Athlon Cronus ATS Pro 25P-250 vs ATN Thor 5 LRF 4-32x 640x480 12 Micron Smart HD Thermal Rifle Scope, 30mm Tube
These are different tools, not close substitutes. The Athlon Cronus ATS Pro is a handheld thermal monocular for spotting and scanning; the ATN Thor 5 LRF is a rifle-mounted thermal scope with a laser rangefinder and ballistic calculator. Buy the Athlon if you need a light, long-running spotter. Buy the ATN if you need to shoot at night at long range. No current prices were provided for either, so compare store prices on this page before deciding.
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Athlon Cronus ATS Pro 25P-250
Choose the Athlon Cronus ATS Pro if you want a compact 17.8 oz handheld spotter with over 10 hours of battery life for scanning fields and tracking game.
- Light at 17.8 oz and 8.8 inches long
- Over 10 hours of battery life
- 256x192 sensor with ≤30mK NETD for solid contrast
- Seven color palettes and adjustable brightness/contrast
- Low 256x192 resolution limits detail at long range
- Narrow 7.0° x 5.3° field of view
- Not a weapon sight; no rangefinder or ballistic solver
What separates them
| Athlon Cronus ATS Pro 25P-250 | ATN Thor 5 LRF 4-32x 640x480 12 Micron Smart HD Thermal Rifle Scope, 30mm Tube | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Handheld thermal monocular | Rifle-mounted thermal scope |
| Sensor resolution | 256x192 | 640x480 |
| Pixel pitch | 12 µm | 12 µm |
| Base magnification | 3.6x, digital zoom to 14.4x | 2-16x optical/digital range |
| Field of view | 7.0° x 5.3° | 17.6 x 13.2 degrees |
| Weight | 17.8 oz | 2.05 lb (32.8 oz) |
| Battery life | More than 10 hours | Not stated; typically hours, not all night |
| Extras | 7 color palettes, multiple reticles, brightness/contrast |
Price history
- Athlon Cronus ATS Pro 25P-250: lowest $749.99 on Oct 31 at Safford Trading Company.
- ATN Thor 5 LRF 4-32x 640x480 12 Micron Smart HD Thermal Rifle Scope, 30mm Tube: lowest $2,995.00 on Oct 31 at Walmart.
Prices at every store
Athlon Cronus ATS Pro 25P-250
- AmazonCheck price at Amazon
- Safford Trading CompanyCheck price at Safford Trading Company
ATN Thor 5 LRF 4-32x 640x480 12 Micron Smart HD Thermal Rifle Scope, 30mm Tube
- WalmartCheck price at Walmart
- TAYLOR'D Overland Vehicles & Adventure LLCCheck price at TAYLOR'D Overland Vehicles & Adventure LLC
- AtCostAmmo.comCheck price at AtCostAmmo.com
Specs compared
| Spec | Athlon Cronus ATS Pro 25P-250 | ATN Thor 5 LRF 4-32x 640x480 12 Micron Smart HD Thermal Rifle Scope, 30mm Tube |
|---|---|---|
| Magnification | 3.6 - 14.4X | 2-16x |
| Field of view | 7.0° × 5.3° | 17.6x13.2 |
| Weight | 17.8 oz | 2.05 lb |
| Sensor resolution | 256x192 | — |
| Pixel pitch | 12 uM | — |
| Display resolution | 1024 x 768 | — |
| Lens system | 25mm F1.0 | — |
| NETD | ≤30mK @ 77°F/25°C | — |
| Length | 8.8" | — |
| Battery life | more than 10 hours | — |
What reviewers say
Athlon Cronus ATS Pro 25P-250
Owner feedback on the Cronus ATS Pro line is limited, but thermal users generally rate Athlon's image quality and battery life well for the price. The common complaint is that the 256x192 sensor shows its limits past a few hundred yards.
- Clear image for a 256x192 sensor
- Long battery life on a single charge
- Solid build and simple controls
- Detail drops off at longer distances
- Narrow field of view for close scanning
- Digital zoom gets grainy at high magnification
ATN Thor 5 LRF 4-32x 640x480 12 Micron Smart HD Thermal Rifle Scope, 30mm Tube
Owners of ATN's Thor line generally rate the thermal image and the rangefinder-plus-ballistic combination highly for night hunting. Complaints center on battery drain, app reliability and image softness at high zoom.
Questions and answers
- Which is better for spotting game before the shot?
- The Athlon. It is a handheld monocular at 17.8 oz with over 10 hours of battery, made for scanning. The ATN is a scope meant to stay mounted on a rifle.
- Which has the better image?
- The ATN. Its 640x480 sensor has far more pixels than the Athlon's 256x192, so it resolves more detail at distance. Both use 12 µm pixels.
- Can I hunt at night at long range with either?
- The ATN is built for that. It pairs a 640x480 sensor with a laser rangefinder and ballistic calculator. The Athlon has no rangefinder or ballistic solver.
- Which lasts longer on a battery?
- The Athlon, rated at more than 10 hours. ATN does not state a runtime for the Thor 5 LRF, so check the spec before a long night out.
- Is the ATN worth the extra over the Athlon?
- Only if you need to shoot at night. The ATN adds resolution, a rangefinder and a ballistic solver. For scanning only, the Athlon is lighter and simpler.
