night vision newbie, how good for what price?

[brighamr]

I'm looking into night vision for a few reasons, but I have no idea where to start with the technologies available. So far i've seen ads for "night vision" devices ranging anywhere from $400 to $5000. does anyone here have a night vision capable scope or set of binoculars? What technology is it? How much $$? Does it serve the purpose, or would you buy something else if you could?

TIA

 

[brighamr]

nobody has used night vision?

 

[rero360]

I've used PVS-7s and 14s, I think the gen 1 and 2 devices are crap, and gen 3 barable, I'm really hoping that we'll have the new PVS-22s for the next deployment.

Honestly I'm not a big fan of nods, I prefer to use the ambiant light and my own nightvision, don't need batteries for my eyes. and if need be, I'll take a big old surefire over nods most of the time, depends on the mission.

as far as civial nightvision stuff goes, I have no idea, personally I'm more a fan of FLIR (foward looking infrared)

 

[ZombiesAhead]

I have used Gen 1 monoculars and found them utterly useless for anything serious.

 

[LiquidTension]

I had an officer hand me a Gen 1 monocular to use on a stakeout one night. It was useless. It couldn't even illuminate things in the vehicle, much less things dozens of yards away.

 

[brighamr]

Thanks for the feedback guys. I primarily wanted to see creatures in the forest behind my house, but also have better vision in the event of a break in. Sounds like i should spend my money on a good light

 

[orb]

I had an ITT Gen I monocular which worked well but was very fragile and repair costs approximated purchase cost.

 

[spyder1911]

I got to play with whatever system the Nat'l Guard uses at a local armory. It was in a fully lighted room, but there was a cover with a pinhole on it so it would work the same as a low light situation. It messed with your depth perception but it was really clear and detailed.