Test: Sightmark Wraith 4K monocular digital night vision device with UHD resolution

One might think that thermal imaging devices are increasingly replacing infrared-based night vision technology and that there is not much more to come. However, a lot has also happened in the field of night vision technology in recent years. In addition to the well-known tubes, there are now also many devices on the market that rely on digital components instead and use high-resolution CMOS sensors instead of image or residual light amplifier tube technology, which not only score points in the infrared range but can also be used for normal daylight images. This also applies to the new Wraith 4K Monocular, which is based on the Wraith Mini from Sightmark and promises extremely high image quality at a price of €774.99.

The most important features and details of the Sightmark Wraith 4K Monocular digital night vision device

The slot for the MicroSD card required for the Sightmark Wraith 4K Monocular is protected against dust and water by a rubber flap. Here is a card in the slot.

The Sightmark Wraith 4K Monocular is a digital night vision device that offers true 4K, i.e. Ultra HD resolution, thanks to its 3840 x 2160 px CMOS sensor. The camera has a 1 to 8x digital zoom and has an audio/video and photo recording function and can be used for daylight recordings as well as in two other modes for night vision recordings. As the Wraith 4K has no internal memory, the developers have equipped it with a MicroSD card slot that supports cards with a storage capacity of up to 256 GB. However, no memory card is included in the scope of delivery. Sightmark leaves it up to the user to decide which make and which capacity to choose. The Wraith 4K requires MicroSD cards that also have a 4K-capable write speed, so the hunter or outdoor fan should make sure when buying that the card is labelled for video recording in 4K or UHD. Such 64 GB cards from brand manufacturers are available for less than 10 euros and, according to Sightmark, one is sufficient for around 1 hour and 45 minutes of video recording in 4K.

The objective lens has a diameter of 17 mm and, according to Sightmark, is multi-coated. For use in twilight and darkness, Sightmark provides the Wraith 4K Monocular with an IR light with a wavelength of 850 nm, which can be used both in automatic mode and manually via the device menu. In automatic mode, the intensity of the IR light is continuously adjusted to the respective environment, while in manual mode the user has to do this themselves. The maximum distance at which objects can be detected is specified by the manufacturer as 300 yards, i.e. around 274 metres.

Standard accessories: Sightmark supplies the Wraith 4K Monocular together with two different eyecups, two flip-up protective caps, two USB cables, a helmet mount bridge and a quick start guide, as well as a small optics cloth (not shown in the picture).

When looking through the eyepiece, playback in the device takes place via a 1280 x 720px FLCOS screen, i.e. in HD quality. The fact that the rectangular display is located further inside the device results in an eye relief of 76 mm. The ring for diopter adjustment, which ranges from -6 to +3 diopters, is also located on the eyepiece to adapt the information embedded in the display to individual eyesight. The coarse, longitudinally grooved diopter adjustment ring is made of plastic and, like the housing, which is also made of robust polymer, has no rubber armouring. The same applies to the focus ring, which is located on the lens. Sightmark equips the Wraith 4K monocular with flip-up protective caps for the lens and eyepiece as standard. The flip-ups can be attached to the respective end of the housing with a thread. However, as an alternative to the flip-up caps, two rubber eyecups of different lengths from the scope of delivery of the night vision device can also be fitted to the eyepiece. In addition to the protective caps and shells, this also includes two short USB cables for data transfer or for connecting a power bank via the USB-C interface in the device, as well as a helmet bridge mount which is, however, intended for military/LE use rather than hunting. In addition to the quick-start guide, there is also a cleaning cloth in the hard foam-padded cardboard packaging.

The original power supply for the Sightmark Wraith 4K Monocular is provided by two CR123A cells, which are housed in the battery compartment under the tube.
The Sightmark Wraith 4K Monocular can also be operated without batteries via an external power bank connected to the integrated USB-C socket. The Quick Detach Battery Pack (SM28004) from Sightmark is connected here, a Li-ion power bank with a capacity of 6,000 mAh.

The original power supply for the Wraith 4K monocular is provided by two standard CR123A 3V batteries, which are located under a flap on the left-hand side of the battery compartment attached to the bottom of the tube together with the IR module. Alternatively, power can also be supplied via the aforementioned USB-C socket, which is also used for data transfer. The socket is protected from dust and water under a rubber flap on the right-hand side, i.e. on the back of the battery compartment. If you don't want to buy batteries all the time, you can also use CR123A rechargeable batteries or an external power bank. The latter even works without batteries or rechargeable batteries in the device. Depending on the ambient temperature, the batteries last for up to 2 hours with the IR illuminator switched on or up to 4 hours in daylight. Sightmark also has its own power bank customised for its devices. But more on that later.

