Night Vision for Driving

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darrohn801

LSB Member
I'm in the market for some night vision to use primarily when driving, but would also like to be able to use them to identify predators at night as well. It will be used on a helmet with a wilcox dovetail setup.

1 - I'm not a great expert on the different generations and the new white phosphorous that I know are out there. So my question is there a big difference between say gen 2 and gen 3 or the new stuff? Meaning if you think it would be worth it to spend and extra $500 or so to step up it would be a great upgrade? Budget is $2k - $3k.

2 - Anyone have a preference to going a monocular vs binocular, especially for driving?

3 - Anyone have a used pair they are thinking of unloading? :)
 
FrankT

FrankT

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TLM uses his PVS 14 and the white phosphorus, might ask him
 
wigwamitus

wigwamitus

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gen2 and gen3 require significant additional light/ir-illumination on dark nights - no moon - overcast - ability to see into shadows, like driving down a wooded lane.
Gen3p (pinnacle) or equivalent (L-3) are significantly better at seeing on dark nights without illumination. And illumination doesn't work very well from inside vehicles with glass (reflects back). So just be aware "gen3" is not equal to gen3P. For driving, I would definitely hold out for gen3p or equivalent.

For stealthy driving - I would go with a pair of pvs-14 if you want to increase safety or if you are driving a lot on unknown ground. If you are driving on known ground then a single PVS-14 is fine.

A fixed pair, like a PVS-15 are nice, but I prefer the flexibility of 2 x PVS-14 in a dual bridge. That way, I can run just one if I want to or two if I want to and If a buddy forgets his and can lend him one of mine. Couldn't do all that with a PVS-15. If you go with goggles, look at the ABMOD3, you can probably get into that for a little less than pair of new pvs-14s with dual bridge.

You can get a newish gen3p PVS-14 for within your budget but you will need a way to mount it on your head if you will be driving. A skull crusher and a j-arm can get you up and running for under $150, but you will want something better real soon. A bump helmet like an ops core runs about $250 ... mount, bridge, interfaces, maybe $800 or so.
 
TEXASLAWMAN

TEXASLAWMAN

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There is digital gen, 1,2,3 there is no gen 4 it's a marketing gimmick for now until there really is a gen four. The gen3p pinnacle is a brand as is L3. There are several variations in gen three the latest greatest is filmless white phosphorus.

You want gen3 minimum filmless will be better and wp filmless is better than that. There are also things like clarity, flaws, blems that cab affect price. I2 or traditional night vision no two tunes are the same they are like diamonds and have a grading system.

Look at this link. www.nivitech.com / Nightvision Technology / Principles of Nightvision-Devices
 
hdfireman

hdfireman

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Well Since your budget is 2-3K you are pretty much limited to a single PVS-14 which works fine. I drove many miles with a single monocular and never had an issue but you do need to use with caution on unknown terrain because with a single monocular you lose depth perception. While bino's are better for navigating they are in the $7,ooo+ arena.

As far as the Generations go there are truly only Gen 1, 2 and 3, the army IIRC is the group that gives night vision it's classifications. That being said you will see the Gen3P and Gen4 marketing in many places. Gen 3 is what I would go with because it needs less light and the image quality is better than the previous generations

In the gen 3 you have autogated and non-automated, this is basically a rev limiter to help protect the tube when bright light is introduced. The gen3p is basically a premium tube that has good specs i.e.. low halo, 64lp or higher, 30+/- signal to noise and good low light resolution. there are also film-less tubes which is what some call gen4 and white phosphorous but they are still gen3, just higher performance. Night vision is like buying a TV, a few options that affect image quality that you may or may not need.

There is a new Photonis 4G Intens tube(not Gen 4) out that I have seen and it is very impressive. Looks like a WP tube but has a blue hue to it. Low light resolution is great and high light doesn't bother them like normal NV tubes. At SHOT Show we were using them inside without lens covers. These are going to be in the $5,000 range for a single mono.
 
T

Tmm

LSB Member
Is there anyone out there that picture side by side of spec vs spec to compare. Example same picture viewed through tube with sn 15 vs sn 20. Hope that question makes sense
 
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chthump

LSB Member
I always like keeping one eye dark, so when I flip up the PVS-14 I'm totally blind for the next 10 minutes. ( tried to walk through a 300lb rock one night ) Since my right eye gets the thermal scope and the PVS14, works well.
 
FrankT

FrankT

Destin FL
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I think they are the same except **** is a company I would never do business with.
 
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darrohn801

LSB Member
FrankT said:
I think they are the same except **** is a company I would never do business with.
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LOL, well Rich has been nothing but great to deal with, so even if it's a few extra dollars UNV is my main squeeze when buying **** I don't need and is a **** ton of money but I feel like I'm alive when I use it. :)
 
FrankT

FrankT

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Tyler is good people
 
mdmorrow

mdmorrow

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FrankT said:
I think they are the same except **** is a company I would never do business with.
Click to expand...
What happened with them, just out of curiosity? I've had some of their nv and had good luck with it. Don't have a dog in the fight either way, just curious.

To the original question, PVS-14 for driving is my preference. I like one eyeball to be able to look around normal. Plus 7's give me a headache.
 
FrankT

FrankT

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My personal animosity with **** is based on info I know about the principles not the gear, just too shady and back stabbing for me. They are distributors and for me there are more honest dealers to do business with...I will just leave it at that, your gear is fine as far as I know...I was never an Obama supporter either so take my personal feelings for what you think they are worth.
 
FrankT

FrankT

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chthump

LSB Member
FrankT said:
My personal animosity with **** is based on info I know about the principles not the gear, just too shady and back stabbing for me. They are distributors and for me there are more honest dealers to do business with...I will just leave it at that, your gear is fine as far as I know...I was never an Obama supporter either so take my personal feelings for what you think they are worth.
Click to expand...

I never found anyone that voted for that turd. I didn't hear anything about ****, purchased several of the russian ir lights "the torch" from them, couple pvs 14 and a couple ir scopes, never had trouble, even got a phone call from *** one day to talk gear crap, if they showed any left wing tendency, screw'em, i so far right wing, i scare myself sometime
 
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