Night vision

[Fox Hound]

I have very little experience with police helicopter's FLIR and NVD systems. Probably not the forum to ask but I've seen some guys at Muskoka use them so hey, thought i'd ask before i do some heavy research. Sometimes i can get carried away and start buying things on impulse. These things arent cheap so in time i'll gather enough thought to decide.

I basically need a simple nvd or nvg for camping and maybe airsoft (tehe) . Im speaking just the Gen 1 consumer type but im curious as to how much infrared the gen 1 will emit. The IR isnt needed all the time when theres ambient light/moon but how clear would it be?

Will it give me a blinding glare or burn out the lighting tube when light is driectly shined at?

Anyone with NVG/NVD feel free to give me their input.

[Fly 9]

It's generally not considered a good idea to shine any light direcly at a set of NVG or any Night vision device as it will ruin the goggles.

In response to your question about light: I was standing in a dark garage with a friends NVG with the IR turned off and could still see a little bit (as there was light seeping through where the door met the ground) and it picked it up. He used it in an over night game in the woods where very little moonlight came through with the IR on and it worked swimmingly.
Trick is not to stare at a light for too long...just like your eyes, it's not good for them.
But if you're camping, bright lights shouldn't be much of a problem as there aren't usually house/street lights on a campsite...unless you're sneakin around to other people's camp sites without them knowing and getting a face full of flashlight when they hear you creepin in the bushes

As for blinding light/glare (like a facefull of flashlight), it'll only fuzz out your vision through the goggles and, as far as I can remember, won't leave you with burned images on your actual eye. I don't know exactly how much light it will take to cause permanent damage to your NVG though.

[Fox Hound]

wow australia huh. Awesome to see another airsoft player way down there. Arent they illegal?

oh and my biggest concern is the Infrared. Can anyone see it? BTW what model and GEN did u use?

[666]

Gen 1 is useless for airsoft or camping. I have one and seen many, they all work the same. I can see more with just my eyes. It's only good up to 20 feet. After that it gets really blury. If you want decent NVG for camping or airsoft Gen 2 and up is what you need.
To answer your question about infrared. Everyone will be able to see it. It's basically just bright, red dot if you look at it. It's going to be even brighter for people with NVGs.

[Fly 9]

You got your answer for gen 1...I dunno for sure which Gen it was I was using (it was a friend's) but contact pizzainthemorning if you want. It was his I was using.
The IR can be seen, it's like a little red dot floating around.

As for Australian Airsoft. Apparently it does exist but it's hard to get into (from what I've read), you need your firearms license or something to actually purchase one, and once you get your license, you have to figure out where/how to purchase an airsoft gun. I'm actually Canadian, I came over here on a working holiday visa last may and will be going home soon.
I'm living in Victoria where paintball was just re-legalized not even a year ago, so airsoft doesn't look good.

[Fox Hound]

Originally Posted by 666

Gen 1 is useless for airsoft or camping. I have one and seen many, they all work the same. I can see more with just my eyes. It's only good up to 20 feet. After that it gets really blury. If you want decent NVG for camping or airsoft Gen 2 and up is what you need.

Depending on what type and where it game from. If bought from Ebay, many of them do not have lighting tubes and are called gen 1 but are actually gen 0.

i refuse to believe that u can see only 20 feet. If it was a gen 1 then it must have had IR. I believe you're incorrect.

[ThunderCactus]

Originally Posted by 666

Gen 1 is useless for airsoft or camping. I have one and seen many, they all work the same. I can see more with just my eyes. It's only good up to 20 feet. After that it gets really blury. If you want decent NVG for camping or airsoft Gen 2 and up is what you need.

total BS, my Gen1 nightvision is fine for airsoft, as long as you dont get a really cheap, poor brand unit. On a moonlit night my nvd pierces through darkness like a hot knife through butter and rivals most Gen2 units both in range and clarity under propper gen1 operating conditions. True it doesnt work so well without moonlight, but I could see 30 feet further than with my naked eye, and with the IR light on it's just as good as a gen2 unit with it's IR on.



some IR lights you cant see the red dot but...$$$$$$
mines a gen1, like all other gen 1+ its a starlight, doesnt work on a moonless night without the IR light, but the IR light on mine is REAL powerful (supposed to be good to 100m) and it lights up nice, but as soon as it goes on everyone else with night vision will know where i am lol
Gen1 is typically 100-550$ here in canada, do your research on the brands because there are some REALLY bad gen1 units out there.
Gen2 is typically $1200+ again do your research there are bad gen2 units as well, much better in low light and for walking around.

