Alpen Apex 640 50mm Thermal Scope with LRF

The Alpen Apex 640 LRF 50mm (ATH650) puts a 640 × 512, 12 μm thermal sensor, a laser rangefinder and a smart ballistics calculator in a 632-gram rifle-mounted optic, and Alpen calls it particularly suited to the AR platform. Among the 50 mm rangefinder scopes we carry it is the lightest and runs the longest, up to 15 hours on two batteries; the Athlon Cronus ATS Pro 50L-640 and Guide TU650LS weigh more but carry more storage and a published IP rating.

Key Features

• Laser rangefinder, rated by target. Alpen's manual rates it to 1,500 m on a target of moderate reflectivity such as a wall, up to 1,800 m on a highly reflective target and about 600 m on a low-reflectivity target such as an animal, with a 10 m minimum. Alpen's spec table lists 1,000 m. It ranges once or continuously at 15-second intervals.
• Smart ballistics calculator. Enter muzzle velocity, altitude, temperature, ballistic coefficient and sight height; the calculator takes the zero range from your zeroing settings and shows the bullet's landing point on the reticle for each single ranging.
• Five zeroing profiles with freeze-image zeroing. Store five zero configurations. After a shot, freeze the image and move the reticle to the point of impact along the X and Y axes, so the target cannot drift while you adjust.
• Image tools. Forest Mode makes high-temperature targets stand out, Hot Point tracks the warmest point in real time, and picture-in-picture magnifies the target and reticle while keeping the whole scene in view. Digital zoom steps through 1x, 2x, 4x and 8x on a 1440 × 1080 OLED display, with six color palettes.
• Recoil-activated recording, with sound. The scope starts recording video when it detects recoil, the microphone can record sound with it, and the same button that records video takes a still with a short press. 32 GB of internal memory holds the files, which export over USB-C.
• Built-in compass. Calibrate it by rotating the scope through three axes, and the compass shows on screen.
• Dual-battery power. A built-in rechargeable battery works with an external 18650: Alpen rates runtime at up to 15 hours when both are used and 6.5 hours on one 18650. Two 18650 cells come in the box.
• Wi-Fi and the app. 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi streams the live view to a phone through the app, a USB-C connection to the phone does the same, and the app installs firmware updates when it finds them.
• Calibration and protection. Flat-field calibration runs automatically or on a double press, defective pixel correction can be switched on, and a burning warning appears on screen when the lens is at risk of burn damage.
• Built for cold and heat. Waterproof and shockproof, rated to operate from -30 °C to +55 °C (-22°F to +131°F).

Who It's For

• Predator and hog hunters who want to detect, range and hold in one optic. Alpen rates detection at 2,600 m, and the rangefinder and ballistics calculator work out the hold without a second device.
• AR owners. Alpen says the Apex LRF thermals mount directly to the rifle and are particularly suited to the AR platform, and at 632 g it is the lightest of our 50 mm rangefinder scopes.
• Buyers deciding between the LRF and non-LRF models. The Alpen Apex 640 50mm Thermal Scope (ATRS650) has no laser rangefinder. In exchange it is rated ≤18 mK against this model's ≤20 mK, holds 64 GB against 32 GB and gives 50 mm of eye relief against 44 mm, at 957 g against 632 g.
• Buyers choosing among our 50 mm rangefinder scopes. The Athlon Cronus ATS Pro 50L-640 adds ten zeroing profiles, 128 GB and IP67 sealing, and Athlon rates its laser to 1,600 yards. The Guide TU650LS adds a ≤15 mK sensor rating, 256 GB and IP68 sealing at 935 g.

Accessories & Compatibility

• Mount. The scope ships with a guide rail and four screws. Alpen's manual has you fix the scope on the guide rail with the screws, then tighten the rail's knobs on the rifle.
• Batteries. Two 18650 cells come in the box; Alpen asks that the batteries be charged between 0 °C and +60 °C (+32°F to +140°F).