The Sightmark Wraith 4k monocular relies on simple operation, CMOS sensors and intuitively designed menu navigation

With the exception of the aforementioned adjustment rings, the Wraith 4K Monocular is operated entirely via three control buttons located on the top of the day/night vision device, which weighs just 340 grams including the battery and protective caps. Thanks to its low weight and compact dimensions of 160x47x70 millimeters, the Wraith 4K monocular is easy to hold in one hand when observing and filming. When gripping with the thumb on the underside of the housing and the remaining fingers on the top, the index and middle fingers can easily reach all three controls required to operate the device. The on/off button and the menu and shutter release button are located roughly in the center of the top side under a silicone armouring. Both buttons can be easily distinguished from each other, even in the dark, thanks to haptic dot markings. A protruding rocker switch is located in front of it, which is used to navigate through the menu in setting mode and to increase or decrease the digital zoom between 1.0x and 8.0x in 0.1 increments during operation. The field of view at the lowest magnification is 17 m at a distance of 100 m.

A look at the top of the Sightmark Wraith 4K Monocular shows, in addition to the interface for helmet mounting, all the controls: (from left to right) the diopter adjustment ring on the eyepiece, the menu and release button marked with two haptic dots, the on/off button marked with a dot, and then the rocker button protruding far out of the housing for selecting the menu items and changing the magnification  –  as can be seen from the plus and minus markings next to it – and the focus ring on the lens.
The menu navigation of the Sightmark Wraith 4K Monocular is clear and intuitive.

For the sake of completeness, it should also be noted here that switching between daylight mode and the two night modes is done by holding down the menu button for two seconds. All other settings are made via the menu control. This also applies to switching from the photo to the video function, which is why this requires some practice despite the very clear and intuitively designed menu navigation. The menu is set to "English" on delivery. German, French and Spanish were also available for our test device.

The Sightmark Wraith 4K Monocular digital night vision device can be attached to suitable helmet or head mounts using the bridge supplied.

New Sightmark Wraith 4K monocular: multiple interfaces for pretty much all purposes

The enclosed helmet mount bridge which, as already mentioned, is of less interest to hunters, can be attached to the housing of the Wraith 4K monocular at two interfaces (one at the top, one at the bottom) and secured using a ¼" knurled screw. The mount has a USB-C socket for connecting an external power source and has two brass contact rails on the underside. These in turn find their counterpart in the interfaces on the device.

There is a further ¼" threaded socket on the underside of the battery compartment as an interface for a standard tripod thread. The Wraith 4K monocular can also be used as a secondary scope behind a riflescope on a correspondingly long pica top rail on guns up to and including .308 Winchester caliber using an optionally available Picatinny adapter. Sightmark guarantees that the night-vision optics have the necessary shooting stability.

This fallow deer calf photographed at close range with the Sightmark Wraith 4K Monocular during our test gives an idea of how true to color and detailed the image quality of the 4K CMOS sensor of this digital night vision device with daylight function is.

Sightmark Wraith 4K Monocular digital night vision device – Technical specifications and price

Model:

Wraith 4K Monocular

Sensor Type:

CMOS

Sensor Resolution:

3480 x 2160 px (4K)

Magnification:

1x to 8x digital

Objective Lens Diameter:

17 mm

Eye Relief:

76 mm

Field of View (Horizontal):

17 m per 100 m

Dioper Adjustment:

-6 dpt to +3 dpt

Display Type:

FLCOS

Display Resolution:

1280 x 720 px

Display Mode:

Color (day), B/W (night vision)

Video/Photo Resolution:

4K (Ultra HD), 1080 px (Full HD) or 720 px (HD)

Video Format:

AVI

Photo Format:

jpg

Storage Capacity (Photo/Video):

Storage on removable MicroSD card up to 256 GB, no internal device memory

Night Vision Detection Range:

Up to 274 m (300 yd)

IR Illuminator:

LED, 850 nm

Battery Type:

2x CR123 cell

Battery Life:

Up to 2 h with IR illuminator, 3.6 h in recording mode, 4.4 h in playback mode

External Power Supply:

5V USB-C (also works without batteries in the device)

Operating Temperature:

0 °C to +60 °C

Mounting Options:

Standard ¼" tripod thread (on top of housing) plus 1x ¼" thread with interface for bridge mount on top and bottom)

Housing Material:

Polymer, IP67  protection rating

Dimensions (LxWxH):

160x47x70 mm

Weight:

340 g

Manufacturer's Warranty:

3 years

Accessories:

Head/helmet mount bridge, 2x flip-up protective caps, 2x rubber eyecups, 2x USB-C cables, protective bag

Price (RRP):

774,99 euro

More images from the test with the Sightmark Wraith 4K monocular night vision device

A fallow deer with calf in tow, taken from a distance of around 20 metres shortly after sunrise under a heavily overcast sky with the Sightmark Wraith 4K Monocular at 1.0x magnification.
View into a fallow deer enclosure about an hour before sunrise, captured with the Sightmark Wraith 4k Monocular, here in night vision mode with automatic IR illumination and 1.0x zoom factor. The rear sections on the fence are around 45 to 50 metres away.
The photo was taken with the Sightmark Wraith 4k at 1.0x magnification from a distance of just over 100 metres. On the display of the digital day/night vision device, the image with the two red deer and the grazing adult animal in between is much clearer and sharper. That's probably why the focus is not quite right here...
This photo is a screenshot from a video sequence recorded with the Sightmark Wraith in the early morning. As the two fallow deer calves are moving away from the lens of the digital day/night vision device, the focus is not quite right here either.

Additional option: Sightmark Quick Detach Battery Pack, a smart power bank with integrated Picatinny mount

A look at the underside of the Sightmark Quick Detach Battery Pack reveals a spring clip held by two screws and a bar that matches the Picatinny slot. The pack can be attached to and removed from a Picatinny rail without tools.

The Quick Detach Battery Pack from Sightmark is in principle a Li-ion power bank that is charged with a USB-C port and is used to supply 5V-compatible devices via a USB-A output. In terms of its design, this power bank is primarily intended for use with night vision or thermal imaging devices that are mounted on a sufficiently long Picatinny rail or have such a rail on the housing. The rechargeable battery pack from Sightmark is a very good addition for such devices – regardless of the brand. With compact dimensions of around 100x43x32 millimeters and a weight of just 153 grams, the version shown here (SM28004) can be attached to the Picatinny rail in a fraction of a second. The underside of the 6,000 mAh battery not only has the appropriate contour and a stopper bar, but also a sufficiently strong Picatinny-style spring clip so that the pack can simply be tilted onto the rail from the side. The idea is really very good and makes it easier to manage power during longer shooting sessions. However, there is one drawback: the price is 99 euros (RRP). Anyone who now thinks this is exaggerated should realise that this is not a run-of-the-mill power tank, but a well thought-out concept that uses high-quality materials including integrated mounting in a rugged and fire-retardant housing and certainly includes corresponding development costs and tests up to and including bullet resistance. The fact that Sightmark also offers another Quick Detach Battery Pack (SM28004) based on this concept with 10,000 mAh capacity at the same price, although this pack is somewhat larger and heavier.

Our review of the Sightmark Wraith 4K Monocular

If you are a hunter or nature observer and outdoor fan looking for a state-of-the-art digital night vision device for day and night observation, with which you can also adequately capture what you see, you should definitely take a closer look at the Wraith 4K monocular from Sightmarkt. When everything is optimally set, the device delivers photos and videos in Ultra HD resolution with excellent, true-color quality in daylight mode and, thanks to the automated IR illuminator, is also a reliable companion at night, guaranteeing great photos and videos. However, as with all devices with digital zoom, image noise increases with increasing magnification. If you want to take photos/videos worth seeing for posterity, you should limit yourself to a maximum magnification of 2.5 to 3x. If you want to check what you actually had in front of the lens on the device display at home on the large monitor, you can also zoom in a little higher depending on the object distance. What the author would like to see in the next update of the device would be some kind of quick-adjustment lever on the focus ring, so that you can refocus a little faster in video mode with moving objects or when changing distances quickly. All in all, however, Sightmark's price of just under 780 euros (RRP) is in the green zone here, as it scores points not only for its high resolution, but also for the auto infrared illuminator in the field.


Further information on the Sightmark Wraith 4K can be found on the Sightmark website.

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