OMG I have been enjoying sound on mine for about 5 months now, it's awesome but I was following daily waiting for update because I knew it was gonna enable mic in scope.
Probably the best thermal scope video I've ever seen. This was really well put together with all of the points of interest I have. I wish I could see you reviewing more scopes like this. Good stuff!
Great review on the differences between the two. I own 5 ATN Thermals and feel the video represented them well, nothing wrong with the Pulsar but detail to detail the ATN seems to separate itself overall including price point. 2 - THOR LT Great for entry level. Did get one that I had to send back but ATN made it right and was helpful through the entire process. 2- THOR 4 1.25x5 384 Again great scope, specially if you are interested in taking video. 1- Thor 4 1x10 640 Haven't used yet, still in the box. But can't wait. I've taken more hogs than I ever have with these scopes, they have never lost zero and functioned exactly how designed and stated. Thanks for posting the video and all the information.
My son and I purchased two ATN scopes for coyote hunting. His has been great, mine was junk. Optics Planet's customer service was great to deal with on the 30 day return. In speaking with a source close enough to know, they said 1 in 3 ATN scopes have major problems. Buy Pulsar for thermal needs. Buy once cry once.
I bought the Pulsar ... I heard ATN Thermals are trash so I didn't want to deal with any disappointment especially when we are talking thousands on a scope if you can afford them you can probably go a little higher for a better quality scope.
I am in the process of choosing an IR scope. As a retired military pilot that is quite familiar with FIR (Forward Looking InfraRed) use in the Apache and hunting different animals, I can now easily choose the Thor. Amazing images, way better than or original FLIR in the A model. Wish we had this! Thanks!
ATN looks like the handsdown winner to me. Especially comparing price point. After checking their website out id def purchase the thor 640 over the 384.
@@weareathletic_waath I do 1. It has amazing clarity, and a very smooth image. It holds zero when repeatedly removed from the rifle. I was able to zero it using regular paper targets without anything special. It's also sensitive enough to see the paper warm slightly where the bullet pases through for a few moments, making zeroing easier, it also easily sees impacts on steel targets making steel viable for zeroing. 2. The cons however mostly stem from ATN focusing so heavily on features, that they forgot some critical details. Namely reliability. It freezes frequently, while the battery lasts all day, you'll be lucky to have it on for more then 5 to 10 minutes at a time without having to restart the scope, this is a real shame because it's a really big detractor from a otherwise great scope. I can hope that they make a software update soon to fix this. The other is that both my Thor4 and 4K required a immediate update before they'd let you calibrate the compass. Which itself requires a very obnoxious procedure. There seems to be no way to turn off the redicle for saved images. Also because it can't see the laser range finger's zeroing laser, zeroing the range finder is a bit tricky but not impossible. After testing it in various weather conditions, and I assume this is a issue all thermals will likely have, snow, rain, mist, fog basically delete your ability to see. During the day in even moderate snow fall, you'll see further with the naked eye. It can not see stars. But it can see the moon in great detail. Also it's very heavy, and unfortunately because they wanted to market it towards the fud types (hence looking like scope) it puts a huge amount of weight very far forward on the gun making you feel that weight more. I found a stubby grip helps deal with that. Also it has a very quality feel to the scope. Both the 4K and Thor4 use the exact same body I would say if you're like me and used to dealing with finky equipment and want features above all else, this is definitely the way to go. If you want to turn it on and just work above all else, something else may be in order. Also while it can see people at long range, you will not be able to recognize if it's your friend or someone else at ranges further then a few hundred yards. If I had friends, and I was providing overwatch, I would probably have them wear a black square or something to make it easier to identify at range.
You had the Pulsar in identification mode it would be better if you switch the modes down this would give a clear image like the atn. Forest mode is probably the best for the Pulsar.
Dopo aver visto questo video ho scelto ATN e sono molto soddisfatto, lo sceglierei di nuovo. Grazie per le informazioni e le immagini che mi hanno aiutato nella scelta del termico da acquistare.
Thanks for the video, I have been considering getting thermal optics and based on this video I honestly would go with the ATN. I've never needed thermal optics before since I only shoot or hunt during the day but the coyotes in Ohio are getting out of hand and the best time to shoot them is when there is no light. Thank you very much keep up the great work
Dude read the replys to the comments above....You will regret getting the ATN..I Guarantee its going to let you down. Its Crap I know i own one 6K's worth here in the UK..The shops not selling another one their that bad..
@@paddymularkey was gonna get a thor 4, are they that bad? I'm a UK shooter but also crossbow hunt in France and liked the ballistic computer in it. Not so sure now though.
@@MrAde395 Yes that bad. Forget all the stuff it says on the box. This has the guts of an old calculator running it. I can only use off and on.....any other function causes it to crash... Honestly avoid... I have pulsar equipment thats years old and never failed once.
Buy once, cry once. I’ve never met any die hard hog/coyote hunters who swear by ATN. On the other hand, myself included, I’ve only met those who swear by Pulsar, Trijicon and Nvision. Pulsar and Trijicon have AWESOME customer service. ATN? Not at all...
Pulsar yes, Trijicon not so much, extremely long turn around. 45-60 days.. I got optics planet involved and now have the Pulsar. OP really helped me out.
Winfred Brown Fair enough but that’s not my experience with Trijicon. I own the Triji Accupoint 1x6 and it’s awesome. Last fall during deer season, trekking down the mountain, I dropped the rifle and the scope hit a rock. The impact left a small ding in the windage turret. I called them and they took care of it free of charge and even sent me a shipping ticket. Plus they sent me a bunch of Trijicon swag. That was all within 2 weeks. They fixed it and made it good as new. NO CHARGE
martinindemon That is a good point, it really is determined by how serious you take your hunting. I hunt with some guys that are just out to f around and get drunk not caring about the kill (ATN users). Then there are the few guys who are serious about numbers (non-ATN users)
Great review mate. I do not have both to do my own comparison. But one of my hunter buddies has the Thermion. I have an ATN and have been using it for two years for night predator hunting. Battery life is still as good as it was when new. I can hunt several hours a night for a week at a time, my mate has to recharge his device a couple of times in the same time. I find the ATN is easier to use and usually use my Android tablet to run it rather than using the eyepiece.
All things considered, especially the economics, I’ll go with the Thor. Thanks for the comparison. I’m also considering buying a new truck but waiting to see if the tires, wheels and windows will be included.
I have no dog in this fight, and I have always heard that Pulsar is a more advanced manufacturer, but the ATN footage was much clearer in almost every recording shown here. Well done
Hahaha. Bottle of Pepsi , Coca-Cola glass , I don't give a dang. Nice touch. I have the ATN 4K Pro 3-14. It has worked flawlessly for me for over a year , flawlessly !! The Thor 4 is next on my list.
Hi Terry, I have the Thor4-40, its just a bad joke. Stung badly buying this, it freezes when asked to do anything, even freezes dark, and just looks like a flat battery. RAV doesnt work, never recorded a shot. Dual Wifi, never connected to my phone. Video Freezes scope. only operates with minimum widgets,, extended widgets on scope freezes. 10 minutes to start up and get a settled picture, no joke. I need one of these for work and i will probably have to shell out again for the thermion. I should have gone for the Thermion in the first place. P.S. been back to shop 3 times, told its working, still the same faults when returned. ATN dont want to hear from customers with complaints. I will never e buy ATN again.
@@paddymularkey Not to mention, do your research on ATN, the company. Exporting illegally, eating passports to avoid confiscation by homeland security, showing up in hands of the taliban in afghanistan. How anyone can promote them, regardless of the terrible quality, is beyond me.
OMG half the ftards picked up in the stan had American night vision L3 and ITT were both fined in the last 10yrs. I would laugh if those comments weren’t so sad. Ok back to topic my hunter mkIII was sent in twice in less than a year before I eBayed no one bad mouths them. The ATN 70mm would actually see further targets
@@hvyjetflyer9545 You dont have the faintest clue what you're talking about. They come across L3 and ITT in the field because they get taken off dead afghan or american troops, or stolen from supply dumps, sling blade. But our US troops arent using ATN's $&%* thermal devices. So comparing those two situations is as idiotic as your thermal sensor comparison.
