THERMTEC THERMAL MONOCULAR CYCLONE 315

The ThermTec Cyclone 315 thermal monocular is a compact observation device built for one-handed use, with a 384×288 pixel sensor (12 µm, NETD <20 mK) and a 15 mm F1.0 lens. With 1.4x base magnification and a wide 17.5° × 13.1° field of view, it is designed for scanning terrain at short and medium range; the manufacturer states detection up to 750 m. It weighs 255 g without battery, starts up in about 3 seconds and runs for up to 10 hours on a replaceable 18650 battery.

Features

• 384×288 sensor at 12 µm with NETD <20 mK: 8 to 14 µm microbolometer at 50 Hz. High thermal sensitivity helps to separate the animal from the background when the temperature difference is small. ThermTec AI Calibration keeps the image stable and uniform.
• 15 mm F1.0 lens with manual focus: 17.5° × 13.1° field of view (30.7 × 23.0 m at 100 m), 1.4x base magnification and digital zoom in three steps (1x, 2x and 4x). Dioptre adjustment from −5 to +5.
• 0.39-inch AMOLED display at 1024×768: 20 mm eye relief and 6 mm exit pupil. Six palettes (white hot, black hot, red hot, green, golden and violet) and three image modes: Forest, Target and Outline, the last one highlighting the outline of targets.
• AI distance to multiple targets: when several heat sources are in view, the Cyclone uses AI to work out the distance to each one, saving time during observation. It is not a laser rangefinder; the reference target size is set in the menu.
• Replaceable 18650 battery: up to 10 hours per battery (3.6 V, 3300 mAh) and up to 20 hours with the two batteries in the box. It charges inside the device through the USB-C port or outside in the supplied charger, and the monocular can be used while charging.
• 3-second start-up and one-handed use: compact curved body, silent buttons and a layout designed for both left- and right-handed users. Standby mode and automatic shutdown after 30 or 60 minutes.
• Photo, video and app: 32 GB of internal memory for photo and video, with sound (the microphone is switched on in the menu) and on-screen data recording (OSD). Through the Wi-Fi hotspot, the ThermTec Outdoor app streams the image to a phone, controls the device and updates the firmware. Connected to a computer by USB-C, it shows up as a storage drive.
• PIP, heat tracking and durability: a PIP (picture-in-picture) window and a function that marks the hottest point in the field of view. IP67 rated and works from −20 °C to +50 °C.

Why choose this model?

The Cyclone 315 is the lightest model in the series (255 g without battery) and has the widest field of view on the 384×288 sensor: at 100 m it covers a strip 30.7 m wide, which makes it easier to find animals in dense cover, on hikes and at short distances. ThermTec launched the Cyclone series with newcomers to thermal imaging in mind.

To see further with the same sensor, the Cyclone 325 has a 25 mm lens and 2.4x base magnification. For more detail with the same wide field, there is the Cyclone 625 with a 640×512 sensor.

Technical specifications

In the box

• ThermTec Cyclone 315 thermal monocular
• 2 rechargeable 18650 batteries
• Battery charger
• USB-C data and charging cable
• Lens cleaning cloth
• User manual

How to choose

The Cyclone series has three models sharing the same display, eyepiece and battery. The Cyclone 315 (384×288, 15 mm, 1.4x) has the widest field and detects up to 750 m: it suits short distances and dense cover. The Cyclone 325 (384×288, 25 mm, 2.4x) brings the animal closer and detects up to 1300 m. The Cyclone 625 (640×512, 25 mm, 1.4x) combines a wide field with more detail, also at 1300 m. Rule of thumb: more pixels give more detail when zooming, and a longer lens gives more range but a narrower field of view. Anyone who needs laser ranging should look at the Cyclops 3.0 series with its 1000 m rangefinder.

Frequently asked questions

At what distance does the Cyclone 315 detect an animal?
The manufacturer states up to 750 m. Detection means seeing that there is a heat source; recognising and identifying the animal requires much shorter distances.

Does the Cyclone 315 have a laser rangefinder?
No. It uses AI to estimate the distance to several targets at once, based on a reference size set in the menu. For laser ranging, ThermTec offers the Cyclops 3.0 series with a rangefinder up to 1000 m.

What battery does the Cyclone 315 use and how long does it last?
A replaceable 18650 battery, with up to 10 hours per charge; two come in the box. The manufacturer advises against other formats such as 18500. Cold below −10 °C and running Wi-Fi and recording reduce battery life.

How do I transfer photos and videos to a phone or computer?
Through the ThermTec Outdoor app (App Store and Google Play) connected to the monocular's Wi-Fi hotspot, or with the USB-C cable: on a computer the Cyclone 315 appears as a storage drive with Image and Record folders.