Estimated read time: 7 min.
This year has been very fruitful for us, with multiple new devices introduced to the market. One of them is the Telos LRF XP50 – a monocular with many notable features, including a sensor with truly incredible thermal sensitivity and the possibility to upgrade the device’s hardware. Some of our ambassadors have already had a chance to try it out, so let’s see what they think of the new Pulsar Telos.
Hunter's review
Sensitive like never before
As a premium device, Telos comes with our signature 640×480 pixel resolution and 17 µm pixel pitch sensor. However, it has a NETD below 18 mK, which means it’s more sensitive than any other monocular in our range. As Phil Taylor, a British hunter, notes, it really shines in poor weather conditions: “Friday night was the perfect example: I was out with a friend in really poor conditions, and he had the Accolade 2 binoculars with a 640×480 less than 40mK sensor. He was struggling to pick up the stuff I did with the new Telos. It makes all the difference on these poor weather days and nights!”
Stefan Orman, Phil’s counterpart from Sweden, also adds that lower NETD means more detailed terrain. Producing a high range of midtones and able to capture temperature differences as small as 18 millikelvins (that’s basically as tiny as 0.018 degrees Celsius), it clearly displays grass, leaves, stones, and, of course, all the minute yet important details of your target. Or, as Jón Rúnar Guðjónsson, an Icelandic hunter currently based in Denmark, has put it: “It’s just mind-blowing image quality.”
To sum up the image quality you should expect from Telos, we’d like to use words by Night Vision Viking, a hunter and equipment tester from Sweden: “The image quality and detail are astonishing. There’s a ”crispness” and detail in the image I’ve never seen in a thermal device before. The Telos is also powerful enough to cut through the fog. I had a roe buck on a field at approximately 160 meters in heavy fog. It was impossible to see him with the naked eye – he completely disappeared in the fog. But thanks to the thermal sensor in the Telos, I could track every step.”
Hunter's review
Highly ergonomic for an even better user experience
It’s impossible to talk about Telos without mentioning its high ergonomics. Comfortable to hold, easy to operate, it’s probably our most intuitive device yet. One of the biggest advancements was the objective ring zoom control – mimicking that of professional cameras, it’s as intuitive as it’s convenient. And not just for professional photographers. “I think that the manual adjustment of zoom through the ring is much more ergonomic and comfortable than doing it with two buttons (up and down). Great feeling,” says Riccardo Tamburini, a hunter from Italy.
He also adds that “the particular shape of the buttons is very helpful at nighttime because it allows me to easily understand which button I am pushing since the first use.” Then, Riccardo also mentions the possibility to remove or turn the lens cap, which makes the use of the zoom and focus rings much easier and convenient, irrespective of whether you’re left- or right-handed.
And speaking of which – we’re proud to have made Telos fully ambidextrous. As you can probably tell, the ring controls are easy to access with either hand and so are the buttons placed in a single row on top of the device. Even the hand strap is attached in a way that allows you to move it from one side to the other. “The idea of being able to swap the hand strap from left to right is a little thing, but for guys that are left-handed, this was always an issue,” explains Phil.
Phil happened to be one of the hunters who lobbied for a rubber-coated housing on monoculars for years. Now, they can finally have it. “It gives the unit a nice, soft touch and feel, and on a wet day, it will certainly give you more grip,” reasons the hunter.
The guys from up North, both Stefan and Jón Rúnar, note another benefit of the rubber housing – it reduces the risk of frostbite for the user. While we’ll have to wait a few months to get their feedback from the freezing fields, extensive testing has shown us that it is, indeed, much more convenient to use in sub-zero temperatures.
A case to store and to carry
While Pulsar users won’t be surprised to receive a case with their device, Telos takes a step further with its highly ergonomic holster. “I, like most people, would buy a unit, take it out of the box, take it out of the case, then put the case back in the box and never see it again. The 3-point harness of the new case makes it really usable out in the field. Sitting just off the center of your chest, it’s easy to take the Telos in and out,” says Phil.
And speaking of use in the field, this is what Jón Rúnar told us: “The case is good for protection, fast access to the unit, and even crawling on all fours.”
Hunter's review
The brand-new battery system
As you may already know, at Pulsar, we make our own batteries to ensure their efficiency and safety. But with Telos, we took a step further and introduced a whole new system. Powering the monocular for more than 8 hours (Stefan assures us he gets “the runtime that is specified”), it can now be charged directly via any USB Type-C cable or wirelessly – no special chargers required. Both Stefan and Phil prefer the wireless charging option, while Jón Rúnar leans towards cable as it supports the Power Delivery fast charging protocol and thus makes the charging process much quicker.
For a hunter on the move
When creating a device, we always have a particular type of hunter in mind. Telos we made to serve those on the move. And while we didn’t tell this to our ambassadors, we’re glad to know they instantly recognized the effort. “Telos is 100% for stalk hunting or a hunter on the move. For stalk hunting in the fields or doing damage control on wild boar, this unit being a monocular with an LRF gives me agility and range, and the insane NETD provides me with excellent, unrivaled awareness of my surroundings,” says Stefan.
Phil notes that in the UK, Telos is likely to get a huge fan base: “Monoculars are certainly the most popular devices out there. They suit many people’s needs – from the stalker to the pest controller and especially the mobile hunter who doesn’t want the extra weight of a pair of thermal binoculars swinging around their neck.”
Jón Rúnar also finds himself taking Telos to the mountains with him: “I use it for longer-range spotting, like sikas or red deer on mountain ridges. Then, the LRF helps a lot with size estimating and approach decisions, both in the mountains and while doing crop protection.”
Meanwhile, Night Vision Viking notes it’s a great choice for professional use: “Overall, the Telos exudes quality, and feels like a great choice for any professional.
Telos is 100% for stalk hunting or a hunter on the move. For stalk hunting in the fields or doing damage control on wild boar, this unit being a monocular with an LRF gives me agility and range, and the insane NETD provides me with excellent, unrivaled awareness of my surroundings.
Stefan Orman
A device that never gets old
The thing about technology is that it changes quickly. And while most of us will want to have the very best device available, that’s quite a costly option. So that’s why we made Telos upgradeable. And we aren’t just talking about the software – you can get new hardware, too! While the possibility itself will be available next year, it’s still worth a mention.
And Phil got quite intense on the praise: “Pulsar has listened to market feedback and tried hard to incorporate it into the new Telos. The gold medal certainly goes to it being an upgradeable device. The option of being able to upgrade something that has cost you lots of money is something else. Now, in reality, you buy your Telos, and this is a thermal monocular for life. There will be options to upgrade the sensor when new ones come to the market, the screen as new technology comes out, and if you’ve bought a non-LRF model, the option will be there to add it later. What is not to like about the new Telos! Pulsar has certainly thought about the customer experience with the new Telos. 10/10 for this magical monocular”.
Now, before we go, a quick disclaimer: there was no magic involved, just science! But we’re really happy about the result, and it makes us even more excited to see such positive feedback from our hunters. We hope you’ll get to try it out, too, and see what all the fuss is about.
Overall, the Telos exudes quality, and feels like a great choice for any professional.
Night Vision Viking
Before purchasing any night or thermal vision device, please make sure you adhere to the local legislation and only use it when it is allowed. Our ambassadors come from various countries and travel a lot, which allows them to test different devices. We do not encourage or support the illegal use of our devices in any events. If you wish to learn more about export and sales restriction policy, please visit the following link: Export and Sales Restriction Policy.