Pixfra Australia Field Journal · Head-to-Head
The Cetus and the Pegasus 2 LRF are the two thermal riflescopes at the heart of the Pixfra range, and they’re closer than their prices suggest. Same body, same controls, the same PIPS image engine, the same sensor options. The real fork is one feature: the Pegasus 2 carries a laser rangefinder built in, and the Cetus doesn’t. Everything about choosing between them comes back to whether you need it.
Quick verdict
Buy the Cetus for the best-value thermal image; buy the Pegasus 2 LRF when you want ranging built in. If most of your shots are inside ~150 m in country you know, the Cetus C635 ($2,690) gives you a genuine 640 sensor for less. If you reach out, shoot unfamiliar ground, or just want distance and a ballistic hold in one sight picture, the Pegasus 2 — from $2,890 with a 1,000 m LRF standard — earns its price on the first clean shot.
What’s the actual difference?
One thing that matters and a couple that follow from it. The Pegasus 2 LRF has a 1,000 m laser rangefinder on every model, feeding a ballistic hold; the Cetus has none. Because the rangefinder is standard across the Pegasus 2 line rather than an upsell, the two ranges also overlap in the middle — a Cetus C635 and a Pegasus 2 P335-LRF sit only $200 apart, but one gives you a bigger sensor and the other gives you ranging. That trade is the whole decision.
Side by side
| Cetus | Pegasus 2 LRF | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Thermal riflescope | Thermal riflescope |
| Sensor options | 256 / 384 / 640 | 384 / 640 |
| NETD | ≤15 mK (C225 ≤18) | ≤15 mK |
| Laser rangefinder | — | 1,000 m, standard |
| Ballistic hold | — | Yes (fed by LRF) |
| Detection | 1,300–2,600 m | 1,800–2,600 m |
| Price range | $1,190 – $3,890 | $2,890 – $4,990 |
All prices AUD incl GST, genuine local stock. Correct at time of writing — confirm current detail before you buy.
When the Cetus is the smarter buy
The single upgrade that changes a thermal picture most is the jump to a 640 sensor, and the Cetus C635 delivers it for $2,690 — less than the cheapest Pegasus 2. For close-to-mid range work on familiar ground, where you already know your paddocks and your holds, a rangefinder is a nice-to-have rather than a need. Put the money into the sensor instead and you get cleaner identification for the same spend. Add a handheld rangefinder later if you want one, or pair the Cetus with a ranging monocular like the Arc LRF and you’ve split the job across two devices for less than one flagship scope.
When the Pegasus 2 LRF earns its price
Thermal flattens your sense of distance in the dark. A pig at 120 m and one at 200 m can look identical through the glass, and a misjudged range is where a clean shot becomes a miss or a wounded animal. The Pegasus 2 removes the guess: settle the reticle, tap the laser, read the distance in the sight while the ballistic engine works it into a hold — no handheld unit, no dropping off the rifle in the cold. If you shoot across open country, range varies shot to shot, or you hunt ground you don’t know by heart, that’s the feature that pays for itself. It’s also the cheapest way into ranging: the P335-LRF at $2,890 is covered in full in our cheapest thermal scope with a rangefinder guide.
What about the sensor choice within each?
Don’t let the rangefinder question hide the sensor question. A 384 scope with a fine NETD and a good lens will out-shoot a 640 with a coarse sensor and a small objective — resolution, sensitivity and lens work together. Both ranges keep NETD low (≤15 mK across the board, bar the entry Cetus C225 at ≤18), so the honest way to choose your build is by how far you positively identify and shoot. We break that down in 384 vs 640 sensor. And if you’re still deciding where each fits in the wider line-up, start with which Pixfra thermal is right for you.
Compare both in the riflescope range
Cetus and Pegasus 2 — genuine local stock, GST included, backed by C.R. Kennedy. From $1,190.
Like the Cetus but wish it could range? Pair it with a Draco and Pixfra CrossLink feeds laser range and ballistic holdover into the Cetus — no built-in rangefinder required.
Frequently asked questions
What’s the main difference between the Cetus and Pegasus 2 LRF?
The Pegasus 2 LRF has a 1,000 m laser rangefinder and ballistic hold built into every model as standard; the Cetus has neither. They otherwise share the same platform, controls and sensor technology, which is why the Cetus is the cheaper of the two.
Is the Cetus or the Pegasus 2 better value?
For the image alone, the Cetus — the C635 gives you a genuine 640 sensor for $2,690, less than any Pegasus 2. The Pegasus 2 is better value only if you’ll use the rangefinder, since you’d otherwise pay for ranging you don’t need.
Do I really need a rangefinder on a thermal scope?
Beyond roughly 150 m, yes — thermal makes distance very hard to judge in the dark, and a misjudged range causes misses and wounded game. Inside 100 m on familiar ground you can manage without, which is why the non-LRF Cetus stays a strong pick for close work.
What’s the cheapest Pixfra thermal scope with a rangefinder?
The Pegasus 2 P335-LRF at $2,890 — a 384×288 scope with the same 1,000 m laser rangefinder the flagship models carry, because ranging is standard across the whole Pegasus 2 line rather than a paid upgrade.
Can I add a rangefinder to a Cetus later?
Not into the scope itself, but you can run a separate ranging device — for example the Arc LRF monocular ($1,990) to scan and range by hand before you shoulder the rifle. Many hunters pair a Cetus with a handheld rather than paying for an in-scope laser.
Ready to put thermal on the rifle?
When you are ready to put thermal on the rifle, Pixfra Cetus and Pixfra Pegasus 2 LRF are built for the job — Dahua sensor lineage and PIPS image processing. Every one is genuine local stock with full Australian warranty, serviced right here through C.R. Kennedy and never sent overseas.
