Nocpix RICO 3 H50R Thermal Rifle Scope

The Nocpix RICO 3 H50R is the RICO 3 that gives you the flagship's eyes without the flagship's price. It carries the exact same 640×512 sensor, the same 50 mm f/1.0 lens and the same 3× base magnification as the RICO 3 PRO H50R. Point both at the same field on the same night and they show you the same picture.

What the PRO adds is automation — autofocus, ocular zoom, a remote in the box. Real features, and worth the money to hunters who will use them. But they do not make the image better. They make operating the scope easier.

That distinction is the whole decision here. If you hunt open ground and want 640-class image quality with 3× native reach and integrated ranging, the H50R delivers all of it for a thousand dollars less and roughly nine ounces lighter on the rifle.

What the 50mm H50R lens buys you, and what it costs

Objective lens size is the single biggest factor in how a thermal scope performs at distance — and the trade it forces is field of view. A larger lens gathers more thermal signal and puts more of the animal on the display before any zoom is applied, which is what you need when the shot comes at distance and the animal is small in the frame. It also narrows what you can see at once.

The H50R's 50 mm lens sits firmly on the reach side of that trade. It suits open crop fields, pastures, cut hay ground and larger properties — places where you are glassing across distance and animals have room to be far away. Paired with 3× base magnification rather than the H35R's 2×, the animal is already larger in the frame before you touch a zoom control.

The cost shows up in tight country. At 8.8° × 7.0° you are seeing less ground than the H35R does, and when something appears close and crosses fast, a narrow view means you are hunting for it inside the picture. If most of your nights happen in timber, creek bottoms, brush lines or small fields, the RICO 3 H35R will serve you better. Terrain should drive this decision more than price does.

Why the magnification number is not the spec that matters

The H50R runs from 3× to 24×, and that top number deserves less weight than it gets. Digital zoom on any thermal optic works by enlarging pixels the sensor already captured. It makes what you are looking at bigger. It does not make it more detailed — push it far enough and you are studying larger, blurrier copies of the same information.

What determines how far you can actually identify an animal is the sensor and the lens, not the zoom ceiling. The H50R's 640×512 sensor behind a 50 mm objective is doing that work. The magnification range is how you frame what those two have already resolved.

This is also where the PRO H50R differs, and it is worth being precise about it. Both scopes top out at 24×. The H50R climbs there on 8× digital zoom. The PRO climbs on 2× optical enlargement through the eyepiece plus 4× digital, so it holds a cleaner picture at the top of the range. Same ceiling, different quality getting there.

Ranging and ballistics on the H50R

The integrated laser rangefinder is rated to 1,600 yards and supports single and continuous ranging. The multi-variable ballistic calculator takes a range measurement and returns an aiming solution, with multiple rifle profiles and zero distances stored for different setups.

Ranging matters more on thermal than it does in daylight, where fence lines and familiar landmarks let you estimate distance without thinking about it. Thermal strips those cues away, and hunters misjudge range through it constantly — an error that costs little at 100 yards and a great deal past 250.

The H50R is remote-compatible, though a remote is not included. If running ranging and focus without reaching forward matters to you, that is one of the things the PRO builds in.

The RICO 3 family — how the H50R fits

The RICO 3 series is a four-model family built on one platform. The naming code tells you what you are getting: L = 384 sensor, H = 640 sensor. The number that follows is the objective lens size in millimeters. An R at the end indicates an integrated laser rangefinder — every RICO 3 has one.

• RICO 3 L35R — the entry point. Best paired with a separate handheld scanner, since a narrower view and a smaller sensor make it harder to locate animals with the scope itself.

• RICO 3 H35R — the widest field of view in the family and the strongest all-around choice for mixed terrain, timber edges and closer, faster encounters.

• RICO 3 H50R — the same optical package as the PRO. Built for open ground and longer shots, without the automation.

• RICO 3 PRO H50R — the H50R plus autofocus, Ocular Zoom 2.0 and an included remote. The flagship.

The choice between the H50R and the PRO H50R is not about image quality — the two see identically. It is about whether the distances you hunt change enough that automating focus and ranging is worth the difference in price and about nine ounces of rifle weight.

