Seek Reveal Pro Handheld Thermal Imager

The SEEK Reveal Pro is the latest update of the smartphonesized thermal imager that offers a 550-metre thermal detection range on human sized objects. A 15Hz refresh rate is slower than the full sized 50Hz of monocular units but resolution of 320x240 pixels and promised sensitivity of 0.07°C shows temperature gradients across -40 to +330°C range capability. Scanning at closer ranges is helped by a 32-degree field of view and will pick up rabbits, dependant on the ground conditions at 75+ metres, although they can easily disappear into longer grass. Holding the unit up higher does help but the top mounted screen means you tend to ‘lean over’ the display, rather than ‘follow’ behind it as you walk.

Three rubberised buttons control all functions, with a clear on-screen display layout. Specific temperature reticle readouts and many more functions are represented but the nine colour palettes and image capture/photo gallery are likely to be the most regularly used functions after initial set-up. Flipping through the palettes from white/hot to black/hot with reds and oranges on the way can help to separate stationary quarry from hot inanimate objects but over large fields, white/hot was the one I used the most. ‘HI’ gives interesting views when tracking in onto hot downed game, picking out the specific hotspots rather than a gradient.

Digital zoom

Tracking also encouraged me to hold the unit up high at arm’s length pointed down to the ground, with the screen facing me at eye level. Decent sized blood spatter and warm tissue residue does show up quite well but heat will dissipate from these, with atmospheric conditions critical to cooling speed, especially cold moisture content.

There is a digital zoom but I like ‘thermal’ as a broad field of view scanning tool and didn’t find any circumstances where I either needed more detail to identify, or could have done so with the image quality on offer. It is a definite improvement over the original SEEK and I appreciated the fast three-second start-up time. Lithium-Ion battery life was far more than my needs at four-hours. Being left unused in cold temperatures, which sometimes kills poor quality batteries, clearly illustrated good internal battery charge durability. The 2GB photographic memory capacity is now inbuilt rather than on external micro SD card and a Mini USB lead is supplied for both charging and image transfer. A Hi/Lo intensity 300-Lumen LED flashlight button on the right side gives regular visible light backup. With a wrist lanyard fitted and generally robust compact feel, it drops straight into your pocket with a Corning ‘Gorilla’ glass screen to protect the display.

Conclusion

A two-year warranty provides reassuring backup for a tool with equal appeal in both daylight and darkness, thermal is a relatively new technology to most shooters and can get very expensive, so it is good to see tools at both ends of the price scale, presenting capability in tune with their price point. This isn’t anywhere near the capability of a Pulsar XQ50 thermal monocular but is also an honest 5th of the price. I was able to detect and watch two foxes 80 metres away as they broke from a hedge line before swapping over to a digital NV Yukon Photon riflescope to make a shot. Their size and movement above short grass made detection possible without any intrusive extra visible light or IR and this makes the SEEK a useful tool to add a huge impact to vermin control on a budget.