Are there any NVD users here?

[echo2]

I've been getting into the night vision device realm for the last few years....and am learning how inexpensively you can build your own.

I have a couple gen 3, a gen 2, and a gen 1+......it gives you a great advantage in the dark.

Anyone else into this?

[Big B]

I have access to them at work, but I don't own any.

I am curious to hear how you can inexpensively build your own

[KnightoftheRoc]

My own, firsthand experience extends only to the starlight scope, when I was in the army, and the NV I bought at Walmart. Yes, Walmart- in the toy section, believe it or not, and for under 50 bucks!
I bought these: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00153F5QA/ref ... B00153F5QA

But you can also get these: http://www.cabelas.com/kids-toys-eyeclo ... adType=pla which are more of a binocular style.

It's not exactly cutting edge stuff, and I'm not trying to present it as such- but for under $100 for either one at a toy store (I wouldn't even waste my time on purchasing from those two links), if you want to check NV gear out, to see if it's for you, this is an affordable way to do so. I've used mine outdoors at night, indoors, and even when exploring caves. My only complaint with the worn model is the lack of binocular vision, and the loss of depth perception that comes with it. But for a quick scan in the dark, this is definitely worth the money, IMO- plus, it runs on only 6 volts (4xAA), so power isn't a huge worry.

[benja455]

I have access to them at work, but I don't own any.

I am curious to hear how you can inexpensively build your own

I would also!

[KnightoftheRoc]

I have access to them at work, but I don't own any.

I am curious to hear how you can inexpensively build your own

I would also!

I think you'd spend less on the toys from Eyeclops, but-
a web cam or similar CCD (charge coupled device- the "eye" of the camera) and some infrared LEDs for illumination can be used to see in the dark with a laptop computer. Add some of the LEDs to a camcorder, and most of those can also be used, tho they may not record well. A simple battery pack to power the LEDs, and you're in business.

CCDs are quite sensitive to infrared light, so all you really need is to provide some to bounce off the objects you want to see. The distance you'll get as a useful image won't be much, but certainly enough to move around in the dark and see your immediate area.

What I'd like to own, without having to sell an organ I'm still using in order to afford it, would be thermal imaging NV. Now THAT would be some cool stuff.

[Quietus]

Any digital camera "sees" IR as well as visible light. Take out the IR filter (that pretty much all cameras have) and they can be used as a night vision device. Simple as that.

That is how those toy NVG's work.

When the filter is removed, the camera basically has a full spectrum sensor. Add a visible light filter and you have a device that only records IR.

They do not amplify ambient light, so in low light conditions, IR light has to be added. So they will only give you as much field of vision, as you can cover with your IR light source.
But it should be said, that within that area, conventional NVD's will have a very hard time keeping up with them in terms of image quality, as the camera version can do HD resolution and above.

That said, they are close to useless. I have a system like that for IR photography, but that only works because of the nature of it's usage.
For tactical applications I would not go anywhere near those things. Not only do they have very limited range, the IR light source that you will need, will also light you up like a christmas tree. Not to the naked eye, but anyone else using NVD's will see you from a mile away.

These guys do some fantastic IR conversions: http://www.lifepixel.com/
Their stuff is top notch. In fact, I will be sending in another DSLR soon (so I can have more than one filter option).
They do UV conversions as well, which I'm also tempted to try.

[omega_man]

Mil Spec Gen III FTW!

[echo2]

The one on the right was purchased w/o a tube for $400....I bought a tube from a friend for $350......one small dark spot @ 4 o'clock...

The one on the left was purchased in a box for $500....the housing had been crushed and the objective lens damaged....I bought a lens for $200 and a new housing for $250...

Both are mil spec gen III PVS-14s...



The new housing was purchased from AB Night Vision.....And I like it better than the ITT factory housing.

This one was picked up at a gun show for $150....1/2 of a PVS-5...with a hobby battery box.....gen II....



The biggest thing is to start looking for parts....if you look around the NV forums....a lot of the folks are continuously upgrading...and sell the parts they don't need for a fraction the cost. eBay is also a place to look for parts....but the forums have trading post.

[JesterODX]

Very interesting. A gen 2 for 150. That aint bad at all.

I had a Coleman Gen1 for camping. And then I have one of the Eyeclops I bought out of curiosity. The Eyeclopes is far beter then my Gen1. Range is a litle less, but a lot clearier picture. Far more detail able to be seen. If they added a zoom lense it would be awesome.

I play paintball and airsoft. Lots of players are getting NVG. And it really sucks for 1st and 2nd gen users when there are a team of 3rd gen users runing around. They look for IR's and target those people. Having some 3rd gen for cheap is an ideal I like a lot. Thanks for the tip.

[Doctorr Fabulous]

I happen to hate the PVS-14s with a passion. The only time they're awesoem is on a range with a bore-sighted laser targetting device, so I can literally hip-fire accurately. For everything else, I'd rather go white light or moonlight.

The 7Ds (one lense, two eyepieces) is worse, imho, because you lose what little depth perception the 14's left you with. I would like to try a 14 over each eye, for a combo of depth perception and night vision, but that would make shooting a bitch.

