How we compared them

The original Nocpix ACE H50R and the HIKMICRO Stellar SQ50L 3.0 are two of the most popular 640 thermal scopes on the market right now. Both of them have come down in price, and one of the biggest questions we are getting is which one is right for you. So we put them head to head to see where each one wins and where they fall short, so you can make an educated decision based on what is important to you.

On the recordings: we filmed our dogs from 15 metres all the way out to 300 metres. The conditions were very similar, almost identical, but the two scopes were recorded on different nights.

This is the quick head-to-head. We have already done in-depth reviews on both series, so if you want the full rundown on either one, check out our Nocpix ACE review and our HIKMICRO Stellar 3.0 review. The scope here is the original ACE. The newer model has its own ACE 2 review.

What they have in common

There is actually a fair bit that is the same between these two units. Both use 640 sensors behind a 50 mm lens, and both have that massive one-inch round display with a 2560 resolution. They both run shutterless as well, so you do not have to worry about the image freezing up at a critical moment while the scope recalibrates.

Both also have a built-in rangefinder, ballistic calculation and recoil-activated recording. So when it comes to the major features you would expect from a higher-end thermal scope, they are very evenly matched.

Weight, startup and battery: where the Stellar pulls ahead

Weight

We weighed both units ourselves. The Stellar SQ50L 3.0 came in at around 917 grams with the removable battery installed, while the ACE H50R came in at roughly 1,190 grams. That is a pretty substantial difference, especially if you are spending a lot of time hunting on foot and carrying the rifle around for hours.

Startup time

Startup time is another area where the Stellar has a clear advantage. In our own testing, the Stellar was up and running in around five seconds, while the ACE took closer to 15 seconds. That is a big difference, and it is definitely something you will notice if you need to get the scope powered up quickly.

Battery life

Battery life also goes strongly in favour of the Stellar. We ran both units flat in our own rundown testing, and the Stellar gave us around 10 hours of total runtime, compared with roughly six hours from the ACE.

Battery swaps and ocular zoom: where the ACE fights back

Quick-release battery

The ACE does have one advantage when it comes to swapping batteries. Its removable battery uses a quick-release system, which is faster and easier to get in and out than the screw-on battery cap used on the Stellar. So if you are carrying a few spare batteries with the ACE, it is not exactly a major problem.

Ocular zoom

The ACE also has ocular zoom, which is a pretty cool feature and something the Stellar does not offer. The ring sits up close to your eye and lets you quickly enlarge the display, which is handy when you want a better look at your target without reaching for another control.

It is worth understanding, though, that this is not true optical zoom. You are essentially magnifying the display you are looking at. On the ACE 1, that also makes the icons and the reticle larger, so it gives you a really nice big-screen experience and works particularly well at close to medium ranges. The downside is that once you start stretching the distance out, the reticle can become quite thick and start covering more of the target than you would like.

Image quality: watch it and decide for yourself

In the video we look at our dogs at various distances, from 15 metres all the way out to 300 metres. The Stellar does have a narrower field of view. It is slightly more zoomed in, while the ACE has a slightly wider field of view. I am not going to do too much analysis here. I am going to let you watch the footage and decide for yourself.

Why two 640s can look so different

In all seriousness, image quality is one of those things that can get very subjective. Two scopes can both have a 640 sensor and still produce a noticeably different image. The lens, base magnification, field of view, display, sensor sensitivity and, probably most importantly, the image processing all play a part.

Why we show you the footage

That is why we try not to get too caught up just reading specifications off a box. We have tested plenty of thermals over the years where the specs look incredible on paper, and then you put them beside something else in the paddock and the result is not necessarily what you would expect. That is really the whole point of these comparisons: to show you the actual footage at real distances under real conditions, so you can make your own decision instead of us just telling you which one you are supposed to like.

The full reviews

Want more on either scope? These are our in-depth reviews of each series.

Side by side

ACE H50R or Stellar SQ50L 3.0?

On the major features, these two are very evenly matched, so it comes down to what is important to you. Here is where each one wins, going by our testing.

If you are still not sure, give us a ring. We will have a chat about what you are actually doing, the country you are hunting, the distances you are shooting, your target species and your budget, and we will make sure you end up with the right gear for the job. Still weighing up sensor and lens size? Our guide on how to choose a thermal scope walks through it.