Sunburnt is a permanent damage to your thermal scope
Recently we received more and more feedback and aftersales services require along with the hunting season started. Amongst all those after sales cases, there are a lot caused by sunburnt. So we think we need to write this article to tell you that your thermal scope is a powerful tool for seeing heat in the dark. But it has one critical, irreversible enemy: the sun.
Unlike your eyes or a camera, the microbolometer sensor inside your scope is designed to detect very subtle amounts of infrared heat emitted by objects. The sun is an incredibly intense source of both light and infrared radiation, so that’s what you need to watch out during hunt.
Because when you point the lens directly at the sun, that massive influx of concentrated infrared energy overloads the delicate sensor’s pixels almost instantly. This causes a permanent burn-in on the focal plane array (FPA).
The result is a fixed, bright spot or line permanently etched into every image you see from that moment on. This damage is not a software glitch or a setting error—it is a physical, irreparable hardware failure. The sensor cannot be “recalibrated” or healed.
In order to avoid such damage we want to give you 3 advices:
1. Never, under any circumstances, point your thermal scope at or near the sun, even for a second. Treat it with the same absolute caution as you would when using magnified optical optics.
2. Be Vigilant During Daytime: Exercise extreme care when handling, transporting, or storing your scope during the day. Always keep the lens cap on when not in active use.
3. Mind the Surroundings: Avoid scanning near the horizon at sunrise or sunset, where the sun may be just out of frame but still flood the sensor with diffuse glare.
After all we want you to know that sensor damage is the leading cause of non-warranty repairs. Protecting your scope from the sun is the single most important step in ensuring its long-term performance and your investment.
Stay safe, and hunt smart.