Now, the mini-thermals....[insert maniacal laught here]

I have abandoned using my PVS-14s in favor of the MTM: http://www.opticsplanet.net/insight-technology-mini-thermal-monoculars-w-lasers-mtm.html

[omega_man]

I happen to hate the PVS-14s with a passion. The only time they're awesoem is on a range with a bore-sighted laser targetting device, so I can literally hip-fire accurately. For everything else, I'd rather go white light or moonlight.

The 7Ds (one lense, two eyepieces) is worse, imho, because you lose what little depth perception the 14's left you with. I would like to try a 14 over each eye, for a combo of depth perception and night vision, but that would make shooting a bitch.

Now, the mini-thermals....[insert maniacal laught here]

I have abandoned using my PVS-14s in favor of the MTM: http://www.opticsplanet.net/insight-technology-mini-thermal-monoculars-w-lasers-mtm.html

I agree on a few points here. I prefer NVDs for observation and static posts. In that capacity 14's or 7's don't matter (I have 7's due to opportunity, not preference). Walking, patrolling, room clearing all suck with night vision. My favorite night fighting technique was 40mm parachute flares (mostly b/c bore-sighting PEQ-2's was almost mythical). Spot a d-bag w/ NVDs, pop a flare, shoot, repeat as necessary.

Regardless, as a defensive tool for civilian use (i.e. property surveilance, theft deterance)--I highly recommend some sort of NVD.

[KnightoftheRoc]

Very interesting. A gen 2 for 150. That aint bad at all.

I had a Coleman Gen1 for camping. And then I have one of the Eyeclops I bought out of curiosity. The Eyeclopes is far beter then my Gen1. Range is a litle less, but a lot clearier picture. Far more detail able to be seen. If they added a zoom lense it would be awesome.

I play paintball and airsoft. Lots of players are getting NVG. And it really sucks for 1st and 2nd gen users when there are a team of 3rd gen users runing around. They look for IR's and target those people. Having some 3rd gen for cheap is an ideal I like a lot. Thanks for the tip.

A note on the Eyeclops NVD- there are, on my unit, anyway (I imagine the binoc version does as well), two operating stages. Passive IR, where it uses ambient IR light, and an active mode, using the illuminator. The active mode generates a greenscreen display, the passive a B&W screen, so telling the difference is easy.The important part of this is: the active mode is VISIBLE - in this mode, the IR LEDs glow red, making you visible to the naked eye, and from another NVD, you are a shining beacon in the darkness- literally. A sweep with the passive mode first would indicate any active-mode devices that might be watching for you, but it won't show you another passive device.

[Shaper]

Well, I work on the damn things on a near daily basis, so I guess you could say I'm into them. And by "into them" I mean the bane of my existence when a truck drops off a pallet of 7s for inspection/purge/repair.

As far as their use, they certainly have their place in a defensive or combat environment. The advantages usually outweigh the drawbacks, if common sense is a part of the equation. And I agree with doc on this one...thermal is the shit...

Now, where did I put that baby I was going to sell for the downpayment on a new thermal scope?

[echo2]

Thermal is awesome.....but you can 3x the price of new gen III.....I'll stay with the PVS-14s.

One in our group has a hand held FLIR unit....nice...but not weapons mount compatible.

I'm looking for a "S" mount that allows 2 PVS-14s to be worn as binocs.

The cheapest dual mount I've found so far is about $650.

I cant use the "ring" style...due to the fact that I use a different focus ring on the new body.

[Shaper]

Thermal is awesome.....but you can 3x the price of new gen III.....I'll stay with the PVS-14s.

One in our group has a hand held FLIR unit....nice...but not weapons mount compatible.

I'm looking for a "S" mount that allows 2 PVS-14s to be worn as binocs.

The cheapest dual mount I've found so far is about $650.

I cant use the "ring" style...due to the fact that I use a different focus ring on the new body.

Can you post pics of the different focus ring?

Edit: I saw the pics up top...but I'm trying to get a better look at the clearances on my cell.

[Shaper]

Might this work for you? http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/8 ... Mount.html

[echo2]

Might this work for you? http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/8 ... Mount.html

Nope....that's the ring type....it wont work.

I'm looking for one of these...

[Shaper]

Might this work for you? http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/8 ... Mount.html

Nope....that's the ring type....it wont work.

I'm looking for one of these...

You couldn't clearance the strap on that side to fit? ( I can't see shit in that (the pic of your 14's) pic on my phone so I'm winging it sorry lol)

[echo2]

Might this work for you? http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/8 ... Mount.html

Nope....that's the ring type....it wont work.

I'm looking for one of these...

You couldn't clearance the strap on that side to fit? ( I can't see shit in that pic on my phone so I'm winging it sorry lol)

The ring will not physically fit on the monocular.....It's a modified ANVIS 9 lens

[Shaper]

Might this work for you? http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/8 ... Mount.html

Nope....that's the ring type....it wont work.

I'm looking for one of these...

You couldn't clearance the strap on that side to fit? ( I can't see shit in that pic on my phone so I'm winging it sorry lol)

The ring will not physically fit on the monocular.....It's a modified ANVIS 9 lens

Wait, I think I am starting to understand what you are getting at...PM sent.

[echo2]

[echo2]

I built this for my Samsung.....









it took the pics above...

[JohnnyMayhem]

I had an old Newcon Optik gen one scope, and I lost that one, and got a bushnell gen 2 spotting scope. Bad thing is, i want to figure out some how to mount the gen2 into some sort of head mount or at least to my .22 somehow.

[echo2]