@@hvyjetflyer9545 Nobody is saying ATN is bad because you may have to have work done on it. I've had to send in my Reap IR for work as well. These are digital optics on high recoil rifles. There are going to be issues from time to time. No reasonable person debates that. The difference is how the company works with you when a problem arises. And if you're comparing Trijicon or Pulsar customer service to ATN's, then clearly you've never dealt with ATN's before. Maybe you bought an ATN and had a good experience. Good for you. The odds are still higher you'll have an issue with them than anyone else. Thats just a fact. You dont believe it, I dont care.Call every major thermal dealer in america and ask them. Good luck finding ones that carry atn.
Thanks for the comparison. I haven't had any problems with my ATN IR scope. A year of heavy hogs in S. TX and no hickups. I'm moving to thermal and think I'll give ATN another try.
I currently use a ATN 4K pro (NV) and am getting ready to go thermal, thank you for providing this sxs comparison you have helped me in my decision making process! I am going with a ATN THOR 4 640 1.5-15. Reason I am going only to max 15 is where i live most shots will be taken under 200 yards so 15x is more than enough, why pay for something I will never use. I do like the 640 over the 384 though so I will foot the bill there! Again thank you!
Just keep in mind the 15x is a digital zoom. The 640 will hold up better in terms of resolution, but the base magnification is a big factor in selecting the thermal scope for your needs.
I'm a bit of a Pulsar fanboy, but have to admit the image on the video is a lot sharper on the ATN. I know it's different through the eye piece, but still surprised. Good video.
Damn good review. Only problem i have in making a decision, is the warranty from atn. I hear alot of complaints in the customer service and people not being able to get there problems taken care of.
Great comparison, thank you. I have an ATN and suffer so many problems, it is unusable. I dont take it out due to lack of trust...never know when it will fail and give me a blue screen. Customer service is unfortunate.
shane ankney I’ve heard they are more responsive via their Facebook page. Maybe try that to speed up the process of gaining assistance. Wish I could be of more help.
@@4MRRanch HAAAAA!!!! that says it all!!.....Its an expensive piece of kit .....Someone to answer the phones Should be standard at the price paid. 3 times they had mine back i dont think they even took it out of the box its the same now as it was the first time i returned it, Now i cant even get them to call me back....Now i have to get Facebook....HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!
I went with the Pulsar due to too many people complaining of problems with the Thor. For that much money I didn't want to have a non working unit after the warranty goes out. Reliability and service is worth the differance
Hello, thank you for the detailed review of these two devices! In Russia, such a video has not yet been released, most likely due to competition between Pulsar and ATN !!!
I've heard so many bad things about ATN by real people ie long term friends that i would never purchase it. However this video also crossed pulsar off. Going with Bering optics. Thank You
Man, great job. This thermal on thermal hate is crazy, seems to me some folks equate quality to price point. There are a lot of cash rich snobs out there. Based on the feedback the real issue is customer service and if that’s the case it speaks poorly of a company that won’t improve in this area the significantly effects brand growth. Bottom line I am still on the fence, if I can’t get good support on a significant purchase like this for a recreational activity.
Fred English I have seen feedback on forums that people have had bad experiences with both of these companies in terms of customer service response time. That said, there’s some people who have also had good experiences with both as well.
Funny how the reviewers never mention this fact. I’ve done a lot of research on both brands from people who actually used them and found a lot of stories just like yours.
It is an interesting comparison you did but I"ve watched a lot of videos on youtube of both scopes and I can tell you that your videos from the Thermion are definetly not the quality I've seen from other videos on here. I also think you scanned over the picture in picture function of the Thermion a little too quick. That is an awesome feature. You were to worried about having to use both hands, and rightfully so, to zoom in but with picture in picture you don't have to zoom. You have both in one frame. That is a big deal. I don't know if it's worth the extra $$$$ or not but that is huge. I think they are both pretty good scopes but I noticed that in all of your videos it says in bold letters ATN X-Sight or ATN Thor. Looks like you are definetly not unbiased. Still a good review though. And by the way I own an ATN.
yeah, I think his Thermion isn't working right, I can see he's running it in Semi-Automatic shutter mode, maybe he just didn't refresh the screen for a while, looks junk, I've definitely seen it look 100x times better. ATN looks great too though, but this does look biased. From this video I wouldn't want to get Thermion, but I know it's a good scope. I have the entry Pulsar RXQ one and it works great 3 years later...
Hi my name is Rod Cory from north east Texas, I received a pulsar as a Christmas present last night. I’ve always used night vision and I’m excited to learn all about my pulsar you demoed. I also noticed hearing some suppressed shots in the back ground of your video. I have thunder chicken silencers, but noticed how quite the shots in the background were. What brand of silencer do you shoot? And what caliber of rifle is quietist? For pig hunting? I also have 1200 acres here with more hogs then I can shoot and a private lake with a brand new two story cabin. You are more then welcome to come and hunt and bring a friend.
Rod the background shots in this video were not suppressed, just distant and sounded quite just because of where the microphones were located when filming this. It’s hard to say what caliber is quietest as that really relies on the particular suppressor quite a bit.
I have been Looking for someone to help out with some hog hunting, no thermal though , not yet, Santa Might anty up someday. Lol, anyhow im from Michigan , I hunt coyote,bobcat, fox,wolf and beaver , love it... I will be making blankets. , Mittens , and hunting camo ,soon. .if I can help feel free contact me. 6163254597.or timlehnen@yahoo.com. Snapperhead Trapping and Bounty
About audio, as of ATN's last update, audio no longer sync's with video and to boot it's at a different rate which keeps you from separating audio and video and re-aligning since they will only match at point of alignment! (thermal only).(day and night scope doesn't have this problem). ATN wishes not to reply to inquisitions on this subject (or any others from my experience). I own 2 ATN's and a Pulsar xp50 lrf. I have never needed to contact Pulsar but have had issues with both ATN's and have never been able to contact ATN and get a response. My PRO 4K can't hardly ever keep charging, the Thor 4 no more audio and they both freeze up and have to be forced down by 30 seconds of holding button (seems much longer as your watching 65 pigs trot away from you)! I'll get 3 to 4 freezes a hunt! The extras like streaming and remote screen ETC. ignore that as a price point. They both disconnect constantly (Pulsar also has this problem) so ignore those features on Pulsar and ATN right now! Although like you said, I find the removable card of the ATN much much handier! Speaking of vid quality, My ATN is only 320 but has better vid than my Pulsar which is 640, though to look thru the pulsar is not even comparable to ATN (Pulsar comes across as optical like gen 4 phosphorous where ATN looks like a ninety's pixeled video game). With that said (lol) the exported vids on the ATN look alot better after exporting to computer. Many times I'll come home and download and watch the video to be able to see my misses with the ATN because they are not easily picked out while viewing through scope or reviewing through scope. Where as with the Pulsar you almost always see your misses in the scope! Keeping in mind my Pulsar is a 640. Watching this review I'd go with the ATN lol but owning both, I'd go pulsar for these 2 reasons but not limited to 2. #1 Pulsar uses Flir internal unit, ATN uses knock off from China. #2 Pulsar has a proven customer service (not by me, cause I've never needed to call them) according to all forums I've ever read or reviews I've ever watched and ATN is basically just a baby daddy that ran off (except to you, are you kin to them to actually get service?) Thank you for your review, Good job!
Thanks this was helpful. Now you should make a video comparing the ATN Thor 4 640x480 4-40 (2019 release) vs the Pulsar thermion xg50 640x480 3-24 (2020 release) Just an idea.
In all honesty, ATN is ok for the hunters that are out to play! Pulsar, nvision and others are there for the serious hunters. ATN was my first purchase but for some reason my second thermal was Pulsar. Absolutely no regrets on that. People I take out hunting look through my pulsar and jaw drops, then look through my ATN and ask "how do you use that?" It's kinda like my first computer screen "apple iiE" vs todays computer screens!
I have the ATN 4K Pro 3-14 myself and have had it since they first came out. I had one issue one time where the scope locked up on me. I had to hold down the power button for 30 seconds to get it to reboot, it has been fine since that incident. ATN's customer service has been great, but I have only had to call them one time. I also like the fact that they email me with firmware updates. I was interested to see some info on the Pulsar, with what I have seen in your video I will be purchasing a Thor 4 in the near future. Thanks for the great video it was very informative and on point!
