The Best Nocpix Thermal Scopes in Australia (2026)

Quick answer: Nocpix builds one of the most complete thermal ranges in Australia, and the model codes make the whole line-up easy to read once you know them. The letter in a name is the sensor tier — P = 256×192, L = 384×288, H = 640×512, S = 1280×1024 — the number is the objective lens in millimetres, and a trailing R means a built-in laser rangefinder. So the entry BOLT P25R is a 256×192, 25mm scope with a rangefinder, and the flagship RICO 2 S75R is a 1280×1024, 75mm scope with a rangefinder and ballistic calculation. Pick the sensor tier for the detail and field of view you want, then the lens for how far you need to reach.

Nocpix (the brand that grew out of the iRay/InfiRay hunting lineage) has quickly become a favourite with Australian shooters because the range covers every job and budget — from a sub-$2,000 feral-work scope to a 1280×1024 long-range flagship. This guide decodes the model names, explains what actually drives performance, and matches each Nocpix range to the kind of hunting it suits. Browse the full Nocpix range or jump straight to Nocpix thermal scopes, and talk to the Hunt The Night team if you want a hand matching a scope to your rifle and quarry.

How to read a Nocpix model name

Every Nocpix thermal scope name is built the same way, so once you know the code the range makes sense at a glance:

• The series word — BOLT, ACE, RICO 2, NOVA and SLIM are the rifle-scope ranges; VISTA, QUEST and LUMI are handheld monoculars; MATE is the clip-on range; NITE is digital night vision.
• The sensor-tier letter — P = 256×192, L = 384×288, H = 640×512, and S = 1280×1024. Higher is more pixels, which means a wider field of view and more detail at the same lens, not automatically "sees further."
• The number — the objective lens in millimetres (25, 35, 42, 50, 60 or 75mm). A bigger lens reaches further through a narrower window.
• A trailing R — a built-in laser rangefinder, and on the ACE and RICO 2 models a ballistic calculator as well.

So a RICO 2 H50R is a RICO 2-series, 640×512 sensor, 50mm lens, with a rangefinder; a BOLT L35R is a BOLT-series, 384×288 sensor, 35mm lens, with a rangefinder.

What actually drives performance (and what doesn't)

The lens drives reach, not "sensor size." How far a scope detects a target is governed mainly by the objective lens — a longer focal length (75mm vs 50mm vs 35mm) projects a target across more pixels, so it reaches further. The sensor's job is detail and field of view. A 25–35mm scope gives a wide, easy-to-track picture for close and mid-range feral work; a 50–75mm reaches much further but through a narrower window.

384 vs 640 vs 1280 is a field-of-view and detail choice. For the same lens, a 640×512 sensor shows a wider, more detailed image than a 384×288 — better for scanning and identifying game. Step up to 1280×1024 (as on the ACE S60R and RICO 2 S75R) and you have four times the pixels of a 640×512, which holds detail when you zoom in optically rather than smearing into digital-zoom mush.

Image processing matters as much as raw NETD. Most current Nocpix scopes sit at a very low NETD (≤15mK on the ACE, BOLT H50R and RICO 2 H/S models; ≤18mK on the L-sensor models), and small differences in that figure matter far less than the scope's image-processing pipeline, which is where a clean, contrasty picture actually comes from.

The Nocpix thermal scope ranges

BOLT — feature-packed value. The BOLT range brings a rangefinder, ballistic calculator and a fast F1.0 lens down to a sharp price. The P25R (256×192, 25mm) is a genuinely affordable entry into rangefinding thermal for close feral work; the L35R (384×288, 35mm) is the do-everything mid-range choice; and the H50R (640×512, 50mm, 60Hz) is the value pick for anyone who wants a full-resolution sensor with reach without stepping up to the flagship lines.

ACE — the all-rounder flagship. The ACE range is Nocpix's premium general-purpose scope. The L35 (384×288, 35mm) and H50 / H50R (640×512, 50mm) cover most hunting, while the S60R steps up to a 1280×1024 sensor on a 60mm F1.0 lens with a rangefinder and ballistics — a serious long-range, high-detail package.

RICO 2 — long-range and precision. RICO 2 is the top tier, built around a big 75mm-class lens option, a 2560×2560 round AMOLED display and an integrated rangefinder with ballistic calculation. The L42R (384×288, 42mm) is the accessible entry; the H50R (640×512, 50mm) and H75R (640×512, 75mm) add reach; and the S75R tops the range with a 1280×1024 sensor on a 75mm lens for maximum detail at distance.

