Managing Editor
What if you had a scope that could automatically compute your ballistics and range your target with angle compensation, then could save all of this information in specific profiles so you could set it up on multiple rifle and ammo combinations, without resetting all of the information each and every time? Then what if that same scope had a built-in HD camera and video recorder that could record in real time or buffer video from before your shot and record before, during, and after the shot, automatically? Oh, and did I mention that it has black and white or green night vision?
The ATN X-Sight II HD does all of that and so much more and it does it at a staggeringly low price for a scope with all of these capabilities.
While the night vision capability is nice, the entire package contains features that make the scope smarter than the user; at least this user. No longer are you required to know complicated geometry and trigonometry. The scope does all of the computations with its advanced Obsidian II microprocessor crunching a billion cycles per second and monitoring data from a suite of sensors to give you intelligent computing power.
The inclusion of GPS and Wi-Fi lets you geotag your location in video and photos but also supplies the onboard computer with barometric and altitude readings for the ballistic calculator. The Wi-Fi lets you sync with your smartphone to view the scope on your device and play back video or view photos. It also allows another user to see what you are looking at through the scope.
The internal screen measures angle on a side to side axis and an up and down axis and feeds this data to the internal ballistic calculator and the rangefinder and then automatically adjust the aiming reticle for you.HD lenses, sensors and display make the image quality sharp, even out to 600+ yards and a removable IR illuminator extends your night vision beyond what most people are familiar with in a UV sight. An optional upgraded illuminator can be mounted on the housing with the built-in Piccatiny rail to extend your night vision range up to 300 meters (328 yards).
One of the features I particularly liked was the ability to change reticle shape and color. Orange against the green night vision is a great contrast.
The scope comes in either 3-14x50 or 5-20x85 magnifications.
The sight isn’t small by any means and it does add some heft to your rifle, but for all that it does, this is a small price to pay.
The documentation in the box is sparse, but the interface is so intuitive that you don’t really need more. If you do, the full manual can be downloaded from the ATN website.