I have a Thor 4 640 x 480 1-10X and based on the video the image that I saw coming from the Pulsar I cannot imagine spending that much more money for something that doesn't look as good as what I have. People on here were saying comparisons between Honda and Corvette just simply don't know what they're talking about. But to use that analogy against the original user, that Honda is gonna run a lot longer than that Corvette will it's gonna cost you less to maintain it and in general you have a far better and more useful tool in the Honda. Perhaps he enjoys wasting money or just simply has too much. And also the comment about customer service being better with pulsar I guess what can I say but I haven't had to test ATN's customer service because thus far the product has worked flawlessly. And for the angry guy who thinks the thermal market is a sham: think about what you're buying.. will the price come down in the future? Absolutely. Absolutely will at this point in time are you getting a quality piece of gear that does exactly what it says it does? yes yes you are. therefore I'm just gonna have to say that is a case of sour grapes because he cannot afford either one. The only place the pulsar is a bit in my opinion better than the Thor is the waterproofing but that has not been an issue at all I'm not sure how useful a thermal would be if one were hunting alligators or something but if 1 were to be regularly using it out on the water I could maybe see that being worth a considerable increase in price but for the average hunter or even a serious paranoid prepper the Thor is going to do you just fine. If the battery life the image quality and usability were all comparable I could see the pulsar as worth it. I think the only thing that is a sham in this situation is the pulsar unfortunately.
So this guys review basically said that the ATN is the better deal but everyone in the comments is saying that theirs is shit. So which is it? I believe everyone in the comments lol
I think this video hurt the feelings of a lot of people who were fans of Pulsar. The results are what they are, but keep in mind I had a sample size of one of each optic. I think you’d be happy with either optic, but I personally can’t justify the extra cost of the pulsar. To each their own!
I cant agree more, Im sorry i even considered the ATN, never mind shelled out on one. I dont even see this video as an accurate comparrison between the scopes the Pulsar is years in front of the ATN. These two scopes shouldnt even be in the same video.
Excellent job on this side by side review. Very well done. I currently shoot an ATN digital NV scope and have had zero issues with it. I am about ready to upgrade to thermal.
weekender38 thanks for watching, you won’t regret making the jump to thermal! Check out my night vision vs thermal comparison. I compare ATN night vision to their thermal!
Yeah that was embarrassing for Pulsar, I have the xp50 lrf. Alot of people don't know about the contrast setting on the pulsar and if left alone you get but decent quality visual but with tweeking it gets sharp. I also have the thor 4 and not as much need to tweek, just set and go which is nice just with less ability for fine tuning! On that vid he needed to ajust the contrast on pulsar + pulsar exported vids are automatically half the quality of what you see in scope, where ATN has better exported vid quality than what you see in scope (interesting)!
@@davidcarroll2908 Thank you sir, I am adamant about my firmware! If I didn't have the ATN footage to compare it to I would probably be just fine with it also but don't take that as me prefering ATN because that is the only quality ATN has!
@@davidcarroll2908 When you say HD? Am I missing something? Maybe I am exporting wrong? I just plug my xp50 into laptop, find the files and move them to a folder on my comp then open with vlc or winmedia, either program gives same low quality results. So Is there a way to export with High Def or Higher Def than my low tech way! You have peaked my curiosity.
Sorry brother... As emphatically as you stated your review is unbiased, it's about as obvious that there's definitely bias in this review. I think you made some good points about functionality, but comes off so slanted that it had me thinking you must have something going on with ATN. That's just my unbiased evaluation.
@@bobthebuilder101ism I don't agree. Been using thermal for a decade now and ATN optics have issues looking up steep slopes, where the image starts to blow out and it becomes difficult to see heat sources... Pulsars do have the same issue, but to a lesser degree, so that the Pulsar is usable, whereas the ATN is not. Then you also have to look at support... When you spend the kind of money these optics cost, good support is essential... And ATN is just leagues behind Pulsar in this area, especially with the spotty record ATN has with quality control. A fella that saves all year or uses his taxes to get his only thermal can't afford to have problems and not have it taken care of quickly and efficiently. If he already has another thermal, then it may not be as big of an issue, but if a guy only has one, then support problems may mean that he's not hunting for 2-3 months which may be his entire season for the animals he's hunting, or leave him without thermal during competitions he planned to attend. Just what I've observed in the industry over the last decade.
Great video, I’m looking to purchase my first thermal scope for varmint hunting, the ATN looks like the way I’ll go. Thanks for the time you put into the scopes
Great video. Love the detailed analysis of all the features. P.S., the Pulsar "freeze frame" concept for zeroing your rifle is VERY useful. I have the Trail model and I use that every time I zero. Great feature!
ATN is NOT the way to go. There are far better options out there. The pulsar thermion blows atn out of the water with a far superior sensor, quality made parts, customer service, etc. These scopes aren't even comparable. Do a test in high humidity and let me know the results
Simple fact, all these years after your review, ATN has never been able to sync the video and audio. Hopefully in the Thor 5 they finally figure out what they're doing. I sold my Thor 4 are listening for years that they works fix it.
cfunk10 he just needed to nuke the screen to get them off there. Thermals do that when they are on for a extended period of time but they have an internal shutter to flash the screen he never flashed his screen.
The author of the video intentionally shows the pulsar in incorrect settings. Pulsar is better both in picture quality and performance. The conclusion is simple, in this video Frank advertising ATN. Pulsar is worth the money that is asked for it. Greetings from Russia.
@@4MRRanch I have never had a picture on my ATN that could match the Pulsar...and the pulsar works Every Time without fail. The ATN Fails at least once every time its used.
Sounds like the Atn has the goods internally. I just wish they would make the shape and size a bit more like a traditional scope rather than a big ugly box
After using the thermion for a while i thought it was awesome. Now watching your comparison i think the ATN is a better thermal scope and easier to use and way longer battery. Thermion is not a hunt all night scope due to the short run time. After a year the thermion only runs for 5 hours.
Thanks, bought the ATN. I actually bought it before watching this, but saw one of your vids on the ATN and this one came up in my recommended afterwards & now feel even better about my purchase. Waiting for it to arrive, going to use for Hog and Coyote hunting (land, crop and livestock protection). Live in TX, from Louisiana and family still has land there. PS - now a subscriber, you've got good content, keep it up!
Chad B, Here's a tip. If you find your scope off when you were sure you had it on, and it wont turn on. It looks like a flat battery, its not..... Its "frozen dark".......press and hold to crash the hard drive then restart. I just wonder how many times i do this before its totally Knackered. I have to do this at least once every time i use it. One of many issues i constantly have with this scope.... Good Luck!! PS Turning the widgets off reduces some issues.
@@paddymularkey thanks. I haven't set up widgets or really utilized the features, not worriedaboutbluetooth, recording...I just set it up how I like it and shoot with it. What other issues have you experienced? Could be the processor can't handle the load of extra functions?
@@chadb1878 Thats exactly the problem, can you please tell ATN that for me. I havent set mine up, it just crashes for little or no reason. Im lucky i can get it to stay on. Its just a toy, not a tool.
@@paddymularkey First real hunt coming up. No issues yet but I'll let you know. What do you think the best Thermal is? Looking at the FLIR Thermoscope for my next one but doing more research & getting feedback this time...
@@chadb1878 Hi Chad, here in the UK we dont have a lot of options with thermal, Pulsar is our most redily available choice. The ATN is like a cheap toy (not even water proof) compared to the Pulsars, I have the small Pulsar Thermion on an air rifle for rats, makes for great sport and thats leagues in front of the ATN. I have also tried the top spec Thermion 50, Its a great piece of kit (way cheaper too). I need Thermal for my second job as part of a fox control team, This ATN 4-40 is not making me popular, with the driver having to take over the shooting because the scope is having a hissyfit. As i said sorry i even went there, and again ATN customer service is non existent. P.s Have never had to contact Pulsar customer service in 6 years of using Thermal. Sold all my used units on for decent money too.
