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    Digital NV Scopes

    Night vision monoculars, or scopes, like many users prefer, are available as analog or digital devices. They are also available with fixed 1x magnification, or with a magnified picture with various magnifications like 2x, 3x, 4x, and so on.

    • The ones with a fixed 1x magnification are mainly designed for the military and other special forces, to be used as helmet-mounted devices. Most 1x magnification scopes on the market are analog devices. 

    • Devices with a magnification, on the other hand, are mainly used by hunters for observing animal life during the night. Because of the bigger magnification, it is possible to spot and identify animals even at bigger distances. The field of view is smaller with bigger magnifications, but the detail recognition increases.

    Digital night vision scopes are mostly available with bigger than 1x magnification. They have one big advantage compared to analog devices – the magnification can be changed, so the user is not forced to use only the fixed magnification. The magnification can be changed digitally, so with bigger magnifications, the image gets pixelated. With a small increase of the magnification, the pixels are not so visible, so you still get much better detail recognition. With a digital night vision device, the image gets into the device with a sensor that is right behind the objective lens. This sensor processes and converts the image you are looking at to an electric signal, which, in the end, is showed on the screen in the ocular. Because the image gets converted, all digital night vision devices have a refresh rate.

    PARD NV019

    PARD NV019

    The refresh rate tells us how many pictures we see in one second. Good digital night vision devices have a refresh rate of 50 or even 60 frames per second, so the user sees a nice and smooth picture. When the refresh rate is too low, then fast-changing frames can be seen, which affect the viewing experience. Also the display the user is looking at has an important role. If the resolution of the display is good, also the displayed image is better, and you cannot see every single pixel.

    • Digital night vision devices have one big advantage against analog devices – you can take photos and even videos. With an analog night vision device, this is not possible.

    • Digital night vision devices can also be used during the day since the bright light cannot damage the sensor. This is not the case with an analog night vision device, because exposing the device on a sunny day can damage the image intensifier tube.

    • Whatsoever, digital night vision devices consume a lot more electricity. With an analog night vision device, the batteries last 5-10x longer with less battery capacity.

       

      Most common use examples

      Digital night vision monoculars are very popular among hunters. They offer an intensified picture during night time observations, so the user is able to detect animal life in complete darkness. Digital night vision monoculars offer in most cases also a magnified picture, so the recognition and identification range also drastically improved.

      For complete darkness usage, the device has to be used in combination with an infrared illuminator. Compared to analog night vision devices, which can see infrared light up to 900nm, the digital ones see also infrared light over 950nm, so they operate in a range that is completely invisible for animals.

      For example, Gen. 1 night vision devices can detect light up to 800nm. Because of this, an infrared illuminator up to 800nm has to be used. This is visible to many animals, so in most cases, when the IR is turned on, the animals notice it and run away.

      Analog vs digital night vision monoculars (scopes)

      Night vision devices are available in many different shapes and sizes. Years ago, only analog scopes were available on the market. These were, and still are, available with different image intensifier tubes, which, in the end, tell us the price. The cheaper devices feature a Gen. 1 image intensifier tube, but these are very limited in the distance of observing and also the performance in darker areas. The use of an additional IR light is in most cases needed. The better night vision scopes feature a Gen. 2 or even a Gen. 3 image intensifier tube. With these, the detection range extends, but also the price is a lot higher.

      With an analog night vision device, you see the image directly through the device without a screen. This means the device has no refresh rate, so the image is displayed in normal time without any delay.

      With a digital night vision device, the image gets into the device with a sensor that is right behind the objective lens. This sensor processes and converts the image you are looking at to an electric signal, which, in the end, is showed on the screen in the ocular. Because the image gets converted, all digital night vision devices have a refresh rate.

      Digital night vision devices have also the advantage that they are a lot cheaper than Gen. 2 or even Gen. 3 NV devices. With the combination of a high-quality IR illuminator, the digital NV device can be very useful also on greater distances. In most cases, they perform even better than Gen. 1 night vision devices. 

      Yukon Digital NV Monocular Signal N340 RT

      Yukon Digital NV Monocular Signal N340 RT

      Digital night vision Binoculars vs Digital night vision scopes (Monoculars)

      Both devices have some pros and cons. Digital NV scopes (monoculars) that feature more than 1x magnification are mostly used by hunters. They offer a magnified and intensified picture, which helps the user observe animals, nature, etc. during the night.

      Compared to Digital NV binoculars, they are a lot smaller in size, and also lighter in weight. Because of that, it is a lot more comfortable to transport since it takes less space. They are also cheaper.

      Digital NV binoculars offer the user a great viewing experience because when looking with both eyes, it is a lot more comfortable. This is especially noticeable at longer time observations. The depth perception is also better, but they are more difficult to adjust to the user’s eyes. They are mostly pretty big and bulky, and in most cases more expensive than scopes.

      ATN Binox 4K

      ATN Binox 4K

      NV monoculars (scopes) vs NV clip-on devices

      Digital NV monoculars are designed for observation during the night. But so are the digital NV clip-on devices. So what are the main differences?

      Night vision clip-on devices are designed to be mounted on the objective or on the ocular of a day time optic. So these devices can be used in combination with:

      To do so, the ocular has to be designed differently – so that you get the best possible image when it is mounted on a daytime optic. This doesn´t mean that you can´t observe without a daytime optic, but the image is small and when looking into a clip-on, it looks like the image is in a tunnel (away from the eye). Many night vision clip-on devices do also not feature a diopter adjustment for focusing, but only the parallax adjustment.

      Clip-on devices are also designed to withstand the recoil of a rifle. Before buying, you always have to be careful that the device can withstand the recoil of your caliber. Many of them are designed for calibers up to .308 Winchester and similar, so if you have a stronger recoiling caliber, it can damage the internals of the device.

      Many users try to attach their 1x magnification scopes to their rifle scopes with special adapters. These are mostly available for attaching the device on the ocular of a rifle scope. This is very common among airsoft players, but we would strongly NOT recommend attaching these on a centerfire caliber – it can be very dangerous! Doing that can damage the internals of the night vision monocular, but it can get even worse – to look through an NV monocular, you have to be very near (almost touching the ocular of the NV device). So when the shot is fired, because of the recoil, it can hit you in the eye

      short presentation of Digital NV Scopes is available here.

      Video presentation of Digital NV Monoculars

       

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