Night Vision gear

soa

soa

Joined
May 31, 2000
Messages
1,516
OK, guys it is getting to that time of year again, when my beloved asks me what I want for Christmas.

I have knives, trasers, Surefire, firesteels and so on.

What I was looking at was night vision equipment.
Now, I don't want to get her to spend too much - top end is around GBP200 - say $300. I saw some intersting looking stuff at http://www.sherwoods-photo.com/cobra_nvis/cobra_fs.html - specifically the Cobra Valkyrie.

I now this is Gen 1 equipment and it needs IR illumination (some built in - but what an opportunity for an IR Photon Microlight!)

Anyone used any of this *type* of gear and have views about it?
Failing this - any other recommendations for techy/gadgety type gifts.

Hey don't suggest a knife - I told her I had enough - two weeks before I imported a Kershaw Boa and a Camillus EDC.
 
Well, not much here, and little on the NightVision forum.

I was told to figure on spending $1500 US.
Ouch that would hurt.

Maybe not a goer then.
 
For years I've been jokeingly asking my wife for night vision gear whenever she asked me what I want. I always knew that it was just a fantasy...So finally I saved up and years later I got a D-112 Gen 2+ monocular. I won't tell you how much I like it to spare from you more pain.

All I can say is that stuff is pricey and while the quality has gone up over the years the pricing has not come done all that much. So keep asking the wife, but save up and you'll end up with a pair sooner then you think.

Best of luck,

S.
 
Soa , I bought a night Owl night vision monocular a couple of years ago, it costs about 150 quid.

http://www.obm.co.uk/products/db/mts-1.htm

I did a quick search on google and found this link so you can see it,I bought it from a company called BCB U.K. but it seems their web site is no longer running.

Good. 1. its very small
2. very light weight (very important especially with monoculars)
3. because of its small light weight design it can carried
on your belt in its nylon case.

Bad. 1. no magnification

Because its gen 1 the clarity its not good on distant objects this may be important for you I dont know, for me its my only gripe.

Good luck Deano
 
A few years ago I bought a small zenit monocular from Cabelas. It was very light and compact. There were two problems though. The performance of the unit for amplifying natural light sucked. Outside at night you could see better without it than with it. Second, while the ir illuminator did work very well in complete darkness inside, the ir illuminator glowed red when you looked at it!!!!!!!! What is the point of night vision if it gives away your position? Why not use a flashlight? Do all ir illuninators do this or is it only the cheap ones? Do the illuminators on the ITT military goggles and monoculars do this???????? It wasn't bright, but you could defininately see it several yards away. Anyway, I sent mine back.
 
In reply to Sesoku,

The Elf night vision monocular also has a built in Infa Red illuminator which glows a very faint red and enhances the picture greatly when turned on. The picture is still fairly good , for gen 1, when it is switched off the Elf amplifies light 30,000 times.
The chances of this very slight red glow giving your positon away when in a tatical situation is very slim indeed. If you were in that situation first you would not be using a gen 1 device one hopes and second you would not switch on the illuminator because the enemy might also be using night vision.
The devices mentioned on this forum are for the civilian at a civilian price for watching wildlife at night or for the likes of me a hardcore gadget freak who just needs that 1 extra piece of kit.

:rolleyes: (Pull Up A Sandbag Lads) :rolleyes:

I remember when serving in Her Majesties Forces using an IWS fitted to my SLR , this thing was the size of a flask and when switched on gave out a high pitched whistling noise. When dug-in in the middle of a West German forest in the middle of the night you thought it was gonna wake the dead. So a little faint red glow aint nuffin' mate.

Stag On !!!! Deano
 
I understand your point, but mine is this: You wouldn't be using the ir unless it was pitch black. If it is pitch black then the faint glow is easy to spot. You wouldn't use the ir if you suspected someone else also had night vision equipment, but even if they don't the red glow will give away your position. I am not really even talking about a tactical environment, but that also applies. So do the more expensive units also glow faintly visivle light?
 
Yes they all glow if you look directly at them. For military use it is my understanding that if the enemy is using NVG then turning on IR would announce your position much like turning on a flashlight.

I use my IR when there isn't enough ambient light to use the NVG. Usually it is when I want to see detail.

S.
 
Hey I know its way expensive but look into ITT night vision. They cost upwards of $1000 but they can't be beat. I have used a pair and they are awesome. Just waiting until I can afford a pair.
 
I have a 3rd generation pocket scope for trade on here. Let me know if you are interested.
 
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