You need to learn how to calibrate and use the Optics before you try and review them. Especially the pulsar. That footage that you displayed it's not an accurate representation of the image quality that Pulsar is capable of delivering.
I'm very curious as to why so many dealers talk bad about the ATN ? After seeing this video comparison seems like the ATN has more options and looks better through the screen as well.
Thanks for the comparison! The ATN appears to be an outstanding unit! However I just recently purchased the Pulsar Accolade 2, and as you mentioned the navigation through the menu’s is quite fiddly, but it seems to me your are not as familiar with the Pulsar as you are the ATN. Most of the video you show was in the identification mode, and depending on conditions, a different mode could be better. I live in Las Vegas and it is hot here! I get better imaging using the rocks mode where there is a large variation of heat signatures, in the morning trees seems to be better due to more things being cooler and a more even temperature. I suspect identification mode might be even more so then trees mode? I’ve only had it two days, so I’m still learning. But still I like how you compared the different features of each and how they might work better for an individual based on his or her own wants and needs.
I'm thankful you pointed that out. I was starting to think that the Thermion was horribly outclassed by the ATN during those side-by-side comparisons. I'll look at some other Thermion videos to see if it experiences the same poor quality hazy artifacts in the darker areas and a crippling inability to pierce through fog, as demonstrated in this video.
After this comparison first hand, I decided to continue in using ATN over the Pulsar, so I can't really speak to how the Pulsar does long term, but as you will see by my hunting video uploads, the ATN is doing well for me over time.
I was watching the video and I kept looking at how you had the Thermion mounted thinking "I'm pretty sure those are the ATN rings..." LoL Pepsi in a Coke glass! Thank you very much for putting this video together. I was leaning toward the ATN, but another UA-camr I've been watching hunt with the rifle I'm looking at building (a Grendel) uses the Thermion. But watching your video firmed me up on the ATN. The very same things I thought might be issues with the Thermion you pointed out as actually being there. The base functionality is there with both. In fact, it looked like the ATN outperformed the Thermion in several areas, especially with fog. Therefore the decision needs to be made on other things. Battery life and memory are two of the huge ones for me. Add in several of the things you said you liked the Thermion over the ATN are a software upgrade away.
PelenTan I’m glad you caught the Coca Cola/Pepsi clip... as far as your other feedback, I agree with you completely. The only things I think the Thermion has over the ThOR can be added with a firmware update. Just my opinion, but seems like we share that opinion. Thanks for taking the time to watch.
This isn’t a real comparison it’s a ATN commercial. I’ve worked at a gun store that sold pulsars and I’ve owned them and they beat the heck out of ATN all day long. Plus ATN is made in China and has issues with every other unit. Pulsars you can tell are quality made.
I live in Saskatchewan Canada and thermal and night vision scopes are illegal mounted on any firearms. So with that being said I wanted a digital camera scope for awhile now but could not find any that didn’t have thermal/night vision included and even though I disagree with the law here about this I also didn’t want to risk losing an expensive piece of equipment if I got caught with one on my firearm so I did without and filmed my hunting shots on separate cameras with the help of my hunting partner for our You Tube channel. But just last week I found the ATN x-sight Buck Hunter a daytime digital scope and just received it on Oct 16 2019 my 62 birthday my gift to myself lol have it setup on my PCP air rifle atm to try it out and am learning each day more with so many features. I only got the 3x14 version but did you know it has a setting for extended zoom that will zoom up x37.7 but gets grainy and records at 30/60 and 120 fps in 4K but your crosshairs will not be visible in recorded video at 120 fps I found today. And I only paid $699.00 Cnd for this scope since it was a store display model. Great price and legal here as well and loving it the video is so good that you can see the pellet fly and connect when I edit and slow down the video in my editor. So far I am very happy and impressed! 😉😎
@@joshradford1989 none whatsoever. I check the zero every few months and make only a minor adjustment, if any. We use this optic to take headshots on hogs all the time without issue.
UPDATE: The Thermion now has a firmware update allowing for the recording of sound with video.
OMG I have been enjoying sound on mine for about 5 months now, it's awesome but I was following daily waiting for update because I knew it was gonna enable mic in scope.
Probably the best thermal scope video I've ever seen. This was really well put together with all of the points of interest I have. I wish I could see you reviewing more scopes like this. Good stuff!
Great review on the differences between the two. I own 5 ATN Thermals and feel the video represented them well, nothing wrong with the Pulsar but detail to detail the ATN seems to separate itself overall including price point.
2 - THOR LT Great for entry level. Did get one that I had to send back but ATN made it right and was helpful through the entire process.
2- THOR 4 1.25x5 384 Again great scope, specially if you are interested in taking video.
1- Thor 4 1x10 640 Haven't used yet, still in the box. But can't wait.
I've taken more hogs than I ever have with these scopes, they have never lost zero and functioned exactly how designed and stated.
Thanks for posting the video and all the information.
How’s that 1-10x 640 working?
Thank you to this video i went for the ATN Mars 4 Thermal 4.5 x 18 and i have never regretted it.
Pretty remarkable verbal clarity on pertinent points coming from you about your evals, and in fact probably the best I've ever heard and seen! Thanks!
I appreciate you taking the time to watch this video.
My son and I purchased two ATN scopes for coyote hunting. His has been great, mine was junk. Optics Planet's customer service was great to deal with on the 30 day return. In speaking with a source close enough to know, they said 1 in 3 ATN scopes have major problems. Buy Pulsar for thermal needs. Buy once cry once.
I cry looking at the price..
I bought the Pulsar ... I heard ATN Thermals are trash so I didn't want to deal with any disappointment especially when we are talking thousands on a scope if you can afford them you can probably go a little higher for a better quality scope.
I am in the process of choosing an IR scope. As a retired military pilot that is quite familiar with FIR (Forward Looking InfraRed) use in the Apache and hunting different animals, I can now easily choose the Thor. Amazing images, way better than or original FLIR in the A model. Wish we had this! Thanks!
Yes it is really great to see the technology both advancing as well as becoming much more affordable than it once was.
ATN looks like the handsdown winner to me. Especially comparing price point. After checking their website out id def purchase the thor 640 over the 384.
Did you get the ATN yet? got video? If you did Congrats! They're nice!
I completely agree
@@UFOSPACEMAN I just ordered the 4-40 640 ATN, I'll update in about a week when it arrives.
@@SilverStarHeggisist do you have it? How is it??
@@weareathletic_waath I do
1. It has amazing clarity, and a very smooth image. It holds zero when repeatedly removed from the rifle. I was able to zero it using regular paper targets without anything special. It's also sensitive enough to see the paper warm slightly where the bullet pases through for a few moments, making zeroing easier, it also easily sees impacts on steel targets making steel viable for zeroing.
2. The cons however mostly stem from ATN focusing so heavily on features, that they forgot some critical details. Namely reliability. It freezes frequently, while the battery lasts all day, you'll be lucky to have it on for more then 5 to 10 minutes at a time without having to restart the scope, this is a real shame because it's a really big detractor from a otherwise great scope. I can hope that they make a software update soon to fix this. The other is that both my Thor4 and 4K required a immediate update before they'd let you calibrate the compass. Which itself requires a very obnoxious procedure. There seems to be no way to turn off the redicle for saved images. Also because it can't see the laser range finger's zeroing laser, zeroing the range finder is a bit tricky but not impossible.
After testing it in various weather conditions, and I assume this is a issue all thermals will likely have, snow, rain, mist, fog basically delete your ability to see. During the day in even moderate snow fall, you'll see further with the naked eye. It can not see stars. But it can see the moon in great detail.
Also it's very heavy, and unfortunately because they wanted to market it towards the fud types (hence looking like scope) it puts a huge amount of weight very far forward on the gun making you feel that weight more. I found a stubby grip helps deal with that.
Also it has a very quality feel to the scope. Both the 4K and Thor4 use the exact same body
I would say if you're like me and used to dealing with finky equipment and want features above all else, this is definitely the way to go. If you want to turn it on and just work above all else, something else may be in order.
Also while it can see people at long range, you will not be able to recognize if it's your friend or someone else at ranges further then a few hundred yards. If I had friends, and I was providing overwatch, I would probably have them wear a black square or something to make it easier to identify at range.
