In article <01bd4f7a$4df13620$5bb98dcc@blwczotz>, "larry" <lceo@squonk.net> wrote:

> I was looking for some good night vision equipment and searched the web and
> found a site that explained the technology and had a pretty good selection
> of equipment.
> http://www.intersci.com/nvindex.htm 

That would be a nice place except that there are no prices.  The specs
on most of that equipment are variable too - one that I clicked on
indicated the tube was a gen 2, or II+, or III.  Gee, which one?
Anyway, most people out here cannot afford gen III or gen II and
wil be looking for a high resolution gen I+.

I spent quit a bit of time looking around for nightvision, and hit all
the major web pages too.  I found a good link on Yahoo:
http://www.yahoo.com/Business_and_Economy/Companies/Outdoors/Gear_and_Equipment/Binoculars/Night_Vision/

As far as affordability goes, the best deal I could find was the AMT
Nightstar, but not as purchased from them directly.  Heartland Americal
resells them cheaper. (800-229-2901)  This model has an IR lightsource
on it, but the thing has a bright red glow, and would make a wonderful
target during a night game. ($200, 30 day warrantee)  It's the usual
generic russian tube but in a new plastic and aluminum housing and is
quite small.  It's got a slide-on power switch though instead of the
usual momentary push-down, so it can be accidentally left on easily.

In search of a better illuminator, all I can say is "good luck".  There
are IR filters you can buy to put over your flashlight or spotlight, but
they are usually quite expensive.  (military surplus seems to be the
best bet here)  I found an IR spotlight for sale for $125, for instance.
I'm waiting on an IR spotlight lens (mil surp) to arrive and see if its
any good, I'll post up if it works well.  Other places you can follow
with that link above, sell "IR illuminators", which are basically an
infrared LED with a focusing system.  They cost anywhere from $50-175,
but I can't expect one small LED to give any good illumination at any
worthwhile range.

As far as depth-perception goes, you'd need t get a true binocular set
to keep that.  Given the distortion produced by most (i.e. less than
$2,000) scopes, I don't think that will help much anyway.  True
binocular scopes are over 2x as expensive of course. (they are basically
just two NV units held together with a mounting bracket)

Someone was also saying that most NV gear gives the same visibility as
a fully acclimated eye.  They are correct.  That's why I'm looking for
illuminators.  The Nightstar is most sensitive to lower frequencies of
IR, around 830nm by my unscientific tests involving purchase of 20
various IR LEDs.  Providing yourself with a flashlight that no one
else can use makes NV a very powerful edge indeed.  Of course if someone
else on the field has a REAL flashlight, and uses it "unexpectedly",
you can fry a nice image of that flashlight into the phosphor of your
NV and really get upset...

My next challenge is finding a way to mound the NV on a spare set of
goggles, or to the site rail, in such a way that the green display
does not illuminate my face.