pulsar DFA75

[ricky green]

Just wondering,has any body on here got or tryed out the pulsar dfa75,what sort of performance do they offer, ??

[artschool]

http://www.thestalkingdirectory.co.uk/showthread.php/58346-Pulsar-Forward-DFA75-Night-Vision-quot-Stock-Alert-quot?highlight=pulsar

[Eddie0983]

Hi Ricky

 

In answer, yes I have a DFA 75. However, I've not fired a shot yet.

 

I have to say that personally I have had a number of teething issues with the unit. The first issue was that I was surprised that the back of the the unit didn't come with a dust cover for the back of the lens. There is one for the front, so it would make sense that there should be one for the back. Next I found that I couldn't get a nice crisp image when looking at an object 53 metres away. I found out later by trial and error I needed a scope where I could reduce the magnification down to around 3 - 5 x

 

In the documentation it describes a menu option within the unit which can be used to align the internals with the cross hairs of the scope. I placed the DFA 75 on a 3-12x44MTC a 5-25x56 Schmidt and Bender and a 8-32x60 MTC and I couldn't see the menu. I ended up supporting the rifle in a rest whilst I held the DFA over the end of the objective lens of the scope untill I could see the menu options and then with the same hand accessed the menu screen. Once I had the menu I needed, I then pushed it onto the scope to carry out the correct alignment. I have to say it was a bit of a pain!

 

I took the unit out on a night just to see what the images were like. I have to say that in complete darkness I wasn't impressed with the integrated IR. The image was grainy and displayed fine water mark type streaks back through the scope. It really took a lot of fiddling with the light setting and IR on the DFA to get anything reasonable. I have to say that for me personally I'm not that impressed with the integrated IR on the DFA and I think Pulsar should have provided a mounting so that you could choose for yourself which IR Lamp you wanted to fit. This became even more so later on when I started turning the IR unit to adjust the IR lamp from flod to spotlight. Unfortunately somehow in the complete darkness the whole lens of the IR turned and came undone exposing two wires which I couldn't see at the time snapping away leaving me with two pieces, which wont be going back together any time soon.

 

On a positive note, I returned to the house and mounted an IR 800 Night Master onto the scope at the back of the DFA around to the right side. The image was nothing short of fantastic. I was looking at the brickwork on a building 105 metres away and in particular the grouting and it was absolutely crystal clear. So too were the cross hairs of the scope. I already have a Pulsar N550 with doubler lens and and Nightmaster fitted and I'm really impressed with images I get with this setup. I have to say though the DFA 75 no matter how poor I thought the image quality was in the day, at night what I saw was much better than my N550. I've not fired the rifle with the DFA 75 fitted yet, but after my initial teething problems I'm feeling pretty positive and in a way I'm pleased that the integrated IR broke, otherwise I might not have rushed to take the Nightmaster off my N550 and test it on the DFA.

 

Please bare in mind with the feed back I am giving you, I have nothing to gauge the problems I had with my DFA against anyone else. There just isn't any information out there currently to be found.

[Eddie0983]

Another thing that I can't get my head quite around is the information I've been told that the DFA is set up at the factory and aligned for 100 Metres. Now with different scopes with varying sizes in objective lenses combined with the height the scope is off the barrel which is determined by the size of the mounts fitted to the scope. How do they achieve this, that the one factory setting suits all? For myself and having not fired a shot yet, I'm just going to place the unit on a rifle that has been zeroed to 100 metres and see where the shot lands on the target. I'll adjust the turret, mark and record and that will be my night time setting when the DFA is fitted. Unless of course someone is able to provide me with an alternative method.

[telf]

please keep the info coming on this as you seem to be the only man that has got one

atb dave

[matone]

A good,honest write up,very useful to others!

[Eddie0983]

No worries. I'm waiting for some decent weather so that I can set it up properly and put some rounds down range to report back on. We'll have to see how tomorrow fairs.

[happyshooter]

Interesting reading Eddie, i think only x5 of this DA75 were sold at Stoneleigh , i am looking forward

to the Photon5x42 nv scope coming on stream, as i already have a N750 pulsar so the DA75

is not on my current shopping nv list , but might in the future , good luck with the DA75 and pls keep us updated!!!

atb brian

[Eddie0983]

Hi Brian. After reading your post, I had to take a quick look at the Photon 5 x 42. It looks a really interesting unit especially with it fitting onto the end of the scope and being aligned to the cross hairs. The price also looks really attractive by comparision to the price of a DFA75. I really like these digital night vision units! It won't be long before someone has the idea to incorporate balistic calculators and laser rangefinders into them along with the ability to download software updates. I think digital is the way forward!

atb Eddie

[Eddie0983]

I've just added a piece of video footage to Utube taken titled "DFA 75" and it's taken during different times of the day using the Yukon MPR recorder plugged into the video port on the DFA 75. It's not very exciting stuff but I think it gives a positive representation of the possible image quality you can get through your scope, if you have a good IR lamp fitted. When you look at the footage, what you record from the front end is exacty what you see through the scope with the addition of crystal sharp cross hairs.