You had the Pulsar in identification mode it would be better if you switch the modes down this would give a clear image like the atn. Forest mode is probably the best for the Pulsar.
Yep. threw the results off by not having it in the correct mode for what was being viewed.
Super helpful. Looking to get into the thermal world and I’m comparing these two brands. I really appreciate this review. Thanks 😎
This was a great comparison. It helped me make up my mind as to which is better for me.
Dopo aver visto questo video ho scelto ATN e sono molto soddisfatto, lo sceglierei di nuovo. Grazie per le informazioni e le immagini che mi hanno aiutato nella scelta del termico da acquistare.
Thanks for the video, I have been considering getting thermal optics and based on this video I honestly would go with the ATN. I've never needed thermal optics before since I only shoot or hunt during the day but the coyotes in Ohio are getting out of hand and the best time to shoot them is when there is no light. Thank you very much keep up the great work
Dude read the replys to the comments above....You will regret getting the ATN..I Guarantee its going to let you down. Its Crap I know i own one 6K's worth here in the UK..The shops not selling another one their that bad..
We stopped selling ATN because we had to many returns. Now we only sell Pulsar thermals.
@@USpatriot87 Same as our shop. Absolute POS!
@@paddymularkey was gonna get a thor 4, are they that bad? I'm a UK shooter but also crossbow hunt in France and liked the ballistic computer in it. Not so sure now though.
@@MrAde395 Yes that bad.
Forget all the stuff it says on the box. This has the guts of an old calculator running it.
I can only use off and on.....any other function causes it to crash...
Honestly avoid...
I have pulsar equipment thats years old and never failed once.
I had the the Pulsar, changed to the ATN, never regretted!
@eedd sdsd Did you contact ATN? Did they refund, replace or repair?
This guy looks like FPS RUSSIA 🇷🇺 ...😆
I thought he sounded like the FPS comrad
Hello my friends, and as always, have nice day!
Definitely was my first thought too lol
Buy once, cry once. I’ve never met any die hard hog/coyote hunters who swear by ATN. On the other hand, myself included, I’ve only met those who swear by Pulsar, Trijicon and Nvision. Pulsar and Trijicon have AWESOME customer service. ATN? Not at all...
Pulsar yes, Trijicon not so much, extremely long turn around. 45-60 days.. I got optics planet involved and now have the Pulsar. OP really helped me out.
Winfred Brown Fair enough but that’s not my experience with Trijicon. I own the Triji Accupoint 1x6 and it’s awesome. Last fall during deer season, trekking down the mountain, I dropped the rifle and the scope hit a rock. The impact left a small ding in the windage turret. I called them and they took care of it free of charge and even sent me a shipping ticket. Plus they sent me a bunch of Trijicon swag. That was all within 2 weeks. They fixed it and made it good as new. NO CHARGE
@@martinidemon . The AccuPower is one of my favorites. Glass competes with anything on the market within reason. Im hoping Santa brings me a Vcog.
Winfred Brown #metoo lol
martinindemon That is a good point, it really is determined by how serious you take your hunting. I hunt with some guys that are just out to f around and get drunk not caring about the kill (ATN users). Then there are the few guys who are serious about numbers (non-ATN users)
Great review mate. I do not have both to do my own comparison. But one of my hunter buddies has the Thermion. I have an ATN and have been using it for two years for night predator hunting. Battery life is still as good as it was when new. I can hunt several hours a night for a week at a time, my mate has to recharge his device a couple of times in the same time. I find the ATN is easier to use and usually use my Android tablet to run it rather than using the eyepiece.
All things considered, especially the economics, I’ll go with the Thor. Thanks for the comparison. I’m also considering buying a new truck but waiting to see if the tires, wheels and windows will be included.
I have no dog in this fight, and I have always heard that Pulsar is a more advanced manufacturer, but the ATN footage was much clearer in almost every recording shown here. Well done
Hahaha. Bottle of Pepsi , Coca-Cola glass , I don't give a dang.
Nice touch. I have the ATN 4K Pro 3-14. It has worked flawlessly for me for over a year , flawlessly !!
The Thor 4 is next on my list.
Hi Terry, I have the Thor4-40, its just a bad joke. Stung badly buying this, it freezes when asked to do anything, even freezes dark, and just looks like a flat battery. RAV doesnt work, never recorded a shot. Dual Wifi, never connected to my phone. Video Freezes scope. only operates with minimum widgets,, extended widgets on scope freezes. 10 minutes to start up and get a settled picture, no joke. I need one of these for work and i will probably have to shell out again for the thermion. I should have gone for the Thermion in the first place. P.S. been back to shop 3 times, told its working, still the same faults when returned. ATN dont want to hear from customers with complaints. I will never e buy ATN again.
@@paddymularkey Not to mention, do your research on ATN, the company. Exporting illegally, eating passports to avoid confiscation by homeland security, showing up in hands of the taliban in afghanistan. How anyone can promote them, regardless of the terrible quality, is beyond me.
OMG half the ftards picked up in the stan had American night vision L3 and ITT were both fined in the last 10yrs. I would laugh if those comments weren’t so sad. Ok back to topic my hunter mkIII was sent in twice in less than a year before I eBayed no one bad mouths them. The ATN 70mm would actually see further targets
@@hvyjetflyer9545 You dont have the faintest clue what you're talking about. They come across L3 and ITT in the field because they get taken off dead afghan or american troops, or stolen from supply dumps, sling blade. But our US troops arent using ATN's $&%* thermal devices. So comparing those two situations is as idiotic as your thermal sensor comparison.
@@hvyjetflyer9545 Nobody is saying ATN is bad because you may have to have work done on it. I've had to send in my Reap IR for work as well. These are digital optics on high recoil rifles. There are going to be issues from time to time. No reasonable person debates that. The difference is how the company works with you when a problem arises. And if you're comparing Trijicon or Pulsar customer service to ATN's, then clearly you've never dealt with ATN's before. Maybe you bought an ATN and had a good experience. Good for you. The odds are still higher you'll have an issue with them than anyone else. Thats just a fact. You dont believe it, I dont care.Call every major thermal dealer in america and ask them. Good luck finding ones that carry atn.
Thanks for the comparison. I haven't had any problems with my ATN IR scope. A year of heavy hogs in S. TX and no hickups. I'm moving to thermal and think I'll give ATN another try.
Once you go thermal, there’s no going back!
I currently use a ATN 4K pro (NV) and am getting ready to go thermal, thank you for providing this sxs comparison you have helped me in my decision making process! I am going with a ATN THOR 4 640 1.5-15. Reason I am going only to max 15 is where i live most shots will be taken under 200 yards so 15x is more than enough, why pay for something I will never use. I do like the 640 over the 384 though so I will foot the bill there! Again thank you!
Just keep in mind the 15x is a digital zoom. The 640 will hold up better in terms of resolution, but the base magnification is a big factor in selecting the thermal scope for your needs.
I'm a bit of a Pulsar fanboy, but have to admit the image on the video is a lot sharper on the ATN. I know it's different through the eye piece, but still surprised. Good video.
Pulsar looked sharper and clearer. The thor was brighter sure, but it lost detail.
If the Thor 4 had pip that scope would be unbeatable.
Hope they can add it in the firmware some day.
Great comparison ! Thanks a lot!
Ivan Michev thank you for taking the time to watch.
Seems like the ATN is better, apples to apples. Unfortunately there seems to a lot of ATN hate regardless of. The details!?
Damn good review. Only problem i have in making a decision, is the warranty from atn. I hear alot of complaints in the customer service and people not being able to get there problems taken care of.
Great comparison, thank you. I have an ATN and suffer so many problems, it is unusable. I dont take it out due to lack of trust...never know when it will fail and give me a blue screen. Customer service is unfortunate.
shane ankney I’ve heard they are more responsive via their Facebook page. Maybe try that to speed up the process of gaining assistance. Wish I could be of more help.
@@4MRRanch HAAAAA!!!! that says it all!!.....Its an expensive piece of kit .....Someone to answer the phones Should be standard at the price paid. 3 times they had mine back i dont think they even took it out of the box its the same now as it was the first time i returned it, Now i cant even get them to call me back....Now i have to get Facebook....HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!
