FOG HORN
June 2019 Twobirds Flying Publications
Longshot Target Cameras by TargetVision HAWK Spotting Scope Camera
Copyright 2019, Towbirds Flying Publications. All Rights Reserved.
Longshot Target Cameras by TargetVision HAWK Spotting Scope Camera Longshot Target Cameras by TargetVision HAWK Spotting Scope Camera By: Sal Palma
What do you get when you bring together a veteran, guys that love to shoot and CCTV experience? You get Longshot Target Cameras by TargetVision, a Texas company. Prior to Shot Show 2019, I had not heard of them but found myself intrigued by this young company. Little did I know that their products and technology would literally revolutionize the shooting experience. Over the last couple of years the company has introduced a number of camera systems and supporting software that you can genuinely get excited about. The HAWK Smart Spotting Scope Camera, which started shipping in June, is but one offering and the subject of my review.
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The HAWK, and its software, is a simple system that is so well implemented it will knock your socks off. Let’s take a look! The HAWK attaches to any spotting scope with an eyepiece size of 38mm to 56mm using the company’s patented self-centering mechanism.
If you’ve ever done any Digiscoping you’ve undoubtedly experienced the hassle of mounting and optically aligning your smart device to your optic; well, you can say goodbye to that headache. Mounting the HAWK camera is a simple matter, just hold the camera to the eyepiece and turn its large orange knob until the camera is securely mounted to the eyepiece. There’s no need to torque it down, simply snug it up and you’re done. Once installed, you retain the ability to adjust your optic’s magnification ring by rotating the mount. Copyright 2019, Twobirds Flying Publications, All Rights Reserved
Longshot Target Cameras by TargetVision HAWK Spotting Scope Camera
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that claim to its limits, but I did connect three devices to the camera successfully and without a hitch. The WiFi hot spot arrangement is a valued feature, if you’re shooting with a spotter, he or she is able to see and mark your hits, but more on marking hits later in my review. WiFi also supports a longer operating range than Bluetooth, and that means your smart device, or devices, can be located much further from the camera than with Bluetooth; if you’re conducting surveillance that’s a very nice feature to have.
This arrangement makes it possible to keep the camera in its proper alignment so that imagery is captured in the correct orientation. Looking at the front of the camera you see the TargetVision logo, the ON/OFF switch in the upper right hand corner, and the charging port just to the left. The HAWK camera can be fully charged in about 2 hours using the supplied AC charger. The charger is fitted with an LED that lights red when charging and turns green when the camera is fully charged. The lithium battery is intelligent and cannot be overcharged, so if you leave it plugged in overnight you won’t damage the battery or camera. The HAWK camera is WiFi enabled and functions like a WiFi hotspot; that means that multiple smart devices can connect to the camera. TargetVision says up to 10 devices can connect to the HAWK. I was not able to test
Copyright 2019, Twobirds Flying Publications, All Rights Reserved
Longshot Target Cameras by TargetVision HAWK Spotting Scope Camera This surveillance photo taken through the HAWK camera is of a decommissioned military cargo ship and a large barge being turned in the harbor’s basin. The optic was set at 20X and located approximately 2.4km from the ship. At that range you wouldn’t be able to identify an individual, but you could certainly see if something was being transferred between the two vessels. All of these features would not be worth a plug nickel if HAWK’s image quality was less than excellent – pleasantly not at all the case. The HAWK camera does not degrade image quality and it is worthy of a superb optic. Image resolution is 1280 x 960 with a high frame rate of 20 frames per second. The camera is drop-resistant, weather-resistant and weighs in at 15.2 ounces.
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Play Store. It’s unlikely to happen any time soon but I’d love to see a Windows 10 app as well. So, what can you do with the HAWK under software control? 1. 2. 3. 4.
You can spot and mark your shots. You can get your group size. You can zero your weapon. You can document your shooting sessions with notes. 5. You can take pictures. 6. You can take videos. You start your session by defining your target range and caliber being shot. That information will be used in the app to determine group size and help you zero. In the setup screen you can also set Display to linear (i.e. inches), MOA or MILS. You also have the option to use English or Metric units. These entries are easily accessible from the NAVIGATION screen.
Although the HAWK is quite light, you’ll want to use it in conjunction with a tripod head that you can tension or lockdown. The magic behind the HAWK camera is Target Vision’s software which runs on an Android or iOS device. The Android version of the app can be downloaded free of charge from the Google
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Longshot Target Cameras by TargetVision HAWK Spotting Scope Camera Once you setup your session parameters, you are ready to shoot.
To mark your shots, use a drop down menu that allows you to select marker size and color. The markers are numbered so you’ll always have a trail of shots fired. If you don’t want to display your markers, simply press the <o> icon at the bottom of the screen. A second shooter can use the same target and simply select a different marker color to designate their shots. When I was developing loads for my rifle, I was always interested in group sizes. It meant frequent trips out to the target with calipers in hand to make measurements. No more! Using the HAWK camera app, the shooter can easily determine group size with a couple of taps of the screen. Depending of your display setting, group size can be expressed in inches, MILS or MOA, most shooters will set the display to Linear (inches) when checking group sizes.
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The procedure couldn’t be easier. The shooter is asked to provide 2 points of reference and the distance between those two points in inches. On my target, each box is 1in x 1in. Once that is done, you can begin shooting; the app will mark in black the two hits furthest apart and display the group size at the bottom of the screen. The picture below indicates a group size of 1.226 inches.
How many rounds have you gone through zeroing at 100 yards; let alone 300 yards? The HAWK camera will solve that problem for you. When setting up to zero, configure the app for caliber, range to the target and display, I would recommend you set display to MILS or MOA depending on how your scope is calibrated. Once you’ve completed that, use the dropdown menu to select Zero. You’ll then be prompted for 2 points of reference and the linear distance between those two points. You’ll also be asked Copyright 2019, Twobirds Flying Publications, All Rights Reserved
Longshot Target Cameras by TargetVision HAWK Spotting Scope Camera for your point of aim. You can then take your shot and mark its point of impact using your touch screen. Immediately you’ll see the correction for elevation and wind displayed at the bottom of the screen in MILS or MOA. Using the HAWK camera and its app, it is possible to zero and confirm zero with 5 rounds or less.
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dope is at ranges beyond your initial zeroing range? If you answered yes, then you need to hustle to your online retailer and pick up a HAWK spotting scope camera. With an M.S.R.P. of $329, it has a very short payback period. Check it out!
-SP Manufacturer Specification:
If you’re not impressed with the HAWK camera, you haven’t being shooting very long. Is there something that needs improvement? Yes! The owner’s manual needs an overhaul so that it reflects the current app release. I can also do without the international orange color scheme; however, as things stand today, gone are the days when a shooter needs to spend the better part of a range visit walking back and forth to a target to check groups sizes. Gone are the days when a shooter needs to go through a box, or more, of very expensive ammunition to zero your rifle. Would you like to see how good your
Fits eyepiece that is between 38mm and 56mm Live HD video App-Based software (iOS and Android compatible) Quick and easy setup 7+ hour runtime Lightweight portable and extremely compact 2-year warranty Drop-resistant Weather-resistant No cell or WiFi service required Resolution: 1280 X 960 Batteries: rechargeable Lithium-Ion Band: 2.4GHz Weight: 1 lbs Included Accessories: HAWK Charger Custom soft case
Copyright 2019, Twobirds Flying Publications, All Rights Reserved