Holiday gift guide: optics gifts by budget

Shipping available to US addresses only

Athlon Thermal Clip-Ons

Athlon's Cronus ATS Pro clip-ons mount in front of the day scope already on your rifle and add thermal imaging without touching its zero. All four put a 12-micron sensor behind a 35 mm F1.0 lens, at 400x300 or 640x512, and weigh 16.5 to 17.2 oz.

The 35C models run longest, on two 18650 batteries, and the 35CL models add a laser rangefinder. To see how they fit Athlon's whole thermal range, read our Cronus ATS lineup guide.
View as

How to choose a Cronus ATS clip-on

Sensor

The 35C-400 and 35CL-400 have a 400x300 sensor, a 7.8 by 5.9 degree field and a 1200x900 OLED. The 35C-640 and 35CL-640 step up to 640x512, a wider 12.5 by 9.4 degree field, a 1280x960 OLED and 64 GB of storage against 32 GB. All four share a NETD of 25 mK or less and Athlon's 1,950-yard detection range.

Battery life or rangefinder

The two pairs trade runtime for a laser. The 35C-400 and 35C-640 run on two 18650 batteries for at least 10 and 9 hours, and estimate distance with ranging lines on the screen, against Athlon's presets for a rabbit, coyote, wild boar or deer. The 35CL-400 and 35CL-640 run on one battery for at least 5.5 and 5 hours and add a laser rangefinder, good from 10 to 1,600 yards to within a yard. USB-C power keeps any of them running when the batteries run down.

Holdovers and zero

Each takes ballistic profiles from the Athlon Ballistics app over Wi-Fi and shows MOA or MIL holdovers on screen: for preset distances on the 35C models, and from the live laser range on the 35CL models. One-Shot Zero zeroes the thermal overlay to your scope at 50 to 500 yards, with five profiles for different rifles or loads.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a clip-on change my zero?

No. It sits in front of your day scope, which keeps its zero and reticle, and at 1x digital magnification your scope's magnification becomes the system's.

How does it mount?

On the included quick-detach Picatinny mount, ahead of your scope. Adapter rings in 40, 50 and 56 mm, sold separately, clip to the objective bell instead.

Does it record video?

Yes. Recoil starts a recording that keeps about 3 seconds before and 7 seconds after each shot, and you can record or take snapshots by hand, with sound from the built-in microphone.

Is thermal hunting legal?

Rules differ by state and by species. Check your state wildlife agency before you hunt with thermal.

For what the specs mean in the field, read Thermal Imaging Specs Explained, and to compare clip-ons from every maker, browse our thermal clip-ons.

Compare /3