I went with the Pulsar due to too many people complaining of problems with the Thor.
For that much money I didn't want to have a non working unit after the warranty goes out.
Reliability and service is worth the differance
Hello, thank you for the detailed review of these two devices! In Russia, such a video has not yet been released, most likely due to competition between Pulsar and ATN !!!
I've heard so many bad things about ATN by real people ie long term friends that i would never purchase it. However this video also crossed pulsar off. Going with Bering optics. Thank You
Best comparison I have seen. Great job with all of the sample videos including fog.
Thanks for taking the time to watch
Thor 4 all the way!
Man, great job. This thermal on thermal hate is crazy, seems to me some folks equate quality to price point. There are a lot of cash rich snobs out there. Based on the feedback the real issue is customer service and if that’s the case it speaks poorly of a company that won’t improve in this area the significantly effects brand growth. Bottom line I am still on the fence, if I can’t get good support on a significant purchase like this for a recreational activity.
Fred English I have seen feedback on forums that people have had bad experiences with both of these companies in terms of customer service response time. That said, there’s some people who have also had good experiences with both as well.
Wow this comment here❤
You'll be sending that ATN back for repair...like me. I had the sense to buy a Pulsar later though as the ATN wasn't reliable.
Funny how the reviewers never mention this fact. I’ve done a lot of research on both brands from people who actually used them and found a lot of stories just like yours.
It is an interesting comparison you did but I"ve watched a lot of videos on youtube of both scopes and I can tell you that your videos from the Thermion are definetly not the quality I've seen from other videos on here. I also think you scanned over the picture in picture function of the Thermion a little too quick. That is an awesome feature. You were to worried about having to use both hands, and rightfully so, to zoom in but with picture in picture you don't have to zoom. You have both in one frame. That is a big deal. I don't know if it's worth the extra $$$$ or not but that is huge. I think they are both pretty good scopes but I noticed that in all of your videos it says in bold letters ATN X-Sight or ATN Thor. Looks like you are definetly not unbiased. Still a good review though. And by the way I own an ATN.
yeah, I think his Thermion isn't working right, I can see he's running it in Semi-Automatic shutter mode, maybe he just didn't refresh the screen for a while, looks junk, I've definitely seen it look 100x times better. ATN looks great too though, but this does look biased. From this video I wouldn't want to get Thermion, but I know it's a good scope. I have the entry Pulsar RXQ one and it works great 3 years later...
Hi my name is Rod Cory from north east Texas, I received a pulsar as a Christmas present last night. I’ve always used night vision and I’m excited to learn all about my pulsar you demoed. I also noticed hearing some suppressed shots in the back ground of your video. I have thunder chicken silencers, but noticed how quite the shots in the background were. What brand of silencer do you shoot? And what caliber of rifle is quietist? For pig hunting? I also have 1200 acres here with more hogs then I can shoot and a private lake with a brand new two story cabin. You are more then welcome to come and hunt and bring a friend.
Rod the background shots in this video were not suppressed, just distant and sounded quite just because of where the microphones were located when filming this. It’s hard to say what caliber is quietest as that really relies on the particular suppressor quite a bit.
I have been Looking for someone to help out with some hog hunting, no thermal though , not yet, Santa Might anty up someday. Lol, anyhow im from Michigan , I hunt coyote,bobcat, fox,wolf and beaver , love it... I will be making blankets. , Mittens , and hunting camo ,soon. .if I can help feel free contact me. 6163254597.or timlehnen@yahoo.com. Snapperhead Trapping and Bounty
I live in the Pacific Northwest building a hog rifle. Can I come hog hunting ❤???
Just bought a thor IV 680 2.5X25. Thank you. I feel much better about my purchase from your video..
any update since your purchase?
Are either one of these rated for the recoil of 45-70 gov’t? I’m looking around for something to mount to my Marlin.
With the quick detach scope on the atn. Will it stay in zero if u take it off and use it on a different rifle
About audio, as of ATN's last update, audio no longer sync's with video and to boot it's at a different rate which keeps you from separating audio and video and re-aligning since they will only match at point of alignment! (thermal only).(day and night scope doesn't have this problem).
ATN wishes not to reply to inquisitions on this subject (or any others from my experience). I own 2 ATN's and a Pulsar xp50 lrf. I have never needed to contact Pulsar but have had issues with both ATN's and have never been able to contact ATN and get a response. My PRO 4K can't hardly ever keep charging, the Thor 4 no more audio and they both freeze up and have to be forced down by 30 seconds of holding button (seems much longer as your watching 65 pigs trot away from you)! I'll get 3 to 4 freezes a hunt!
The extras like streaming and remote screen ETC. ignore that as a price point. They both disconnect constantly (Pulsar also has this problem) so ignore those features on Pulsar and ATN right now! Although like you said, I find the removable card of the ATN much much handier!
Speaking of vid quality, My ATN is only 320 but has better vid than my Pulsar which is 640, though to look thru the pulsar is not even comparable to ATN (Pulsar comes across as optical like gen 4 phosphorous where ATN looks like a ninety's pixeled video game). With that said (lol) the exported vids on the ATN look alot better after exporting to computer. Many times I'll come home and download and watch the video to be able to see my misses with the ATN because they are not easily picked out while viewing through scope or reviewing through scope. Where as with the Pulsar you almost always see your misses in the scope! Keeping in mind my Pulsar is a 640.
Watching this review I'd go with the ATN lol but owning both, I'd go pulsar for these 2 reasons but not limited to 2. #1 Pulsar uses Flir internal unit, ATN uses knock off from China. #2 Pulsar has a proven customer service (not by me, cause I've never needed to call them) according to all forums I've ever read or reviews I've ever watched and ATN is basically just a baby daddy that ran off (except to you, are you kin to them to actually get service?)
Thank you for your review, Good job!
Thank you for your detailed insight. This is very good information. I appreciate you taking the time to share your experience with both.
Really good reviews really appreciate it definitely get me wanting the ATN all that much more!
Thanks a lot ! I though thermion was the best but you changes my mind !
I own the thor 4 384x288. Love it. I cant imagine using one of the other brands. It's the 2-8.
Thanks this was helpful. Now you should make a video comparing the ATN Thor 4 640x480 4-40 (2019 release) vs the Pulsar thermion xg50 640x480 3-24 (2020 release) Just an idea.
What about recoil rating? I know the Pulsar is rated for 375 H&H. Thanks
In all honesty, ATN is ok for the hunters that are out to play! Pulsar, nvision and others are there for the serious hunters. ATN was my first purchase but for some reason my second thermal was Pulsar. Absolutely no regrets on that. People I take out hunting look through my pulsar and jaw drops, then look through my ATN and ask "how do you use that?" It's kinda like my first computer screen "apple iiE" vs todays computer screens!
Then get a newer ATN! That’s not a fair comparison.
@@user-xt7rs8md7p My pulsar is a much older model than my THOR 4. what newer model is there than the THOR 4?
I have the ATN 4K Pro 3-14 myself and have had it since they first came out. I had one issue one time where the scope locked up on me. I had to hold down the power button for 30 seconds to get it to reboot, it has been fine since that incident. ATN's customer service has been great, but I have only had to call them one time. I also like the fact that they email me with firmware updates. I was interested to see some info on the Pulsar, with what I have seen in your video I will be purchasing a Thor 4 in the near future. Thanks for the great video it was very informative and on point!
dude...that must be te best comparison review....ever.
thank for sharing
Thanks for taking the time to watch
I've personally never looked through an atn product that I liked or thought was compatible to anything from pulsar
Matthew Debord please try Trijicon IR hunter, best thermal ever
Can't compare the Trijicon...it cost three times as much!
brett black yessir that’s correct
I have a Thor 4 640 x 480 1-10X and based on the video the image that I saw coming from the Pulsar I cannot imagine spending that much more money for something that doesn't look as good as what I have. People on here were saying comparisons between Honda and Corvette just simply don't know what they're talking about. But to use that analogy against the original user, that Honda is gonna run a lot longer than that Corvette will it's gonna cost you less to maintain it and in general you have a far better and more useful tool in the Honda. Perhaps he enjoys wasting money or just simply has too much.
