AGM Cobra TB50-336
The owners of this new brand have lots of experience, which they combined to deliver the Cobra thermal imaging series. AGM Global may be new in the industry, but they put out great thermal devices.
In the cobra series, the TB50-336 happens to be the smallest and comes with a 50 mm aperture and a great sensor. The FLIR Tau micron sensor has a display resolution of 800 x 600, as well as a refresh rate of 60Hz. You will notice that it has just one objective lens, and the reason is simple – it is a thermal imaging bi-ocular. Also, its digital zoom ranges from 2x-4x with 2.9x optical magnification. Allowing you to use two eyes to help you get more information from its objective lens, you can use the device for longer periods. What you have here is a nitrogen-filled device equipped with water resistance.
With a size of 11.3 x 4.2 x 2.3 inches and weighing about 2 pounds, we are sure you’ll like its solid body coupled with the fact that you can mount it on a tripod. You will also find Picatinny rails built-in on its body to help you sync different accessories. The TB50-336 works with wireless remote control, an external model for Wi-Fi connectivity, and an HD recorder (640 x 480). It also comes with an adjustable objective lens and eyepiece and gives you different color palette choices ranging from black to white-hot and more.
Even with its great build and specs, one downside we noticed is that this device functions with two CR123A batteries but gives you about four hours of runtime. Of course, the batteries are either rechargeable or lithium. But you can extend the power life if you establish a USB connection between the device and a 5V power bank. You can also use a 6V battery pack.
PROS:
- Compact and lightweight
- Refresh rate 60Hz
- Integral Picatinny rails
- Water and fog resistance
CONS:
- Not for budget buyers
- Battery life could be better
Guide To Choosing The Best Thermal Device
There are some important points of consideration before picking a particular brand of thermal goggles or binoculars. We’ve put together some critical factors worth looking at before deciding on a product. Here they are:
Detection Range
Your thermal binocular can give you very clear images of your targets up to a certain distance, and this is what we call the detection range. Depending on what object it is, you’ll get varying detection ranges, which could be short, medium, or long-range. Your goal should be to select a device that has the right detection range based on what activity you wish to engage in. Let’s say you have an interest in wildlife exploration that involves shooting or hunting, you’ll need a thermal binocular that allows you to monitor your targets. A short-range or medium-range device is recommended in this case. But for surveillance, law enforcement, or marine purposes, you want a device that allows a long-range view of your targets.
Resolution
The video and image quality you get from a thermal device depends on its resolution, of which the size of its aperture serves as the major determining factor. A higher aperture size means you are sure of images and video with higher resolution.
Thermal binoculars, most times, come with a standard resolution of 640 x 480 pixels. You want thermal goggles that have a high resolution, especially if you love long-range shooting or hunting. Other factors that influence the resolution of a device are the area conditions, optical coating, and the optic variant.
Thermal Sensor
Many thermal devices have different thermal sensors like image intensifier tubes and Vanadium Oxide microbolometer. You really don’t have a say in what your sensor should look like, but you need to verify that it puts in a good performance even in very harsh conditions. You also want to consider your thermal binocular’s operating temperature.
Color Modes
The versatility and effectiveness of your thermal imaging device also depend on how many color modes you have access to. For example, with the sepia color mode, you get a clearer long-range view of your target. The violet color mode gives you a better wider area detection. So, getting a thermal device with more color modes can allow you to function in different environments.
Magnification
Most times, you have to spend more money to get a thermal device with higher-level magnification. So, before splashing the cash on expensive thermal goggles, you want to do some real good analysis. If you are looking to do some short-range shooting and hunting, there’s no need to focus so much on built-in magnification. But if you are into law enforcement or long-range shooting, get a device that ranks high on this feature to allow you to view targets from longer ranges.
Photo & Video
Nobody wants low-quality videos and images from their thermal goggles. Go for a thermal device that has SD card support and offers HD quality, especially if you enjoy recording or taking photos while viewing. With SD card support, you can transfer all files to an external device with no need for a USB cable.
Field of View
A wide field of view is one of the reasons that thermal scopes and thermal monoculars do not match up to thermal optics binoculars. Your thermal device should give you a good view of targets in areas that are wider and bigger. Go for thermal binoculars that can help you detect larger areas as this improves your effectiveness in targeting objects at any time of the day.
Connectivity
Hunters who are into technology have a keen interest in the connectivity modes of their thermal device. You want something that comes with Bluetooth and inbuilt Wi-Fi connectivity. This helps you share your files with other devices or with interested parties. Verify that your device is compatible with your OS.
Choosing the best thermal goggles or binoculars
We see thermal binoculars used in law enforcement, hunting, and many other sectors. If you ever thought that finding the best thermal goggles was difficult, hopefully, we’ve helped to debunk that myth. With the information contained in this comprehensive guide, you now have a clear idea of what you need in the device and what features to look out for.
For someone who likes outdoor activities like wildlife exploration and gaming, you want a thermal device that comes with features like Wi-Fi connectivity, Bluetooth, good battery life, high resolution, and more. Use our buying guide to make your decision-making journey easy as we’ve narrowed down the very best products you can find on the market and provided their upsides and downsides.
So, go out there and find yourself the best thermal goggles to get started on your next outdoor adventure.
