In this Jan, before the global outbreak of Covid-19, I was lucky enough to borrow a thermal scope (LONGOT E3A) from my friend in mainland. Tried several months in South Africa and Hong Kong, I would say this is a revolutionary birding tool specific for night birding. So I am gonna share some experience here.
the one I am testig is LONGOT E3A
the specification for four models, E3A is better for searching (easier) because of the focal length. The other three are either too short or too long, hence too wide or narrow angle of view.
generally speaking just four buttons here, easy to use. This scope can be connected to smart phone or pad with the APP by Wifi. You can take/share photos/video or even use the phone/pad as the screen. (though I did not try the video function)
front view, from top tot bottom there are torch (I tried but not really useful, especially I got my own torch which is more powerful), the lens and laser pointer
the plastic cap can be broken very easily (and it did finally).
Well, same as my Leica Noctivid... so what then
the screen - powered by two 18650 batteries, again easy to use
but i think the screen can be better fit in future design, also the charging/transferring probe is mini USB type, which is quite uncommon now. I will prefer micro or type-C connection.
There are several modes in this model, white-and-black (showing warm object in white), black-and-white (reverse), red (showing warm in white and red, as this boar) and color (red/yellow vs blue/purple). I love the red mode personally and more easy to search birds or mammals in dark. As in the screen, the top right corner showed the battery of the screen while the bottom left corner showed the battery of the scope. As the one I tested was a sample scope, the battery is not as good as I expect, but still enough for a night.
more than 50m in low light, we could not see the dog barely - these photos are taken by the scope directly
Black-crowned Night Heron
Black-crowned Night Heron
some tips for using, as the metering system is still slow, and useless when there is high contrasting background environment (like you cannot search anything of canopy with sky background, you will only see a screen of black or white, unless the object is close or large enough and you will sense the red), so you better scan slowly and observe carefully, then walk closer when you spot any suspect on the screen. Sounds difficult but just need more practice (and give up the canopy).
From my experience the owls and roosting birds are not really high at all.
Can you spot the Night Heron?
I would say the E3A is very good enough for amateur or general surveyor, if you are rich or professional, choose the more expensive or military grade then you can get photos or video like the BBC or Night on Earth. I found this Collared Scops Owl behind branches by the thermal scope but I could not see even I torched, so the E3A is far better than enough to me!
the white-and-black mode can show the boar clearly too behind branches
a nest of Collared Scops Owl, three were seen in this pic. The pointer can help searching target faster. (more useful when pointing together with the laser)
Collared Scops Owl
for example here, you can see the laser pointer (red dot), then you can torch and identify the species with bino.
this is a pair of Oriental Magpie Robin
some times the shape of the object can help identification as well, this is a Eurasian Woodcock
To me the E3A is an excellent tool for night birding/mammaling, especially in trip like we found some lifers (roosting birds, mammals) in South Africa. The picture quality is not good but remember this scope is used for searching in acceptable costs.
I strongly recommend to nocturnal birder.
It is time to experience the new nocturnal world.
* please feel free to search my posts tagged with Thermal Birding, nearly all the photos at night were taken with the help of LONGOT E3A
* anyone who is interested to buy or wanna know more information, please contact me
* the official website of LONGOT as here: http://www.szlongot.com/en/index.asp
LONGOT E3A:
Pros:
- easy to use (just four buttons)
- small and light
- Wifi available
- quite sensitive to hot/warm object (quite important!)
- acceptable cost
Cons:
- easy broken cap and screen not 100% tightly fit
- not micro/type-C connection
- need better battery for the scope
- metering system can be improved (rather slow and useless in high contrasting background environment Eg. canopy vs sky)
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