HikMicro has unveiled the new Habrok 4K HH35L 2.0, a multi-spectrum binocular that combines thermal imaging, 4K digital viewing and laser rangefinding in a single unit – and having experienced HikMicro’s Habrok technology firsthand, this is one new pair of binoculars that has immediately caught my attention.
I first got properly acquainted with the Habrok concept at The Photography & Video Show, where I was able to try HikMicro’s Habrok Pro multi-spectrum binoculars for myself. I came away incredibly impressed, particularly by the idea of combining conventional digital viewing with thermal technology inside something that still feels and operates much like a familiar pair of binoculars. At the time, I described what I had seen as the future of thermal imaging, and HikMicro certainly doesn’t appear to have slowed down since.
The new Habrok 4K HH35L 2.0 takes that multi-spectrum idea and packages it into HikMicro’s latest Habrok 4K 2.0 platform. At its heart is a 384 x 288 thermal sensor with a sub-15mK NETD sensitivity rating, paired with a 35mm f/1.0 thermal lens. HikMicro says the combination delivers greater thermal detail and smoother imaging at longer distances, with a claimed detection range of up to 1,800 meters.
That thermal channel is joined by a 3840 x 2160 4K digital sensor and a 60mm f/2.2 optical lens, giving users a conventional full-color digital view when thermal imaging isn't required. The digital channel offers magnification from 5.5x to 22x, while the thermal system runs from 4x to 20x. There are also interchangeable 940nm and 850nm infrared illuminators for night use, with HikMicro quoting a digital night-viewing distance of up to 400 meters.
One of the more interesting changes is the redesigned control system. HikMicro has introduced a rear focus wheel positioned where your fingers naturally sit, alongside a rear toggle for quickly switching between thermal and digital viewing. That's exactly the sort of seemingly small ergonomic change that could make a significant difference when actually using these binoculars in the field, particularly when you've spotted something through thermal and want to quickly switch over to the 4K channel to identify exactly what you're looking at.
There's plenty happening beyond the two imaging systems too. The HH35L 2.0 incorporates a laser rangefinder capable of measuring out to 1,000 meters, Picture-in-Picture viewing, electronic image stabilization, GPS, a digital compass, video and still-image recording, 64GB of internal storage, and connectivity with the HikMicro Sight app. HikMicro's HSIS shutterless thermal technology is also included, which is designed to remove the momentary image freezing traditionally associated with thermal sensor calibration and provide a more continuous viewing experience.
Despite packing all that technology into the body, HikMicro has kept the HH35L 2.0 to around 900g without batteries, with a magnesium construction and IP67 weather protection. Battery life is rated at up to 6.5 hours, and replaceable rechargeable 18650 batteries are used rather than relying entirely on a permanently integrated power source.
What interests me most about the Habrok range is that HikMicro isn't simply building another thermal monocular and expecting users to adapt to it. These genuinely feel like an attempt to rethink what binoculars can become. Thermal detection lets you find wildlife or subjects that would otherwise be almost impossible to see, the 4K channel lets you properly observe and identify them, and the laser rangefinder adds another useful layer of information without requiring a second device.
After being so impressed by HikMicro's multi-spectrum technology when I first experienced the Habrok system at The Photography & Video Show, I'm very interested to see how far the company has pushed things with this latest generation. On paper at least, the combination of a more sensitive thermal sensor, 35mm thermal optics, 4K digital viewing and revised ergonomics makes the Habrok 4K HH35L 2.0 look like a serious evolution of an already fascinating idea.
The HikMicro Habrok 4K HH35L 2.0 price in the US is yet to be confirmed, but it is now available in the UK priced at £1,649.99
