Pulsar new thermals ?

437

LSB Active Member
Depends on the model FrankT

This year Pulsar reduced it's core line to 2 cores, The XQ core which is 384 and the XP core which is 640. These are both 17 micron cores as opposed to the 25 micron cores they had been using. The Apex line is only offered in XQ, the trail line is offered in both XQ and XP. Pulsar did keep 1 scope with the 25 micron core. It is called the Core RXQ. The purpose of this scope is to offer a budget option to compete with the lower cost options (This scope retails for $1900).

Pulsar had 2 models people refer to as Apex XD50's. They had the Apex XD50A which had a LCD screen and the Apex XD50 which had an amoled screen. The amoled screen is not as succeptable to low temp issues and is higher resolution. This year they decided to put amoled screens in all their products standard so no matter what you choose you will be getting the better screen type.

The more data the core presents to the processor, the better the image quality displayed in the eyepiece. So with same core in each scope, you must increase the objective size (There is a small portion due to focal zoom but we'll ignore that for now) to increase the amount of data presented to the processor. The Apex line had 3 models 38,50, and 75. These numbers referred to the objective size. Here's where it gets tricky, because Pulsar went to a 17 micron core, the core actually captures more data than it's 25 micron predecessor so the image quality is increased while holding the lens objective constant. This means the picture quality on the Apex XQ38 is more like the Apex XD50 and the Apex XQ50 is more like the XD75.

If anyone is a dealer please comment on the differences between the Apex line and the Trail line....The way I understand it, is that the trail line has all the bells and whistles but I am curious what those bells and whistles are that cost $500.


- Apex XQ38 (this is the direct replacement for the XD38A I have now. Has better sensor and better screen)
- Apex XQ38LRF (Same as above, with built in laser rangefinder)
- Apex XQ50
- Apex XQ50LRF
- Trail XQ30 (XQ models are 384 core
- Trail XQ38
- Trail XQ50
- Trail XP38 (XP models are 640 core)

Thanks for this you dumbed it down so even I can unnerstanit! I have been drinking from a fire hydrant and after chatting with a dealer on the phone I was not understanding him apparently. Alas sound and even video while nice don't mean a thing to me I just want the ability to see and dispatch rodents from the lease I can take pics when I drop them at the gut pile! Sounds like this Core XQ would do me fine. I had some grand intentions when this thermal thought took hold, but with the waiting game on Pulsar and bow season already approaching on the calendar my buddy and I are focused on one thing: smoke as many hogs as possible as fast as possible b/f we shut the rifles down.
 
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FrankT

Destin FL
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LoneStarBoars Supporter
It's all priorities, if you stopped drinking beer, and smoking for a week or two you could afford the top of the line!

Yeah that is NOT gonna happen, beside I spend less than $50 a month for beer and cigs so that does not even buy the ammo!
 

Steve

LSB Member
Here is the info I got on starting price point for each model....Would be nice to get this info to the vendors that frequent this site bc myself along with many others are planning on buying one of these and we as consumers are looking for the best deal.
$1900- Core RXQ
$2500 - Apex XQ38
$3000 - Apex XQ38LRF
$2800 - Apex XQ50
$3300 - Apex XQ50LRF
$2800 - Trail XQ30 (XQ models are 384 core)
$3300 - Trail XQ38
$3800 - Trail XQ50
$4500 - Trail XP38 (XP models are 640 core)
$5000 - Trail XP50

Trail models have internal recorder.
 
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FrankT

Destin FL
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LoneStarBoars Supporter
can you mark the ones w internal recorders by editing the list?? Thanks for your work, you should be a vendor!
 

437

LSB Active Member
Here is the info I got on starting price point for each model....Would be nice to get this info to the vendors that frequent this site bc myself along with many others are planning on buying one of these and we as consumers are looking for the best deal.
$1900- Core RXQ
$2500 - Apex XQ38
$3000 - Apex XQ38LRF
$2800 - Apex XQ50
$3300 - Apex XQ50LRF
$2800 - Trail XQ30 (XQ models are 384 core)
$3300 - Trail XQ38
$3800 - Trail XQ50
$4500 - Trail XP38 (XP models are 640 core)
$5000 - Trail XP50

Trail models have internal recorder.
Man does this help me immensely. Talked to the distributor again and he described it right I'm just really really stupid. That and I was driving listening on speakerphone hustling to the airport, but I'm also really stoOpIt.

Core RXQ for me
 

Randy

Iowa
Here is the info I got on starting price point for each model....Would be nice to get this info to the vendors that frequent this site bc myself along with many others are planning on buying one of these and we as consumers are looking for the best deal.
$1900- Core RXQ
$2500 - Apex XQ38
$3000 - Apex XQ38LRF
$2800 - Apex XQ50
$3300 - Apex XQ50LRF
$2800 - Trail XQ30 (XQ models are 384 core)
$3300 - Trail XQ38
$3800 - Trail XQ50
$4500 - Trail XP38 (XP models are 640 core)
$5000 - Trail XP50

Trail models have internal recorder.
Thank you for this information. I am looking forward to reading about all the field tests from forum members.
 

theblakester

Got a black belt in keeping it real.
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That apex xq 50 for $2800.. if I'm reading this right this is basically a 384 resolution 17 micron apex xd50s?
 

der Teufel

Livin' the Dream …
SUS VENATOR CLUB
Yes, and bc of the upgrade in technology with the 17 micron the Apex XQ50 would be like Apex XD75.
Truly?
My understanding is that merely making the sensor chip smaller does not increase the resolution. With the same size lens & same number of pixels the resolution should not improve. Now if they put a larger lens on it ...
 

FrankT

Destin FL
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LoneStarBoars Supporter
der tuefel, I heard the same from a Thermal guy that Steve said the new 50 will look like the old 75..I don't know how it works
 

Steve

LSB Member
Truly?
My understanding is that merely making the sensor chip smaller does not increase the resolution. With the same size lens & same number of pixels the resolution should not improve. Now if they put a larger lens on it ...

Just try it out and see for yourself.
 

iFlyLow

New Member
Anybody actually see one of these in the field yet? I am seeing them start to show up on websites (UNV, Kenzie's, Optics Planet), but nobody shows any in stock. I'm kinda leaning toward the Trail XP50, but I don't want to be a beta-tester, either...
 

FrankT

Destin FL
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LoneStarBoars Supporter
Seems the test units are out but the production ones are not.
 

theblakester

Got a black belt in keeping it real.
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LoneStarBoars Supporter
I've used the Trail in person. It's bad to the bone. I have one on order for myself. I plan to use it on the rifle and use my Reap-IR as a spotter.

They say shipping mid to late next month.
What r the features of the trail line? Internal recording, gps, wifi??
 

neorubio

LSB Active Member
They are already selling the Pulsar Helion thermal monocular in the UK. The Trail is supposed to arrive in April. Looking forward to it.
 
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