NOVA and SLIM. The NOVA H35R (640×512, 35mm) is a compact, keenly priced 640 scope that also suits remote/roof-mounted spotlighting setups, while the SLIM range keeps a low, streamlined profile for shooters who want a full-resolution picture in a compact body.

Nocpix thermal scope comparison (2026)

All sensors below use a 12µm pixel pitch. Prices are the Australian recommended price at Hunt The Night at the time of writing — check the product page for the current price.

Which Nocpix thermal scope should you buy?

• Best value entry: BOLT P25R — a rangefinding thermal scope under $2,000 for close feral and rabbit work.
• Best all-round value: BOLT H50R — a full 640×512 sensor, 50mm lens, 60Hz and a rangefinder at a mid-range price.
• Best all-round flagship: ACE H50R — 640×512, fast 50mm F0.9 lens, rangefinder and ballistics, 3–24x zoom.
• Best for detail and long range: ACE S60R or RICO 2 S75R — the 1280×1024 sensor holds detail when you zoom in on distant game.
• Best for remote/roof-mounted spotlighting: NOVA H35R — compact, 640×512 and keenly priced. See our guide to remote-mounting the NOVA H35R.

Beyond scopes: Nocpix monoculars, clip-ons and NV

Nocpix also makes handheld thermal monoculars for scanning before you shoulder the rifle — the LUMI range for value, and the VISTA and QUEST ranges for premium 640×512 and 1280×1024 detail (the QUEST S50R is a true binocular). For shooters who want to keep their day scope and zero, the MATE clip-on range (H38R, MH50R and the 1280×1024 ULTRA S60R) turns a day scope into a thermal system — see our best thermal clip-ons guide and how to fit a thermal clip-on. The NITE ND70R is a digital night-vision scope for shooters who want a traditional day/night picture rather than thermal. Compare the whole field in our best thermal scopes in Australia guide and best thermal monoculars guide, or see how Nocpix stacks up against the other big brands in HIKMICRO vs Pulsar vs Nocpix and Nocpix ACE vs BOLT vs RICO 2.

Matching a Nocpix scope to your quarry

For fox and feral pig work at typical Australian ranges, a 640×512 scope on a 50mm lens (BOLT H50R, ACE H50R or RICO 2 H50R) is the sweet spot of detail and reach. For rabbits and small game, a wider field of view matters more than reach, so a 35mm scope is easier to scan and track with. For long-range and open-country work, step up to a 75mm lens or the 1280×1024 S-sensor models.

Frequently asked questions

What do the letters in Nocpix model names mean?

The letter before the number is the sensor resolution: P = 256×192, L = 384×288, H = 640×512, and S = 1280×1024. The number is the objective lens in millimetres, and a trailing R means the scope has a built-in laser rangefinder.

Is a 1280×1024 Nocpix scope worth it over a 640×512?

A 1280×1024 sensor has four times the pixels of a 640×512, which gives a wider field of view and holds detail when you zoom in optically — useful for identifying and ranging game at distance. For most close-to-mid-range feral work a 640×512 scope is plenty; the 1280 models (ACE S60R, RICO 2 S75R) earn their keep at longer range and when you want maximum detail.

Which Nocpix scopes have a laser rangefinder?

Any Nocpix model with a trailing R in its name has a built-in laser rangefinder — for example the BOLT P25R/L35R/H50R, ACE H50R and S60R, and the whole RICO 2 R line. The ACE and RICO 2 rangefinding models also include a ballistic calculator.

Does a bigger sensor mean the scope sees further?

No. Detection range is driven mainly by the objective lens and the overall system, not the sensor's pixel count. A larger sensor gives a wider, more detailed picture; a longer lens gives more reach. Choose the sensor for detail and field of view, and the lens for distance.

Where can I buy Nocpix thermal scopes in Australia?

Hunt The Night stocks the Nocpix range in Australia. Browse Nocpix thermal scopes or the full Nocpix range, and get in touch for advice on matching a scope to your rifle and quarry.

Prices are indicative Australian pricing at the time of writing and may change — see each product page for the current price and availability. Specifications are drawn from Nocpix's published data; confirm details on the product page before purchase.

Weighing Nocpix against the European benchmark? Compare the full range of Pulsar thermal scopes in Australia side by side.

Scanning before the shot? See our companion best Nocpix thermal monoculars and binoculars guide — the LUMI, VISTA and QUEST ranges compared by sensor, lens and price.