Night Vision tools

[terravista]

I've often thought it would be handy to see what is going bump in the night without walking around with a bloody big torch.
There seems to be some night vision monoculars around for under $200, which use Gen one technology by Yukon, Bushnell, Lomo etc. and even some low priced Gen 2 gadgets.
Does anyone have any knowledge of the ability of these units?
I don't expect to be running around shooting baddies in a swathe of green light wearing full on Commando goggles, but the ability to see someone creeping around a campsite seeing what can be taken, or to determine what animal is chewing the walls of the outside dunny would be handy.
Cheers
Ian

[noel_w]

Carrots!!!
But be vewwy careful, there's wabbits out there!
Sorry, couldn't resist!

[terravista]

Carrots!!!
But be vewwy careful, there's wabbits out there!
Sorry, couldn't resist!

I guess I have to take your word on the wabbit's, because I can't see the little bastards in the dark.
I also have concerns about carrot's being useful for improved sight. I saw a movie about a girl with certain needs and a strange way of making money lying down, and no way could her carrot use be helpful seeing in the dark, but thanks anyway.
Cheers

[Northy]

Interesting you can buy them domestically, I wonder how good these units are. 
Tactically they are one of the biggest advantages our and US etc. troops have over the taliban and I thought the good stuff was therefore kept on a tight leash.

[apsilon]

Interesting you can buy them domestically, I wonder how good these units are. 
Tactically they are one of the biggest advantages our and US etc. troops have over the taliban and I thought the good stuff was therefore kept on a tight leash.

We can only get gen 1, 1+ and 2 units domestically for civilian sale so yes, the good stuff is definitely restricted.

$200 you're basically buying a toy, it may not even be a gen1 system but instead infrared camera with infrared LEDs providing illumination. $400 should get you gen 1+ unit. Step up to about $1500+ for gen 2. These are monocular prices.

FWIW, the toy may be good enough to just see if someone is skulking about camp. I have one (literally a toy, a headset that came with modeern warfare game last year). It's surprisingly good though of course no depth perception and it's never occured to me to take it camping. I'll have to try and remember it next time I go out.

[jeeps]

I have a Yukon Patrol-D 3x42 and also a Yukon Patrol 2x24. Basically the same units but the 3x42 has a zoom lense which clips onto the 2x24 model. I bought these models because they were cheap and use AAA's (which last forever). They are Gen1 nightvision scopes. I use them for security around home and camping, I gifted the 2x24 to my brother in-law for his birthday. I can navigate in complete darkness, but they're not too crash hot at extreme close range such as looking down at your feet to see where your feet are stepping in complete darkness as they have a very wide viewing angle. I generally use a tactical torch with firefly mode for this. I always use the built-in IR led, they don't see much without it.

They arent the crispest of images but I have successfully, on more than one occasion, tracked/followed subjects in the front of my property in complete darkness. These were just teenagers and/or kids but the dogs went off so I normally grab my scope and tactical torch and head out the back door to make my way round the property to see what's upsetting the dogs. I've been able to walk right up to within 3 metres of subjects in complete darkness and ask them what they're doing you should see them run when a voice appears in the complete darkness! I have also viewed kangaroos, wallabies, potaroos, bandicoots, possums, sugar gliders, snakes, owls etc with the scope in my backyard from the back deck, it doesn't disturb the animals as much as a bright torch.

They have an ir led which glows a dim red but can only be seen when looking directly at the scope, the slightest angle and you can't see the ir so it's still very discreet when in use. Gen 3 nightvision doesn't need ir's but they're $5k.

It uses a phosphorous sight tube that amplifies light. These fade over time so it's best not to look at bright lights and to keep the lense cap on at all times other than when in the dark. Even when you turn off the scope, the phosphorous tube glows for ages so you can still use it.

I also used it camping up the beach, looking out at the horizon it illuminates lights from boats you can't see with the naked eye.

Hope this helped.

[cruisindub]

Using FLIR cameras, (with zoom), super cool toy and essential piece of equipment for what they are designed for,...

Not sure having one camping would be ideal, not unless the roos or rabbits are annoying. Changing between different modes and using heat sensing modes will definitely give you an advantage over the prey.....

[Fivid]

Have never used any such gear but I buy sunglasses and rifle scopes from opticsplanet.com and they have lots of this sort of gear for sale.  Some of it is restricted as to where they are allowed to send it outside the USA but if their sunglass prices are anything to go by then these units should be cheap.

