Sightmark Photon Inexpensive Digital NV

[Hunt TXHogs]

Thanks for doing such an in-depth review. Which model AEGIS are you using toward the end?

Smitty

Smitty it is equivalent to the 850nm 20 degree AEGIS UFLED IR light, I sent you a PM regarding the setup.

HTXH, available yet?

Frank the importer received 16 units which were earmarked for certain stores, within the next month more units should arrive that will be available from online dealers. There is high demand still in the United Kingdom right now and it has been released for over six months there so for the next few months I expect supply to be short.

Looks like I need one of these if the price point stays low. Would love to have a pv14 but can't justify it right now.

Pricing on digital overall remains at or below initial MSRP, I haven't seen much in the way of overpricing digital units in the NV market. I prefer to scan/detect with thermal (sees into brush) and ID/shoot with digital and lots of IR.

HTXH

 

[Vern1]

Woo Hoo....my Photon 5X ships tomorrow!
Little under 650.00 delivered but had sales tax which added almost 50.00.
I'll put this on my 16" *** 6.8 and move the N750 to my 18" Bison.
I use a Pulsar Recon 550 and PVS for scanning.

 

[FrankT]

Great, I had forgotten all about this, where did you get one?

 

[TEXASLAWMAN]

To be able to keep up with someone that has spent $10K+ on equipment, a $600.00 digital scope & a $140.00 IR light will have you shooting under the same stars, right next to them if they invite you

Not if that Ir Illuminator is blooming out the 3rd gen stuff!!!

 

[TEXASLAWMAN]

Woo Hoo....my Photon 5X ships tomorrow!
Little under 650.00 delivered but had sales tax which added almost 50.00.
I'll put this on my 16" *** 6.8 and move the N750 to my 18" Bison.
I use a Pulsar Recon 550 and PVS for scanning.

We will all be interested to see how it does hope you post some video.

 

[FrankT]

I really want to hold one and look thru it before buying.

 

[TEXASLAWMAN]

I really want to hold one and look thru it before buying.

Like I've said before I was set on adding a pulsar to my arsenal just for the video option. But all it took to convince me not to was going hunting with two guys using them. We sat in the center of a big open field all night. I watched as they scanned with their rifles on shooting sticks. The beams from their Ir illuminators crossing back and forth I would spot a target with no illuminator and call it out. Watching them struggle to find the animal was just a turn off. I guess if you have never used any kind of night vision or you just plan on hunting from a stand watching a feeder then they will be ok, stalking or covering any type of area is out of the question though. I would save my money and find a blemished tube before getting one. But that's just me and I'm spoiled now. Four years ago I would have bought a photon been happy as could be and never known what I was missing.

 

[FrankT]

Well i have tried a digital before and could have gotten it at a better price than this one. The thing I did not like was after looking into it you were night blind for awhile.

If we had the game ya'll do in TX and the land to hunt on I would pop for much better, we just don't have that type of hunting here...so 3-4K is a waste of money in my thinking and my wallet...of course I am old and poor...LOL

 

[TEXASLAWMAN]

Lol Frank I'm young and poor! I just did not spend on other stuff like normal people do! This new one may be way better I will have to see and use it to know.

 

[FrankT]

TLM, and then you get married and have a baby, there goes the play budget! Try it before I get tempted to buy one...please

 

[Vern1]

Great, I had forgotten all about this, where did you get one?

Got it here:
http://www.ultimatenightvision.com/Photon-5X-Digital-Rifle-Scope-p/sightmark-photon-5x.htm

As far as what you can and can't see with a N750 all I will say is it takes a while to get used to it.
If you don't have the stars aligned and the contrast, brightness, screen focus, distance focus and illuminator all correctly set, it's like looking thru a foggy window.
If you take the time to actually look thru one and play with the adjustments to tune to your eye, it's actually pretty good.
Not 35000.00 top of the line thermal good but definitely 1500.00 good.
And if you look thru any of them long enough, your night vision is decreased.
I scan with my left eye and shoot with my right so each one is "tuned" to the task at hand.

