Night vision questions
- Thread starter Clvland
- Start date
Lol. Awesome.
Also, Kremator, are you kotsinthirdgen? Is this how the CGN boogaloo starts, when the Insta-noodle accounts take over?
How do you feel about XR5 pictures of cats?
It's pretty much Gen 3 isn't it? Well, there is sadly not enough night vision talk on here, I don't know too many Canadians with nods. What we need is quality, inexpensive night vision like down south. Though I keep making mediocre to outright poor reviews on here trying to get more Canucks going on them.
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I think its because people dont know where to look. It sucks because you cant really find quality deals for brand new out of the box night vision in canada (besides act, but their markup is substantial). Buy/trade forums like Airsoftcanada and "Night Vision Marketplace (Outside America) Airsoft/ Milsim/ LEO" on FB are great but buried. On that FB group there are people selling XR5 PICOs, ANVIS9s, Sentinels, PVS15s...etc on the regular and are willing to negotiate on price. Way better than buying any gsci, newcon, armasight, or alpha...etc crap.
Its nice to see China getting into the night vision housing game, like with the BNVD 1431 (from devgru_r) on insta. If that ball starts rolling, i could see prices for night vision parts start to fall.
I bow to your superior knowledge gained on the internet it nowhere near equals the six years in the REME I spent fixing optical systms including Lasers and II equipment. I am sure that they aren't so worried about any active IR sources that they have a warning diode on II googles to warn you that you left the it map reading light on, and that they can't possibly use the standered iron sights and optics so have to use active aiming. That in now way is shining a intetence beam of light near a system that amplifys light 30000 times going to damage it.
If you want to play SOF soldiers with II like you see on TV and call of duty go ahead just don't be surprised when you have to pay several thousand for a new II tube. Regular soldiers don't strap IR lasers to their rifles for aiming they have them but use them for marking/ iluminating targets from several hundred meters away and turn them off very quickly to avoid becoming a target.
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Daynoodles
New member
First of all half of what you said is totally incoherent. If you truly knew how these systems work you would know that auto brightness control and autogating are both systems in place to prevent damage to intensifier tubes from indirect and in some cases direct light exposure. And while extremely powerful systems like the B.E. Meyers izlid are primarily used for target destination, weapons mounted lasers and illuminators have been the primary method of aiming with nightvision for most of first worlds military's.
And if the point I think you where trying to make is that Iron sights are used as a possible alternative for aiming with night vision, you clearly tip you hand to being completely inexperienced with these devices. You have to set a focal distance for analog NVGs which should be set to your target distance or farther. Your iron sights would be completely blurry beyond recognition along with anything else with 5 feet of you so trying to use them would be impossible. If you'd like I can film a video tomorrow night to prove my point.
How do you feel about XR5 pictures of cats?
Well, there is sadly not enough night vision talk on here, I don't know too many Canadians with nods. What we need is quality, inexpensive night vision like down south. Though I keep making mediocre to outright poor reviews on here trying to get more Canucks going on them.
We also need good mounts, Wilcox and RQE. TNVC wouldn't let me buy them to export it.
Damn !! You mean I'm not supposed to zero my PEQ4 and aim with it ?!?! I better tell my Batallion's Ops that were doing it wrong... According to some guys that fixes opticals systems including frigggin lasers and equipment !!'
Maybe you don't get to use it but it is used it for its intended purpose which is "aiming at targets" and sometimes designating/indicating position.
Man isn't that the truth. Cadex makes some pretty good stuff, but more selection would be nice. Yay ITAR.
Great to see Daynoodles popping in with his info. The man knows what he is talking about to say the least. We are a small section of users here in Canada that love using our NVGS regardless what we do use them for. Sad thing is the lack of availability for them compared to the states. ITAR is a ##### as we all know but until that changes we are stuck with the options we have. Act makes a great product but comes with a very steep cost. I'm waiting to see there new housing and other items that are coming out at shot show.
verminaard
CGN Regular
- Location
- SW Bantario
I am only aware of one specific scenario which would allow it in Ontario.
Hunting raccoons at night.
You need to have a dog with you, and the dog needs to have a license to hunt.
I think the licenses are 14 or 15 bucks for the year.
I've been checking out PVS-14's quite a bit to find our options in Canada seem pretty limited and priced pretty steep in some cases with questionable/incomplete info provided. Definitely would like to support TNVC, but ITAR restrictions on Gen 3 products suck and not available to even look through a set of US Gen3 optics as a civilian. Busy saving pennies to purchase a decent set of Gen3's
For those in the know, what are your recommended vendors for PVS-14 Gen3 in Canada?