[Fly 9]

Also, if you want to play airsoft with them or just walk around, make sure you check the magnification...some come 2x and it really throws you off when you're trying to walk/nav through bush.

[666]

Well, buy one and see for youself. They usually go for around 300 dollars. But don't complan after you will use it
We tested 3 different Gen 1 monoculars at Muskoka, all with IR. All worked the same. We were at the cabin and couldn't see past the tank. I found that Gen 1 only works good in dence forest. I was able to walk around without bumping into things, but again, it's not practical since your eyes have to readjust every time you stop using NVG so I just go without them.

[Fox Hound]

Originally Posted by 666

Well, buy one and see for youself. They usually go for around 300 dollars. But don't complan after you will use it
We tested 3 different Gen 1 monoculars at Muskoka, all with IR. All worked the same. We were at the cabin and couldn't see past the tank. I found that Gen 1 only works good in dence forest. I was able to walk around without bumping into things, but again, it's not practical since your eyes have to readjust every time you stop using NVG so I just go without them.

lol no no no... im getting bad facts here...

im not sure where you're getting your information on, just make sure u have proof so u dont confuse or give false information.

[666]

Originally Posted by Fox Hound

lol no no no... im getting bad facts here...

im not sure where you're getting your information on, just make sure u have proof so u dont confuse or give false information.

I get my information from personal experience. Like I said, we tested 3 monoculars before the game, I also had a chance to play around with bunch of other Gen 1 and Gen 2 monoculars and scopes. If you really want to use NV during airsoft games, get Gen 2. I've tried two Gen 2 scopes, it's way better. Also, keep in mind that NVG will make your eyes suffer after long use. You shoul've asked around before the game. Bunch of people had NVGs there.

[mcguyver]

Originally Posted by Fox Hound

lol no no no... im getting bad facts here...

im not sure where you're getting your information on, just make sure u have proof so u dont confuse or give false information.

Dude, I've had a quality Gen 1+ set and was OK to see about 20-30 feet, beyond that was useless and a hindrance if anything.

Proof is the eyes of the user. Prove to me what color pink is. I'll bet you can't do it. You say pink, I say red. Get it?

[Slick]

Ive seen about 5 different types of Gen 1 scopes or monoculars and were all complete garbage. Id spend the extra cash and get at least a 2+. If you dont beleve 666 then by all means go out and spend the money. Ill keep an eye out for your for sale add so I can get a good laugh.

Personally I dont think there are enough night games for it to be worth spending all the money. Night games are usually not that much fun. Especially in wooded areas. FR night games can be pretty damn fun though but only happen a few times a year.

[SBranson23]

Check out this thread for a discussion from users of Gen 1 up to Gen 4!!
http://www.airsoftcanada.com/showthread.php?t=29790

My buddy bought Gen 1 from Cdn.Tire and it was worse than useless in that it made him angry the whole time he tried to see anything through it.
I had Gen 1+ and it was only really useful with alot of ambient light. The IR illuminator helped but it limits the range by brightening close objects at the expense of far ones. Also it's like a flashlight to anyone else using NVGs.
Gen 2+ is where it starts to get exciting and you really get that sense of seeing in the dark.
I got to look through a Gen 4 set and man o man that was something to behold!!!

Check out the night vision forums out there. Lots of good pictures and descriptions and you'll likely find that what you really want is more expensive than you think.

[666]

Originally Posted by ThunderCactus

total BS, my Gen1 nightvision is fine for airsoft, as long as you dont get a really cheap, poor brand unit. On a moonlit night my nvd pierces through darkness like a hot knife through butter and rivals most Gen2 units both in range and clarity under propper gen1 operating conditions. True it doesnt work so well without moonlight, but I could see 30 feet further than with my naked eye, and with the IR light on it's just as good as a gen2 unit with it's IR on.

What kind of NV do you have? I want to see Gen 1+ set that comes even close to a regular Gen 2.