HIKMICRO launches STELLAR 4.0 thermal riflescope range with built-in rangefinder

HIKMICRO has launched its STELLAR 4.0 thermal riflescope range, led by the X-1280 SX75LR 4.0, shifting the pitch from raw heat detection to helping hunters interpret and act on what they're seeing at distance.

Snapshot

Announced in October, STELLAR 4.0 covers a flagship 1280-resolution model and a 640-resolution SQ50 line. HIKMICRO frames the launch around "Refine What Matters," pairing a higher-resolution sensor and improved optics with design tweaks meant to keep operation familiar for existing thermal users rather than adding complexity for its own sake.

Key points

• Sensor and clarity: The SX75L(R) 4.0 uses a 1280×1024 detector with 12mK NETD, paired with IMAGE PRO 4.0 processing to pull finer detail out of a heat signature.
• Base magnification bump: Base magnification rises from 2.5x to 3.0x on SX75L(R) 4.0 models, and 3.5x on SQ50L(R) 4.0 models, aimed at making the first view more readable before any adjustment.
• Integrated rangefinder: An industry-first LRF-Inside Lens design (SX75L(R) 4.0 only) folds laser ranging into the optical path, keeping a traditional tube-scope profile; the rangefinder itself reaches out to 1,200 metres with ballistic calculation and 1.3cm clicks at 100 metres.
• Handling and display: Rear-positioned focus controls and a conventional magnification ring are meant to preserve familiar shooting-position habits, backed by a 1.03in AMOLED display, 8mm exit pupil and 55mm eye relief.
• Image stability: HIKMICRO's Shutterless Imaging System and SYNC PRO are built to cut calibration freezing and lag between movement and screen response.

Quick take

This is a manufacturer launch, not an independent test, so the specs above are HIKMICRO's own claims rather than verified field results. The emphasis on familiar controls and a "natural" first view suggests the company is targeting experienced thermal users who already know the limits of their current gear, but how it performs against established scopes in the field remains to be seen.

Read the full story: shootinguk.co.uk