Looks like Alpha optics sells them with Photonis tubes. I've asked for Data sheets on two models they have available.
Best place to look at ACTinBlack? Looked at a non-supporting vendors sight and they looked to be $$$$ above MSRP on all their night vision.
GSCI quality, I've read that they are mainly garbage, but can't comment myself since I haven't held them.
For those in the know, what are your recommended vendors for PVS-14 Gen3 in Canada?
Looks like Alpha optics sells them with Photonis tubes. I've asked for Data sheets on two models they have available.
Best place to look at ACTinBlack? Looked at a non-supporting vendors sight and they looked to be $$$$ above MSRP on all their night vision.
GSCI quality, I've read that they are mainly garbage, but can't comment myself since I haven't held them.
90yjgimp,
I've had excellent experiences dealing directly with ActinBlack, you just have to be patient on shipping as it is crossing the Atlantic. Regardless of where you buy though, their products are absolutely top notch.
The difference between Gen 3 and Photonis 4G/XR5's is also pretty much negligible, or at least the Gen 3 we have access to. Even Echo's will hold their own, they just have a lower luminance gain. If you really want a Gen 3, you can get ActinBlack and GSCI with Gen 3 tubes. ActinBlack use Harder, from Germany. I'm not sure where GSCI sources theirs.
I've had a GSCI PVS-14c. It was honestly quite a good unit, so from my single experience I would say they are fine. I don't have any experience with Alpha.
I've got XR5 "Gen 2" tubes in my DTNVG's, and decent US Gen 3 tubes in my PVS-14'S, and I can't say it makes a huge difference either way. My Gen 3's can see very slightly better in the darkest of dark. Other than that, they are quite equal.
I've had excellent experiences dealing directly with ActinBlack, you just have to be patient on shipping as it is crossing the Atlantic. Regardless of where you buy though, their products are absolutely top notch.
The difference between Gen 3 and Photonis 4G/XR5's is also pretty much negligible, or at least the Gen 3 we have access to. Even Echo's will hold their own, they just have a lower luminance gain. If you really want a Gen 3, you can get ActinBlack and GSCI with Gen 3 tubes. ActinBlack use Harder, from Germany. I'm not sure where GSCI sources theirs.
I've had a GSCI PVS-14c. It was honestly quite a good unit, so from my single experience I would say they are fine. I don't have any experience with Alpha.
I've got XR5 "Gen 2" tubes in my DTNVG's, and decent US Gen 3 tubes in my PVS-14'S, and I can't say it makes a huge difference either way. My Gen 3's can see very slightly better in the darkest of dark. Other than that, they are quite equal.
Harder tubes are really expensive but truly the better specs non ITAR tubes available today.
Photonis said they will have higher specs 4G+ (min 2300 FOM, 72lp, WP) tubes in late 2020 ... That would Gen 3 performance at Gen2+ prices... in theory.
Could be really interesting option for the Actinblack BNVD or PVS14.
https://www.photonis.com/system/files/2019-09/190717%20Leaflet%204G%2B.pdf
Personally I still think thermal is the superior choice for the money here in Canada but if we can finally get decent i2 tubes for *reasonnable* cost then I might upgrade. I'm pretty happy with my dual sionyx aurora for everything except the FOV and eye relief.
Photonis said they will have higher specs 4G+ (min 2300 FOM, 72lp, WP) tubes in late 2020 ... That would Gen 3 performance at Gen2+ prices... in theory.
Could be really interesting option for the Actinblack BNVD or PVS14.
https://www.photonis.com/system/files/2019-09/190717%20Leaflet%204G%2B.pdf
Personally I still think thermal is the superior choice for the money here in Canada but if we can finally get decent i2 tubes for *reasonnable* cost then I might upgrade. I'm pretty happy with my dual sionyx aurora for everything except the FOV and eye relief.
I'm biting the bullet on a PVS-14 Gen2+ probably tomorrow to be helmet mounted. Not the best specs (SNR 22, Resolution 44 Minimums, EKRAN FEP tube), but will be enough for now and can be upgraded later since its a pvs-14 housing. But will probably pick up another set later this year and will upgrade the tube if I don't like the Gen 2+(have used in the past and liked them enough).
