Night vision devices are the most essential gear you need in your arsenal if you plan to go on tactical excursions or hunting adventures. The best night vision equipment can allow the observer to see up to 200 yards on a cloudy, moonless night. But before you buy a night vision device, as before buying any technical equipment, it is a good idea to do some research on the best kind of equipment for you – lest you end up spending too much on an inadequate device.

Technology

The first thing to know about night vision devices is that they mainly use two different technologies to allow the observer to see clearly in low-light or dark situations. One if image enhancement, which uses the light on the lower infrared spectrum to illuminate objects in the dark. The other is thermal imaging which uses the heat signatures from objects which show up on the higher end of the infrared spectrum to make objects visible. These technologies are vastly different, but the main objective is the same – to help the observer see in the dark. Before buying a night vision device, you need to decide which technology would be best suited for you.

Types

Night vision devices are divided into three categories; scopes which are monocular and most handheld, goggles which are binocular and are usually made to be worn on the head, and cameras which are for live streaming or recording footage or taking images in the dark.

Generations

This is probably the most important aspect of night vision equipment you need to consider before you buy a night vision device. Night vision equipment is divided into four generations and the generation of a night vision device is the deciding factor when it comes to performance and price of the device.

• Generation 1

  Generation 1 is the oldest technology in night vision equipment and therefore the least expensive. The performance is lowest as compared to other generations. The features include objective size – which means that large objects supply more size, magnification – which can’t go too high because Gen 1 devices have low resolution, and an IR (infrared) illuminator. These devices require a few seconds to power up and don’t have a lot of range. The ideal conditions are full moonlight in which they have a little more than a 100 yards of range. They have pronounced optical distortion on the edge of the field of vision and are not too good on overall performance.

• Generation 2

  Generation 2 is miles away from Gen 1 in terms of performance and also price. The Gen 2 night vision equipment has much less distortion on the edge of field of vision and a screen with much better contrast and resolution. Gen 2 devices allow you a variety of options in both resolution and tube type. This allows you to buy a device that has the specification you desire, with the price being proportional to the resolution of the device.

• Generation 3

  Gen 3 is the highest generation of night vision equipment commonly available, and is the generation of choice for serious users. Gen 3 is able to detect human sized objects up to 300 yards or more under ideal conditions. There are many grades and options available, which makes choosing the right equipment for you easier.

• Generation 4

  Gen 4 night vision equipment had the major drawback of reduced tube life, which made it unpopular with users and that is why it not commonly found or produced. On the other hand it was not affected by bright light as devices from other generations and all other specifications were the same as Gen 3. But it did not gain traction because of tube life and that is why Gen 3 remains the popular generation of night vision devices.