Thermal Safety Lens

S

Shadoe

New Member
Hello to everbody.

I've read a large majority of the post on this site and have never seen anythings that covers this subject.

I have a Armasight Zeus 2-16x42 thermal scope and I would like to put a safety/filter lens cover on the front objective. It already has a butler scope cover on but my concern is walking at night with the scope cover in the up position and tripping/falling and damaging my germanium lens. Has anybody tackled this problem and if so how did you solve the situation?

Thanks
Alan
 
Brian Shaffer

Brian Shaffer

Hog Hunter
SUS VENATOR CLUB
LoneStarBoars Supporter
You would have to get a germanium sacrificial lens to fit on it, not that it has any way to accept one, but it would have to be germanium or otherwise you would not see a thing.
 
Chopperdrvr

Chopperdrvr

Deep East Tx
SUS VENATOR CLUB
A thermal lens cannot detect heat through glass. Therefore if you put a "safety " lens in front of your germanium lens you effectively block the scopes ability to function. I just always keep the lens cover closed unless I am trying to look at something. That way I avoid accidentally scratching the lens while moving.
 
pruhdlr

pruhdlr

Cantonment,Fla.
SUS VENATOR CLUB
My ATN came with a silicone lens cover. I quickly changed it out to a 50mm Butler Creek. Fits perfect,flips open and closed perfectly,quiet.
I keep it closed anytime the optic is not at my eye. If I am walking and scanning,stopping every 10yds or so to take a look,I close and reopen.
I have actually worn out one cover but for $9.00 I bought two more. To me,cheap insurance for a extremely expensive piece of gear. --- SAWMAN
 
TEXASLAWMAN

TEXASLAWMAN

Lone Star Boars Owner
LSB TURKEY BUZZARD PRESERVATION SOCIETY
SUS VENATOR CLUB
LoneStarBoars Supporter
I've been told by the engineers scratches or even cracks in the germanium will not effect the image. But if it falls out then it's over.
 
Shooter

Shooter

Bedford, Texas
SUS VENATOR CLUB
LoneStarBoars Supporter
what size Butler creek cover do you have for your 42MM ?
 
Brian Shaffer

Brian Shaffer

Hog Hunter
SUS VENATOR CLUB
LoneStarBoars Supporter
TEXASLAWMAN said:
I've been told by the engineers scratches or even cracks in the germanium will not effect the image. But if it falls out then it's over.
Click to expand...

No more so than with a regular optical lens.

Of course scratches will affect the lens performance, distorting or refracting the thermal image in directions not intended.

Otherwise, why would they put such nice polished lenses in the scopes?
 
pruhdlr

pruhdlr

Cantonment,Fla.
SUS VENATOR CLUB
Careful . . . .
When you attempt to fit a Butler Creek lens cover over a thermal,a cover to fit a 42mm scope might not fit a 42mm thermal. The reason being,the thickness and/or shape of the fwd end of the thermal.
Remember . . . these lens covers have to slip over,where all rifle scopes are about the same thickness,thermals are not.
I took my thermal into a store that had a good variety of lens covers and kept trying them on until I found one to fit the fwd lens and the rear lens. Then . . i bought extras. --- pruhdlr
 
TEXASLAWMAN

TEXASLAWMAN

Lone Star Boars Owner
LSB TURKEY BUZZARD PRESERVATION SOCIETY
SUS VENATOR CLUB
LoneStarBoars Supporter
Brian Shaffer said:
No more so than with a regular optical lens.

Of course scratches will affect the lens performance, distorting or refracting the thermal image in directions not intended.

Otherwise, why would they put such nice polished lenses in the scopes?
Click to expand...
Because customers are crazy
 
der Teufel

der Teufel

Livin' the Dream …
SUS VENATOR CLUB
While I don't want to see any damage to a lens, what matters most is the size of the scratches/cracks. I certainly don't want to crack a lens, but small scratches that aren't deep will not significantly affect a lens. It's definitely a good idea to keep the lens clean and scratch-free, but the important consideration is the amount or percentage of the surface areas that's affected. A small scratch (or two) will likely only cause a one or two percent loss of light and focus. It won't be noticeable.

That doesn't mean we shouldn't take very good care of our optical equipment, but when/if some light damage occurs we shouldn't obsess too much.

Brian Shaffer said:
Apparently some engineers are [crazy].
Click to expand...
Uh, yeah … that would be me.
 
Jhop

Jhop

LSB Active Member
SUS VENATOR CLUB
Think of the germanium as a filter as well as a lens. It's possible to use a flat piece of germanium as a cover but the lens has to be curved to function as a lens as well as the filter. Military sights on Acft use this setup.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top