[al4x]

Hi eddie they look pretty interesting, I've a mate who was talking about getting one to put on a 8x56 s&B is this likely to be useless?

[Eddie0983]

Hi Hitchin,

 

My experience has been that you do get a much better image quality with a lower magnification. However, last night the unit was connected to my 8-32x60 MTC and it was a good image through the scope. I swear by the IR 800 Nightmaster making all the difference. I couldn't say the same for the integrated IR lamp which came with the DFA 75.

[telf]

hi eddie

just had a look at the video looks a cracking piece of kit how far were the houses and trees away,any chance of one out in the field

[Eddie0983]

Hi Telf

As the video starts you'll see a wall of a building facing the camera leading up to the apex and around it floating a label "100 Metres" Everything beyond that out to the hedge would be a comfortable 80 metres more. Tomorrow I'll try and take some in day light in the fields and then the same area at night. I'll try and get this done tomorrow.

[Eddie0983]

I've been out today to try and fire a few rounds down range with this DFA 75 fitted. This is what occured:

 

The rifle being used today was a Savage .17 Hornet with 8-32x60 MTC Viper fittted. I first set out a target to 100 metres and confirmed with laser range finder that the distance was correct. I then fired 4 rounds at the bull, which all bar one fell perfectly. This doesn't often happen for me. I then fitted the DFA 75 powered up and started to try and adjust the unit to focus onto the target. The day has been very much overcast and dull which I don't think worked well, because with the magnification set to the scopes lowest setting of 8, it was really difficult to focus on the target and the image was far from crisp.

 

I fired four rounds and went down to check the target and the rounds had landed exactly below my last group a comfortable 10 inches low. This scope has a 1/8 MOA @ 100 metres so this equates to 80 clicks adjustment every time I fit the unit at night, or maybe I should use one of the lower graticules on the scope cross hairs. I had intended to stay out and try the 3-12x44 fitted to my .17 HMR, but the weather has been rubbish so I've left it at that for today. Does anyone have any suggestions?

 

A friend of mine was out with me today and said "Well it's not exactly plug and play is it!"

 

The DFA 75 isn't proving to be the easiest of units to fit onto the front of the scope because it is really stiff to click into place and at times I have to use both hands whilst making sure the locking catch is held back. Now I'm always very aware of where my barrel is pointing and the state of the weapon as unloaded and safe when fitting the unit. I guess this advice is hopefully obvious to most people. However, it has been my experience that people don't always choose the most obvious and safest course of action. I could imagine the problem occuring when going from day to night with limited visibilty and strugling to get the unit fitted. I'm not in any way trying to teach anyone to suck eggs.

Edited March 13, 2013 by Eddie0983

[Eddie0983]

I've been out tonight and successfully shot a few rabbits by simply adjusting my aim by using the reticules and allowing for the 10 inches of adjustment. Seemed to work fine. I'm going to post some video on Utube to give an idea of how the terrain looked to me with the IR 800 Night Master fitted. just do a search for DFA 75

Edited March 14, 2013 by Eddie0983

[TaxiDriver]

Not the DFA but the other one, the Photon 5x42

Is this really going to be much cop given that its suggested its going to be sub £400 ??

I mean, equivalent to Gen2, usable day and night ? really ?

 

That would be unbelievably good value

I bought the NVRS-F and its pretty disappointing and that was £500 or thereabouts

[Eddie0983]

Price of the Photon is an interesting point. The trouble is with all of these things, you don't really know whether it works for you untill you have it on your rifle. I see that Scott Country are doing a kind of try at home before you buy with the DFA 75. If that option was there for the Photon I'd be giving them a call to try it. I'm currently curious about it because it is perfectly in line with the scope, unlike the DFA. However, after tonight and with a little bit more practice and tweaking I think I'll be sticking with my DFA and IR 800 Night Master. I've just uploaded some footage to Utube.

[Eddie0983]

Continued shooting today where I left off yesterday. Rifle: Savage .17 Hornet Scope: 8-32x60 MTC Viper with DFA fitted. Again checked zero at 100 Metres and then fitted the DFA. Again today the shots fell 10 inches low with the DFA fitted but this was rectified by allowing for the drop. I then pushed the target out to 200 Metres to find that the trajectory of the round was pretty flat and didn't require any adjustments. Fitted the DFA and unfortunately forgot about the drop and made splat marks on the shoot and see target. On returning to the firing point I just clicked the cross hairs down 80 clicks and everything was good again.

 

I've been told today that Pulsar are going to do a video on how to set these units up. So thats it from me on the DFA.

 

If anyone would like to know more about the Savage .17 Hornet let me know because this rifle is so accurate I love it to bits. I used to love my CZ .17HMR, but the Hornet is something else! I'd love to know if anyone has got into reloading the .17 Hornet cases and if so where to buy the kit?

