Pulsar Telos Thermal Monoculars: Which One to Buy

The Telos is Pulsar's premium handheld spotter, for hunters who spend real time behind a monocular. It isn't a pocket Axion and it isn't a riflescope. Step up through the XP50, XL50 and LRF XT50 as the job grows, and be honest about whether you need the rangefinder.

For the wider Pulsar picture, see Which Pulsar thermal scope?. Browse Pulsar thermal monoculars.

Is the Telos the right tool for you?

Start with what you hunt, your typical scan distance and what the unit is for.

• What it's for: the Telos is a dedicated handheld spotter for finding and identifying before you raise a rifle. Don't buy a Telos to "also shoot".
• Up to about 150 m, mobile close country: an Axion-class compact spotter is often enough. The Telos is overkill if all you need is pocket scanning.
• Past about 150 m, open-country observation: the Telos 50 mm class fits when you spend real time behind the handheld and want more image scale and a deeper feature set.
• Quarry: foxes across open paddocks reward deliberate glassing. Pigs in scrub still want field of view and a spotter-first routine more than maximum brochure metres.

Spot with the handheld, shoot with the scope. Pair the Telos with a Thermion or Trail later. Never use the riflescope to sweep paddocks. See Start With a Spotter.

The Telos range: XP50, XL50 and LRF XT50

The range steps up in sensor and detail.

• Telos XP50. The core 640-class Telos spotter for hunters who want premium Pulsar observation without jumping straight to the highest resolution. The rangefinding version is the Telos LRF XP50, for when ranging matters to you.
• Telos XL50. Step up when you want more sensor detail and scene information for identification, once you've already settled on the 50 mm class. The rangefinding version is the Telos LRF XL50.
• Telos LRF XT50. The top of the range (1280 HD with a rangefinder) when sustained observation, maximum detail and a measured distance are all part of the job. Not an automatic buy just because it sits highest.

Step up from the job. Don't start at the XT50 to "future-proof" close paddock work.

What else to weigh up

• Rangefinder. Well worth it past 150 m or for stalk planning. Optional if you already range another way.
• Sensor (640, 1024 or 1280). Field of view and detail within the lens class. The lens still leads reach.
• Battery and ergonomics. Plan for a real night of observation. A body you'll carry beats a heavier kit left in the vehicle.
• Upgrade path. The Telos's modular design is a bonus, once the job and the lens fit.

Telos or Axion

Choose the Axion when pocketability and quick close to mid-range scans are what you need. Choose the Telos when observation time, image quality and feature depth justify a dedicated premium spotter. Both are monoculars, and both come before the riflescope.

Who should skip the Telos

• Your scans stay inside about 100 m. A smaller, lighter monocular does that job, and a lighter one is the one you'll actually carry.
• You want one unit for finding and shooting. The Telos is a spotter. For the shot you need a riflescope or a clip-on, which is a separate buy.
• The laser isn't part of how you hunt. Buy the non-rangefinding Telos and put the difference into something else. Distances you can judge by eye don't need a laser.
• You're after the biggest sensor for the sake of it. The XT50 is a lot of monocular. Step up to it for sustained observation, not to future-proof close paddock work.

Not sure whether a Telos is overkill for your country? Tell us what you hunt and how far you scan, and we'll tell you straight if a smaller monocular would do the job.

Where to go next in the Pulsar range

• Pulsar Thermal Monoculars Australia: the handheld collection
• Pulsar Australia: the brand collection
• Pulsar Thermal Scopes: when you add a Thermion or Trail for the shot
• Which Pulsar Should You Buy: the chooser

Which Pulsar Telos should I buy in Australia?

Match your scan distance and how much identification detail you need first. The XP50 is the core 640 Telos. The XL50 when you want more detail. The LRF XT50 when ranging plus top-tier detail are justified. Confirm current listings on the product pages.

Telos or Thermion first?

Telos (or another monocular) first, for spotting. Thermion for aiming once you've checked the area safely.

Do I need the Telos with the rangefinder?

When your typical glassing or stalk planning sits past about 150 m, or when a measured range changes the approach. Otherwise settle on a non-rangefinding Telos by lens and sensor first.

Is the Telos better than a Condor or Vista?

Different families for different kits. Sort out quarry, distance and what the unit is for. Don't pick on brand cheerleading.