And also the comment about customer service being better with pulsar I guess what can I say but I haven't had to test ATN's customer service because thus far the product has worked flawlessly. And for the angry guy who thinks the thermal market is a sham: think about what you're buying.. will the price come down in the future? Absolutely. Absolutely will at this point in time are you getting a quality piece of gear that does exactly what it says it does? yes yes you are. therefore I'm just gonna have to say that is a case of sour grapes because he cannot afford either one.
The only place the pulsar is a bit in my opinion better than the Thor is the waterproofing but that has not been an issue at all I'm not sure how useful a thermal would be if one were hunting alligators or something but if 1 were to be regularly using it out on the water I could maybe see that being worth a considerable increase in price but for the average hunter or even a serious paranoid prepper the Thor is going to do you just fine. If the battery life the image quality and usability were all comparable I could see the pulsar as worth it. I think the only thing that is a sham in this situation is the pulsar unfortunately.
I own Both and the ATN is a Bad joke...an expensive bad joke..
So this guys review basically said that the ATN is the better deal but everyone in the comments is saying that theirs is shit. So which is it? I believe everyone in the comments lol
I think this video hurt the feelings of a lot of people who were fans of Pulsar. The results are what they are, but keep in mind I had a sample size of one of each optic. I think you’d be happy with either optic, but I personally can’t justify the extra cost of the pulsar. To each their own!
I hunted with a guy with a pulsar and we switched guns during the hunt and he went home and sold his pulsar and bought a ATN. And thanked me.
Customer Service with Pulsar is well worth the $1.100 price difference, my ATN is a piece of junk
I cant agree more, Im sorry i even considered the ATN, never mind shelled out on one. I dont even see this video as an accurate comparrison between the scopes the Pulsar is years in front of the ATN. These two scopes shouldnt even be in the same video.
@@paddymularkey Amen brother, my Thor 4 is like looking at a cartoon where my pulsar actually looks like gen 4 nv but with glowing heat!
Have you try on Trijicon IR hunter? It’s the best thermal
Wes O How much is the Trijicon?
$7,000.00 👌🏻
Great informational video. Thank you I was considering both of them to review. Looks like ATN in my future.
Thanks for watching, glad it was helpful
I have only seen mostly good things about Pulsar.Not so much with ATN but if they get better might try.
How far have you shot with them. Great video
It's sad that some people can't respect some ones word and opinion because all I seen was a factual comparison l. Thank you for the facts.
Excellent job on this side by side review. Very well done. I currently shoot an ATN digital NV scope and have had zero issues with it. I am about ready to upgrade to thermal.
weekender38 thanks for watching, you won’t regret making the jump to thermal! Check out my night vision vs thermal comparison. I compare ATN night vision to their thermal!
Grt comparison vid. It's obviously hard to ignore the difference between the two in the fog. Wow.
Yeah that was embarrassing for Pulsar, I have the xp50 lrf. Alot of people don't know about the contrast setting on the pulsar and if left alone you get but decent quality visual but with tweeking it gets sharp. I also have the thor 4 and not as much need to tweek, just set and go which is nice just with less ability for fine tuning! On that vid he needed to ajust the contrast on pulsar + pulsar exported vids are automatically half the quality of what you see in scope, where ATN has better exported vid quality than what you see in scope (interesting)!
@@garwoodgerdes5585 grt points. I have neither. Super interesting to me.
@@garwoodgerdes5585 my bet is a firmware update could improve the quality of the export although the HD is fine to me.
@@davidcarroll2908 Thank you sir, I am adamant about my firmware! If I didn't have the ATN footage to compare it to I would probably be just fine with it also but don't take that as me prefering ATN because that is the only quality ATN has!
@@davidcarroll2908 When you say HD? Am I missing something? Maybe I am exporting wrong? I just plug my xp50 into laptop, find the files and move them to a folder on my comp then open with vlc or winmedia, either program gives same low quality results. So Is there a way to export with High Def or Higher Def than my low tech way! You have peaked my curiosity.
Sorry brother... As emphatically as you stated your review is unbiased, it's about as obvious that there's definitely bias in this review. I think you made some good points about functionality, but comes off so slanted that it had me thinking you must have something going on with ATN. That's just my unbiased evaluation.
Got that vibe too...Cheers
it's absolutely obvious... bit it's fooling a lot of commenters
Have to agree. I could see it right off.
Because for the price difference you get nothing but maybe a little customer service and a little more zoom $1100 probably isn’t worth it.
@@bobthebuilder101ism I don't agree. Been using thermal for a decade now and ATN optics have issues looking up steep slopes, where the image starts to blow out and it becomes difficult to see heat sources... Pulsars do have the same issue, but to a lesser degree, so that the Pulsar is usable, whereas the ATN is not. Then you also have to look at support... When you spend the kind of money these optics cost, good support is essential... And ATN is just leagues behind Pulsar in this area, especially with the spotty record ATN has with quality control. A fella that saves all year or uses his taxes to get his only thermal can't afford to have problems and not have it taken care of quickly and efficiently. If he already has another thermal, then it may not be as big of an issue, but if a guy only has one, then support problems may mean that he's not hunting for 2-3 months which may be his entire season for the animals he's hunting, or leave him without thermal during competitions he planned to attend. Just what I've observed in the industry over the last decade.
Great video, I’m looking to purchase my first thermal scope for varmint hunting, the ATN looks like the way I’ll go. Thanks for the time you put into the scopes
That was a great video thank you you made up my mind I just ordered the ATN.
Glad you found it helpful.
Are you happy with your purchase?
@@thur1042 yes I am we have done hog hunting about five times in Texas it is great you see everything clearly
The question is which one is better in terms of accuracy of hitting the target at long distances
great video. Do you know if anyone makes a cover for the ATN to help protect it in wet conditions.
Order a 54mm flip cover from Amazon. Several manufacturers make them
Im serious about selecting a moderate priced thermal scope for rifles of no higher caliber than .308. Good video, thanks.
Thank you for the great reviews. I would love to see how the PARD SA25 thermal scope stacks up against these.
What are thoughts now on the thermion since you have used it more? Thanks
Do these optics lag? I've only messed with a sig thermal and it seemed kinda laggy every now and then
There wasn’t a noticeable latency on either of these, at least to my eye.
You did a great job comparing and for me would pick the atn
My biggest concern is the ATN and where the money is going.
Great video. Love the detailed analysis of all the features. P.S., the Pulsar "freeze frame" concept for zeroing your rifle is VERY useful. I have the Trail model and I use that every time I zero. Great feature!
David Greenapple thanks for taking the time to watch.
ATN is NOT the way to go. There are far better options out there. The pulsar thermion blows atn out of the water with a far superior sensor, quality made parts, customer service, etc. These scopes aren't even comparable. Do a test in high humidity and let me know the results
Simple fact, all these years after your review, ATN has never been able to sync the video and audio. Hopefully in the Thor 5 they finally figure out what they're doing. I sold my Thor 4 are listening for years that they works fix it.
What is the vertical line on the Pulsar.
cfunk10 he just needed to nuke the screen to get them off there. Thermals do that when they are on for a extended period of time but they have an internal shutter to flash the screen he never flashed his screen.
Great vid,
Does the atn have the smart rectical ?
It does now with the most current firmware.
@@4MRRanch can you do a vid on that as it imo is the main selling point of this scope
Great vid btw.
The author of the video intentionally shows the pulsar in incorrect settings. Pulsar is better both in picture quality and performance. The conclusion is simple, in this video Frank advertising ATN. Pulsar is worth the money that is asked for it. Greetings from Russia.
AE this is not true. I had both optics on the same settings, and both had a NUC performed before recording.
@@4MRRanch I have never had a picture on my ATN that could match the Pulsar...and the pulsar works Every Time without fail. The ATN Fails at least once every time its used.
Sounds like the Atn has the goods internally. I just wish they would make the shape and size a bit more like a traditional scope rather than a big ugly box
After using the thermion for a while i thought it was awesome. Now watching your comparison i think the ATN is a better thermal scope and easier to use and way longer battery. Thermion is not a hunt all night scope due to the short run time. After a year the thermion only runs for 5 hours.
