Is It Useful Having Thermal and Night Vision All in One Unit?
In my opinion, absolutely, yes.
Recently, I was out on the rabbits and had a perfect example of why having both thermal and night vision in one unit can make a big difference. I arrived at a field that was absolutely teeming with rabbits. While scanning the area using the thermal setting, I spotted what appeared to be a rabbit-sized heat signature, well within range for a shot.
As is my usual practice, I switched over to night vision before pulling the trigger. I always like to double-check and confirm what I’m aiming at, especially when you're dealing with heat signatures, which can sometimes be misleading depending on the focus and conditions.
And I’m glad I did.
When I switched over to night vision, I discovered the "rabbit" was actually a cat. Admittedly, the thermal image wasn’t perfectly focused (I was using the DNT Thermnight 635 at the time), and if it had been, I probably could have made out the shape better. But this situation really highlighted the benefit of having the ability to switch modes quickly.
Now, if you’re using a lower-spec device, something like the DNT Thermnight 225, for example, then the option to switch from thermal to night vision becomes even more valuable. On lower-end thermals, detail can be a bit lacking, especially at longer distances or when the subject is partially obscured. Being able to flick over to night vision for a clearer ID is not just helpful, it can be essential for making responsible, ethical shots.
My current Rabbiting set-up:
Air Arms S410f in .177 with Spartan ProHunt Tac Bipod
