This is a new product from Vortex that I’ve been waiting for quite some time. If you look at their product lineup, they cover nearly every price point. If there’s an optic you need that fits within a specific budget, Vortex probably has you covered. But, there’s definitely been something missing: thermal and night optics. This’s a growing segment in the (electro)optics industry, mainly because technology has advanced while and costs are decreasing.
Ten years ago, owning quality night optics or thermals meant you’d probably hit the lottery. Not anymore. So, finally, Vortex is entering the thermal market with the all-new Veil 400 Thermal Monocular.
SPECS
The standard specs are as follows:
- Model(s): TML-VEIL425
- Base Magnification: 2.3x
- Digital Zoom: 1x, 2x, 4x
- Objective Lens: 25mm
- Detector Resolution: 1024×768
- Display Type: OLED
- Detector Pixel Pitch: 12 μm
- Refresh Rate: 50 Hz
- Linear FOV @ 100 Yards: 57.8’
- Detection Range: 1100 Yards
- Length: 4.9”
- Weight: 13.3 oz.
- Battery Type: 18650 (2) Rechargeable Batteries
- Price: $1499.99
Features
The Veil 400 thermal monocular is designed for hunters who spend as much time in the dark as they do in daylight, providing a compact thermal platform to help users scan, track, and navigate after sunset.
At its core, it features a 400×300 resolution thermal sensor with a 12μm pixel pitch and a 50 Hz refresh rate, delivering crisp image detail and smooth movement when scanning terrain or tracking game.
A 2.3x base magnification strikes a balance between field of view and target recognition, making it ideal for nighttime predator or hog hunting. The device provides four selectable color palettes—Black Hot, White Hot, Red Hot, and Multicolor—along with three viewing modes: Balanced, Contrast, and Brush Mode, enabling hunters to customize the display for different environments and conditions.
Power is supplied by a rechargeable 18650 battery system, enabling quick replacements for longer hunts. The Veil™ 400 also features onboard photo and video capture for recording hunts, all in a compact design with intuitive controls that are easy to operate in low-light conditions.
Unlike a typical thermal optic, this is an observation device. Form factor-wise, it resembles a rangefinder. Many will likely mistake it for one, and it’s actually not much heavier. It features a pocket clip, a lanyard ring, and quarter-inch threading on the bottom to attach to a tripod, which is a smart design choice.
Upon opening the package, which is very similar to opening an Apple product, Vortex includes setup instructions and a QR code for calibration, which actually takes less than 30 seconds. So yes, anyone can do it.
For all settings, hold the middle button and use the front and rear buttons to navigate through functions. These include changing the color palette and enabling recording. When viewing, you can cycle through magnification by pressing (not holding) the middle button. Use the front button to cycle through five brightness settings, then use the rear button to capture video. Afterward, sit back and scan.
Some other details I really appreciate include a battery charger, a USB-C cable, a USB-C-to-USB cable, and two batteries. This means you’ll have a spare ready to use. Unfortunately, you’ll need a USB-A outlet adapter. As an Apple user, I have a few charging blocks lying around that work with this setup. You can also transfer video data from the Veil to a computer via a USB-C port located on the bottom of the optic.
Lastly, Vortex ships the Veil 400 with a nice case. It’s not a soft case, but it’s not a full-blown high-impact case either. It’s more like a structured fabric that’s still lightweight enough to carry, but if you drop it from reasonable heights, I wouldn’t be too worried.
Zooming Out
I’m excited to see Vortex enter the thermal market. It’s been a long time coming. As with everything Vortex makes, the Veil 400 is covered by Vortex’s VIP Warranty. While this optic is primarily aimed at hunters, I believe it has another use case that I will discuss in an upcoming article.