TFB Review: Pulsar Merger LRF XT50 – 1280×1024 HD Thermal Binoculars
TFB Review: Pulsar Merger LRF XT50 – 1280×1024 HD Thermal Binoculars
This is a review of the Pulsar Merger LRF XT50 high-definition thermal binoculars. I stated at the beginning of the year that 2024 will be the time when high-definition thermals will start to appear on a broader scale, and I wasn’t wrong. Little did I know that Pulsar was planning on releasing this specific model, a premium addition to their Merger line of thermal binoculars.
Pulsar Thermals @ TFB:
TFB Review: Pulsar Axion XQ30 Pro – The Thermal Pocket Rocket TFB Review: Pulsar Thermion 2 XL50 LRF – HD Thermal Riflescope TFB Review: Pulsar Thermion 2 LRF XP50 Pro Thermal Riflescope
First Impressions
Apart from the metallic gray cover, the new Pulsar Merger LRF XT50 looks very similar to the other sisters and brothers in the Merger model line. It’s first when you take a more detailed look that you discover the differences; some are very discrete, others are more substantial. What really sets the XT50 apart is the exceptional thermal performance, thanks to its HD 1280×1024/12µm thermal sensor, made in Europe.
I didn’t count them, but the specification tells me this device offers more than 66% more pixels than the previous high-end model. All this power, in combination with smooth zooming software, means that you don’t really have to compromise between an incredible field of view, and the occasions when you need to magnify and identify a potential target. With the XT, I’ve been able to see finer and sharper details at longer distances than ever before. If you need to verify the distance to the object, just use the integrated laser rangefinder and the Merger will tell you the range in an instant.
As usual with Pulsar’s devices, they’re easy to use. You can just use the basic functions if that is enough, but there’s also a possibility to use more advanced functions and personalize the image quality. It is possible to adjust the oculars, to make it fit comfortably around your nose and eyes.
Below: Here is a size comparison of the Pulsar Telos and an ordinary pair of binoculars. There are a lot of seals and birds in this area.
Below: On the stones out in the sea there’s a habitat for harbor seals, and a viewing tower provided for the public. I am probably one of the first to ever use a thermal to spot them.
Below: Here’s what the seals look like on thermal in the XT50. The distance is about 300 meters, so these are quite challenging conditions for a thermal but I think it managed pretty well.
Below: Zoomed in iPhone image to compare.
Birds, and especially water birds are notoriously difficult to catch with thermals but the XT50 captures them with ease. The Picture in Picture and digital stabilization makes wonders to the image quality.
I stumbled upon these stone creations, and couldn’t resist the impulse to take a nice photo.
Image Quality
I am a firm believer in “seeing is believing”, that’s why I like to provide as many images as possible both from the visible world and from what only a thermal can see.
Back to the wild, where the Merger XT50 excels. Concamo Ghosthood on.
This forest is mainly populated by fallow deer, with some really shy mouflons.
23 meters to a mouflon sheep, a new personal best. I had to hide behind a tree to capture this, but they finally spotted me and ran off. The XT50 is in black hot. As you can see, these sheep are pretty well insulated.
Below: It’s virtually impossible to see, let alone hunt anything in this type of forest. But what’s hidden for our eyes is visible to the thermal.
Below: A still image like this doesn’t do the Merger XT50 any justice at all, but you can see a bunch of fallow deer (probably 20 or more) in there. When you watch it live, and the herd is moving it’s so much better.
Below: Mouflon sheep are very difficult to spot because if they see, hear or smell you, they make sure you won’t see them. On this rare occasion, I was lucky enough to find a solitary ram which I watched for over an hour. The horns of mature rams are curved almost one full revolution (up to 85 cm).
Below: An image taken by my iPhone, through the ocular of the Merger XT50.
Below: A somewhat lost fallow deer showed up while I was filming the ram. Notice the depth in the image. A few years ago I was told that thermal images were always flat and lacked any kind of depth.
Below: A herd of fallow deer can be seen along the road, just under the tree line. To enhance the image, it’s possible to input your own settings.
Below: I’m not sure how this still will show up on your screen, but uncompressed you get a magnificent field of view, while still getting a crisp and clear image of the animals.
Here are more images to display the Merger XT50’s incredible field of view. Yet it has the power in the pixels for when you need to magnify and identify a potential target. Would I have liked a little better sensitivity in the sensor. Yes, always is the answer but this is quite sufficient.
The specified NETD value is
Notice the antlers.
Below: This is about 65 meters away. Roe buck with antlers.
Below: Fallow deer herd at about 90-100 meters.
Below: A moose at 28 meters.
Below: A roebuck at 123 meters, and a field hare at about 45 meters. Pitch black outside, with moisture.
Demonstrating the zoom function. The smooth zoom is pretty cool, but won’t show on still images like these.
Should 8x not be enough, there’s a variable zoom up to 16x.
Comparing white and black hot below.
Most people would buy the XT50 to hunt wild boar, so here are a few examples of that. These are caged luckily, because he ran an attack on me down to 6 meters. You can watch a video on YouTube here, instead of these still images. It only took him about 3 seconds to run.
As an opposite to the near-death experience above I provide two rabbits on a grassy field, which are between 250 and 400 meters away. The two white pixels. That’s how sensitive these devices have become.
I used the Merger XT50 side by side with the brand new Vectronix Vector X and they show the same distances when using the LRF. I think the max I got was around 1200 meters. The Vector X is a €3000 LRF binocular. I also used the Merger XT at a PRS shooting competition and could easily see the steel targets getting hit at 312 meters. I would perhaps not use it as a spotting scope on a PRS match, but it was incredible how clearly I could see the hits.
Sitting on top of the 6×6, roof hatch open, and watching fallow deer at a distance.
These fallow deer are at about 400+ meters.
Coming To A Conclusion
The Merger XT50 is Pulsar’s first device to feature digital image stabilization. I’ll admit, I was initially skeptical about how useful this would be, as it gave me a sense of sea sickness from the start. However, it didn’t take long for me to appreciate its value. Now, I find myself using the stabilization feature constantly because a steady, crystal-clear image significantly reduces the time it takes for your brain to process your surroundings. Whether you’re on the move through dense forest or sitting completely still, the difference is striking. In situations where I previously used to struggle with a blurry, pixelated image, the Merger XT50 now delivers sharp, highly detailed images. Of course, the 1280×1024 thermal sensor and 50 mm lens help. The Merger XT50 quickly became my favorite new toy.
In conclusion, the Pulsar Merger LRF XL50 stands out as a versatile and reliable device, offering a combination of advanced features and durable design. Like all Pulsar’s devices, the Merger XT50 is made in Europe. This is a premium device and the price in the U.S. is in the region of $8,000. I would like Pulsar to add a Gallery function, so I can watch my videos and images just after I take them, in the ocular. Sometimes, when hunting, it’s important to quickly be able to recreate what happened. Was it a hit or not?
Pulsar Merger LRF XT50 Thermal Imaging Binoculars
The Merger XT50 really is an XTreme piece of thermal.
There are direct links to the Merger XT50 here:
U.S. https://pulsarnv.com/products/merger-lrf-xt50-thermal-binocular
Europe/Global: https://pulsarvision.com/products/thermal-imaging-binoculars/pulsar-merger-lrf-2/
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