I also have a PVS and a Pulsar Recon 550 I use to scan with and detect the pigs before I switch over to the N750.
The Photon will be an addition to what I have.

As for thermal and gen3 stuff, I have been spoiled by working for 30 years for the DOD Contractor that actually builds the Thermal Weapon Systems the US military uses.
I know what top of the line looks like and the view IS amazing from up there on the mountain top but I'm retired now and can't afford it....

Closing disclaimer:
I only hunt pigs.
Pigs just "GLOW" in the N750 so it works very well for me.
I don't do "glowing eyes" shots and positively identify my targets and know the area and safe directions to shoot.
After spending time with night vision, I can identify most animals by how their eyes move when illuminated with IR.
Bunnies eyes usually are stationary for a long time but hop, hop, hop when moving.
Deer eyes move from 6" above the ground to chest high and they move their head around when trying to figure out what they are looking at.
Pig eyes are usually 6 to 18" off the ground and don't bob up and down much unless eating and are often skiddish, walk into a area, then taking a step or two back.
Coyotes, dogs, cats, bobcats, coons, possums and others all have unique characteristics and you can identify them quicker by just the eye reflection after watching them for a while.
As for cattle, I know what pasture mine are in and plan accordingly...
I'm hoping the Photon is good enough for a backup weapon and to introduce hunting buddies to night hunting.

I will definitely test it myself and report back!

 

[FrankT]

Thanks, Vern, awaiting your report and maybe film of the test, I am glad you can give an experienced report from what you have and have seen.

 

[TEXASLAWMAN]

Good to know maybe the ones I looked through were not adjusted right.

 

[Vern1]

I do still drool for the good stuff...just can't afford it right now!

I had 750.00 saved up towards something when these came into stock.
I'm hoping to use this as a backup and to take a couple of buddies night hunting to get them hooked.

I had been using a gen1 without IR for a scanner so the first night I took my N750 with built in IR out was amazing.
The nice stuff I played with at work didn't need supplemental IR so this was new to me.
Then I messed with it during the day checking out zero, etc. and adjusted it for daytime.
Took it out a couple of nights later and couldn't see nothing.
Spent a good while in the dark feeling for knobs and buttons while trying to remember where they were, messing with the 5 variables and when I finally hit the right combination, it was great again.
In total darkness, the gen1 and N750 are blind without IR help.
Since it helped the N750 so much, I picked up an IR Illuminator for the gen1 and it's as if it woke up from a deep sleep!
Since then, I have picked up an older PVS gen2 for a scanner.

Sometimes, deer and coyotes are hard to see with digital but since I only hunt pigs, it doesn't bother me as I can usually see their eyes and identify.
The trick to any piece of technology is to spend the time to learn it so you can be the best you can be with what you have.

And I have been guilty of not reading instructions before...LOL!

 

[Vern1]

It does look and feel robust.
Received it this morning and only looked around in bright sunlight.
Will take it out tonight along with the N750 and look at stuff to see how it fares.

I do like actual turrets to physically move the cross hair rather than digital - just seems more positive to me.
Here is a gratuitous gun porn shot with it mounted on my 18" Bison 6.8 TC upper.

 

[FrankT]

Very nice, I think I am going to put the new Digital ATN on my 8.5" pistol

 

[Vern1]

Very nice, I think I am going to put the new Digital ATN on my 8.5" pistol

I may pick one of those up later, it looks real good on paper.

One other nice thing about the Photon is Sitemark is located is in NE Texas.
I had a warranty issue with one of their PRO reddot sights and they handled it easily and quickly.
I'm hoping I don't have any problems with the Photon but my experiences with the company so far have been excellent.

 

[FrankT]

Yeah I know what you mean, I am only considering it because it has wifi and a built in HD recorder.

 

[TEXASLAWMAN]

It looks good on the rifle nice tight package!

 

[FrankT]

Yeah TLM, I noticed that too how tight it was to the gun, not going to snag things w that, what is the weight?