night vision goggles rec?

[RomanDad]

Power out here. NV now seems like a good thing to have for shtf.

[ExtremeX]

Depends on how much you want to spend.

Gen 1 stuff is pretty cheap... like 300-400 for head mounted monocular.

Gen 2,3,4,... starts to get up there in price...

[brando]

Gen III is the only model you should consider if your life may depend on it. NV is expensive and in every sense of the term, "buy once, cry once" applies. Personally, I suggest staying away from old tech like PVS-7s and stick with monocular devices like PVS-14s (they're about the same cost but more versatile). If you go that route look into a helmet (even a non-ballistic one) with a proper mount (ie rhino or wilcox) - you will thank me or just be cursing the face hugger.

On the cheap, the only reasonable use of Gen II monocular devices is for the barest of scanning, but you cannot adequately fight (let alone flee) with one. In other words, they don't you much if at all any advantage over your threat.

[CoyoteHunter555]

http://www.opticsplanet.net/us-nightvision-14b-g3.html

[slagusmc]

any 3rd gen night vision is good. While PVS-7 type nvgs dont have depth perception like PVS-14 type, tube quality can be just as good if not better. I used PVS-7b in combat back in 2004 and they really werent bad, except for driving.

[brando]

The tubes and intensifiers can be identical, but 7-series goggles have a few disadvantages the 14s don't. The most obvious is that because you get the same image to each eye you have no depth perception (as you mention) but it also means if you have to shift your focal plane you're stuck will dialing the focus puller on the cyclops. With a 14 over one eye you can just use your naked eye for up close stuff like reaching into a bag or pocket or dealing with equipment issues. I've got a few hundred hours of operational use under 7Bs and all sucked compared to my hours on 14s.

FWIW, if money is no object, check out a pair of AN/VIS-9 or PVS-15s - autogated dual tube goggles are the scheise.

[ChrisSF]

I love my PVS7s and they are optically clear for $1400 used. Expect to pay $2000 + for PVS14s used. Unless you are being invaded by night vision equipped people expect to have the upper hand during a night time issue with any type of head mounted night vision. True there is no depth perception but I was just thinking the PVS-14 has no depth perception either. You are looking into a single tube with a single eye into the dark. The other eye is useless while using night vision unless for immediate threats.

My POS and NEG for the PVS14... with that unused eye at night, you can test IR equipment easily, making sure you dont have a visible laser etc and then also catching something immediately around you and then when you pop the night vision off, that unused eye should be closer to adjusted to darkness.

Also the PVS14 has the higher resolution and the ability to add to a camera etc which I really like.

The downside to night vision is that its a niche market. Not many repair shops or parts that are readily available. gen 3 is just expensive and can be easy to break. The consumer price that we get is inflated 1200% of the military cost.

I currently have the PVS7B and am interested in getting the PVS14 for the higher resolution and camera abilities. But the PVS7 works just fine for now. Also I'd love to have a free eye to check if I have IR or laser on, or any light sources I should be aware of. If I'm in a shadow of a tree or is moonlight lighting me up etc. That's important at night, it can make a huge difference in who sees you.

[slagusmc]

The best thing to do is to buy the m-703e that I have for sale, lol. At $1700 it's about the price of well used pvs7b, with the weapons mount and depth perception of a pvs-14. Now granted I'm selling it because I prefer the adjustable gain on my pvs14, but if you are on pvs7b budget and don't want to spend $4000 on a pvs14, it's a steal!

[BillCA]

In a civilian environment, if you have any NV gear at all, you'll use it to locate potential targets. Then you can either challenge from the darkness or light 'em up with that mega-joule spotlight for IFF.

[RomanDad]

Im drowning in acronyms.

[BillCA]

Im drowning in acronyms.

NV = Night Vision
NVG=Night Vision Goggles
PVS = Personal Vision System
PVS-7
PVS-14
PVS-15
AN/VIS9

[acousticmood]

Is gen III the thermal imaging type? - Damn but those are cool.

[odysseus]

Is gen III the thermal imaging type? - Damn but those are cool.

No. You are speaking of infrared, different tech and also much more expensive.

[Chaparral]

+1 on the PVS or MA-14. I have a blemished autogated pinnacle tube in a plastic housing from sightowl.com which cost me just a little over $1600.00. You can stick the thing on a variety of helmets with several different mounts and there are a couple of ways to mount the thing on a rifle. Several vendors now sell some sort of adapter for around 80 bucks so you can stick the thing on a scope. I used a $1.99 rubber washing machine hose coupler from Home Depot to stick mine on the scope that came with a Gamo Whisper...it worked half arse, good enough to get rid of a raccoon with perfect OPSEC.

If you do go with that sightowl outfit, be advised that the plastic they use for the housing seems a bit brittle. Mines been dropped a few times and a few little pieces of the battery compartment cover thingy have chipped off. Broke the spindle on the three way switch and they replaced the entire housing within a week so +1 on the customer service.

Theres a guy in Texas who has some very informative threads on the PVS-14 over at arfcom. Go to the Armory section in the forum and then look for the nightvision section.

Oh yeah, friends dont let friends buy Gen 1.