Introduction
There is some exciting news coming from Steiner, this time in the form of the 2nd generation of their Nighthunter H35 series.
We were among one the few that got an early peek into these newcomers to see how Steiner improved their old Nighthunter H35 models and what to expect from the new ones.
Improved Build Quality and Design
The new Steiner Nighthunter H35 models have an improved build quality compared to the current ones.
The housing is made of a high-quality waterproof Makrolon polycarbonate. This makes them highly resistant to any external extremities, with the working temperature rated from -10°C to +50°C. In other words, you will be able to take this thing into nearly any environment and be completely free of worry. To top this off, the new generation is also smaller and lighter than the old one.
We also like the changed button layout. Steiner arranged them in a more “natural” way, so to speak, making them much more accessible. We are especially thrilled to see that the ON/OFF button has been repositioned for easier thumb operation, addressing the issue that really bothered us with the current models.
On top of that, the observations with the Steiner Nighthunter H35 will undoubtedly remain comfortable well into the future since Steiner decided to keep the ergonomic eyecup that we learned to appreciate. We are sure that many will be glad to learn that eyecup is changeable.
Exchangeable Battery
Up to this point, the series had an integrated battery. This is often seen as one of its major downsides, but Steiner seemingly heard our cries.
New models have an updated exchangeable 6000 mAh battery which is designed in a way that will allow the users to change it even in complete darkness, relying on their touch alone if needed.
We cannot confirm this with 100 % certainty yet, but according to Steiner, the most advanced model from the series will have a working time of more than 8.5 hours and will be compatible with a power bank.
Better Optical Performance and Display
The 1st (current) generation of Steiner Nighthunter H35 has a NETD of <50 mK, which is quickly becoming obsolete. The 2nd Gen., on the other hand, is much more competitive with a NETD of <35 mK.
But this is not the only thing Steiner is improving to keep up with the ever-growing competition. They decided to replace the LCOS display with a better one, so the new Nighthunter H35 models are now coming with an OLED display with 1024×768 pixels and improved recognition and identification capabilities.
The new and improved display merges well with the series’ 640×480 thermal sensor and makes the best of its 1–8x digital zoom. The refresh rate remains the same (50 Hz).
Users will be able to choose between 3 scene modes which will enable them to efficiently adapt to any surroundings. This will be further enhanced by 10 levels of screen brightness adjustments, making the 2nd Gen. Nightunter devices truly all-rounded.
2nd Generation Nighthunter H35 Models
As far as we are aware, two new models will be released with the launch of Steiner’s 2nd Generation Nighthunter H35 series:
- Nighthunter H35
- Nighthunter H35 Lite
The Nighthunter H35 marks the pinnacle of the series. It features the new Quantum Vision technology developed by Steiner, which supposedly offers highly advanced optical performance. We weren’t able to test it out ourselves yet, but Steiner set our expectations pretty high.
Nighthunter H35 Lite is the more affordable version of it. It doesn’t have the Quantum Vision technology, but it has the same OLED display and roughly the same form factor as the standard H35. In theory, it should be a great choice for those that are looking for 2nd Gen. Nighthunter performance at a more affordable price.
Steiner Nighthunter H35 Accessories Kit
Everyone likes nice accessories with their purchase, and Steiner realizes it.
This is why the 2nd Gen. Nigthunter H35’s accessory kit includes:
- objective cover
- hand strap
- ocular rain cover
- carry bag
- carry strap
Price
As mentioned above, the upcoming Steiner Nighthunter H35 is the most advanced Steiner model so far, which reflects in the price as well. It is planned to retail for about 2799 €, which is considerably more than the less advanced Lite model with a price of around 1499 €.
Final Thoughts
It is good to see Steiner keeping up with the competition and updating their thermal devices at such a pace. Compared to the previous generation of the Nighthunter, we are thrilled that they decided on an improved form factor and upgraded technical specifications.
In our opinion, the Lite version could be especially interesting to future buyers since it offers good performance with essential features for a fair price.
On the other hand, though, it will be interesting to see how the price of the standard Nighthunter H35 will stand against the direct competition from the companies like Pulsar, HIKMICRO, or Guide.
We will make sure to thoroughly test it as soon as we get the devices in our hands.
