The Pros and Cons of Investing in 1st Generation Night Vision

Experienced Hunters, Photographers, and nature enthusiasts are familiar with the many night vision devices that are available on the market today, as well as the different attributes, features, and capabilities of each, respectively.  The rest of us have probably only seen Night Vision devices in either a spy or war movie and have probably wondered – “do those things really work”?  Yes, they most certainly do.  These instruments have been around for many years, and were developed by the US Military to provide advantages to soldiers whose battles were fought beneath the stars. There are two types of technology available in these instruments, thermal imaging and image enhancement, with image enhancement being the most common.

With the popularity of Night Vision Devices (NVDs) amongst hunters and general hobbyists continually growing, the one question often wrestled with by first time buyer is “Should I go for a 1st generation or a 2nd generation instrument? Huh? Before we get to that we need to first understand some fundamentals. NVDs gather existing ambient light (starlight, moonlight) through the front lens. This light is then sent to a photocathode tube, changing the photons to electrons. The electrons are amplified through an electrical and chemical process, and are then thrown against a phosphorus screen that changes the amplified electrons back into visible light that the user will see through the eyepiece. The image is viewed in the familiar green color is a re-creation of the scene being observed.

The different ‘generations’ refer specifically to the type of image intensifier tube utilized in the aforementioned process. These tubes are the heart and soul of every NVD; and with each generation, the image that is produced becomes brighter and sharper to the viewer. The reason 1st and second generations are often compared by consumers because the costs of first generation NVDs are generally considered affordable by most consumers (under $1,000), while 2nd generations provide  better image resolution but can often cost $1,000 more than 2nd generations.

Pros and Cons of 1st Generation: they will amplify existing light several thousand times, letting you see clearly in the dark. They provide fairly bright and sharp images at a low cost. These are perfect for boating, observing wildlife, and home security.  One annoying feature that should be noted for first generation is the high pitched whine produced when the unit is on. The images viewed may also be slightly blurry around the edges.

Pros and Cons of 2nd Generation: they will cost up to $1,000 more than a 1st Generation unit. The 2nd generation unit adds the micro-channel plate (MCP) that works as an electron amplifier that is placed right behind the photocathode. When electrons pass through the MCP, thousands more electrons are released, allowing for amplification of light that is many more times than 1st generation, giving you a much brighter and sharper image.

My selection: Please note that the purpose of an NVD is to enable you to see in the dark; and not necessarily to see images clearly at distances like a binocular will. With distance viewing of both generations being equal (they both produce equally depending on the amount of ambient light available), the argument points can only be cost and image quality. If you do some research and are able to see images as seen through each of the four generations available, there is a decidedly greater jump in image resolution quality from 1st generation to 2nd generation. However, given that a 1st generation unit can be purchased for $500, and adding another $1,000 is certainly a great sum of money for most people, my preference for first time buyers would be 1st generation. If you really get hooked, or later feel a strong inclination to purchase 2nd generation, you can do this after knowing you’ll get your money’s worth from it. I also happen to be quite pleased with the image resolution of my first generation unit and believe that for hunting large animals, as well as for general nature exploration, first generation is more than adequate.