 

Finally I know that I rave on about the IR 800 Nightmaster, but tonight I changed the IR for a red LED and what an experience that was. I was spotting and knocking down rabbits well out there and the rabbits didn't seem to be too bothered about the light. If you are going to buy a lamp to go on your scope or with your night site, buy a Night Master and save yourself some money in the long run. In the past 12 months I've spent a lot on lamps and night sites and finally after a lot of expense, I have what works for me. If anyone would like to know more just drop me a line.

 

atb Eddie

Edited March 15, 2013 by Eddie0983

[Verminator 66]

seen your video but I would love to see what you are seeing through the scope

what you got on the vid is what the DFA is seeing

is it a lot darker through the scope

[Eddie0983]

I know what you mean, but as it happens it was pretty much the same picture through the scope. I am using an IR800 Night Master fitted to the scope and this really creates a lot of light much better than the integrated IR unit, which I have unfortunately broken. When you set the unit up for zeroing during the day, the image is a lot darker through the scope.

[Eddie Odstone]

New to the forum so hopefully got this article right.Ref DFA75

Agree with most of what Eddie has said , unit is VERY tight on the baynot mounting and it can present a bit of a fight on removal and fitting and I had the same Icon viewing problem on my FAC Daystate fitted with Meopta scope 6x42 fixed power, but moved the insert split position to the opposite side as the clamping device and that sorted it. Lack of dust cap on lens to scope seems to be a bit tight fisted and one of my battery carriers is faulty but I am sure the supplier will sort that just one of those things . Must say I thought the IR was a big improvement on the one that comes with N550 which we use as well along side a Yukon Ranger night vision device but we have fitted the Yukon with an extra IR device, all this night vision kit benefits greatly from quality IR being added.

 

Our DFA unit arrived and we mounted it straight away onto my riflemans Tikka .223 proceded to our foxing barn , charlie arrived in due course one shot 90m , distance is accurate, bang on target so it seems the no zeroing needed claim is correct, however different story when mounting it onto my Daystate as mentioned above so see below how we sorted it .

 

DFA SET UP

Following page 10 on how to adjust POI just could not make it work, as 40m was way out L/R and vertically.

To adjust POI do the following from page 10 in the manual.

Stage one follow this to gain access to what Pulsar call the limiting frame (orange box with x in it ). Instead of moving this to correspond with scope reticle I moved it to clear area in top right quadrant of scope view .

Move to stage two and some cooridnates will appear mine where X=19 Y=01, these if you have not fiddled already will

be the factory settings write them down for future ref.

Note each icon Y or X has two lots of numbers. X has 0 to 40 and 0 to -40 Y has 0 to 50 and 0 to -50.

I worked out the following and got what I wanted in the way of POI.

X moves the L/R POI and by moving into the lower numbers ie from say the factory setting X=19 to X= -15 I got the correct POI L/R so lowering the number moves POI right, moving up the numbers moves it back left.

Y works the same , lower the number ie factory setting of Y=01 move to Y= -02 and POI moves up, again move it up the numbers and POI will move down .

When you are happy with POI take note of the coordinates rifle etc and you have a record all you have to do in the future is just dial them in rifle to rifle, like all things bit of practice and get familar with it and I think the DFA really will catch on bound to be some teething problems.

All this was learnt today and don`t hold me resposible if you lose your zero or something else goe`s wrong , remember to make sure of your backdrop before attempting any zero as you may be way way off target as my Air Ranger was. I am no specialist just a shooting man so hope this may help some of you and if you have a question I will try to answer it , hopefully out with the DFA next week fitted back on the .223, must dial in the factory numbers !

[Eddie0983]

Hi Eddie

Just read your message and thats great information. Like you I'm no specialist, but your input is very much appreciated and makes a lot of sense. For me the POI on my Hornet with the DFA fitted has been consistantly 10" low. With this new information I should be able to resolve this.

atb Eddie

[Eddie Odstone]

I have found the tightness of fitting and removal of the DFA can be improved by doing the following.

Purchased some PTFE plastic lubricant (not WD40 types of general purpose spray) in an small aerosol, sprayed a small amount into the safety cap ,any plastic cap would do, mopped a bit of it up onto a cotton bud and very lightly coated the mating services, doing it this way gives a much better control where the lubricant ends up and how much is applied, improved the fit 100%.

[photopro]

Like a good number of people I am watching with interest every post which appears relating to the DFA75 and I would like to thank the two Eddies for their info. I am hoping to fit a DFA75 unit onto a S&B 8x56 but I think this may not be possible so although I will try this it looks like a new scope is going to be needed. I have see most owners comments regarding the inboard IR and I am going to purchase a Night Master 800 IR which seems to be the way to going, apparently Night Master are looking at offering a mount which repalces the inboard IR though increasing the weight on the DFA with a double battery 800 IR may not be a good decision. A second release of DFA's is due on the 1st May and these will have a software update related to the menu amongst other things, they have also resolved the tight mounting bracket issue.

Edited April 17, 2013 by photopro