That is interesting to know. The ATN has not shown any significant loss on battery life, it still outlasts my patience on all my hunts!
Wow 3800 for a battery eater 😮
were any of these shown at night? or all durning day
A mixture.
Thanks, bought the ATN. I actually bought it before watching this, but saw one of your vids on the ATN and this one came up in my recommended afterwards & now feel even better about my purchase. Waiting for it to arrive, going to use for Hog and Coyote hunting (land, crop and livestock protection). Live in TX, from Louisiana and family still has land there. PS - now a subscriber, you've got good content, keep it up!
Chad B, Here's a tip. If you find your scope off when you were sure you had it on, and it wont turn on. It looks like a flat battery, its not..... Its "frozen dark".......press and hold to crash the hard drive then restart. I just wonder how many times i do this before its totally Knackered. I have to do this at least once every time i use it. One of many issues i constantly have with this scope.... Good Luck!! PS Turning the widgets off reduces some issues.
@@paddymularkey thanks. I haven't set up widgets or really utilized the features, not worriedaboutbluetooth, recording...I just set it up how I like it and shoot with it. What other issues have you experienced? Could be the processor can't handle the load of extra functions?
@@chadb1878 Thats exactly the problem, can you please tell ATN that for me. I havent set mine up, it just crashes for little or no reason. Im lucky i can get it to stay on. Its just a toy, not a tool.
@@paddymularkey
First real hunt coming up. No issues yet but I'll let you know. What do you think the best Thermal is? Looking at the FLIR Thermoscope for my next one but doing more research & getting feedback this time...
@@chadb1878 Hi Chad, here in the UK we dont have a lot of options with thermal, Pulsar is our most redily available choice. The ATN is like a cheap toy (not even water proof) compared to the Pulsars, I have the small Pulsar Thermion on an air rifle for rats, makes for great sport and thats leagues in front of the ATN. I have also tried the top spec Thermion 50, Its a great piece of kit (way cheaper too). I need Thermal for my second job as part of a fox control team, This ATN 4-40 is not making me popular, with the driver having to take over the shooting because the scope is having a hissyfit. As i said sorry i even went there, and again ATN customer service is non existent. P.s Have never had to contact Pulsar customer service in 6 years of using Thermal. Sold all my used units on for decent money too.
Just ordered a Thor5 XD LRF today will see in a month or two
excellent review thanks. just starting my research
Where are you hunting the hogs? Florida? Texas? also on public land?
You need to learn how to calibrate and use the Optics before you try and review them. Especially the pulsar. That footage that you displayed it's not an accurate representation of the image quality that Pulsar is capable of delivering.
any education from the complainer?
I'm very curious as to why so many dealers talk bad about the ATN ? After seeing this video comparison seems like the ATN has more options and looks better through the screen as well.
I have two that hold paper down very well.
Have you tried their new Thor Lt 160 3x6 or 4x8? If so I would love to hear some feed back on it.
I have not but it’s certainly something I plan to test out!
@@4MRRanch That would be great. Looking forward to it!
@@aubreyallen6472 a friend bought the LT and after looking through my thermal hunting hogs one night. He sold his LT and bought a true thermal.
Thanks for the comparison! The ATN appears to be an outstanding unit! However I just recently purchased the Pulsar Accolade 2, and as you mentioned the navigation through the menu’s is quite fiddly, but it seems to me your are not as familiar with the Pulsar as you are the ATN. Most of the video you show was in the identification mode, and depending on conditions, a different mode could be better. I live in Las Vegas and it is hot here! I get better imaging using the rocks mode where there is a large variation of heat signatures, in the morning trees seems to be better due to more things being cooler and a more even temperature. I suspect identification mode might be even more so then trees mode? I’ve only had it two days, so I’m still learning. But still I like how you compared the different features of each and how they might work better for an individual based on his or her own wants and needs.
I'm thankful you pointed that out. I was starting to think that the Thermion was horribly outclassed by the ATN during those side-by-side comparisons. I'll look at some other Thermion videos to see if it experiences the same poor quality hazy artifacts in the darker areas and a crippling inability to pierce through fog, as demonstrated in this video.
I've had my ATN for years, more than 5 and probably 7 and have never had an issue with it. It also has out preformed every other Thermal it has meet.
It hasn’t met a FLIR or Nvision yet
@@Johnnyreengo it's internals are FLIR so meeting one won't matter.
There was no mention of the atn smart rectical and that is the top selling point on this scope.
Only real hunters would have spotted this,
Liking the Thor so far!!!
How would you compare them after a couple of years? I've been seeing comments about Pulsar being better quality than ATN.
After this comparison first hand, I decided to continue in using ATN over the Pulsar, so I can't really speak to how the Pulsar does long term, but as you will see by my hunting video uploads, the ATN is doing well for me over time.
I was watching the video and I kept looking at how you had the Thermion mounted thinking "I'm pretty sure those are the ATN rings..." LoL Pepsi in a Coke glass!
Thank you very much for putting this video together. I was leaning toward the ATN, but another UA-camr I've been watching hunt with the rifle I'm looking at building (a Grendel) uses the Thermion. But watching your video firmed me up on the ATN. The very same things I thought might be issues with the Thermion you pointed out as actually being there. The base functionality is there with both. In fact, it looked like the ATN outperformed the Thermion in several areas, especially with fog. Therefore the decision needs to be made on other things. Battery life and memory are two of the huge ones for me. Add in several of the things you said you liked the Thermion over the ATN are a software upgrade away.
PelenTan I’m glad you caught the Coca Cola/Pepsi clip... as far as your other feedback, I agree with you completely. The only things I think the Thermion has over the ThOR can be added with a firmware update. Just my opinion, but seems like we share that opinion. Thanks for taking the time to watch.
Pulsar all day! Atn customer service is nonexistent!
This isn’t a real comparison it’s a ATN commercial. I’ve worked at a gun store that sold pulsars and I’ve owned them and they beat the heck out of ATN all day long. Plus ATN is made in China and has issues with every other unit. Pulsars you can tell are quality made.
Excellent work! Thank you
No comparison IMO. Thanks for the video!
Arnold Olsen thanks for taking the time to watch!
It has normal day vision right? The thor
Jus Ta no, thermal only but works day or night. The ATN 4K pro has day/night modes but is night vision and not thermal
I live in Saskatchewan Canada and thermal and night vision scopes are illegal mounted on any firearms. So with that being said I wanted a digital camera scope for awhile now but could not find any that didn’t have thermal/night vision included and even though I disagree with the law here about this I also didn’t want to risk losing an expensive piece of equipment if I got caught with one on my firearm so I did without and filmed my hunting shots on separate cameras with the help of my hunting partner for our You Tube channel. But just last week I found the ATN x-sight Buck Hunter a daytime digital scope and just received it on Oct 16 2019 my 62 birthday my gift to myself lol have it setup on my PCP air rifle atm to try it out and am learning each day more with so many features. I only got the 3x14 version but did you know it has a setting for extended zoom that will zoom up x37.7 but gets grainy and records at 30/60 and 120 fps in 4K but your crosshairs will not be visible in recorded video at 120 fps I found today. And I only paid $699.00 Cnd for this scope since it was a store display model. Great price and legal here as well and loving it the video is so good that you can see the pellet fly and connect when I edit and slow down the video in my editor. So far I am very happy and impressed! 😉😎
Freedom is illegal in Canada lol
Kinda tough to bring your footage into the office on monday if you have to lug your Ar into the office to show the secretary your hunt...
Is infrared laser visable with thermal?
Rebecca Blankenship not to my knowledge
No, it does not show a laser
Thanks, nice job. Went with ATN 640 1x10
A solid choice! Enjoy it!
Have you had trouble in the pulsar holding zero. I’ve seen a lot of reviews of them not maintaining zero.
No longer have it loaned to me to give you a follow up, so can’t give you an honest opinion on that.
@@4MRRanch have you had that problem with the Thor 4? Thanks for the reply also.
@@joshradford1989 none whatsoever. I check the zero every few months and make only a minor adjustment, if any. We use this optic to take headshots on hogs all the time without issue.