Firefield Hexcore HD 1-3x: digital night vision binoculars for under 250 euros – a real price-performance smasher! How do they perform and who are they suitable for?

The Firefield Hexcore HD, which Sellmark presented at the IWA 2024, is a fully digital binoculars optic offered at a very affordable price point. It features the option of seamlessly switching from full-color day mode to black and white night vision mode at dusk. If there is insufficient residual light at night, the integrated infrared illuminator, which is invisible to the human eye, provides illumination of the subject in 3 brightness settings. According to the manufacturer, this makes night observation up to 135 meters possible. We tested it in the field for you.

The Firefield Hexcore HD 1-3x digital night vision device in detail

If you take the Firefield Hexcore HD 1-3x in front of your eyes, you look straight at a very wide-looking colour display through a flexible eyecup with a nose cut-out. The generous eyecup also allows spectacle wearers to enjoy the usual corrected view with glasses up to a frame height of around 5 cm. The display, whose brightness can be adjusted in 5 steps, is also easy to read even with a certain angle tolerance and from a distance. The unenlarged standard image display (1x) of the digital image can be gradually enlarged in 0.5x increments up to 3x, digitally in carousel mode. Pressing and holding the magnification button causes a direct change to full 3x magnification, which is well suited, for example, for detail viewing of game after sighting.

The built-in recording function for photos and videos in HD resolution (1280x720 pixels) allows you to record the observed scene to a micro SD memory card up to a maximum of 64 GB (not included) by briefly pressing the on/off button. Recording without sound is signalled to the user by a single flickering camera symbol (photo mode) or a red dot with a continuous recording timer (video mode).

The Firefield Hexcore HD uses four standard AA batteries as its power source, two behind each of the two side recessed covers that are securely fastened with cross-slot screws. What is a solid concept to prevent accidental opening and possible loss of the battery covers becomes an obstacle when changing the batteries "in the field" and especially at night with the necessary watchmaker's screwdriver. A recessed spring hook would probably be more suitable as a latching mechanism for the battery covers. Alternatively, the Hexcore HD can be externally powered via a USB-C socket. Of course, both a standard charger but mainly a portable power bank can be used, in this case significantly extending operating time. The battery life of the Firefield Hexcore HD is stated to be up to 8 hours with continuous use during the day, but at night the runtime is significantly reduced to between 1.5 hours (high level) and 5 hours (low level) when the integrated IR illuminator is in operation, according to the manufacturer's specifications.

The focus wheel on the left-hand side of the binoculars can be used to intuitively focus the image of the observed subject. As with other optics, it is easier to adjust the focal plane of the device to the distance of the subject when the image is magnified and then switch back to the full image angle of 1x magnification

Firefield Hexcore 1-3x day and noght binoculars in our field test 

The Firefield Hexcore was extensively tested 1-3 times during the night test from a hidden observation point. We watched a herd of donkeys in the neighboring pasture at distances of approx. 30-70 meters. The integrated IR illuminator produces a tight and sharp spotlight, illuminating in the style of stage lighting at closer ranges. At further distances or with digital magnification at close ranges, however, the illumination of the subject is more natural.

One of the advantages of the Firefield Hexcore 1-3x is its balanced form factor, which is also comfortable for people with larger hands. The non-slip, rubberised honeycomb texture in the finger area ensures secure handling. The control buttons are easy to reach and provide tactile "click" feedback, which increases user-friendliness. The battery compartments are secured against loss by a small cross-slot screw, which provides additional security. The box also includes a microfiber protective bag, which is ideal for cleaning dust from the display and lenses. The device has a single, clear window/double eyepiece with a wide-screen color display and a generous eyecup with a cut-out for the nose, which also makes it comfortable for spectacle wearers. However, there are limitations when using varifocals. Another advantage is that it can be operated with four standard AA batteries, with four high-quality Duracell batteries already included.

However, we do have a few points of criticism in our practical test: for example, the Firefield Hexcore 1-3x only comes with a "Quick Start Guide" in English, while the full operating instructions are only available as a download. The "Quick Start Guide" covers three main aspects: battery  installation, controls and focus. While the installation and focus are described simply and clearly, the controls are explained in detail without illustrations, which makes them difficult to understand. Then, as mentioned, the device's IR illuminator has a very focussed and fixed beam angle, which results in a sharp, pinpoint illumination at low magnification and at close range. There is also no option to delete individual recordings directly in "Playback" mode. The device is quite energy-hungry, especially in night vision mode with the IR illuminator activated. A quick battery change in the field is made more difficult by the fact that a small screwdriver is required for this. Another shortcoming is the lack of an "auto-off" function when inactive. However, in this price range, this is basically a good thing.

Sellmark Firefield Hexcore HD 1-3x technical specifications and price

Conclusion: who should buy the affordable Sellmark Firefield Hexcore HD 1-3x Nightvision binoculars?

For an affordable budget of around 240 euros, you get a high-quality optic with solid digital night vision technology and an integrated IR illuminator in the form factor of a handy pair of binoculars. Despite the small magnification range of "only" 3x, image stabilisation would be of good use for the images, but is hardly feasible at this impressive price-performance ratio. If you want to get into night vision technology at a reasonable price, coupled with the option of taking photos and videos of night-time sights in HD quality at the touch of a button, the inexpensive Firefield Hexcore HD is a good choice. The model is of course also suitable for observing wildlife during the day. However, it is clear that this simple device cannot be compared with high-tech models costing several thousand euros. There should still be some residual light, as the use of the IR illuminator leads to the spot effect described above. And yet: the price/performance ratio is unbeatable in any case, which makes this device a good choice for beginners.

Further information on the Hexcore HD 1-3x can be found on the Firefield website.