Introduction
Pulsar, one of the leading manufacturers of night vision and thermal imaging devices, has quite recently launched a new device that we have been eagerly waiting for – Krypton FXG50. They have been rather reserved in the development of thermal attachments in the last 5 years. Pulsar Core has sold well thanks to its great price/performance ratio, but we longed for something new, fresh. Lo and behold, here it is.

A familiar exterior
At first sight, the device can be quickly miss mistaken for Pulsar Forward F455 as it uses the same housing. We believe that there are two reasons for this: 1. By using the same housing, Pulsar managed to cut down the production costs, 2. The housing has proven to be reliable throughout the previous years. As regards the exterior, most features of the highly popular F455 can be applied to the Krypton – it is compact, robust, waterproof and recoilproof (it can withstand the recoil of calibers as powerful as .375 H&H). The housing is made of magnesium, except for the front part where plastic prevails. The lens is of the same diameter as with F455, 50 mm. On top of the device there are control buttons and the focusing knob.


… but a completely new interior
One of the biggest advantages of the device is its new VOx sensor with a resolution of 640×480 and a 12-µm pixel pitch. It provides a sharp, detailed image. Krypton FXG50 boasts an incredible screen resolution of 1746×1000 – we have not seen these numbers on any Pulsar device up to now. Thanks to the AMOLED display, the device can be used in temperatures extremely low and high (from –25 °C to 50 °C). It detects heat up to 2300 m away. Because of all this, Krypton FXG50 provides a top-notch viewing experience.

Finally, a Pulsar thermal attachment compatible with Stream Vision
Even though Pulsar Core is a quality thermal attachment, one cannot capture images and record videos with it. Furthermore, it has no Wi-Fi connectivity. To a certain extent that is a flaw, especially if we consider that Pulsar offers these features on many other devices, including the ones far more affordable than Core. All things come to those who wait – Krypton FXG50 is Pulsar’s first-ever thermal attachment with Wi-Fi connectivity and image capture/recording capability. It can be connected to the smartphone app called Stream Vision (Android and iOS). When connected, the user can stream the image seen through the device to the phone’s display, configure settings, etc. The app is among the more sophisticated ones on the market.

A removable IPS battery
One of the main advantages of Pulsar devices over the competitive ones is the removable battery that can be replaced in a matter of seconds. Integrated batteries decline with time; the only way to replace them is to send them to the manufacturer’s repair centre. Furthermore, they can only be charged with a power bank while you are in the field, which is rather clumsy. With Krypton FXG50, you receive a removable IPS7 battery which lasts 5–7 hours, depending on the ambient temperature, the settings and function use. Those who require more can purchase an additional battery – The most demanding users can go for the IPS14 battery with up to 14 hours of battery life. An additional battery is recommended for those who stay outside for longer periods of time, considering it is not that expensive. You get an IPS charger along with the device and the battery.

How to attach the device to a riflescope?
Even though the exterior of the device is nearly identical to the F455’s exterior, it has an all-new mounting mechanism. It features a thread instead of the standard four-notch bayonet assembly. We were told that all similar devices launched by Pulsar in the future will come with this mounting thread. Pulsar devised a special ‘PSP’ adapter for it. On the part where the adapter is fixed onto the Krypton, there is an insert which is used to align the display of the thermal attachment with the centre of the riflescope’s field of view. We have to admit that it looks promising. Renowned mount manufacturers Rusan and Smartclip already produce their versions of the adapter (reducing ring). Most Krypton FXG50 users will go for an adapter made by one of these two companies as they are superior to the adapter made by Pulsar both aesthetically and mechanically.


Scope of delivery
In the box, you get a Krypton FXG50 thermal attachment, an IPS7 battery, a battery charger, lens covers, a transport case, an instruction manual, a lens cloth, and a warranty card.
Pulsar Krypton FXG50 is covered with a 3-year warranty period.
Conclusion
Even though the exterior of Pulsar Krypton FXG50 is nothing special considering the price (4150€), the interior is a different story. The quality of the image is on an incredibly high level thanks to the new sensor and the accompanying optical features. It is worthwhile to point out other great features such as Stream Vision compatibility, image capturing/recording capability, the removable battery and European origin (the device is made in Lithuania). Pulsar’s competitors will have to up their game if they wish to keep up with Pulsar.
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