How does night vision work?
Night Vision amplifies already existing light. So if you are trying to see in complete darkness, night vision won't work. That is why a lot night vision users have an Infrared Illuminator like a flashlight or laser. Infrared light isn't visible to the naked human eye, but it provides enough light for night vision to function. Most binocular night vision devices have a built in IR Illuminator which is something you should look for when deciding what to buy.
Are NODs / Night Vision Goggles Legal?
Yes! They are legal in all states except California where they are partially prohibited. You can still buy them if you live in California, just inform yourself on the rules.
Which NOD / night vision goggle / monocular is best?
At the moment filmless third generation night vision tubes are the newest and best tubes available. All of our US Night Vision products have third generation tubes.
What is the difference between green and white night vision?
There is no real performance difference between green and white tubes. Green tubes are cheaper but can cause eye strain after extended use, white is easier on the eyes. Currently L3 Filmless tubes are only made in white phosphor and Filmless tubes tend to have better SNR and Halo specs.
What should I look for when buying night vision?
Make sure the device you are buying is a third generation (newest). The Gen 3+ technology provides more light gathering capabilities than previous generations. This results in a brighter and sharper image. Make sure they are also auto-gated, which is very important for the protection of your tubes. If they get exposed to bright lights without an auto-gate, the chances of tube damage is high. These are necessary in our opinion, the rest is personal preference.
Will light damage my night vision tubes?
Yes, it is best to avoid looking at bright lights or using nods during the day as this can damage the units. As a general rule, if your unit is not equipped with gated tubes or it is bright enough to see without the device you should not be using it. All tubes sold on our site are auto-gated for light protection.
What is the difference between night vision and thermal imaging?
To work properly, night vision requires nearly visible light. Thermal imaging doesn't require any light to work. Thermals can be used day or night with the same performance. This is why thermals are much more expensive than night vision.
Does night vision have other uses besides military/hunting?
Yes! Night vision is commonly used by astronomers for stargazing. If you want to see all the stars in the sky, nods are one way you can do that.
Can night vision see through glass?
Yes! Night vision can see through glass. Thermals cannot see through glass.
Will night vision get cheaper?
As the technology behind night vision advances, it will get cheaper. How long that will take, it's hard to say. The future of night vision is most likely on the digital side of night vision, as the amount of applications far surpasses normal night vision.
What night vision do Seals use?
The group that took down Bin Laden used four tube night vision goggles. GPNVGs or PNVGs. These offer a larger field of view, but unless you are made of money you won't be buying these. They are $35,000 to $50,000 and far heavier than conventional goggles. That puts more weight and strain on your neck that you definitely don't need.
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