THERMTEC THERMAL MONOCULAR CYCLONE 325

The ThermTec Cyclone 325 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 25 mm F1.0 lens. With 2.4x base magnification and a 10.5° × 7.9° field of view, it reaches further than the Cyclone 315 with the same sensor: the manufacturer states detection up to 1300 m. It weighs 261 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.
• 25 mm F1.0 lens with manual focus: 10.5° × 7.9° field of view (18.4 × 13.8 m at 100 m), 2.4x 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 325 uses the same 384×288 sensor as the Cyclone 315, but with a 25 mm lens: base magnification rises to 2.4x and the field of view narrows (18.4 m wide at 100 m). The animal appears larger on the display, which helps to recognise it at longer range, and detection range goes from 750 m to 1300 m.

It keeps the 10-hour battery life and weighs only 261 g without battery. For a wide field and more detail at the same detection range, there is the Cyclone 625 with a 640×512 sensor.

Technical specifications

In the box

• ThermTec Cyclone 325 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 325 detect an animal?
The manufacturer states up to 1300 m. Detection means seeing that there is a heat source; recognising and identifying the animal requires much shorter distances.

Does the Cyclone 325 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 325 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 325 appears as a storage drive with Image and Record folders.