Zeiss DTI 6/20 — 640×480 thermal handheld monocular

How far you can see a person

64 m make out detail104 m tell what it is417 m spot it┆ maker’s claim

501002005001k2k5k m

Calculated from the sensor's pixel pitch and the lens focal length, for clear air.

Zeiss quotes 1,000 m, 2.4× our figure, because makers usually measure against a person’s full height rather than their width. Why the numbers differ

ZeissHandheld monocular · 640-class

Zeiss DTI 6/20

Approx. price: ~$4,500
Sensor: 640×480 · 12 µm
Lens: 20 mm · 1.5×
Weight: 24.3 oz

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Best for

Scanning from a stand, a truck or a field edge

01Specifications

As published by Zeiss. Sources: zeiss.com DTI 6 instruction manual PDF (technical data table: 20 mm F1.0, 1,000 m for a 1.8 x 0.6 m object, 22 x 16 deg, 38 m at 100 m, 1.5x optical, 10x max zoom, 640x480 12 um 50 Hz, 1024x768 AMOLED, exchangeable Li-ion 6.5 h, 230 mm, 690 g, IP65, IP67; NETD not in the manual), opticsforce.com SKU 527020-9901-000 (NETD <=35 mK; $4,499.99 sale from $5,399.99, sold out on the day read; every zeiss.com product URL now redirects to a hunting landing page, so officialUrl left null as for the DTI 6, 40 row).

Sensor: 640×480
Pixel pitch: 12 µm
NETD: ≤35 mK
Refresh rate: 50 Hz
Lens: 20 mm
Base magnification: 1.5×
Digital zoom: up to 10×
Field of view: 22° horizontal
Display: 1024x768 AMOLED
Claimed detection: 1,000 m
Claim basis: 1.8 m x 0.6 m object
Run time: 6.5 h
Battery type: Removable pack
Weight: 24.3 oz
Length: 9.1″
Laser rangefinder: No
Ballistic calculator: No
Records video: Yes
Wi-Fi: Yes
IP rating: IP65 / IP67
Approx. price: ~$4,500

02Pros and cons

From the published specs, not owner reports.

For it

640×480 sensor, 2.8× the detail of an entry-level 384
Swappable battery pack, so a spare doubles the run time
Waterproof (IP65 / IP67), survives a dunking
Records video and connects to a phone app
Wide 22° view for scanning a field

Against it

Heavy at 24.3 oz, 7th-heaviest of the 112 handhelds here
No rangefinder, so you judge distance by eye
~$4,500, well above the ~$1,995 typical for handhelds here
Zoom past 1.5× is digital and gets blurry
Warranty terms not published

03Compare the 6/20

04Related units

More from Zeiss →All 640-class →

Zeiss DTI 6/40 — 640×480 thermal handheld monocular

ZeissHandheld monocular

Zeiss DTI 6/40

Est. detection

833 m

Maker’s claim

2,000 m

Sensor: 640×480
Pitch · Hz: 12 µm · 50
Lens: 40 mm

26.6 oz~$4,800

Armasight Sidekick 640 — 640×480 thermal handheld monocular

ArmasightHandheld monocular

Armasight Sidekick 640

Est. detection

396 m

Maker’s claim

709 m

Sensor: 640×480
Pitch · Hz: 12 µm · 60
Lens: 19 mm

60 Hz · 9 oz~$3,299

Trijicon IR-PATROL IRMO-250 — 640×480 thermal handheld monocular

TrijiconHandheld monocular

Trijicon IR-PATROL IRMO-250

Est. detection

396 m

Maker’s claim

not published

Sensor: 640×480
Pitch · Hz: 12 µm · 60
Lens: 19 mm

60 Hz · 16 oz~$6,895