Pocket-size Night Vision gear

The place for general talk about gun, shooting, loading, camping, survival, and preparedness related tools and gear, as well as gear technology discussion, gear reviews, and gear specific "range reports" (all other types of gear should be on the back porch).
User avatar
Denis
Posts: 6570
Joined: Fri Aug 22, 2008 5:29 am

Pocket-size Night Vision gear

Post by Denis »

This product announcement / advertising blurb from FLIR got me interested...

http://www.flir.com/hunting-outdoor/display/?id=72845

Seemingly RRSP will be around US$600.

Thoughts? Experience? Is NV gear at that price point useful, or just a gimmick/toy?
Aesop
Posts: 6149
Joined: Sat Apr 27, 2013 9:17 am

Re: Pocket-size Night Vision gear

Post by Aesop »

Almost certainly just a gimmick/toy.

Unless I see someone with other experience, I suspect FLIR just wanted to capitalize on the Stupid Cheapskate price point currently hogged by people like Bushnell, and various 2nd and 3rd world purveyors of crap NV gear.

Real night vision costs real money. There is no substitute for Gen II+ or better mil-spec gear, and that costs what it costs.

The closest bargain gear you can get is the lower than visible light capability of certain handicams, but that's not immediately useful until you run it back and examine the product. (The cartels' coyotes have been using exactly this to detect active IR sources along the southern US border for the last 5-8 years, with moderate success in finding things like IR trailcams and illuminators.)

Passive, Gen II+, goes for US$2K and up, last I looked.
"There are four types of homicide: felonious, accidental, justifiable, and praiseworthy." -Ambrose Bierce, "The Devil's Dictionary"
BDK
Posts: 1698
Joined: Fri Jun 20, 2014 11:14 pm

Re: Pocket-size Night Vision gear

Post by BDK »

If it can find hot spots, it will have commercial use for $600 - I.E., we will almost certainly buy one to try out.
User avatar
Termite
Posts: 9003
Joined: Tue Aug 19, 2008 3:32 am

Re: Pocket-size Night Vision gear

Post by Termite »

Aesop wrote:The closest bargain gear you can get is the lower than visible light capability of certain handicams, but that's not immediately useful until you run it back and examine the product.
IIRC,
Some of them will bluetooth to a tablet or smart phone, making them semi-useful in the field.

But Aesop is correct, American/Euro/Japanese Gen II or better is pricey for the average Joe Sixpack.
The Russian Gen II is cheaper; and somewhat tolerable to use........but only at fairly close range, ie, 100 meters or so.

Gen IV is.........pretty awesome. And expensive. As in $9000 for goggles.
"Life is a bitch. Shit happens. Adapt, improvise, and overcome. Acknowledge it, and move on."
User avatar
NVGdude
Posts: 1715
Joined: Tue Aug 19, 2008 2:39 am

Re: Pocket-size Night Vision gear

Post by NVGdude »

Termite wrote:
Gen IV is.........pretty awesome. And expensive. As in $9000 for goggles.
Now now, it's not quite THAT bad. If it is, my vendors are making way more than we are on the tubes. ;)
User avatar
Netpackrat
Posts: 13983
Joined: Fri Aug 15, 2008 11:04 pm

Re: Pocket-size Night Vision gear

Post by Netpackrat »

Seems pretty bad, unless this link is only for suckers:

http://www.amazon.com/ATN-PS15-4-Vision ... B000NT4FHC
Cognosce teipsum et disce pati

"People come and go in our lives, especially the online ones. Some leave a fond memory, and some a bad taste." -Aesop
User avatar
NVGdude
Posts: 1715
Joined: Tue Aug 19, 2008 2:39 am

Re: Pocket-size Night Vision gear

Post by NVGdude »

Netpackrat wrote:Seems pretty bad, unless this link is only for suckers:

http://www.amazon.com/ATN-PS15-4-Vision ... B000NT4FHC

Dual tube system. Price is reasonablish.

I'd need to see the tube spec sheets of course...
User avatar
JustinR
Posts: 1852
Joined: Tue Aug 19, 2008 2:53 am

Re: Pocket-size Night Vision gear

Post by JustinR »

The first thing I would point out is that the FLIR monocular is thermal, not light intensifying "night vision."

I have a cheap ($90) Gen 1 monocular, and on full moon nights it's pretty handy, less than 100 yards. On dark nights, even with the IR illuminator, it's hard to see past 50, as well as hard to focus. A friend of mine has a set of PVS-14 goggles, and I got a chance to play with them. It's literally like daytime, but with the several thousand dollar price tag.

I have a Seek Thermal "Compact" thermal camera that attaches to my iPhone. It uses the new thermal imaging chip technology (the same as the FLIR monocular if I'm not mistaken) that allows for thermal imaging without the bulky and expensive cooling system for the chip. The one I have has a 206 x 156 imaging sensor, and the example images they give are fairly representative of what it will do. I wish I had known they were coming out with the smaller FOV, but deeper viewable range lens version, since I primarily use it in the hunting blind looking for hogs. At 100-150 yards I can tell there is "something" out there, when looking at the horses in the paddock. However, to get a decent image it needs to be 50-75 yards or closer. It's still a respectable piece of tech for what it is.
"The armory was even better. Above the door was a sign: You dream, we build." -Mark Owen, No Easy Day

"My assault weapon won't be 'illegal,' it will be 'undocumented.'" -KL
User avatar
Combat Controller
Site Admin
Posts: 5178
Joined: Thu Aug 14, 2008 12:03 am

Re: Pocket-size Night Vision gear

Post by Combat Controller »

Unless you want HUD... These are about 40k *if* you can source them.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Winner of the prestigious Автомат Калашникова образца 1947 года award for excellence in rural travel.
User avatar
Jered
Posts: 7859
Joined: Wed Aug 20, 2008 1:30 am

Re: Pocket-size Night Vision gear

Post by Jered »

When did the Borg assimilate CC?
The avalanche has already started. It is too late for the pebbles to vote.
Post Reply