Night Vision Binoculars

Many of us are familiar with the term night vision especially if you have a liking for western action movies. Mostly you will see these devices or gadgets in military-related movies as they come in handy to enhance vision at night.

However, not many people have an understanding of how night vision works or better yet what night vision is. If it is so for you worry no more for in this article we will shed some light on night vision and more so on night vision binoculars.

Night vision binoculars come in various designs and qualities but most high-end binoculars in this range are reserved strictly for military use. It is important to check for the law regulations in your country pertaining to them.

Light Refraction

Binoculars rely heavily on light because if there is no light then there is no vision. They capitalize on the principle of light known as refraction. From our physics lessons, we all know that once the light hits a lens it slows and bends. 

Focal Path

Once light enters the binoculars via the lens, it travels to a maximum point known as the focal point. The path that this light follows is what we are calling the focal path. The focal path is what determines the magnification range in binoculars. The longer the focal path the more magnification you get. 

Prisms

A Prism can be made out of translucent material. In this case, most binoculars prism are made of glass. This glass must be smooth on both sides and set at an acute angle and is mostly in the shape of a triangle. This is to enable the absorption and dispersion of light. 

Prisms generate a maximum quantity of light entering into the binoculars and finally into the eyepiece. 

Night vision is simply the ability to view objects under low light. In binoculars, there is a simple way to illustrate how this is achieved so effortlessly and is as follows.

The key aspect for night vision binoculars is that they rely heavily on reflection of light. As light enters through the lens of the binoculars it is focused on a part called photocathode. This then changes the light that is in photons into electrons. These electrons are passed via a photoelectric cell that multiplies them into millions of them. They are then bounced into a phosphor screen which in turn creates flashes of light. 

It’s important to note that the multiplication of electrons enables visibility; the more they are the clearer the image is. These night vision binoculars come in three generations as explained below:

GEN 1

This is the earliest form of technology in the night vision family and dates back in the early 1960s. Although they were the first range of binoculars, they are still used today and here are some features and attributes to note about them: 

• Their maximum useful range is 75 yards.
• They have lower resolution images with more static noise and poor brightness.
• They are more prone to image distortion due to excessive light. 
• Also, they have a short battery life
• Have a short life span in comparison to other generations of about 1500 hrs.
• Their field of view is quite small because of image distortion.
• They cannot be operated passively

GEN 2

Generation 2 binoculars are an improvement of their gen 1 counterparts. This is in terms of features that relate to better performance. Below are some of the improvements:

• The longer useful range of about 200 yards depending on the model.
• They can operate passively 
• Have a longer life span of about 5000 hours
• They are less prone to image distortion
• Also, have a clearer resolution and brighter image quality

GEN 3

This is the most advanced level of technology used in the premium high-end range of binoculars and comes with a hefty price tag. After all, this generation boasts of exceptional performance, outstanding features and remarkable designs using cutting edge technology. Also, it is important to note that gen 3 binoculars have both night vision and day capabilities.

In Gen 3 there are several grades namely G?n 3, G?n 3??, G?n 3?, G?n 3?G and G?n 3?. Gen 3AG and Gen 3P are reserved for US Special Forces and Military use. Gen 3AG use an advanced form of technology known as auto gating or Gen 3P for pinnacle. This technology makes its performance in artificially lighted areas exceptional.

Here are some of the key features to note about the Gen 3 range of binoculars:

• Have a useful range of about 300 plus yards depending on the model.
• Long life span of about 10000 plus hours
• They are very reliable and durable
• Top-notch clarity and precision resolution wise with bright image quality
• Best passive operation in all the generations
• Exceptional performance in low light areas 
• Due to its autogated technology, they can be used in all lighting conditions
• Very versatile as they can be integrated with other night vision devices.

Areas of Application of Night vision Binoculars

• Going for a nature excursion or Wildlife observation
• Are you a night fishing and boating fanatic
• Do you like night hunting and paintball activities
• For the boy scouts, camping, scouting and exploring caves
• Emergency Search and rescue missions
• Covert missions for military and disciplined forces

There are many varieties of night vision binoculars and they offer different services. They come in different price ranges that should be your consideration before making your purchase.