Night vision

[SBranson23]

Originally Posted by ThunderCactus

and with the IR light on it's just as good as a gen2 unit with it's IR on.

Actually that's probably not too inaccurate. Thing is is that IR illumination isn't that great and like he said, with it on it's like using a flashlight for anyone else with NV. Imagine how a regular flashlight both illuminates objects but also creates strong contrast of shadow that could be considered less helpful than being able to see into those shadows at the expense of the bright areas (if you follow) as would be the case without a flashlight. That's exactly what happens with IR illuminators and NVGs. It's like using an invisible flashlight UNLESS everyone has NVGs, in which case, sell them and all use flashlights.
The real difference, in my experience, is without the IR illumination. There Gen 2+ (the one I had) was way better than the Gen 1 which without the illumination was essentially useless.

[tunabreath]

If you're using Gen 1/1+ for airsoft, make sure you have really low profile goggles. The fish eye effect you get really really really hampers your field of vision when you can't get the ocular right up to your eye. Using Bolle T-800s and an ATN Viper, my FOV dropped from around 20 degrees to around 15, within only the center third of the image because the rest was uselessly obscured. I just got a Gen 2+ monocular, and wow, the lack of fish eye means you don't even have to close to get the full field of view (which by default is much greater than Gen 1+ anyways, around 35 degrees).

Also the fact that Gen 2+ actually works in the dark without the illuminator...

[Dirtbag]

Just to help out here.

Gen 1 is useful with in it's capabilities, 1/2 or better moon, and open terrain. It is better than plain eyesight without using IR. Cheap units are a problem both because of the fisheye, and poor quality components and no quality control.

A decent gen 1+ will run you about 500 with the head gear.

A decent gen 2 unit is well over 2000.00 and as high as 4000.00, depending on features.

Decent Gen 3 5000+

Next current US law prevents any shipment of Gen 2 or better nightvision out of the US. So buying from the US is iffy, if it gets seized you are out the money. DO NOT BUY ON EBAY it is currently one of the number one scams, dead units, units never shipped, etc.

[ThunderCactus]

I've seen REAL crappy gen1 units and you can see as far as you can with your naked eye even WITH the IR illuminator on lol
Mines a Yukon Gen1+, best gen1+ you can get on the market, some other companies use the same tube, but not produced to the same quality. Yukon has significantly less defects in the tube.
The fisheye is standard to all gen1 units, and mine has a 12mm relief so its bad with goggles, but theres an eyepiece you can get which increases the relief to 45mm.
But when all is said and done, I'll have spent about 500$ on my full night vision system. The very next better step up is ATLEAST an extra $1000. So do the math, would you rather spend 500$ to see an extra 25 feet without IR? Or 1500$ to see twice as far with less fisheye?
Mine works well for what I need it to do and I'm happy with it

[Ibby]

Deals can be had all the time. I bought a gen 3 GS19R rifle scope from nvoptics.com for $1800. I was cruising through their site one day and found it in the clearance bin. It uses an older British tube, but the image quality is easily as good as the stuff we have in the army.