slightly boaty question - Night vision

[NikTheGeek]

anyone used a night vision device? Not a £10k military one, but a £100-£150 cheapo one?

Are they actually any good before I treate myself to a toy or are they rubbish?

tnx

Nick

[Noddy]

Spent many a night looking through the £10k military ones; and even those have their limitations. I wouldn't expect much from ones costing £150; and remember, they are light enhancers, they won't work in complete darkness.

[Ed]

Most have built in IR light sources from what I've seen.

[betty boop]

there were 2 verision I looked at - the ray marine one at teh boat show and the Lidl £99 version, both looked the same until I saw the price, at £1500 the raymrine was slightly over budget, so using a sensible amount of logic I concluded that the £99 version must be a pile of c##p. Lidl may be a bit extreme but they look all the same in that price bracket.

The raymarine one was good though - albeit in low light at LBS. not sure its worth the cost though.

[JORIDAPILOT]

Eat more carrots...

[rbcoomer]

I've been impressed with the IR 'low lux' CCTV cameras - mine show cars driving past the gate in a slightly washed colour and on the screen it looks like it's daylight. You go outside and it's dark! The one camera that overlooks the boats is some 350-400' from the road - you stand in the same place and watch the cars there's no way you can determine their colour!

£100/150 is a lot of notes if they're no good however...

[NikTheGeek]

I've took a punt on a digital night vision scope. It was second hand on ebay and unlike Gen 1 scopes, they don't wear out and can't be damaged by too much exposure. Supposedly you get a picture as good as a Gen 2 scope. We'll see. If its rubbish it can go back on ebay and I should break even but at least I'll have had a play....

Nick