HikMicro Stellar 3.0 SQ35L Thermal Riflescope

Thermal imaging scope by HikMicro with a NETD value of just 15 mK — the lower that number, the smaller the temperature difference the device can still detect. Even minimal temperature variations are made visible on the OLED display, which operates at a resolution of 2560x2560 pixels with a refresh rate of 50 Hz. The thermal imaging sensor has a resolution of 640x512 pixels with a pixel pitch of 12 µm, providing a compact pixel structure. The objective has a diameter of 35 mm and the field of view is 21.9x17.5 meters at 100 meters distance.

The optical magnification of the Stellar 3.0 SQ35L is set at 2.5x; digital zoom brings that to a maximum of 24.5x. The PIP function (Picture in Picture) lets you use that high magnification without losing the broader overview — handy when tracking game at distance. Depending on conditions, you choose from six color modes:

• Black hot
• White hot
• Red hot
• Fusion
• Red monochrome
• Green monochrome

On board is a recoil activation function: as soon as the scope detects recoil, it automatically records a short video of that moment. Manual recording is also possible — use the buttons on top to take photos or videos with audio. Everything is saved to the internal 64 GB memory. Via the Hotspot function you share files wirelessly with a smartphone, and thanks to the streaming function it is possible to send the live image display directly to a smartphone, so multiple people can watch simultaneously.

In terms of design, the Stellar 3.0 SQ35L strongly resembles a conventional riflescope, which suits it well on a hunting rifle. On top of the objective sits a laser rangefinder (LRF) that measures the distance to the target. That measurement goes directly to the built-in ballistic calculator, which calculates the point of impact based on the measured distance. That makes the scope also usable for accurate shooting at varying shooting distances — a combination that is becoming increasingly common in night vision and thermal imaging scopes at this level.

The housing is robustly constructed and carries an IP67 rating: completely dust- and waterproof, and submersible to 30 minutes at one meter depth. The weight without external battery is 830 grams. The scope is powered by two internal rechargeable lithium batteries and one replaceable, rechargeable 18650 battery. Together they provide a battery life of nine hours.