple user profiles that allow different points of aim for different shooters or projectiles..

• Battery Life: Most thermal scope batteries last 4-10 hours. Make sure the scope you choose has a long enough battery life for your needs.

Both thermal and night vision scopes offer unique advantages that can significantly improve your hunting experience. Your choice between the two will depend on your specific needs, hunting environment, and personal preferences. Regardless of which you choose, you’ll take your hunting skills to a new level.

If you’re ready to see the night in a whole new light, check out the wide selection of hunting and rifle scopes at Academy Sports + Outdoors!