Night Vision Binoculars - Buying Tips

Night vision binoculars are exciting. They literally allow you to see well in the night. They have many uses for kids and adults, and can be used for night hunting, boating or just for fun.

Use of night vision binoculars

There are many ways you can use a night binoculars. Here are the most popular ways people use binoculars with night vision.

- Exploring caves
- Scouting game
- Security and surveillance
- Camping
- Wildlife observation
- Night hunting
- Nighttime navigation
- Night fishing and boating

Many night vision binoculars work similar to digital cameras, they have a built in flash. The size varies a lot - smaller binoculars are more expensive, but they might be just as powerful as the big ones. When choosing a night binocular first decide what you are going to use it for. If it just for the kids to play, then go with a less expensive model that they will not break easily. If you are going to use the binoculars yourself go for a higher quality optics which naturally would cost more.

How night binoculars work?

Optics in night vision binoculars amplifies the existing light. They use not only light visible to our eyes, but also infrared spectrum. Quality night binoculars have an infrared illuminator which increases the available infrared light.

All things you see through a night binocular appear green, because you don't look directly at the objects but at their image on a phosphor screen.

Depending on light conditions at night binoculars perform differently. You will not see anything if there is no single star in the sky and no street lights. The lower the light situation is, the more powerful night binocular you will need. You can get Gen 1, Gen 2 and Gen 3 night binoculars. Gen stands for generation. Gen 1 are all right during a night with full moon and bright stars. For a crescent moon Gen 2 works better, and for a dark cloudy night you will need Gen 3 binoculars. Generation 1 night binoculars are affordable, Gen 2 and Gen 3 binoculars are much more expensive.

Kids enjoy night vision binoculars

If you are going on a long trip, a night vision binoculars will be excellent entertainment for kids. They will stare in the windows for hours and discover many thing that otherwise would be missed.

When it comes to binoculars you always get what you paid for. Brand name binoculars like Yukon, Night Owl, Weaver or N-Vision Optics cost more, but they come with more features. Also be aware, that night binoculars cost much more than ordinary binoculars.

Night vision range

The range of you binocular depends on three things - its gain, resolution and magnification. If you have powerful lenses, the magnification is good, but the amount of captured light decreases significantly. Usually only magnification below 5X works well for night binoculars. So unlike ordinary day light binoculars the range for night ones is not that extended.

Night vision monocular

Night vision binoculars are not your only option when it comes to night vision equipment. You can also get night vision monocular. Monocular have similar features and provide the same image. One advantage of night vision monocular is that they are much cheaper than binoculars.