Compare all four Nocpix RICO 3 scopes side by side.

What you get with the RICO 3 H50R

• 640×512 thermal sensor, 12 μm pixel pitch, 60 Hz refresh rate.

• 50 mm F/1.0 germanium objective lens.

• 3× base magnification, 3×–24× total range with 8× digital zoom.

• 8.8° × 7.0° field of view.

• Integrated 1,600-yard laser rangefinder. Single and continuous ranging.

• Multi-variable ballistic calculator. Firing solution from a range measurement; multiple zero profiles stored for different rifles and loads.

• 2,840-yard detection range.

• 1.03-inch 2560×2560 circular AMOLED display with Reality+ 2.0 image processing.

• Picture-in-picture mode. Magnified aiming window over the wider base image.

• Eight reticles. One dynamic, six static, one user-defined.

• Seven color palettes: white hot, black hot, red hot, rainbow, violet, crimson, viridian.

• Recoil-activated video. Starts capture automatically when the rifle fires. Standard video recording included.

• 64 GB internal storage. Wi-Fi transfer through the Nocpix app.

• Removable NBP-8 battery system with spare battery included. Up to 10 hours per pack, roughly 7 hours down to −4°F. Magnetic charging port and USB-C external power support.

• Remote compatible. Remote control sold separately.

• Magnesium-alloy construction, IP67 rated.

• Quick-detach Picatinny mount included.

• Manufacturer warranty (Nocpix).

What is the difference between the RICO 3 H50R and the PRO H50R?

Three things: rangefinder-driven autofocus, Ocular Zoom 2.0, and an included remote control. The sensor, lens, base magnification, field of view, detection range, rangefinder and ballistic calculator are identical. The H50R costs $1,000 less and weighs about nine ounces less.

Does the H50R have autofocus?

No. Focus is manual. Autofocus is exclusive to the RICO 3 PRO H50R, which is the first thermal riflescope from any manufacturer to offer it.

Is the H50R or the H35R better for my hunting?

Terrain decides it. The H50R's 50 mm lens and 3× base magnification favor open crop fields, pastures and longer shot opportunities. The H35R's 35 mm lens and wider field of view favor timber, creek bottoms, brush lines and closer encounters where finding the animal fast matters more than reach.

Does the H50R reach the same magnification as the PRO?

Yes. Both run 3× to 24×. The H50R uses 8× digital zoom to get there; the PRO uses 2× optical enlargement plus 4× digital, which holds a cleaner image at the top of the range.

Why does the top magnification number matter less than it seems?

Digital zoom enlarges pixels the sensor already captured — it makes the image bigger without making it more detailed. Sensor resolution and objective lens size determine how far you can actually identify an animal. Treat the magnification range as framing, not reach.

How far will the rangefinder read?

The integrated laser rangefinder is rated to 1,600 yards and supports both single and continuous ranging. Actual performance varies with target size, surface reflectivity, angle and conditions.

What does the 2,840-yard detection range actually mean?

Detection means the sensor registers a warm signature against a cooler background. It does not mean you can identify the animal or take a shot at that distance — recognition and identification happen much closer. Use detection figures to compare optics, not to plan a hunt.

Can I use a remote with the H50R?

Yes. The H50R is remote-compatible, but a remote is not included. Only the PRO H50R ships with one.

How long does the battery last?

Up to 10 hours per NBP-8 pack, and roughly 7 hours in sub-zero conditions down to −4°F. A spare battery is included, and the scope supports USB-C external power.

Which RICO 3 is best for coyote hunting?

The H50R and PRO H50R suit open fields and longer shot opportunities. The H35R suits mixed terrain, closer encounters and coyotes moving fast. Terrain and typical shot distance should drive the choice more than price.

Is the H50R a good upgrade from a 384 scope?

For most hunters, yes. A 640×512 sensor resolves noticeably more detail at distance than a 384×288, which is what turns a heat signature into an animal you can identify with confidence. If your shots are consistently close, the resolution jump matters less than field of view.