How to choose a PARD riflescope
Thermal or night vision
Thermal is the better detector. It reads heat, so it shows a warm animal against cooler ground at midnight or at noon, and through smoke. Digital night vision is the better identifier: it shows the animal and its surroundings in visible detail, and by day it works as a color scope. For hogs in cover, pick thermal; for identifying a target on open ground, pick a Night Stalker.
Sensor and objective
The thermal sensors run 256 × 192 (Ocelot 256, Pantera 256 Mini), 384 × 288 (Pantera 384 Mini), 480 × 360 (Ocelot 480, Pantera 480) and 640 × 512 (Ocelot 640, Pantera eX). On the same lens a bigger sensor gives a wider view, and on the same sensor a bigger lens gives more magnification: the Ocelot 480 starts at 2.1x with the 35mm lens and 3x with the 50mm. Choose 35mm for close cover and 50mm for open ground.
Infrared for the Night Stalker
Three Night Stalker kits include an 850 nm illuminator: the 4K 2.0 50mm and the 5K eX with a detachable module, and the 4K Mini with the TL3. The 4K 2.0 70mm, the 4K eX and the Mini 35mm come without one. PARD made the TL3 with its bracket for the Mini 35mm, and the IL1, which adds a rangefinder, for the eX scopes.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far do PARD rangefinders read?
To 1,000 m, on every PARD riflescope that has one; the product name says "with LRF". The Night Stalker 4K eX can add one with the IL1 module.
Do PARD riflescopes record video?
Yes, photos and video. Most save to a microSD card of up to 128 GB, the Ocelot 256 has 32 GB built in, and most start recording when they sense recoil.
Which PARD riflescopes ship to California?
The thermal scopes and the three Night Stalkers sold without an illuminator. We do not ship the Night Stalker kits that include one, or the IL1 and TL3, to California addresses (California Penal Code 468), and their product pages say so in the delivery note.
To weigh the two technologies, read Thermal vs Night Vision for Hunting, and for all of PARD, browse PARD.