 
Dave

[terravista]

Thanks guys, some helpful information.
Looks like I'm getting a Yukon 4x50 Nightfall, Gen1 unit.
Sounds half decent, and a Youtube video makes looks like it'll work OK.
Now I don't have to put driving lights on the Monterey.
Cheers
Ian

[Jason B]

The Gen one and two units at that price point will be limited in ability. But they will provide you with some enhanced night vision and allow you to do what you want to do with them. I have a Gen 2 unit ($6000) which isn't to bad especially when enhanced with a spot light and an IR filter. I also have a couple of the Gen 3 units ($10000+) and these are excellent. The main difference being actually the brightness of the image rather than the clarity, depending on the zoom level the Gen 3's can be grainy also.

One observation from using these in the field over many years is that the Monoculars are much clearer and brighter than the binoculars. The USA stuff is also much better than the stuff out of russia.

We get all of ours through Richard at Night Vision Australia in Sydney. Im sure he would be happy to provide advise on the best (Price also) options availiable to the civilian market and point you in the right direction with regard to the models you are considering.

Regards


Jason.

[terravista]

The Gen one and two units at that price point will be limited in ability. But they will provide you with some enhanced night vision and allow you to do what you want to do with them. I have a Gen 2 unit ($6000) which isn't to bad especially when enhanced with a spot light and an IR filter. I also have a couple of the Gen 3 units ($10000+) and these are excellent. The main difference being actually the brightness of the image rather than the clarity, depending on the zoom level the Gen 3's can be grainy also.

One observation from using these in the field over many years is that the Monoculars are much clearer and brighter than the binoculars. The USA stuff is also much better than the stuff out of russia.

We get all of ours through Richard at Night Vision Australia in Sydney. Im sure he would be happy to provide advise on the best (Price also) options availiable to the civilian market and point you in the right direction with regard to the models you are considering.

Regards


Jason.

Hi Jason
I don't expect too much for what I can justify spending, but your units sound pretty serious.
If it's not too much a personal question, but what do you use them for? They sound a few steps above a hobby unless it's night time paint ball competitions.
Cheers
Ian

[Garry H]

a mate of mine has been away to western NSW and they sit by a dam and wait for wild pigs to come and drink, sit quietly and look around with the night vision, when the pigs come into range they can roughly scope where to shoot before putting the big light on,
before the night vision gear they would spook all the pigs just loking for them, and hardly get a shot of
not sure of any other practical uses for night vision gear

[Jason B]

Hi Jason
I don't expect too much for what I can justify spending, but your units sound pretty serious.
If it's not too much a personal question, but what do you use them for? They sound a few steps above a hobby unless it's night time paint ball competitions.
Cheers
Ian

Ian we use them for hunting people . I am a Fisheries Officer and we use them for surveillance/evidence gathering (people setting nets etc) and also night time navigation on rivers and impoundments. They work really well in the right conditions, but do have a limited use. If you buy one I recommend that you get a light force spot light with an IR filter, they make the world of difference.

Regards


Jas 

[baldheadedgit]

Bugger that.! not going fishing out Bathurst way again... now i know the tricks these blokes get up to,,,

BHG

[Jason B]

Bugger that.! not going fishing out Bathurst way again... now i know the tricks these blokes get up to,,,

BHG

You'll be right mate go in winter its too bloody cold here and I'm getting soft in my old age..........LOL.

[terravista]

For what it's worth, and in case someone else looks at this thread in the future, I ended up with a Yukon night vision monocular 4x50 nightfall.
Tried it last night which was reasonably dark.
Using the unit without infrared turned on was a moderate improvement, but the infra red made one hell of a difference.
It was like a cloudy day while wearing green shades. Clarity was good between 5 to 100 metres, and everything was not only clear, but pretty well defined. Magnification was moderate, but better than not having it.
I am waiting for a separate infrared torch to turn up, which by all reports, should make it better again.
I can see (pun intended) many hours of wandering around in the dark.
Cheers.

[two+four]

What did it end up costing you terravista? and who did you get it through?

[Jason B]

For what it's worth, and in case someone else looks at this thread in the future, I ended up with a Yukon night vision monocular 4x50 nightfall.
Tried it last night which was reasonably dark.
Using the unit without infrared turned on was a moderate improvement, but the infra red made one hell of a difference.
It was like a cloudy day while wearing green shades. Clarity was good between 5 to 100 metres, and everything was not only clear, but pretty well defined. Magnification was moderate, but better than not having it.
I am waiting for a separate infrared torch to turn up, which by all reports, should make it better again.
I can see (pun intended) many hours of wandering around in the dark.
Cheers.

It will come into its own on a moon lit night. Wait for the infa red torch and filter it will make a big difference.

[terravista]

What did it end up costing you terravista? and who did you get it through?

Good old Ebay.
I looked at one on Ebay the guy ended up selling at his opening price of $100, but it looked pretty average, and I didn't get any answer to questions until after the auction ended, and I ended up with one still in the original box, warranty and owner manual paperwork, and did not look like it had even been used, for $180 delivered.
Cheers
Ian